Are all Buddhists vegetarian?
No, although many are. Most Mahayana Buddhists are vegetarian, while dietary practices vary within Theravada and Vajrayana Buddhist schools. Vegetarianism stems from the Buddha’s teaching on the five precepts of ethical conduct, the first of which is not to take a life. In Mahayana Buddhism, vegetarianism is also seen as compassion practice, which extends beyond simply abstaining from meat. Many argue that we should also consider the sources of our food, and any harm that results indirectly from its production. Non-vegetarian Buddhists point to the fact that being alive inherently involves harm to other beings, whether directly or indirectly, and that the primary goal should be not to take more than we need, therefore causing harm beyond what is absolutely necessary for our survival. These are just a few examples of arguments raised for and against vegetarianism by Buddhists; this is in fact an ongoing debate with many variations.
