Can Buddhists eat meat and if they do is this breaking any precepts?

Question

Ive converted to Buddhism and Im finding it hard to stop eating meat (chicken and fish) and I was not sure if this would cause me bad karma

Answer 1

There are two major types of Buddhism...the greater and the lesser. The greater is the type you would find in Tibet, China, Vietnam, Japan, and Korea. The lesser is the type you would find in South-east Asia, outside of Vietnam. The greater teaches vegetarian ways, and the lesser doesn't. I learned this when tutoring Buddhist monks of the lesser vehicle...I saw one of them eating a Whopper and nearly fell over. I had gotten used to dealing with the Buddhist monks from Vietnam, and China...so I asked them about it, and that was their explanation.

Answer 2

Do Buddhists Eat Meat

Answer 3

Look, Buddhism teaches personal responsibility.
For lay people the precepts are basically about harmlessness and compassion. Within that, you do the best you can.
If there are circumstances in your life that make you decide to eat meat, then eat meat and accept any Karmic consequences of that.
You don't get kicked out of Buddhism for breaking the precepts - you get helped to keep them better.
Buddhism is not a judgemental religion. It is a religion of compassion for others and for yourself. That implies a certain discipline. Do your best!
Just that, really.
Eventually you will come to the point of enlightenment whether, right now, you eat meat or not. Do your best!

Answer 4

Not to sound harsh, but if no human or animal ever killed any other living creature, this planet would be even more of a wreck than it is now! Imagine a world where all creatures, including flies, mosquitoes and spiders could reproduce and never be killed other than dying naturally.... just think about that for a minute. Hey, wait- viruses and bacteria are living too! So does that mean we shouldn't take antibiotics or anti-viral medicines?? For that matter, fruits, vegetables and grains are "alive" also. Remember that the central idea in Buddhism is that none of this really matters. It's about letting go of wanting and self, and realizing that essentially you (along with every other being) are a manifestation of spirit, of the energy that some people call "God." In fact, every particle of matter(even those that comprise a cup or a desk), at the atomic level, is charged with that energy, and is therefore a part of God. Realizing this, you'll know 2 things. One- that you and me, as well as the cow that the hamburger came from that I ate for dinner, are insignificant. Two- nothing that happens in the external world (including eating meat) is significant in the long run. Accepting this will help you to live in the present and just "be" and not worry about every little thing that goes on in the world. I'm not saying that this means we all should do whatever harm we want and it doesn't matter. No- in fact, when people realize they are nothing, that means they are a part of everything (God) and will have greater respect for all living things. BUT all those physical forms will be transformed back to pure energy through death eventually, so essentially, killing animals for food (just like other carnivores and omnivores do) does not matter.

Answer 5

This Site Might Help You.

RE:
Can Buddhists eat meat and if they do is this breaking any precepts?

Answer 6

"You can eat meat if you wish " that is the Buddha's answer to your question. There is no restrictions ,laws ,regulations in Buddhism. It teaches Dharma and you need to understand them... If I do so ,what happen to me? If you smoke , what happen? You think and understand.

I am also eating meat . but I am a Buddhist. Vegetarianism is not a precept in Buddhism. It does not make bad karma to you. If you kill living being it makes you bad karma. You eat meat
Without the idea of hurting animals.

Answer 7

Lay Buddhist can eat meat as most of us are not vegetarian,also eating meat is not breaking any precept.
Not all vegetarians are Buddhists, and Not all Buddhists are vegetarians.

Answer 8

Some buddhists eat meat, others don't (although i think buddhism probably has one of the highest proportions of vegetarians of any religion). It's up to you how you interpret things. If you feel uncomfortable eating meat but can't bring yourself to give up, maybe you could consider restricting your meat intake to ethically reared animals only?

Answer 9

Eating meat goes against compassion for all sentient beings,it is harm,wrong thou shalt not kill,eating any living life form condones that killing,karmic consequences,that life form is a transferance ofconciuos mind,a brother or sister perfume from a former life time,I am budhisy,but also a caring moral human being in this life,who knows wot I will chose in the next.namaste.

Answer 10

Some Buddhists eat meat, however it's better to be vegetarian. The Buddha ate whatever was plopped in his bowl as long as the meat wasn't slaughtered specifically for him... so I think this is the way monks and other Buddhists can look at it. Personally, I'm vegetarian due to the fact that I have no desire to harm other sentient beings to stuff my gut.

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