I am a Buddhist, do Buddhists HAVE to be vegetarians?

Question

Please support your answers.

Answer 1

1st off, there are literally hundreds of varieties of Buddhism. Many are so different from each other that they could qualify as seperate religions. That is, if you even consider Buddhism to be a religion. (some sects consider it a philosophy or a way of life and find the term religion to be overly regimented)

SE Asian Buddhists tend to focus more on rituals and idols. Chinese and Japanese Buddhists have incorporated a lot of Taoism into their practice and thus distinguish it as Ch'an or Zen. Even straight ahead Indian Buddhism is divided into the Mahayanist and Hiniyanist traditions. And Tibetans are a whole deal unto themselves with their various Taras and Tankas etc.

As you can see, it is not so simple to say what Buddhists say or believe. Some are so strict on the no killing thing that they sweep the ground before they walk and wear veils over their mouths and noses (so as not to accidentally kill bugs)! Jains (a pre-Buddhist faith very similar to Buddhism) are also like this to some extent.

Anyhow, like with everything, you will have to decide for yourself what makes sense to you. You should also take the time to educate yourself on your beliefs... at least to know why you believe them. I would start with Buddha's Lotus Sutra and go on to the Diamond Sutra. Then you can branch out and see all the various systems, practices, and philosophies that have come from Guatama's original "eightfold path" to end suffering and ignorance.

The short answer is that Buddha taught that this world is an illusion. Thus eating meat is primarily only a problem if one is overly attached to it, or it increases one's attachment to the illusion (which many Buddhists claim it does), or reinforces ignorant beliefs about reality. The problem is in your mind, not in your actions.

Answer 2

Chinese Buddhism emphasises a vegetarian diet. Thus, some people thought that one who practises Buddhism must be a vegetarian. People who cannot stop eating meat misunderstood that they are not ready to start to learn about Buddhism. If we look around at the Buddhists in Japan, Sri Lanka, Thailand or Tibet and Mongolia, not to mention the lay followers, we find even the monks and nuns have meat in their diet. Can you say that they are not practicing the Buddha’s teaching? They are not Buddhists?

Do not think that one must be a vegetarian in order to learn about the teaching of the Buddha and that one cannot practise Buddhism if one cannot be a vegetarian. To practice Buddhism and be a vegetarian are not the same thing. Some people who become a Buddhist, do not learn much about the teachings but only know how to be a vegetarian. This causes unhappiness among the members of the family. They feel that it is too troublesome to be a vegetarian.

In fact one who is practising the teaching of the Buddha should: - after becoming a Buddhist - first understand the teaching of the Buddha and behave according to the teaching in both the family and the society. Purifying one’s conduct and mind, so that the members of the family feel that one has changed for the better should be the goal. If before becoming a Buddhist, one was greedy, has strong hatred and lacked of a sense of responsibility and loving kindness; and after practising the Buddha’s teaching, one becomes less greedy, less paranoid and shows more care to the others with a stronger sense of responsibility, then the members of the family would see the benefit of practising the Buddha’s teaching. At that time, if one wants to be a vegetarian, the family members would not object to it. In fact, they may also be encouraged to have sympathy towards other living beings and follow one to be a vegetarian. If one only knows to be a vegetarian after becoming a Buddhist and does not learn about others, one will surely encounter obstacles and cause misunderstanding.

Although it is not necessary for a Buddhist to be vegetarian, it is a good moral conduct in the Chinese Buddhism and is something that should be promoted. The teaching of the Buddha says that becoming a vegetarian will cultivate one’s loving kindness and compassion. By not harming the life of other living beings, not eating the meat of the other animals one will reduce one’s karma of killing and strengthen one’s sympathy towards the sufferings of Mankind. Mahayana Buddhism advocates the practice of vegetarianism, and says that to be a vegetarian has great merits in cultivating one’s mind of loving kindness and compassion. If one becomes a vegetarian but does not cultivate the mind of loving kindness and compassion, it is only a practice of no killing in a pessimistic way. It resembles the practice of the Hinayanist.

From the view point of the worldly Dharma, the benefit of becoming a vegetarian is very great. It is more economical, highly nutritious and may reduce illness. In the world at present, there are international vegetarian organisations. Everyone who likes to be a vegetarian may join them. Thus, it can be seen that it is good to be a vegetarian. And as Buddhist who emphasises compassion, we should advocate the practice more to others. However, one thing to note is that, do not claim that a Buddhist must be a vegetarian. Whenever meeting with a Buddhist, some will ask: have you become a vegetarian? Why are you still not a vegetarian after practising the Buddha’s teaching for so long? This will frighten some people away. To regard practising Buddhism and becoming a vegetarian as the same will in fact obstruct the spreading of Buddhism.

Answer 3

The Dalai Lama eats a small amount of meat because he claims he has health problems which won't allow him to enjoy a vegetarian diet. Some Buddhists are vegetarian and some are not. It's a personal decision, but vegetarianism is rarely the wrong choice.

Answer 4

Ultimately, it's a question only you can answer. Many who follow the Eightfold Path find that in asking themselves what is the right action with regard to food and supporting the body that supporting themselves through the death of other feeling creatures is not virtuous -- though one does not slay oneself, one benefits from another's death. For those who accept this precept, vegetarianism is an acceptable alternative.

On the other hand, the Buddha did not impose vegetarianism, and specifically refused to do so. I suggest you look into the subject more deeply and make your own decision in this matter.

Answer 5

No. Buddhists and Hindus do not have to be vegetarians. In fact, Buddhists, like the Dalai Lama, are fond of yak meat.

In a 1995 public message given in Seattle, the Dalai Lama admitted to eating meat every other day:
http://www.serv-online.org/Eileen-Weintraub.htm

Answer 6

I'm not quite sure. I'm Buddhist and I'm not a vegetarian. I guess you don't really have to, but if you become a vegetarian, you have to give up meat entirely. You can still eat seafood, at least. And eggs with white shells.

Answer 7

You should ask Buddha. He seems to be the eater of some caloric food that he was not able to metabolize. You should be a vegetarian because it is more healthy today. They put a lot of chemicals in processed food especially red meat. If you have the need for red meat you should eat wild game, deer, elk, etc. I would stay away from all red meat because of the acidic value. It is basically the same thing as your stomach structurally so the acid that is required may work on the lining of your stomach while digesting the red meat. Other meats like chicken and fish are not as solid in structure, and will digest easier. Lots of Vegetables will give you the same food values as hard meat, and are ten times easier to digest. The perfect diet is to eat a cup of (Wild Rice), before each meal and then balance the acid value of whatever else you eat. In other words if you do eat something that is high in acid you must eat something that is equally as high in alkali.

Answer 8

No they don't. The Buddha Himslef was not a vegetarian and whilst many Buddhists chose vegetarianism it's not a moral or ethical requirement of the Buddhist faith.

For more info see these articles about vegetariansim from Buddha.net
http://www.buddhanet.net/e-learning/qanda08.htm
http://www.buddhanet.net/e-learning/dharmadata/fdd21.htm

Answer 9

If you are an actual practicing Buddhist, shouldn't you know enough about your religion to know this already. BTW, I think that yes, you do need to be a vegetarian because you cannot hurt another living thing.

Answer 10

Becoming a vegetarian for a buddhist is only part of the journey towards attaining Nirvana.
You may not be a vegetarian in this lifetime but may be in your next life.