Vegetarianism etc

[Guest guest]

Traditionally all the major religions of India have advocated vegetarianism.

Even if their origins do not indicate that, they've slowly evolved towards

that.

 

Eating meat involves two things :

 

1.Killing a living thing.

2.Consuming the flesh.

 

Both these acts have an effect on one's mind. They deprive the mind of its

inherent tenderness, love and compassion. Plus the traditional Indian

thought had over the ages developed an immense respect for life. Jains for

instance don't even eat anything that grows under the ground - onions,

potatoes - as they would kill the plant.

 

Apart from morals, even for spiritual progress there're implications. All

foods have an effect on the mind and body. Let alone meat, if you see some

Indian families, the elders after a trip to one of the holy places (KAshi,

RAmeshwaram etc) are required to give up eating one particular plant - most

give up eating onions etc As is well known onion is an aphrodisiac and is

not conducive towards spiritual progress.

 

Ramana Maharishi in his "Talks ...", also stresses the importance of a

sattvic vegetarian diet for spiritual progress.

 

It's a misconception that the Buddha advocated the eating of meat. The

Buddha insists that his bhikshus beg for food. He also stresses that the

bhikshus shouldn't be choosy about the food that they're given and accept

any offering with humility. It's in this vein that sometimes the Buddhists

ate meat. But the Buddha is clear that the bhikshus should not accept any

meat, where the killing was done escpecially for feeding the bhikshu.

 

How can the 'Compassionate One' advocate the eating of meat? The Buddha

enjoins kindness, love and compassion towards all life.

 

 

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