- Joined
- Feb 23, 2009
- Messages
- 5,419
- Likes
- 1,001
I found this thread necessary after browsing certain unmentioned (and unmentionable) pakisthanie forums and discovering its patrons all had this appallingly fictitious, unreal and high falutin' notion about "all Hindus" being "vegetarian" LMAO, or that even that most Hindus were.
Please treat this as a scientific discussion, intended to dispel wide-ranging myths about the associated 'vegetarianism' and all its antecedents of a nation and the majority of its people.
Here are some FACTS for the uninitiated, which seem to be most middle-class 'educated' pakisthanies:
Hinduism: Is there a rule about Hindus eating meat?
By Gurudeva Sivaya Subramuniyaswami
Introduction
This is a very touchy subject.
Basically, there is a rule, an overlying rule, which gives the Hindu answer to this query. It is called 'ahimsa', refraining from injuring - physically, mentally or emotionally - anyone or any living creature. The Hindu who wishes to strictly follow the path of non-injury to all creatures naturally adopts a vegetarian diet.
We have collected many scriptural quotes which counsel Hindus not to eat meat. There are references in the Vedas and Manu Dharma Shastras to this effect, as well. As in other matters, Hinduism has very few rigid "do's and don'ts." Rather, its injunctions are called restraints and observances. The ultimate authority for answers to such questions is one's own guru, or our religious community and sampradaya and our own understanding of the spiritual benefits from abstaining from eating meat. Let me put it this way. There are good Hindus who eat meat, and there are bad Hindus who are vegetarians.
Today in America and Europe there are literally millions of vegetarians. This is because they want to live a long time and be healthy. Many feel a certain moral obligation to their own conscience which they wish to fulfill. There are some good new books on vegetarianism, such as Diet for a New America by John Robbins. If you want to know about vegetarianism from the American perspective, write to us and we can refer you to some excellent books. Perhaps at your next meeting you can invite some of these authorities to come and speak to your group. There is also a fine magazine dedicated to the subject, "Vegetarian Times," which comes out monthly.
Now to some answers to common misconceptions about vegetarianism and its relationship to Hinduism:
Answer #1: Simply put, vegetarians are more numerous in the south of India than in the north. This is because of climactic conditions and the Islamic influence within the north of our country. Our religion does not lay down rigid "do's and don'ts." There are no commandments. Our religion gives us the wisdom to make up our own mind on what we put in our body, for it is the only one we have, in this life at least.
Answer #2: All of our priests and religious leaders are definitely vegetarian, because they have to awaken the more refined areas of their nature in order to perform their work. Our soldiers and law-enforcement people are generally not vegetarians. This is because they have to keep alive their aggressive forces in order to perform their work. To practice yoga and be successful in spiritual life it is advisable to become a vegetarian. It is a matter of wisdom. Wisdom is the application of knowledge at any given moment.
Answer #3: Today, about twenty or thirty percent of all Hindus are vegetarians and the rest are not.
http://www.experiencefestival.com/a/Eating_Meat_in_Hinduism/id/51476
The percentage of Hindus nationwide estimated to be purely vegetarian is about 23%. On the other hand, Buddhism is estimated to have nearly 50% of its adherents as vegetarian. In addition, small but notable percentages of non-Hindu and non-Buddhist Muslim and Christian religious communities also observe vegetarian eating habits for health, economic or other reasons throughout the subcontinent.
Most Hindus therefore are meat-eaters. The fallacy acquired arises from selective exposure on the internet or in cyberspace, in antiquated, fictitious British literature or to a small demographic section of Hindus that is not necessarily representative of the entirety of Hinduism - typically the "upper caste" or 'priestly class'. Hinduism infact originated as a meat-eating religion, with subsequent 'vegetarianism' being attributed to a protuberance of the social stratification of the caste-system, and necessitated only for the highest caste (priests and spiritual counselors) so as to maintain a high level of 'purity' (defined in Hindu terms as sadhana) and spiritual consciousness. 'Vegetarianism' therefore is NOT mandatory for the vast majority of Hindus.
From Jeniffer Polan for About.com"
"Though vegetarianism is associated with Hinduism, it is not true that even a majority of Hindus are vegetarian nor is it a condition of Hinduism to be vegetarian. In fact, it is stated in the “Manusmriti” (5:56), “There is no sin in eating meat… but abstention brings great rewards.” So, one cannot state, “I am a vegetarian because I am a Hindu.” Stating this may also imply that all Hindus are vegetarian, which is not true."
The following provide links for various discussions about Hinduism and vegetarianism:
http://ask.metafilter.com/81087/What-percentage-of-Hindus-are-vegetarian
http://au.answers.yahoo.com/question/index?qid=20070925082504AA9OEyc
And in addendum: 10 Questions About Hinduism and 10 terrific answers
http://www.slideshare.net/bhavanikumar/10-questions-on-hinduism-with-10-terrific-answers
Please treat this as a scientific discussion, intended to dispel wide-ranging myths about the associated 'vegetarianism' and all its antecedents of a nation and the majority of its people.
Here are some FACTS for the uninitiated, which seem to be most middle-class 'educated' pakisthanies:
Hinduism: Is there a rule about Hindus eating meat?
By Gurudeva Sivaya Subramuniyaswami
Introduction
This is a very touchy subject.
Basically, there is a rule, an overlying rule, which gives the Hindu answer to this query. It is called 'ahimsa', refraining from injuring - physically, mentally or emotionally - anyone or any living creature. The Hindu who wishes to strictly follow the path of non-injury to all creatures naturally adopts a vegetarian diet.
We have collected many scriptural quotes which counsel Hindus not to eat meat. There are references in the Vedas and Manu Dharma Shastras to this effect, as well. As in other matters, Hinduism has very few rigid "do's and don'ts." Rather, its injunctions are called restraints and observances. The ultimate authority for answers to such questions is one's own guru, or our religious community and sampradaya and our own understanding of the spiritual benefits from abstaining from eating meat. Let me put it this way. There are good Hindus who eat meat, and there are bad Hindus who are vegetarians.
Today in America and Europe there are literally millions of vegetarians. This is because they want to live a long time and be healthy. Many feel a certain moral obligation to their own conscience which they wish to fulfill. There are some good new books on vegetarianism, such as Diet for a New America by John Robbins. If you want to know about vegetarianism from the American perspective, write to us and we can refer you to some excellent books. Perhaps at your next meeting you can invite some of these authorities to come and speak to your group. There is also a fine magazine dedicated to the subject, "Vegetarian Times," which comes out monthly.
Now to some answers to common misconceptions about vegetarianism and its relationship to Hinduism:
Answer #1: Simply put, vegetarians are more numerous in the south of India than in the north. This is because of climactic conditions and the Islamic influence within the north of our country. Our religion does not lay down rigid "do's and don'ts." There are no commandments. Our religion gives us the wisdom to make up our own mind on what we put in our body, for it is the only one we have, in this life at least.
Answer #2: All of our priests and religious leaders are definitely vegetarian, because they have to awaken the more refined areas of their nature in order to perform their work. Our soldiers and law-enforcement people are generally not vegetarians. This is because they have to keep alive their aggressive forces in order to perform their work. To practice yoga and be successful in spiritual life it is advisable to become a vegetarian. It is a matter of wisdom. Wisdom is the application of knowledge at any given moment.
Answer #3: Today, about twenty or thirty percent of all Hindus are vegetarians and the rest are not.
http://www.experiencefestival.com/a/Eating_Meat_in_Hinduism/id/51476
The percentage of Hindus nationwide estimated to be purely vegetarian is about 23%. On the other hand, Buddhism is estimated to have nearly 50% of its adherents as vegetarian. In addition, small but notable percentages of non-Hindu and non-Buddhist Muslim and Christian religious communities also observe vegetarian eating habits for health, economic or other reasons throughout the subcontinent.
Most Hindus therefore are meat-eaters. The fallacy acquired arises from selective exposure on the internet or in cyberspace, in antiquated, fictitious British literature or to a small demographic section of Hindus that is not necessarily representative of the entirety of Hinduism - typically the "upper caste" or 'priestly class'. Hinduism infact originated as a meat-eating religion, with subsequent 'vegetarianism' being attributed to a protuberance of the social stratification of the caste-system, and necessitated only for the highest caste (priests and spiritual counselors) so as to maintain a high level of 'purity' (defined in Hindu terms as sadhana) and spiritual consciousness. 'Vegetarianism' therefore is NOT mandatory for the vast majority of Hindus.
From Jeniffer Polan for About.com"
"Though vegetarianism is associated with Hinduism, it is not true that even a majority of Hindus are vegetarian nor is it a condition of Hinduism to be vegetarian. In fact, it is stated in the “Manusmriti” (5:56), “There is no sin in eating meat… but abstention brings great rewards.” So, one cannot state, “I am a vegetarian because I am a Hindu.” Stating this may also imply that all Hindus are vegetarian, which is not true."
The following provide links for various discussions about Hinduism and vegetarianism:
http://ask.metafilter.com/81087/What-percentage-of-Hindus-are-vegetarian
http://au.answers.yahoo.com/question/index?qid=20070925082504AA9OEyc
And in addendum: 10 Questions About Hinduism and 10 terrific answers
http://www.slideshare.net/bhavanikumar/10-questions-on-hinduism-with-10-terrific-answers