Are Buddhists required to be vegetarians?
No, although many Buddhists the world over are vegetarian. Western Buddhists of all traditions are by and large vegetarian, but by choice and not by commandment. Buddhist ethics is based upon the realization that we need to take responsibility for our own actions, actions which form a crucial aspect of our interrelatedness with the world. Buddhist ethics involves seeing that all our actions have consequences, either directly or indirectly, for ourselves and for others. Even the indirect effects of our actions are of concern to us with the network of cause and effect of which we are an inseparable part. The Dhammapada, an ancient and beloved collection of short sayings of the Buddha, contains these verses: All beings tremble before danger, all fear death. Those who consider this do not kill or cause to kill. All beings fear before danger, life is dear to all. Those who considers this do not kill or cause to kill. We can do no greater harm than to kill another sentient being. Killing is
