It is unlikely the historical Buddha was a vegetarian. In the earliest recording of his teachings, the Tripitaka, the Buddha did not categorically forbid his disciples to eat meat. In fact, if meat were put into a monk’s alms bowl, the monk was supposed to eat it. Monks were to gratefully receive and consume all food they were given, including meat.

There was an exception to the meat for alms rule, however. If monks knew or suspected that an animal had been slaughtered specifically to feed monks, they were to refuse to take the meat.

We see more and more people have taken on a vegetarian diet for health reason and also they are aware of how animals are sufferings. It is scientifically proven that eating meat will increase the risk of getting heart disease and cancer. Apart from that, people are also acknowledging that animals are like human beings, they have emotions and feelings too. Therefore, more people nowadays choose to take on a vegetarian diet.

It may be true that Buddha did not say vegetarianism is mandatory in the Buddhist faith. But if we want to develop compassion, how can we continue to eat meat knowing that a life has suffered so much before ending up on our table? We can always start with one vegetarian meal a day until we can give up eating meat. It will be good for our spiritual practice and also our general wellbeings.

However, in Buddhism, we believe in causes and effects. When we buy and eat meat, this will cause the animals killing and suffering everyday. Buddha teachings taught us loving-kindness, compassion, tolerance, acceptance and many other qualities. As such, by stop eating meat, many animals’ lives will be saved. We should think deeper and practice compassion towards the animals.

This was one of the first thing I learnt about vegetarianism from the Theravadians. We were also taught that we should try not offer meat to the Sangha as that shows mindfulness and compassion on our side. There is also the part about not killing or taking of a live for our palate.

Nowadays, people are more conscious and there are a lot of vegetarian restaurants around and there are even vegan restaurants. Besides that, even the regular restaurants are very accommodating and will happily serve vegetarian dishes on request. So, making that choice of going vegetarian is quite easy nowadays.

Besides, looking at how some of these animals are slaughtered will really turn your stomach and make you think twice about consuming meat.

This article has given many reasons why one should practice vegetarianism both from a spiritual point of view and also from a secular point of view.

At the end of the day, if one were to practice kindness and awareness, the choice to go meatless will be relatively easy.

Some people observe the 1st and 15th of Lunar calendar month, they only take vegetarian meals on both of this day.
The sangha and people in Tibet back then, they are eating meat to survive. the weather was too cold, its not possible to have vegetable grow in Tibet. However there are a lot of renowned attained practitioners came from Tibet. Definately these sangha was having a very good motivation, eating meat is just merely for survivors.

Being vegetarian is a form of compassion as well as it helps us to better relate to animals. When we say that it is alright to be eating some animals, yet not alright to be eating other animals, it does not make any sense at all. How can we differentiate what is alright to be eaten, and what is not right to be eaten? By the end of the day, both are still animals, and meat that we would be putting into our mouths.