Dalai Lama Says Eating Meat Not Always Against Monk’s Principles
Written by Vegetarian Star on July 29th, 2010 in Flexitarian, Food & Drink.
The Dalai Lama frequently receives criticism from some in the vegetarian community for continuing to eat meat while promoting non-violence. A former vegetarian, he started eating small amounts of animal flesh on the advice on a doctor after developing gall bladder issues and hepatitis.
When he spoke with NDTV, he insisted that from a religious standpoint, eating meat is not necessarily against a monk’s principles.
“In vinaya no prohibition in eating meat, so monks in Thailand, Burma, Sri Lanka, they take both veg and non veg food. One time I asked, discussed this subject with a monk from Sri Lanka about 40 years ago, he said Buddhist monks are neither veg nor non veg… he should accept whatever he gets, so that’s the principle. But vinaya clearly mentions that meat which was purposely killed for you was not to be eaten but in general was not prohibited, some books like langaavatarasutra prohibited any kind of meat, including fish etc but some other texts not prohibiting, so different case, I think practically in northern part of Tibet, no vegetables. Very difficult. So that’s practical reason.”
Now, he describes his meat eating habits as consuming it “once or twice a week.”
Photo: PR Photos
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July 29th, 2010 at 6:19 pm
Gandhi would never eat meat under any circumstances. I do concede that the Dalai Lama is still one of the greatest world leaders.
December 10th, 2010 at 8:02 pm
an incarnation of compassion , an incarnation of a Boddhisattva, woul d not cause suffering to any sentient being. THere is a very serious spiritual disconnect here. A great leader does not a BOddhisattba make and if you teach compassion you must live compassion.THis man has many people in the world following him .IT would certainly be in the interest of th e greater good for all sentient beings, the environment and the planet if he was pure in ahimsa and not try to make excuses for his desire to eat corpses
December 10th, 2010 at 9:37 pm
Why does anyone listen to him or the pope? Just ignore them both. Maybe then they’ll have to get real jobs.
February 10th, 2011 at 9:40 am
[...] Dalai Lama eats meat because his doctors tell him to. My wife was a lacto-ovo vegetarian for many years, until she got [...]
April 21st, 2011 at 4:49 am
Dali Lama says alot of good things but as a human he also says ignorant stuff like “monks shouldn’t get married” “dating is evil” the guy is not God.
June 13th, 2011 at 11:18 pm
Well… Pablo, if you knew anything about the Dahli Llama, you’d realize he never claims to be ‘God’, in fact he never has claimed to be anything but human.
June 22nd, 2011 at 6:39 am
Wish I hadn’t read this…now I have rethink my feelings toward the Dali Lama. It does change everything for me.
September 14th, 2011 at 11:51 am
Dalai, a fugitive God is a disguised person. His preaching never matches with practice. He is the most crooked politician than a spiritual lead
November 2nd, 2011 at 2:39 am
He is simply a businessman and the biggest hypocrite on the planet. He only has time for world leaders and famous people. He raises money the same way a politician does it. People have to wake up, this is lie and ideology.
November 8th, 2011 at 1:44 pm
The Dalai Lama does not judge people. I strive to have his compassion and understanding of the world.
November 10th, 2011 at 8:52 pm
I love the Dalai Lama. He’s way better than any politician. He gets criticized and rather than blame, guilt trip any of us or point a finger what does he do? He gives practical reasoning.
Compassion is about flexibility too. Isn’t judging him opposite of being compassionate?
We all want to live better lives. It takes time and patience for change to happen.
And someone mentioned Ghandi. Ghandi said, “Be the Change” That means being an example in actions and your words.
Do the words you speak reflect a sense of compassion? And will your words create change?
The Dalai Lama has my respect and admiration. To dedicate his whole life to promoting ideals like peace and happiness, I doubt most people are willing to go to such great lengths. He is a gift to this planet.
And I am a vegetarian when possible. I have to be practical when I’m traveling or when I’m out of town. When I see my relatives during holidays I don’t waste my energy criticizing them for eating meat. I celebrate that they are in my life and I develop loving relationships because this is more important me.
Where’s your focus? Either you are whining about the problem or you are practicing (taking action) the solution. Meditate on that.
Be well.
November 29th, 2011 at 8:47 pm
@Brein Gandhi also hated Black people. He likened them to animals. I wouldnt take refusal of meat as an indication of sainthood.
@Sophia, The Buddha ate meat. There goes your theory and usage of Buddhist terminology.
http://www.dailytimes.com.pk/default.asp?page=story_23-3-2005_pg4_24
December 2nd, 2011 at 9:30 am
Think the lack of protein is effecting your senses on this site…seems you’re all looking to judge you’re fellow human. Are you all sure your own lives could withstand the candle of scrutiny you are holding up to the Dalai Lama?