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Re: ARTICLE : Just say no to "Hinduism" (was Re: ARTICLE : On
: >can be seen at "Hindu" temples? What about those who claim to follow the
: >Vedas, but eat meat, drink alcohol, or smoke cigarettes?
: I thought vegetarianism was borrowed from Buddhism & Jainism into Hindu
: religion. Do the vedas or any other scriptures explicitly prohibit
: eating meat.
I really don't think so, considering that both Buddhism and Jainism come
from Hinduism. I seriously doubt the vedas expressly prohibit eating
meat, because the Ramayana expressly says, "Rama ate meat". On the other
hand, the vedas do speak of non-violence. What this means to me is not
causing unnecessary harm. Don't be overly harsh or cruel to other people
or animals, plants, or anything. When your angry, don't punch the wall.
On the other hand, if something wants to eat you, you may defend yourself.
If you are hungry and the only thing to eat is the horse your riding, that
would be a judgement decision. This is all not causing unnecessary
violence or harm.
This has been taken to the modern age and M.Ghandhi to mean
vegetarianism, yet Indians are free to beat and abuse other people, and if
they are of high enough status and higher caste, nothing will probably
happen to them. Is this ahimsa? I don't think so.
: Of course I have seen something on ahimsa in Indian scriptures on some
: newsgroup. But that cannot be accepted as advocation of vegetarianism,
: because even the bible says "Thou Shalt not Kill" and no one will accept
: that christianity advocates vegetarianism.
If this were a Christian or Jewish newsgroup, I'd get into this more. But
I don't see the relevance of the Jewish law in Hinduism.
: I am not saying that vegetarianism is not a good concept just because it
: is borrowed, but that it is not present in scriptures.
Again, I doubt its borrowed, but it is not explicitly in the scriptures.
It was further Hindu tradition that Kshatriya and outcasts could and did
eat meat. People who have adopted a holy life, whether they were priests,
sadhus, yogis, or any other type didn't eat meat.
Bests,
Jay
