TYPES OF VEGETARIANISM
There are many types of Vegetarianism out there in the world
1. Ovo Vegetarianism - Eggs without Dairy
2. Lacto Vegetarianism - Dairy without Eggs
3. Ovo-Lacto Vegetarianism - Eggs and Dairy
4. Veganism - No animal material
5. Raw Veganism - Raw vegetables and fruits
6. Fruitarianism - Fruits only
7. Macrobiotic Diet - Seeds
8. Buddhist Vegetarianism - No animal material + "smelly" allium vegetables
Not all Buddhists in the world follow vegetarianism, such as Theravada, Vajrayana and Japanese Buddhists.
Chinese and Vietnamese Buddhists are very strict and follows vegetarianism strictly.
THERAVADA
Theravada Buddhists follow the "Triply Clean Meat" rule (三净肉), which consists of following three simple senses; SEE, HEAR, KNOW.
Buddhists are allowed to eat the meat given as long as they:
1. Does not SEE the killing
2. Does not HEAR the killing
3. Does not KNOW who AND how it was killed
Usually, people would offer rice (very common), vegetables and in some occasions, fruits and flowers, but no meat.
In canons, there were no comments in discouraging to eat meat, except for the flesh of:
1. Humans
2. Elephants
3. Horse
4. Dog
5. Snake
6. Lion, Tigers, Leopards
7. Bears
8. Hyena
VAJRAYANA (Tibetan)
Buddhists in Tibet eat meat due to their climate conditions. The climate in Tibet is not suitable for vegetables to grow, thus, there is a shortage in vegetables.
According to the Lankavatara Sutra, vegetarianism is encouraged, and this is seen increasingly more in seniors.
JAPANESE
Although Buddhism was introduced by the Chinese people, Japanese Buddhists follow a more relaxed Mahayana Vinaya. Their diet consists of fish and no other meat nor animal products, a diet called Pescetarianism.
A famous dish called the "shōjin-ryōri" (精进料理), "Devotion Cuisine" in English, is a specifically made for Buddhists, however, it is quite expensive. This cuisine consists of many vegetables and tofu.
5 STRONG SMELLING PLANTS
These plants are avoided due to their smell.
1. Garlic
2. Onions
3. Scallions
4. Shallots
5. Leeks
It was said in the Mahayana Sutra that if:
1. Eaten raw: increase anger tendency
2. Eaten cooked: increase sensuous desires
There was a term, Dukkata, which means "wrong-doer".
There was a story that Buddha was preaching to his disciples when he noticed that one particular disciple was sitting at a far distance. When Buddha asked him to come and sit closer, the disciple shook his head. When the Buddha asked for a reason, the disciple covered his mouth and said, "Buddha, I did not want to sit close as my breath smells really bad as I ate some garlic."
GROWING TREND
More and more Buddhists are following vegetarianism. Why? Killing animals breaks the first precept, "Refrain from killing all sentient beings". By breaking this precept results in tainting one's karma.
If killing is the only option, then have COMPASSION and minimise animal cruelty (animal suffering).
Each vegetables contain nutrients which could fulfill daily requirements.
