Ineed to research Hinduism. Why do they believe they have to be vegatarians?
2007-01-22 04:33:47 · 7 answers · asked by animalluvr42@sbcglobal.net 1 in Society & Culture ➔ Religion & Spirituality
Hindus should aspire to be vegetarian, as this complies with the concept of ahimsa (non-violence). However, it is absolutely pertinent that the brahmins are vegetarian. Rather than being physically greater than the other castes, brahmins are supposed to be considered more spiritually advanced than lower castes. People who are spiritually advanced would realize the harm cause to animals slaughtered for meat, hence the vegetarianism.
However, as you can see by the numerous meat and poultry containing dishes, all Hindus are not vegetarian.
2007-01-22 05:43:15 · answer #1 · answered by lotusmoon01 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Hindus are supposed to be vegetarians. The Brahmins, the kshatriyas and vysyas except Sudras are supposed to take up evolvement and compassion for all and so also have to take up the value of vegetarianism. That is the prescription of Hindu scriptures.
Hinduism preaches vegetarianism as a principle of non-injury (Ahimsa) due to the following reasons. Also any one who is to encompass everything as God should love every being and try their best to avoid suffering of other beings.
However there is an argument that a chain of life can be maintained only by intake of living things. So to live life, vegetariansm is advocated.
Unlike animals, plants do not have emotions. Plants have only body. No mind or the intellect. Mind is the seat of all emotions, joy and sorrow, pain and pleasure. A tree does not mind to pull all the minerals from the soil never minding its sibling growing nearby. No plant cares for their children.
Pain and pleasure can only be felt by the mind.
(However there are certain plants which indicate sensation of emotions and infact Hinduism prohibits such plants also from being killed to avoid even the slightest himsa. Also emotion is said to be high when the moon rises. That could be sensed by us. Emotions are high in the evening than in the mornings. So in India the plants are not disturbed after sun-set. Also to insist on us that we kill plants as the last resort to survive, Hindus also worship and show their sense of gratitude through their festivals to these crops which make them survive. This is to indicate not to indulge or waste but use them only to the needed level).
Animals have body and mind, but they do not have a fully grown intellect. So they could feel the pain and we see them display emotions of parenthood and other feelings, and also pain.
So killing animals would lead to Himsa which has to be avoided especially by an evolved human being who wishes to see all beings as God. If he sees everything as God, how can he create sufferings for any being, being it man or animal.
So Hindus are supposed to be kind to humans and vegetation.
2007-01-23 02:42:57 · answer #2 · answered by Raj 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
The concept of ahimsa... "non harm"... killing another animal for selfish purposes is considered "harmful" not only to the animal as "suffering" but as bad karma to the "self".
Many Buddhists practice the same idea of being vegetarian. We see all animals, insects, etc. as "sentient beings" who all strive to be "happy". It also loops in with the concept of rebirth too but that's a whole other issue... your question was Hinduism.
For more info: www.hinduismtoday.com Jan/Feb/Mar issue discusses this in GREAT detail!
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2007-01-22 12:39:29 · answer #3 · answered by vinslave 7 · 1⤊ 0⤋
well it does not say dont eat meat, it advises hindus not to eat meat. u can understand why it says that. two things in this world have a heart which pumps blood. a human and an animal. u are not allowed to stop ahumans heart, coz otherwise it is called murder. since animals cant talk, ppl presume that god made them to eat, but infact they made them for us to look after them. so u cant stop a humans hear, why can u stop a animals heart ?
is it coz their not as intelligent as us ? tell me why ?
2007-01-25 08:39:43 · answer #4 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
They Believe after they die they are reborn into another person or animal....which is why animals are sacred and they let them run in the streets... they believe their ansestors are in other ppl or animals. if a hindu walked in mcdonalds seeing you eat a burger they would say OMG ur eating my COUSIN! they think their friends and family are reborn into animals or other people...and john is wrong...they respect and worship ALL animals.....anyways YES they are strictly vegetarians
2007-01-22 12:39:02 · answer #5 · answered by Rubba Bubba 2 · 1⤊ 0⤋
here's the link to hinduism
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hinduism
2007-01-22 12:39:25 · answer #6 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
They eat lots of different meats just not cows
2007-01-22 12:37:40 · answer #7 · answered by JOHN 7 · 0⤊ 1⤋