Why does Buddhism advocate a vegetarian diet for practicing Buddhists?
A vegetarian diet is good for the health. Moreover, it inculcates the mind to be more compassionate toward all living beings. Buddhism advocates the love for all animals and respects their right to live. Under extenuating circumstances, Buddha did allow early disciples to consume meat with the three pure qualities: (1) the animl’s slaughter is not witnessed by the consumer, (2) the sound of the animal’s slaughter is not heard by the consumer, and (3) the animal is not slaughtered for the consumer. However, to be a Buddhist one does not have to be a vegetarian.
