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Vegetarian Life

Buddhism teaches respect for the lives of all sentient beings. Many Buddhists believe this means abstaining from eating meat. Is vegetarianism necessary or important? Has it been a part of our spiritual path?

Well, there is a story that the Buddha died because he choked on a piece of pork, so the tradition may have started there! I have known lots of teachers, and some of them were vegetarian and some weren't. Again it's a cultural thing. Tibetans eat meat because they live in a country where vegetables and even grains are scarce. In India it's probably easier to be a vegetarian, because it's so lush and fertile there. Not harming is a good thing, but then all of life is a cycle of dependent origination. We all die and we all serve as food for something else. I don't think there's a way of avoiding that, not at this level at least. I take the Dharma at its value: attain enlightenment. Let that be the first and chief concern.

vegetarians / suffering

Eating meat is bad for our bodies, creates suffering among the animals, and damages the environment. None of that sounds consistent with what I believe to be the teachings of the dharma.

Meat is a bad idea.

I really do think that it is just bad policy to eat another sentient being. I have several pets, and the thought of anyone thinking of them as food, when I know that they are complex creatures breaks my heart. I'm not sure if farm animals have the ability to reason and love the way we do, but I do know that they are capable of fear, depression, and terror. I know my precious furry companions give me affection and are afraid when they are exposed to the unfamiliar - how could it be any different for "livestock"? It seems to me like Buddhism and vegetarianism go hand in hand. Killing for food is just immoral.

Vegetarianism teaches that there is unity with all living creatures on this Earth. To eat other living things would be essentially eating a part of yourself. We are all of this earth together and not eating meat teaches respect for all animals.

We are all living creatures on this Earth. I believe in karma and in killing a fellow living thing is murder. Should you partake in killing and eating meat, karma will come back to you. What goes around comes around.

I think eating meat is horrendous. We are all living creatures of this earth, we all bleed and feel pain. I think being a vegatarian shouldn't be such a big part of a spiritual path because it is what we SHOULD be. This shouldn't even be an issue. Eating meat should be the anomaly.

Humm...

I think eating meat is a personal choice. I am almost a vegetarian...and planning to go all the way. We are all apart of the earth. Animals and plants are all living things. We are all living on the living. That is how we survive. Animals are living as are plants. Are you going to stop eating plants because you are killing a living organism? Hopefully not. There are many different angles and perceptions to look at vegetarianism.Overall, it is a personal choice and I have no problem with people who eat meat. It hurts me to think many animals are suffering but it is another lifesyle they choose to live. There is a freedom of choice. I respect that even though I may not believe it. Again, it still hurts.

Vegetarianism

The reality is we do not need meat in this day in age to stay alive and be functional productive and spriritual beings. What they do to animals in meat farms ir horrendous. Though I think eating meat is not the best thing for one's mind and soul I do not think that is because of my religious views. I think it's because my views on a healthy mind and body. I do not judge others for eating meat. I too once ate meat.

Spritual Path

I think that the only sentient beings on this planet are humans, but I do not think we have to kill other animals to survive. Everything has the right to live, but if they die it should not be for our consumption unless there is no other way to survive than i think it is different, but if we can survive on fruits and veggies then why not eat them instead of killing animals?

I think it is very important..

Eating flesh is very anti-buddhist, and if you eat meat you aren't a buddhist. It's like a jew that eats pork!! It's just not okay!