[cwgwowcom]

I have given up eatting meat a couple weeks ago. I am on the fence about eggs and cheese. I have read so many conflicting answers from other sites about eating it and not eating it. What is your diet like? Do you eat eggs and cheese?

[Trientoriciom]

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Hi awakening, and welcome to the group

I don't think that the Buddha made any official dietary requirements. Some Buddhists are vegetarian and others aren't.

This thread 'Vegetarianism in Buddhism' might be of interest to you.

http://www.buddhismwithoutboundaries...sm-in-Buddhism

with kind wishes,

A-D

[bypeTeenehalT]

thank you Aloka-D for helpful link

[attishina]

Hi awakening!

Wellcome to BWB!

Meat is not needed for having a healthy diet. I give up eating meat long ago before knowing about Buddhism. I give up because a personal view about ecological issues. So I think it is a very personal desition to give up eating meat.

[saumemeva]

I still do eat meat. But since i became a Buddhist i do value it more if that makes sense..usually before i eat meat i say a small prayer to honor the animal that had been sacrificed in order to feed my body and help me live longer so that i can hopefully one day achieve Enlightenment.

[ionitiesk]

before i eat meat i say a small prayer to honor the animal that had been sacrificed in order to feed my body and help me live longer so that i can hopefully one day achieve Enlightenment

Maybe you can honor the veggies that feed our body and help us to live so to achieve Enlightenment...

[feannigvogten]

I gave up meat when I started to practice Buddhism probably because I had guilt issuses from my pass. Being part of a meat eating family my vegetarianism was causing problems so having dealt with my guilt I have returned to eating meat and have more harmonious home life.

[brraverishhh]

There is so much conflicting information about diet, and what's good or not good to eat. After many years of contemplation on diet, I came to the conclusion that we all have different dietary needs depending on our desposition. More important is conscious and instinctive eating. I can see how we are attached to the food we like to eat even to the point that it may be harmful to our being. Also I have noticed how food & diet can become a political statement, a method of control and dare I say even a pseudo-religion. I can see why the Buddha provided dietary rules to the monks/nuns (ie not eating before 12noon, alms rounds etc) as he was aware of the cravings and emotional bonds that develop with our dietary.

[gabbaman]

Potentially more important than vegetarianism:

1. How many meals are eaten in a day.
2. Excess eating in order to exercise for beautification.
3. Buying local vs. otherwise.

There may be other examples; it isn't so much a matter of the precept against killing as it is a matter of pursuing Right Livelihood. Deeply related, but focusing on vegetarianism might be missing the forest for the trees.

[22paseabelldaps]

Dear Awakening
Do please take a look at my thread on this a couple of weeks ago.
I have recently become a vegetarian too so I am very glad to talk to you about it!

My personal stance is absolutely clear - to me real spirituality in Buddhism or otherwise simply cannot be possible if one still eats the flesh of other living things. I do feel very strongly about it as I have looked into what is going on and what suffering is inflicted.

I feel lighter, healthier and true to myself since I stopped eating animals. I wish you well in this hugely positive step you have taken. I do still eat eggs but from a nearby farm where the hens can be seen to be free and happy, I still eat dairy produce and a little milk but buy organic.

It takes time for the transition from meat-eater to vegetarian and so far I have given up all meat and fish. I intend to become vegan as soon as practical. At the moment I am reading books and making plans to ensure my diet is truly more excellently balanced than ever before.

[Poeetiol]

I gave up meat when I started to practice Buddhism probably because I had guilt issuses from my pass. Being part of a meat eating family my vegetarianism was causing problems so having dealt with my guilt I have returned to eating meat and have more harmonious home life.

Hi Fletcher
I can well understand. My husband eats meat and it is of course his decision always. However, it has been quite a thing for us to adjust to over the past couple of months. He says he is ok with me becomeing a vegetarian but is also awkward. He always used to cook for us both, now we cook separate meals. I think it will take a little more time for us to get used to it. So it does cause changes in family life which are tougher than I ever realised they would be.

[ONLINEPHARMACYCHEAPILLS]

I feel lighter, healthier and true to myself since I stopped eating animals. I wish you well in this hugely positive step you have taken. I do still eat eggs but from a nearby farm where the hens can be seen to be free and happy, I still eat dairy produce and a little milk but buy organic.

Long as you are able to thrive, nourish yourself, and able to contribute to less suffering in the world, it all sounds good to me! :-)

[Jadldqys]

Thanks Dharma
it does feel good. I wish you well and thank you for your kind wise words.

[zoneouddy]

No problemo Milly :-)

[pumpineemob]

One of my practices is to recite a gatha prior to each meal. It starts out "72 labors brought us this food, we should know how it comes to us." It goes on to discuss the elimination of greed and craving, and closes with "We take this food in order to realize the path of practice." So my questions to myself are (1) Am I aware of and appreciate the hard work and suffering that brought this food? (2) Am I eating to nourish my body, or to entertain the senses? (3) Does eating this support my practice goals, namely the alleviation of suffering in all sentient beings? Of course, I frequently fall short of the mark, but for the most part I've learned to eat to live, not live to eat.

[Master_B]

To go back to your original question, if you know someone who can provide you with eggs you can ask for some that are unfertilised so the veggie problem does not arise. Even better, keep a few hens yourself so that you can guarantee their wellbeing. Milk and cheese are a different problem as a cow has to be permanently in calf in order to produce milk and the calf is often then used for veal while the parent goes through the cycle again. As the man says; you can only kill an animal once but you can torture it for a lifetime.
If you can get past the milk issue (maybe using soya milk) the chees issue is a little straightforward as rennet free cheese is widely available. I read, in fact, that most cheese is rennet free because it is so expensive, but is just not advertised as such as it's bad for business.

There is a website available that list food that you think is vegetarian but isn't. I forget the address but try google.

Good luck
Leonard crowin

[HaroTaure]

there are 1440 minutes in a day. out of that, prabably less than 20 minutes is actually spent actually chewing and swallowing. During the remaining 1420 minutes, is a person a vegetarian or not a vegetarian?

[LkEHaduy]

there are 1440 minutes in a day. out of that, prabably less than 20 minutes is actually spent actually chewing and swallowing. During the remaining 1420 minutes, is a person a vegetarian or not a vegetarian?

....and the answer is MU

[maxsobq]

....and the answer is MU

You must be right. That is also what the cow said.

[addyta.org]

Nice cow in the avatar.

When I was younger I lived next to a farm for a while and made friends with an adult bull like this one. I used to groom him with a horse- brush and wash the hardened shit off his tail in a bucket. Lovely animal !