Do not miss this!! So touching!
Dear students and friends,
In 1984, Alvaro Munera became permanently disabled and confined to a wheel chair for life… he was only 18 years old when that happened. Munera had been a bullfighter since the age of 12, and a successful one. Despite being the most celebrated bullfighter at that time, he often doubted his career choice. He felt that it was brutal, but ignored how he felt whenever he had to kill a bull. He stayed at the peak of his career until his 22nd match… the bull tore his left leg and tossed him into the air. When he landed his spinal cord and cranial was severely injured. This left him paralyzed from the waist down for life.
A few months after this incident, Munera went to America for physical rehabilitation. Being brought up thinking that bullfights are normal and “part of life”, Munera was then exposed to a whole new environment… an environment that actively fights against animal cruelty.
Instead of blaming the bull for paralyzing him for life, Munera became anti-taurino.
I find Munera’s story very inspiring. Instead of blaming others, Munera bit the bullet, realized and accepted his own wrongful action. Now, he has decided to devote his life to fight for animals rights till the day he dies.
I will be writing a letter to Mr Torero Alvaro Munera to thank him for his decision and to encourage him with his campaign to stop bullfighting. Click here to do the same!
Tsem Rinpoche
An interview of Munera which was published in Vice, 3 years ago.
A bull named Terciopelo [Velvet] gored the Colombian bullfighter Álvaro Múnera, aka “El Pilarico,” in 1984, confining him to a wheelchair for life. Múnera was 18 years old back then. His best friend, “El Yiyo,” was gored to death months later, and the manager of both bullfighters committed suicide three years after that.
Múnera became a hardcore animal rights defender and nothing less than the Antichrist for tauromachy [the art of bullfighting] aficionados. He currently works in the Council of the City of Medellín, using his position to defend the rights of disabled people and to promote anti-bullfighting campaigns.
Vice: How did you decide to be a bullfighter?
Álvaro Múnera: I was born in Medellín, where my dad had taken me to see bullfights since I was four years old. The atmosphere at home was totally pro-taurino [taurino is the Spanish adjective for everything relating to bullfighting culture]. We didn’t talk about football or any other thing, it was just bulls. Bullfighting was the center of the world for my dad. Since I grew up immersed in this taurino atmosphere, it was logical that at the age of 12, I decided to be a bullfighter. I started my career and five years later I became successful at the Medellín Fair. This was when Tomás Redondo, who was the manager of El Yiyo, agreed to be my manager too. He took me to Spain. I fought 22 times in Spain until on September 22 of 1984, I was caught by a bull. It gored me in the left leg and tossed me in the air. This resulted in a spinal-cord injury and cranial trauma. The diagnosis was conclusive: I would never walk again. Four months later I flew to the US to start physical rehab, and I seized the opportunity to go to college. The US is a totally anti-taurinocountry, and due to my former profession I felt like a criminal. I became an animal rights defender. Since then I’ve never stopped fighting for every living being’s right not to be tortured. I hope I will continue to do so until the very last day of my life.
Did you ever think of quitting bullfighting before that bull confined you to a wheelchair?
Yes, there were several critical moments. Once I killed a pregnant heifer and saw how the fetus was extracted from her womb. The scene was so terrible that I puked and started to cry. I wanted to quit right there but my manager gave me a pat on my back and said I shouldn’t worry, that I was going to be an important bullfighting figure and scenes like that were a normal thing to see in this profession. I’m sorry to say that I missed that first opportunity to stop. I was 14 and didn’t have enough common sense. Some time later, in an indoor fight, I had to stick my sword in five or six times to kill a bull. The poor animal, his entrails pouring out, still refused to die. He struggled with all his strength until the last breath. This caused a very strong impression on me, and yet again I decided it wasn’t the life for me. But my travel to Spain was already arranged, so I crossed the Atlantic. Then came the third chance, the definitive one. It was like God thought, “If this guy doesn’t want to listen to reason, he’ll have to learn the hard way.” And of course I learned.
Is there a lot of regret that you let it get to the point where you became paralyzed?
I think it was a beautiful experience because it made me a better human being. After convalescence and rehabilitation, I started working toward the goal of amending my crimes.
Many animal rights defenders applauded your decision, but many others say they can’t forgive you. They even call you “mass murderer” to this day.
There are people who think that I’m just resentful for the accident. That’s absurd. I’ve rebuilt my life and dedicated it to helping hundreds of disabled people get ahead, in addition to fighting for animal rights. On top of that, I don’t know of any resentful person defending his victimizer. A bull confined me to a wheelchair and another one killed my best friend! I should reasonably be the last person on earth to care about bulls.
But as for the people who cannot forgive me for what I did to so many bulls? I have to say that I understand them and agree, to some extent. My only hope is to have a long life so that I can amend my many crimes. I wish to have the pardon of God. If He doesn’t pardon me, He has good reasons not to do so.
Chiquilín, another repentant bullfighter, claims to have seen bulls weeping. He says that he cannot kill even a fly nowadays.
I take my hat off to that man. He’s a real hero who learned his lesson through reason and thinking.
Are you in touch with any other repentant bullfighters?
Truth be told, I don’t know if there are more repentant bullfighters. What is indeed known is that there are more and more ex-bullfighting aficionados every day. These are people who realized how macabre the show they were supporting really is, and so they stopped going to the bullrings. Sometimes they tell me their personal experiences and thank me for the articles I write.
What was the decisive factor that made you an animal-rights defender?
When I went to the US, where I had to face an antitaurine society that cannot conceive how another society can allow the torture and murder of animals. It was my fellow students, the doctors, nurses, the other physically disabled people, my friends, my North American girlfriend, and the aunt of one of my friends, who said I deserved what happened to me. Their arguments were so solid that I had to accept that it was me who was wrong and that the 99 percent of the human race who are firmly against this sad and cruel form of entertainment were totally right. Many times the whole of the society is not to blame for the decisions of their governments. Proof of this is that most people in Spain and Colombia are genuinely anti-bullfighting. Unfortunately there’s a minority of torturers in each government supporting these savage practices.
If the people of both countries are against bullfighting, why do bullfights still exist?
Well, I believe that bullfighting eventually will disappear if it doesn’t remove its elements of torture and death. There’s a generational shift in values, and most well-educated young people are against cruel traditions.
In your articles you’ve associated tauromachy with a lack of culture and sophistication on the part of its aficionados. Isn’t this a bit simplistic? How do you explain that intelligent people like Ernest Hemingway, Orson Welles, John Huston, and Pablo Picasso were into bullfighting?
Look, to be a talented person doesn’t make you more human, more sensible, or more sensitive. There are lots of examples of murderers with a high IQ. But only those who have a sense of solidarity with other living beings are on their way to becoming better people. Those who consider the torture and death of an innocent animal a source of fun or inspiration are mean-spirited, despicable people. Never mind if they paint beautiful pictures, write wonderful books, or film great movies. A quill can be used to write with ink or blood, and many terrorists and drug dealers of the 21st century have university diplomas hanging on the wall. The virtues of the spirit, that’s what really counts in God’s eyes.
MUNERA’S CONTACT
Do send him your kind words of encouragement to help him… also to thank him for campaigning against bullfighting.
Full Name: Alvaro Múnera Builes
Email: amunera@
Address: Council of Medellin | Medellin, Colombia. Cll Alpujarra Administrative Center. 44 # 52-165 Ed Council or in Spanish (Centro Administrativo la Alpujarra Cll. 44 # 52-165 Ed. Concejo)
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Bullfighting to many is a cultural thing, it has been practiced for a long time so it is just very natural to get involved in it. Everyone goes into the arena and cheers when the bullfighter kills the bull after rounds of teasing. In the process of the fight, the bull is agitated and is full of confusion and fear. It is not a pleasant experience for the bull.
It was unfortunate that Munera was hurt so badly but this is like karma comes back. He has killed so many bulls since 12 years old and has accumulated a lot of negative karma. However, from the accident, he gained some realisations. He realised that it was very cruel to make an animal suffers so much physical and mental pain before finally kill it. He is very regretful and became an animal activist.
For Munera, it is very inspiring for us because he is regretful for what he has done and he shows his remorse by becoming an animal activist to help to save the lives of the innocent bulls. Even though he is paralysed, he did not become depressed or blame it on the bull or other people. He takes the responsibility and does something good that benefits others. This is a very good example of focusing out. We make mistakes from time to time but the most important thing is what do we learn from it and how do we use the experience to benefit others which eventually will benefit ourselves as well.
Beautiful, inspiring and so touching story…. of Alvaro Munera a former bullfighter. He is a real hero who learned his lesson through reason and thinking.That is really great of him and even campaigning against bullfighting.He accepted his faith and realized that animals do have feelings too.Not to harm them but to protect them.
Thank you Rinpoche foe sharing such a touching story .
Doy gracias a Dios que toco su corazon para poder luchar contra la matanza de toros. Que se que es un deporte o como sea que lo llamen es cruel…..y espero que algun dia se termine o existe mas y que en la historia como una forma de divertirse inmoralmente insensiblemente sin tener corazon hacia los animales. Buena suerte y espero que su ayuda sea de mucho valor para parar la corrida de toros!!
His story is very inspiring. Although he had to pay such a huge price to realise the things he has done, but i’m glad that after the incident he actually realises something, for some other bullfighters, they might just wait for the body to heal and then continue hurting the bulls. Each and every single animal has feelings, we shouldn’t be hurting them especially when we are born with brains that help us to judge what is right to do and what is not.
感恩仁波切的分享。所谓：放下屠刀，立地成佛。或者知错能改，善莫大焉。来形容这位西班牙仁兄。他的作为值得我们钦佩和学习榜样。能在错误中领悟，而没错怪他人的精神是很少有的，反过来还帮动物讨回人道立场公道。钦佩！钦佩！
it is good he didn’t blame the animal, he accepted it and knew animals were being abused/killed. i hate animal abuse so much, it is bad how he thought it was a “part of life” to go bull fighting. at least he became aware of it. please become vegetarian and stop animal cruelty!
可想而知业力如影随形。。。。
Dear Rinpoche, I agree that Alvaro Munera deserves to be paralyzed or else more bull will be killed in the show. The good point is after he was being paralyzed, he regretted and now he is fighting against animal cruelty to bulls. And I will forgive Alvaro Munera for what he has done, at least he learns that animals have feelings too.
I really don’t find this brutal culture is an entertaining, it is purely cruel and self satisfaction! No respect for other being at all.
It is beautiful to see Alvaro Munera has realised and enlighten that instead of blaming others, Munera bit the bullet, realized and accepted his own wrongful action. And now, he has decided to devote his life to fight for animals rights till the day he dies. I truly thank him for his enlightenment and able to help and spread the awareness of anti- bullfighting. He will be saving many lives 🙂
A tragedy can bring us down, really down if we can’t let go of it. Becoming disabled, even we are unhappy, hating the whole world, feeling sad, throwing tantrum to others to release our anger, etc, we are still disabled, the fact and reality will not change a bit, so instead of torturing others and ourselves, why not we do the other way round? since that’s the fact that cannot change already, just stay happy and continue to live our live.
Bad experience can be a very good lesson, because through bad experience, we learn it the hard way and it goes deep in to our mind, so we really learnt it and not repeat it again.
I do respect Álvaro Múnera a lot because he told the whole world what is the meaning of kindness, what is the secret of staying happy and the possibility of mind transformation. even he climb up so high in his career once, but after he fell, he became another greater person, that is saving lives instead of harming them, he do not only talk, he even put up his life working on it until the last day of his, He totally let go of what he gained before, let go of the anger that he suppose to has. Instead of seeking sympathy, he gives sympathy to the animals.
Thank you Álvaro Múnera for being such inspirational to many people.
Its really touching indeed! Alvaro Munera Builes, inspite of being called by many as a “mass murderer”, still decided to turn his life around, accepted the full blame and devoted the rest of his life in helping animals, so as to “amend many of his past sins” to seek pardon from his God! Many people took their hats off to this ‘real’ man and considered him truly a hero who learnt his lessons through good reasoning and thinking. “The virtues of the spirit is in God’s eyes, and that’s what really counts,” he said.
Through this misfortune, it turned out to be a blessing in disguise. If Alvaro Munera was not gored by the bull, he will still continue bull fighting as his career which will create more negative karma for himself.
It is very inspiring to know that Alvaro did not turned bitter and withdrawn through this misfortune, instead he had the realization that what he did in the past is the result of his present situation. In fact he said that it was a beautiful experience because it made him a
better human being. He let go of his pain, accepted his present condition and even though confined to a wheelchair, he started working on his goal to amend his crimes by becoming an animal rights defender.
This is a very interesting story, Alvaro Munera had to learn it the hard way. There were many times in which he could stop but continued his career until finally resulting in an incident which cause him to be paralyzed. What’s really inspiring is that instead of blaming the bull or others of that incident he went on to become an animal rights activist. It must be really hard on him for both sides to fight for animal rights, where on one side he cannot escape his past and people would not be able to forgive him, the other would be those who think he is just being resentful for the incident. Growing up in a bull fighting environment with his dad so passionate about bull fighting must also be hard to face now that he is anti-taurino.
I am though surprised to learn that there are many anti-bullfighters in the country itself and that because a minority of people in the government still support the practice that it still exists. I do hope what he says that bullfighting may soon cease to exist if it continues its savage torture and death is true.
Thank you for sharing Rinpoche.
Applaud Mr Alvaro for finding the courage to turn back on his decisions it is not easy one becomes hardened by killing. Come to think of it seeing the foetus removed from the heifer I don’t think I could even see that. Choosing the wrong path then coming back to the right path it is not easy well at least he chose the right path while he was still young.
Dear Rinpoche,
This story is indeed a very touching story indeed.
Though some parts of it is sad and some parts of it are happy times all in all though not all may agree I am very happy that he has gotten injured not because of the thought that that’s one bull fighter gone from the ring but because of the fact that instead of blaming the bull for paralyzing and injuring him he his own self is excepting the blame.
I am glad that now he is on the opposite and he is now an animal rights defender.
Though many animal rights defenders still don’t forgive him over what has done I am sure many other people would have forgiven him…. the fact that how many Bull fighters have been thrown in to a wheelchair for life, excepts the blame and even turns over a new leaf to be an animal rights defender?
It is only Mr Torero Alvaro Munera who would have the courage to face the public, except the blame and starts protecting animal rights.
I am very happy for him and what he has and i will definitively write an email to him to congratulate him for all he has done and to keep doing what he is doing.
I really hope both God and Buddha will forgive him for what he has done previously and also so that he will have a lone life so that he can continue to help thousands of animals.
Thank you Rinpoche for sharing!!!
Love
Jutika
Wow! Good for you Álvaro Múnera! Although what has happened to you is NOT a good thing but I am glad you sorted that out and changed your perspective. I really do hope that people will stop using animals as entertainment. It is definitely not fun to torture and kill them. I never watch bull fighting as I find them very inhumane. I am sure many people will support what he is doing for other disabled. Instead of mopping and wallowing in self pity, one should be stronger and make it right. I am really happy you did!
Those who are pro-taurino say that bullfighters are such brave, courageous men because they stand in front of the terrified creature, taunting it with a sword and a red cape. What I think is even braver is the person who is willing to step away from the pressures of the “tradition”, and speak up against it. I’ve heard that those who support bullfighting can be particularly…virulent when it comes to their attack against people who they consider turncoats.
And not only does he have to contend against the pro-bullfighting crowd, but he also has to deal with the animal rights activists who can’t forgive him for his past…THAT is bravery!
And speaking of tradition, it’s a shame that Spain has such a horrific, bloody tradition. It’s really not something I’d be proud of.
From the interview, I found that what happened to him was really a blessing! Even though it was a sad case, but it turned out to be a good thing for him and the world!
(It was like God thought, “If this guy doesn’t want to listen to reason, he’ll have to learn the hard way.” And of course I learned.)
To me, God doesn’t let Munera learn it hard way even though it may look like one. From the point of view of Buddhism, what happened to Munera may be a purification of his previous bad karmas of killing and hurting the bulls, and the realization he got from the incident save Munera himself and save the bulls and the world! This is truly a blessing! By Munera transformation, it encourages more and more people to stop the killing, and thousands of bulls can be saved!
(Is there a lot of regret that you let it get to the point where you became paralyzed?)
I think it was a beautiful experience because it made me a better human being. After convalescence and rehabilitation, I started working toward the goal of amending my crimes.
By realizing that was a beautiful experience,Munera purified a lot of his bad karmas, and I truly admire and rejoice for him! Pain experience became such a blessing. And he is working toward the goal of amending his crimes, he is sincere in his actions and words. He is the true hero. Salute!
I am really happy that Alvaro realised what he does in the past was is not right maybe due to his bad karma that he got into the bullfight industry. I am glad that he still have time for him to repent and do something about his past. I rejoice that he didnt loose his life and/or blame others for his current situation. I also rejoice that he is now understand the sufferings of these beings and doing something to defend these beings.
Yes,Alvaro has such a wonderful way of looking at his current physical state – his paralyzed body from the waist downwards – caused by a bull (that he was attacking in a bull-fight) turning on him and goring him. He regards this is as a beautiful experience; as it has taught him to be a better person.
Instead of clinging on to negative emotions, like self-pity, he is able to let go and forgive the bull that gored him.Instead, he has been dharmic enough to see himself as having created the karma or cause for this terrible thing to happen to him . Furthermore, he has made a resolution to spend the rest of his life fighting for the rights of handicapped people – giving this group of people a voice to be heard by all. Most of all, he has resolved to also promote anti-bullfighting campaigns for the rest of his life.
His touching story is both an inspiration to us ,as well as a grim reminder that what goes out from us will come back to us. Like him, we should treat the suffering, that results from a negative karma ripening on us,as an opportunity to train our mind and transform.
It is interesting how he did not blame the bull for ruining his life but rather accepted the fate and decided to go against bullfighting. Personally, if someone cripples me, I would not forgive the person easily despite how I usually am.
Valuing mind transformation of physical deformation is a virtue as this man has shown.
wow, this is so touching. i am glad that he took the blame, did not blame the bull and devoted the rest of his life to helping animals.he is very kind to do what he did. i hope he will live long so he can elp many animals in need.
Beautiful real life story. I admire Munera to have used his so called misfortune to create a greater cause to prevent cruelty to animals and inspiration to the those incapacitated by accidents.
His courage to live in his belief through criticism and punishment to benefit what he is passionate about is truly inspirational.
Lesson to be learnt is to be able to change when realisation is experienced for the better situation in this world.
This guy is inspiring, everyone did something wrong in the passed, as long as you face the problem, sincerely regret, apologies and does whatever promised, people will forgive, I think Álvaro Múnera is a real life example for us.
Even though Alvaro have some difficulty in his action but it gave him time to think more and do something better for others. I do believe for him to received what he have to experiences now is based on his collective good karma. Just to imagine if Alvaro didn’t got caught by the bulls, he will continue his career as a bull fighter, and many bulls will be hurt and killed, and he himself will collected much much great negative karma. Sometimes good thing happened based on bad karma, sometimes bad thing happened due to good karma. If Alvero became more famous, he will not stop his job, and he will not spent his time to care about others, let’s alone bulls. Even though this accident did damage him psychically but it help Alvero to developed his true nature which is kindness.
Another interesting point stand out for me from this article is even though Alvaro was brought up in bull fighting culture since young and he did well in early stage of his career, but when he saw the bull being torture to death, he did felt pain for them. It’s clear sign that Buddha mentioned many times, we always have a Buddha mind in us, but due to our bad karma, it was covered deep underneath. How we nurture our mind will bring different result, if we want to look good and don’t agreed with whatever happened to us, we can continue be unhappy or complain but nothing will change. But if we look at things from another angle like Alvaro does, everything will be much more easier for us, so choice is in our hand.
Wow… Munera is a wise man.
Many people after getting into an accident and turns out to be paralyzed like him would actually be very withdrawn from society. They would start to turn inwardly and become more selfish, thinking that life is unfair to them and they have been a victim… thus they start to find fault with others… Most people that survive a horrible accident would think this way, while a few rare ones would turn out stronger and appreciate life even more, just like Munera.
What Munera has done… I would say that he’s practicing the 4 opponent powers as he not only regrets of the past, but he is applying the antidote to do the opposite of what he once did…
Had Álvaro Múnera not become injured and paralysed by the bull, he would not have abandoned his career as a bullfighter. To continue his career in bullfighting means acquiring more and more heavy negative karma. Fortunately Alvaro had accepted his predicament and regretted his past negative actions. His decision to help other disabled people and to champion the cause of animal rights is commendable! May Alvaro succeed in his these endeavours!
This is a tremendously important post for it clearly documents a situation very much like the ones we encounter. Situations where we just knew that we have been or were doing, was not right or is not what we were meant to do, and yet we continued on for one reason or another. Essentially we keep finding reasons for us to keep going down the wrong path rather than change course.
I don’t see Alvaro as a man trapped in a wheelchair, but more a man who is richly liberated by this realizations and courage to face his “sins”. Such was this liberalization that he could see beyond himself and even described his disaster as a “beautiful experience” because it made him a better person, as if he finally knew that his purpose was to be a better person, not a champion bullfighter. The great turning point was Alvaro finally accepting his mistake and was ready to face the consequences. How Dharmic his opinion was, that if “god” decided not to pardon him, there must be a reason and he will not question the reason. Put another way, this is a good person who accepts his own karma instead of laying blame on others.
What really strikes me is how much Alvaro’s aversion to brutality, his sense of compassion towards others – bulls in this case, changed him. It seems that if Alvaro could accept his present condition, his criticism and “punishments”, it was because his care for the welfare of others exceed his care for himself.
I looooooooooove this:
“Is there a lot of regret that you let it get to the point where you became paralyzed?
I think it was a beautiful experience because it made me a better human being.”
Alvaro Munera, I think, gets it right when he values his becoming a better person more than the use of his legs.
I am sincerely moved.
Dear Thiery,
I heartily agree with you. I love what you pointed out and I am sure everybody would be moved by that as well. It is rare that people value self-development over gratification. This needs to be applauded. I am happy that although people have not embraced him as a hero, he still does his work because he genuinely cares for the cause and for the bulls who are murdered for sport.
I love his candidness and one does experience the struggles that he mentioned. I appreciate what he has gone through and I applaud his strength to carry on despite the fact that people in America considers him a traitor although he as turned over a new leaf. I am pretty sure he is genuine and sincere. Whatever he writes about has touch people and I think that’s all that matters.