While I know that Theravada monks are allowed to eat meat, I imagine most don’t, especially at monasteries where they don’t really go for pindapata (e.g. Pa Auk, which is the only monastery I respect).
If I remember correctly they serve vegetarian food and sometimes fish, not sure about dairy though, but no actual meat regardless.
Now I am no health freak and I do believe that the less you eat the better (once a day is ideal), but meat is kind of essential for humans, e.g. the B12 vitamin which can cause great damage as the years go by, proteins which are mostly complete in meats etc.
It’s okay to eat meat as long as you have not seen, heard, or suspect that the animal was specially killed for you or a group that you belong to (e.g. family)
I don’t think being a vegetarian is part of the teachings
If hunters start observing the precepts, they would have to switch to a vegetarian diet but even then they can still eat meat of animals that died due to other causes.
Also, something I’d like to add is that renunciates (monks and ascetics) usually don’t need to concern themselves with what is the most nutritious diet. They are just trying to attain nibbana. The goal of eating food is just to prevent painful feelings from arising and supporting their body on their journey to becoming enlightened. They don’t need to try to get the most nutritious diet to live as long as possible. Of course, it would be good if they could, but they strive to be content with the food they get.
He seems to be referring to the fact that human beings, in order to survive, need vitamin B12, and that historically, until quite recently, the only possible way to obtain substantial amounts of B12 was through the death of animals. And he is asking our thoughts about this.
Yes @Brunobm , that is exactly what I am asking. Meat is kind of essential in my opinion (not every day and not a tone of it but still). and not eating meat let’s say for 20 years should produce negative effects the older one gets.
Hello @RobertK and thank you for the warm welcome. I am happy I have found it as I believe there are learned people here (yourself, Bhante Subhuti with whom I’ve had communication elsewhere, and hopefully more).
I am not sure if monks at Pa Auk can go for pindapata or not, I guess in theory they could but my understanding (from reading online) is that they get food in the monastery. It does sometimes include fish but that’s it. And even if they went on pindapata meat is not guaranteed, but I think they don’t regardless.
The Buddha explicitly spoke about the need to refrain from killing any kind of sentient being under any pretext, as well as from participating in killing, requesting the killing, or consuming meat if the animal was killed specifically for the person who will consume it. Trade in meat is also contrary to the Right Livelihood recommended for laypeople.
The fact that the Buddha did not prohibit the consumption of meat for his followers shows that he was aware of the health risks such a restriction could pose. However, he did not speak about this explicitly—perhaps precisely to prevent his words from being used to justify the killing of animals.
The law of kamma is relentless, and the fact that humans, without the technological resources available today, needed to consume meat to survive is not a valid justification for killing. In modern philosophy, there is Hume’s Guillotine—“is” cannot be coupled with “ought”—meaning a natural fact cannot, by itself, justify an ethical stance.
Pa-auk often has “extra” meat donors outside of the line for “special monks”. If you are concerned you can talk with the sayadaws or other monks and see if they can arrange for you.
The main thing is omega 3 and you can arrange to have fish oil given to you. Chia seeds are even better if soaked 1 hour beforehand (and made allowable). You could probably arrange milk powder too.
I think that vegetarian diets are proven long term. As a monk, I surely eat far better nutrition-wise than when I was a lay person. Monks often focus on nutrition because… well … that is all they have to focus on and worry about so it gets amplified by one’s own mind.
Actually, most foreigners at pa-auk lose tons of weight at paauk because they get greedy for nutrients. They end up eating the curries without proper proportions of rice which are loaded in oil…Since they are loaded in oil, there is no absorption. On top of that, they take double the curries (special foreigner curries and local) and 1/4 of the rice. Then they lose weight and become malnourished. Eat like the locals. Watch how they eat, and what proportions.
Know that they have the same 32 parts.
Mudon (Kyaunpine) Pa-auk will have meat. Great monk who used to be called Yorgo Sayadaw from yorgo village.
Thank you so much Bhante @bksubhuti , it is very useful information as usual from you. Very good thinking on omega 3 as well and very useful. Very happy to hear that they do think about these things as I might ordain there one day (I mean if I do ordain it will be there).
I have been a vegetarian for over 40 years and mostly eat vegan. I know it’s just one example, but when my bloodwork is done, all my nutrient levels are fine; with protein around the optimal to high level and same with B-12.
For vegans, they can take supplements or also I believe there are some mushrooms which also contain B-12.