VEGETARIANISM IN RELIGION

THE BAHÀ'I FAITH

“ Regarding the eating of animal flesh and abstinence therefrom, know thou of a certainty that, in the beginning of creation, God determined the food of every living being, and to eat contrary to that determination is not approved.”

~ Selections from the Bahá’í Writings on SomeAspects of Health

BUDDHISM

…ALL MEATS EATEN BY LIVING BEINGS ARE OF THEIR OWN RELATIVES.

~ Lankavatara Sutra (Tripitaka No. 671)

CAO ĐÀI

... The most important thing is to stop killing... because animals also have souls and understand like humans.... IF WE KILL AND EAT THEM, THEN WE OWE THEM A BLOOD DEBT.”

~ Teachings of the Saints, About Keeping the Ten Precepts – Abstaining from Killing, Section 2

CHRISTIANITY

Meats for the belly, and the belly for meats: but God shall destroy both it and them.

~ 1st Corinthians 6:13, Holy Bible

“And while the flesh was yet between their teeth, ere it was chewed, the wrath of the LORD was kindled against the people, and the LORD smote the people with a very great plague.”

~ Numbers 11:33, Holy Bible

CONFUCIANISM

“All men have a mind which cannot bear to see the sufferings of others. The superior man, having seen the animals alive, cannot bear to see them die; having heard their dying cries, HE CANNOT BEAR TO EAT THEIR FLESH”.

~ Mencius, King Hui of Liang, Chapter 4

ESSENES

I am come to end the sacrifices and feasts of blood, and if ye cease NOT OFFERING AND EATING OF FLESH AND BLOOD, the wrath of God shall not cease from you.

~ Gospel of the Holy Twelve

HINDUISM

“Since you...cannot bring killed animals back to life, you are responsible for killing them. Therefore you are going to hell; there is no way for your deliverance.”

~ Adi-lila, Chapter 17, verses 159-165

“He who desires to augment his own flesh by eating the flesh of other creatures lives in misery in whatever species he may take his birth.”

~ Mahabharata, Anu. 115.47. FS, pg. 90

ISLAM

ALLAH WILL NOT GIVE MERCY TO ANYONE, EXCEPT THOSE WHO GIVE MERCY TO OTHER CREATURES.

~ Prophet Muhammad, Hadith

Do not allow your stomachs to become graveyards of animals!

~ Prophet Muhammad, Hadith

JUDAISM

And whatsoever man there be of the house of Israel, or of the strangers that sojourn among you, that eateth any manner of blood*; I WILL EVEN SET MY FACE AGAINST THAT SOUL THAT EATETH BLOOD*, and will cut him off from among his people.

*blood: meaning “flesh”

~ Leviticus 17:10, Holy Bible

JAINISM

A true monk should NOT ACCEPT SUCH FOOD AND DRINK as has been especially prepared for him INVOLVING THE SLAUGHTER OF LIVING BEINGS.

~ Sutrakritanga

TAOISM

Do not go into the mountain to catch birds in nets, nor to the water to poison fishes and minnows. Do not butcher the ox that plows your field.

~ Tract of the Quiet Way

SIKHISM

Those mortals who consume marijuana, flesh and wine - no matter what pilgrimages, fasts and rituals they follow, they will all go to hell.

~ Guru Granth Sahib, page 1377

ZOROASTRIANISM

“Those plants, I, Ahura Mazda (God), rain down upon the earth,to bring food to the faithful, and fodder to the beneficent cow.”

~ Avesta, Venidad Fargard 5-20

TIBETAN BUDDHISM

The offering to the deities of meat obtained by killing animate beings is like offering a mother the flesh of her own child; and this is a grievous failure.

~ The Supreme Path Of Discipleship: The Precepts Of The Gurus, The Thirteen Grievous Failures, Great Guru Gampopa

“Everybody knows that vegetarian diet is good for health and to save the planet. They will be awakening their own great, compassionate, loving, self-nature. And then their level of consciousness will rise up automatically. And they will understand more than they ever did. And they will be closer to Heaven than what they are right now.”

Supreme Master Ching Hai
Videoconference with Sydney Center, Australia – August 17, 2008