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BUDDHISM
Why True Buddhism Is Vegan
Buddhist Teachings On Eating Animal Products
If there is any major world religion whose adherents ought to be vegan, it is surely Buddhism, yet vegans are a minority among those who call themselves followers of the Buddha. There are even so-called Buddhists who eat meat, but in this article I will argue that eating meat directly contradicts the teachings of Buddha himself. When it comes to eating animal products, there are many Buddhist teachings that make it quite clear that true Buddhism is vegan.
The very first precept of Buddhism states: “I undertake to observe the rule to abstain from taking life.” This principle applies to the lives of both humans and non-humans alike. There is no distinction drawn here between killing humans and killing other animals. Killing includes all forms of sentient life. In fact, this precept is generally interpreted as a commitment to the principle of ahimsa, or nonviolence, compelling Buddhists to not only refrain from killing, but to strive to perform the least possible amount of harm to others.
Buddha prescribed a very simple path to enlightenment for all his followers, known as The Noble Eightfold Path. Although the ‘steps’ on this path are numbered one to eight, they are to be viewed and undertaken simultaneously. Number 5 on the path is…
