In Buddhism... is vegetarianism absolutely essential?

Answer 1

Not necessarily. The Buddha was not a vegetarian. He did not teach his disciples to be vegetarians and even today, there are many good Buddhists who are not vegetarians.
It is true that when you eat meat, you are indirectly and partially responsible for killing a creature but the same is true when you eat vegetables. The farmer has to spray his crop with insecticides and poisons so that the vegetables arrive on your dinner plates without holes in them. And once again, animals have been killed to provide the leather for your belt or handbag, oil for the soap you use and a thousand other products as well. It is impossible to live without, in some way, being indirectly responsible for the death of some other beings, and this is just another example of the First Noble Truth, ordinary existence is suffering and unsatisfactory. When you take the First Precept, you try to avoid being directly responsible for killing beings.
Mahayana Buddhism in China laid great stress on being vegetarian but both the monks and laymen/laywomen of the Mahayana tradition in Japan and Tibet usually eat meat.
f there was a person who was a very strict vegetarian but who was selfish, dishonest and mean, and another person who was not a vegetarian but who was thoughtful to others, honest, generous and kind, which of these two would be the better Buddhist?
One who eats meat can have a pure heart just as one who does not eat meat can have an impure heart. In the Buddha's teachings, the important thing is the quality of your heart, not the contents of your diet. Many Buddhists take great care never to eat meat but they are not concerned about being selfish, dishonest, cruel or jealous. They change their diet which is easy to do, while neglecting to change their hearts which is a difficult thing to do. So whether you are a vegetarian or not, remember that the purification of the mind is the most important thing in Buddhism.

Answer 2

No, Buddhism is an amazingly pragmatic religion,

If you want to be a Buddhist monk, you'll need to be vegetarian, generally.

Other than that, there are degrees. I know some buddhists who eat anything and everything; I know others who make a point of avoiding beef, but eat other meats; others eat only chicken or fish. There are no hard-and-fast rules to Buddhism... that's its central tenet, really!

Answer 3

On Vegetarianism

... to eat meat one can do just that. Those who believe that vegetarianism is not necessary for Buddhists have equally ... vegetarian will not eat meat he does use ...

www.buddhistinformation.com/on_vegetarianism.htm - 25k - Cached - More pages from this site - Save

Answer 4

No, the Dalai Lama eats a small amount of meat on the recommendation of his doctor. Being Buddhist, if the Dalai Lama eats meat then I will too.

Answer 5

It's a lost cause. Even eating plants is killing. You must consume to eat, Just do such in moderation, only enough to keep you functioning normally. No greed or Gluttony.

Answer 6

Yes, I think so. Because Buddha preached 'ahimsa' which is literally translated as 'non-hurt'. So, I don't think he'd expect his followers to kill animals. More so, for satisfying a taste - as he also preached renouning worldly pleasures and I'm sure desire of taste at the cost of another life would be one of them.

Answer 7

You get everlasting interest of a soldier and extra promotions in devil's protection stress. long term result's-----you could no longer connect the club of angels. it rather is obvious that your want/pastimes/thoughts take shape like a devil once you connect the corrupt forces.

Answer 8

No. The only restriction is that one should not accept meat if the animal was slaughtered specifically for us, even if it is a gift.

Answer 9

nope my boyfriend is a Buddhist and not a vegetarian.

Answer 10

No...pick up a copy of Lotus Sutra