In the first episode of Dakini Conversations, a new channel for interviews/podcasts, Adele Tomlin (Buddhist scholar-translator-practitioner and founder of Dakini Translations) interviews Karma Dendup, Bhutanese founder of Jangsem Monday (Meatless Monday Bhutan) and an advocate for a more compassionate planet. Karma Dendup is also a media producer who before becoming Head of Production at the Bhutan film and media company Reflection Films, was a TV host and producer with the Bhutan Broadcasting Service, where he was also awarded a national award for his documentary during the 2nd Annual Journalism Awards. He hosted a popular TV chat show called Bodhi Tree Bhutan. In this interview, Karma Dendup talks about his life growing up in Bhutan, his background in Buddhist study and practice, his studies of film and cinema in India, his TV show and then about founding Jangsem Monday and the thinking behind it, as well as a more general discussion about being a Buddhist and eating animals:

00:00 Introduction

03:00 Education in Bhutan and first time studying in Delhi, India

06:00 Return to Bhutan and studying Buddhism and Ngondro retreat

07:00 Back to Delhi and film school

08:00 Reason for studying film and cinema

11:00 Favourite films and directors

13:00 Speaking, studying and teaching English

17:00 the Bodhi Tree Bhutan TV show

21:00 Empowering youth of Bhutan with greater knowledge of Buddhism

24:00: What is a Buddhist?

26:00 Including animals and the 17th Karmapa's efforts on vegetarianism and the environment

27:00 Jangsem Monday (Meatless Monday)

30:00 Buddhist aspect of Jangsem Monday

34:00 17th Karmapa's statement on meat-eating in Tibetan Buddhism

36:00 Geography of Bhutan and Tibet and 17th Karmapa in USA

39:00 Meat as a status symbol in Bhutan, and the 'poor northener'

40:00 Eating Animals as a health issue

Although hardcore vegans and vegetarians will no doubt wonder why only Monday? Murdering animals to eat them is murder and unnecessary after all, nonetheless I think such initiatives are still very beneficial in getting people to consider whether or not eating animals is kind, healthy and good for the environment. It never fails to disappoint and baffle me how many Buddhists (and non-Buddhists) who say they are environmentalists, animal-lovers, or have love and compassion for all beings and so on, yet regularly choose to have tortured and murdered animals on their plate. More on that in the future!

Music? Meat is Murder by the Smiths (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2TWL29gNqFo).

For more on Jamgsem Monday: https://www.facebook.com/JangsemMonday/about/ https://www.youtube.com/@jangsemmonday3867

For original research and translations on Buddhism and Vegetarianism, in particular the teachings of the 17th Karmapa, see here:https://dakinitranslations.com/buddhist-vegetarianism/