Buddhism is a religion of compassion; therefore Buddhists must respect the lives of all beings. The Buddha teaches us to be vegetarian. So you should know what being a vegetarian means, what benefits it brings, and how to practise it — for only then can you avoid mistakes and lessen wrongdoing.

I. The Meaning of Being a Vegetarian

Being a vegetarian is a method the Buddha teaches us to practise in place of eating meat. It means eating plant foods such as fruit and vegetables, rather than foods from animals such as pork, beef, shrimp, fish, chicken, duck, and so on.

II. The Benefits of Being a Vegetarian

A. For our practice: Buddhism is a religion of compassion and equality that respects the life of every being, for all animals — like people — cling to life and fear death: a fish flees when it sees a person, a bird flies away, and a person is frightened at the sight of a tiger. The Buddha therefore regards all beings as equal; no being is more privileged than another, and none may be sacrificed for another. So a Buddhist who wishes to grow in compassion and equanimity, or to advance in practice, should be a vegetarian. Moreover, eating vegetarian spares us the karmic consequences of killing.

B. For the mind: A vegetarian keeps a clear mind and a gentle nature. When one eats much meat and fish, the mind grows heavy and weary because the digestive system must work hard — especially the hard-to-digest fat that tires the brain. Eating vegetarian keeps the mind light and alert, which helps one's studies and softens a violent temper. It also expresses a love of peace.

C. For the body: A vegetarian keeps the body healthy, works with endurance, lives long, and falls ill less often. Fruits and vegetables contain little that is harmful; fruit, vegetables, potatoes and grains provide enough nourishment to sustain a person. Meat and fish, on the other hand, can carry harmful substances; in hot climates meat and fish begin to spoil about five hours after the animal is killed. Eating spoiled meat can endanger one's life.

III. Ways to Practise Being a Vegetarian

There are many ways, according to each person's circumstances: one may vow to be vegetarian for life (a lifelong vegetarian), never eating meat again; or three months each year; or ten days each month (the 1st, 8th, 14th, 15th, 18th, 23rd, 24th, 28th, 29th and 30th of the lunar month); or four days (the 1st, 14th, 15th, and 30th); or two days (the 1st and the 15th), together with the memorial days of the Buddhas and Bodhisattvas.

Whichever vow one makes, one should try to keep it and not set it aside for any reason — except when gravely ill and advised by a physician to eat meat as medicine. After recovering, one must repent and renew the vow.