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Paul Ciszek wrote:
>
> Daly de Gagne <ambika@mbnet.mb.ca> writes:
>
> >Most of these quotations come from an excellent feature Hinduism Today
> >did on vegetarianism a few years ago. The article stated: "There
> >developed early in India an unparalleled concern for harmony among life
> >forms, and this led to a common ethos based on non-injuriousness, and a
> >minimal consumption of natural resources--in other words, to compassion
> >and simplicity."
>
> How is it, then, that:
>
> 1) McDonald's in India does a brisk business in mutton burgers?
> 2) Every Indian restaurant I have patronized in the U.S.A. serves meat?
> 3) Kali is called "the goddess of the slaughterhouse" in some texts?
You ask some good questions. The answers are actually fairly straight
forward. Although Hinduism is associated with vegetarianism, 100 per
cent of Hindus are not vegetarians. Many non-Hindu westerners assume
that virtually all of are vegetarian, but it's just not so.
In many Hindu homes, for example, the wife may be veg, but her husband
and/or the kids may eat meat, so she will cook non-veg for them.
Sometimes the wife may be non-veg and the husband veg, but it seems to
be more often the other way around.
When some Hindus come to North America, they find it hard to get veg
food when they eat out, or they may want to fit in more with the
surrounding society, so they choose to start eating meat. This is more
true of men, who through business and professional dealings may have
more cause to eat out with their colleagues.
These Indians are not always aware that many people born in North
America have already decided to accept the difficulties associated with
finding veg food in restaurants and putting up with some of the
questions and teasing of colleagues. Actually, today it is easier than
ever to be a vegetarian, and people are more accepting. When I became
veg about 13 years ago, I worked for a railway, the heart of
hard-drinking, steak-a-day meat-based culture. I was teased a lot --
most of it was good fun -- but some of it was quite hostile. At that
time restaurants weren't as helpful as now. But that's changing
rapidly.
Our teachings emphasize eating vegetarian, but the practice is not in
line with the teachings. I'd say about half of Hindus may be strictly
veg, but that's a rough guess-timate, and I'd appreciate anyone who can
provide a more accurate estimate.
That's why most Indian restaurants serve meat. In India, McDonald's
does a good business because many Hindus there (although as a percentage
probably less than in North America) eat meat, as do virtually all
Muslims and many of the Sikhs. Also, being a western import, McDonald's
has an appeal for many people.
Kali Ma Ji has been associated with slaughter houses as you say, and
also in some places animal sacrifices are made to Her. Most often, such
is not the case. Her greatest devotee, Ramakrishna Paramahamsaji, was
vegetarian, and his successors keep vegetarian for the most part.
Paul, quite frankly, I wish we were more consistent about being
vegetarian, but it ain't so. Of course, being vegetarian doesn't
automatically make anyone more spiritual or holy, but as a diet chosen
with the right intention and understanding, it sure can help. Also, as
a Hindu, I believe in the law of karma, so for me by not eating meat,
and choosing not to enter into the cruelty to other life forms and
exploitation of the environment associated with meat eating, I am not
collecting the negative karma I would otherwise.
Daly
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