Hunting

Hunting (migava) is the stalking, chasing and killing of wild animals. In pre-historic times and even today amongst some primitive tribes people hunted to provide themselves with food or to supplement their diets. Today nearly all hunting is done for sport, entertainment or as proof of courage. Buddhism has always disapproved of hunting because it involves cruelty and killing and is in most cases unnecessary. Buddhist kings rarely indulged in hunting and few palaces or royal residences in Buddhist countries are decorated with hunting scenes as are those in many other cultures. Several Jàtaka stories criticise hunting for sport and try to evoke sympathy for the victimized animals (Ja.I,145-54).