Should the Dalai Lama be vegetarian?

Question

Because of vitamin B12,he's eating meat!

Answer 1

The Dalai Lama follows the "Middle Road" and therefor is protected from religious (or any type) of fanatism.

Humans require a minimal intake of red meat (not just because of the B12 vitamin, but for many other reasons that are to long to quote) to preserve their health and longevity.

One day, humans may be able to create a product that imitates closely enough the properties of red meat, but for now, we must make the sacrifice of causing animals suffering in the name of our survival.

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No vegetarian, vegetalian or other meat-deprived diets can cope for the lack of meat. In late 2006, a global study requested by the UN and the European commissions of foods & drugs revealed that people feeding only from proteins coming from soy, chicken, fish and dairy products had a lifespan of 10 years shorter than their counterparts in the area they lived. This study was made worlwide, even in closed countries like China.

The study was little spoken of in the US and Canada, because of the opposition of the American Food&Drug Association.

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Concerning vitamin B12: it is found animal origin products like dairy products or in non red meats like fish and chicken. It is found in eggs, however, eggs contain a factor that blocks its absorbtion. As for other products, they are "added" with vitamin B12. This vitamin is extracted from other sources, which I prefer not to discuss in fear of being shocking to some readers.

To get the equivalent of B12 vitamin from a 3 once portion of liver, you need to ingest 2 ¾ liters of enriched soy milk or 1% cow milk.

Aside from that, because other non red-meat sources of B12 vitamin are undirect sources of it, the body has a hard time metabolising it properly.

Derived sources often have unforseen consequences on health like glucose, maltodextrine, fructose, hydrogenated oils, corn starch, Vitamin A/betacarotene, salt, etc.

Answer 2

These shoes are not leather. My satisfactory pal grew up on a farm. She too knows the sacredness of animals and loves them however she eats some meat on the grounds that she realizes that there's a change between exploiting animals and needing to outlive. The Dalai Lama has very small amounts of meat because he grew to become severely sick residing on a purely vegetarian food regimen. When requested "are not Buddhists supposed to be vegetarians", he responded "the nice ones are!" Buddhism does now not adhere to any single law. Thank goodness the Dalai Lama knows that there is a difference between survival and championing a purpose. The Buddhists i do know provide their children the things they must live on regardless of whether or not or now not "God" said to not. If it wasn't for the Dalai Lama being both non secular and sensible, Buddhism can be an Abrahamic religion.

Answer 3

Not necessarily. B12 in a "normal" is usually bound to animal proteins but not necessarily meat. For example, it can be ingested by drinking milk, eating cheese, etc. The vegetarianism in Buddhism is not about eating meat or animal products, but about the taking of the life of a sentient being. The idea is to not kill an animal for your own sustenance, but if you are straving and come across an animal that has been killed naturally (old age, another predator, etc.) the karmic burden is less. The consumption of non lethal animal products (dairy, etc.) has little or no karmic burden unless it is to the detriment of the offspring which would hae normally fed on that product. Besides, lab produced b12 supplements may be artificially bound to other substances as the B12 itself is simply a chemical compound containing high amounts of cobalt.

Answer 4

The poor guy was spent most of his life eating meat to some extent. He is old man now and it is difficult for elderly to change their diet. His belief apparently has limitations on how much they control their diet despite their belief in reincarnation.

Of course, it would probably be better if he got strict about vegetarian diet. This might also help his followers.

Obviously, B12 can be gotten from dairy products and other sources. There should be no need to eat egg either.

Answer 5

Last I heard Soya products have great deal of Vitamin B12.

Answer 6

No. Tibetan Buddhists have reasons for eating meat, one of which is that given Tibet's brutal winters, meat is one of the few kinds of food they have available year-round. They have a religious explanation for why they eat meat as well, although I don't know it well enough to explain it clearly. If I understand it correctly, it has something to do with their practices helping the animals they eat attain more fortunate incarnations the next time around.

Answer 7

Buddha's main religious principle is ahimsa, nonviolence to animal. Buddha preached that noone should kill animals and what to speak of eating which BUddha never taught.

Therefore, not only Dalai Lama, but any one who claims to be a follower of Buddha SHOULD abstain from meat eating.

Answer 8

Many Tibetan Buddhists eat meat because there are not enough grain supplies avaliable in the heights

Peoples' lives come before animal lives

Answer 9

Vitamin B12 can come from non-meat sources.

Dairy products and eggs contain it. That is ok for an ovo-lacto vegetarian, but not a vegan.

Answer 10

It's not required by his vows as a monk, but I think he would be setting a good example. B12 is available from other sources, like bacteria.