Are all Hindus vegetarian?

[ShivaFan]

Are you Nepali?

I have been to Nepal many times. Yes I suppose if you look around enough you can find a Nepali who eats bugs, or eats a rat, anything. They may say, "uuuuh.... I am Hindu" - they only say so because their parent was. MEANS NOTHING.

I have NEVER met a Nepali Hindu who eats beef. Don't tell me about Bal. Sure, there are "some" I suppose. But not any I ever knew.

Let me explain what goes on. There are some North Indians who want to make fun of Nepalis or exaggerate tales to make Nepalis look bad, happens to Tamils as well. Very sad, over exaggerated stereotypes.

 

[Chakra]

If you are talking to me, then no, I am not Nepali.

 

[ShivaFan]

I am not getting mad at you axlyz, after all you are a Hindu! All I am saying is, many put bad words about Nepalis and Tamils. Even my wife who is half-Bengali and half-Gujarati says mean things against Tamils (but not so much Nepalis actually). My point is, these tales about Nepalis and Tamils are over-exaggerated stereotypes by some North Indians.

 

[Madhuri]

As to whether meat eating is horrible, that comes down to personal opinions. I see the 'good' and 'bad' of it as quite relative. Under certain circumstances, I think it's actually necessary. But when there's no reason to eat it other than that one enjoys the taste, I think it's quite horrible. But I see it that way because I love and value animals as I love and value humans. I think killing and eating humans is horrible, so why would I see doing the same to animals any differently?
Just my opinion.

 

[Amrut]

Namaste,

My views on Non-violence and Vegetarianism (article may not be polished)

INDIASPIRITUALITY: Non-violence and Vegetarianism

At times the demographics, climatic conditions, etc makes one to eat non-veg. E.g. In Bengal, for 6 months it used to be flooded. Hence no crop can be grown. So people started eating fish. Today, most bengalis consider fish as veg.

Likewise, there are marathis who eat chicken or fish but not beef.

To live a spiritual life, being veg is advised.

Hari OM

 

[Aupmanyav]

I always thought that it was scriptures that tells us whether an act is adharmic.

Do the scriptures ever say anything which is harmful to the existence of the society? Whether one terms it dharma or the rules of the society, it is the same thing.

 

[Amrut]

Do the scriptures ever say anything which is harmful to the existence of the society? Whether one terms it dharma or the rules of the society, it is the same thing.

Namaste Aupanyav ji,

How are you? I have not been active since long time.

Do you include dharma smriti-s as scripture?
parASara smriti is said to be suited for kali yuga. It also allows for new laws to be created, it allows widow re-marriage and that in kali yuga, no one incurs sin by touching. One incurs sin by his/her deeds alone.

Even though we may find answers in smriti-s which are practical, revisionists never point them out. Imagine that a smriti gives power to 5 brahmins who are knowers of 4 veda-s to create laws that are suited in that place in current times. Still, people burn copies of manu smriti which is considered as best suited for kriTA yuga

 

[Aupmanyav]

Oh, after Sage Parashara, my grandfather wrote his 'Vishweshwara Smriti'. That is probably the latest (1950 - 8000 verses). He saw no harm in widow marriage or education to sudras.

 

[Amrut]

Oh, after Sage Parashara, my grandfather wrote his 'Vishweshwara Smriti'. That is probably the latest (1950 - 8000 verses). He saw no harm in widow marriage or education to sudras.

Great. Please give me a copy of it btw, How many veda-s did your grandfather knew?

 

[Amrut]

just one question A:

When you are an atheist, why are you active in dharmic forums? No offences please. Afterall it is your choice. Just curious.

How can an atheist help strengthen theist’s faith.

 

[Amrut]

Btw, Aupmanyav ji,

Sri mAdhvAcArya ji has written a commentary on parASara smriti. So does this make it authentic?

 

[Chakra]

Do the scriptures ever say anything which is harmful to the existence of the society? Whether one terms it dharma or the rules of the society, it is the same thing.

Society's rules will keep changing. Maybe 150,000 years ago, it was an evolutionary advantage for a male to rape a woman, because his genes would pass off to the next generation. Maybe it was an evolutionary advantage for you to kill some other man's children so that your children could prosper more (just like what lions do).

That was 150,000 years ago. Now we have laws prohibiting rape and murder, because our consciousness has elevated. And soon, in the next couple centuries, animal slaughter will also be illegal.

Either way, scriptures have never supported meat-eating unless for emergency.

And, I just want to say one more thing. I know a lot of people have and will be offended by my posts on vegetarianism. I have nothing personal against you, it's just that, the day I walked into a slaughterhouse myself to see how everything really worked, I completely lost hope in humans, who call themselves as compassionate and loving people. The screams and cries in there are the worst ones you will ever hear. They are just like a child's screams for his dead mother or father's cry when he learns his daughter had been raped and murdered. And from that day, I've always had a strong position on this issue. I just want everyone to be vegan so that the animals will stop feeling pain and finally be able to live a peaceful life, without worries.

I'm sorry if I've offended you, and please forgive me and my language. Thanks..

 

[Amrut]

the day I walked into a slaughterhouse myself to see how everything really worked, I completely lost hope in humans, who call themselves as compassionate and loving people. The screams and cries in there are the worst ones you will ever hear. They are just like a child's screams for his dead mother or father's cry when he learns his daughter had been raped and murdered. And from that day, I've always had a strong position on this issue. I just want everyone to be vegan so that the animals will stop feeling pain and finally be able to live a peaceful life, without worries.

Namaste,

+1 I completely agree. I have seen videos created by RSS and VHP on cow slaughter when I was a school kid. Will never forget it. I also saw certain videos and the 'acceptable' standard while handling animals for slaughtering.

Hari OM

 

[Vinayaka]

There is a purposeful disconnect from the slaughterhouse to the table, just as there is a purposeful disconnect from child labour to clothing. No multi-national corporation whose 'ethics' are based on greed would ever want the consumer to know what really goes on.

 

[Aupmanyav]

Great. Please give me a copy of it btw, How many veda-s did your grandfather knew?

My grandfather's main interest was in RigVeda. He wrote two (or was it three books) on RigVeda - 'RigVeda ka bhaugolik, aitihasic, aur samajik saar' and 'RigVeda par ek drishti'. He also translated Lokmanya Bal Gangadhar Tilak's two books in Hindi - 'Orion or the Researches on the Antiquity of Vedas' and 'Arctic Home in Vedas). He was incharge of Jodhpur Museum before independence. My interest also is primarily in RigVeda. Just BTW. I have a copy of the Smriti somewhere in the house. I do not think it is available in the market. However, he accepted Big-Bang, Evolution, Plate tectonics, and 92 elements instead of just five as in our books (Pancha Bhutas).

Btw, Aupmanyav ji,

Sri mAdhvAcArya ji has written a commentary on parASara smriti. So does this make it authentic?

My homage to Sri Madhvacharya. There is no problem at all about the authenticity of Parashara Smriti. Why do you ask this?

 

[Aupmanyav]

just one question A:

When you are an atheist, why are you active in dharmic forums? No offences please. Afterall it is your choice. Just curious.

How can an atheist help strengthen theist’s faith.

Big laugh. See my profile. I am a staunch Advaitist Hindu apart from being an atheist. Advaita means 'no second' and I know I am not a God. I neither strengthen the faith, nor oppose it. I just want people to follow their own 'dharma' and make their own considered decisions. I have voted for BJP during all my life.

 

[Amrut]

Thank you Aupmanyav ji for sharing the info.

Your views on advaita are at times different than traditional views. Advaitin can never be an athiest The fact that most of not all advaitins follow smArta dharma. Being independent is good. not accepting anything blindly is also good, but still, this does not mean, not to believe in God. Even ISRO scientists believe in God they bowed to God before they started mangal-yan mission. So yes you can be a thiest also and be a top scientist. Faith and culture should not be mixed with R & D. Praying does not diminish your R & D ability (I too did a little research for 3-4 years)

No problem if it is not available in the market. Your grandfather did some dedicated research. Appreciate his scholarliness.

 

[Aupmanyav]

Your views on advaita are at times different than traditional views. Faith and culture should not be mixed with R & D. Praying does not diminish your R & D ability (I too did a little research for 3-4 years)

Amrut, thanks for your kind post and understanding. Yes, my view are a little different, but I am strong in my religion. I find no contradiction between science and religion. It can enhance the understanding of one's religion and culture. At least, in my case, it has been so. Being an atheist has brought me closer to Hindu culture. Yes, my grandfather, Pandit Bishweshwar Nath Reu, has been a great influence on me. He too was a curious mix of orthodoxy and science.

 

[Aupmanyav]

I walked into a slaughterhouse myself to see .. ones you will ever hear.

+1, agree with you whole-heartedly (rather than go into the details). :ashamed:
Just now had my meal of cabbage and rice made in the Kashmiri way (salt, green peppers, some oil), lots of liquid (Munj Bhat). It was so satisfying.

 

[Poeticus]

Namaste,

My views on Non-violence and Vegetarianism (article may not be polished)

INDIASPIRITUALITY: Non-violence and Vegetarianism

At times the demographics, climatic conditions, etc makes one to eat non-veg. E.g. In Bengal, for 6 months it used to be flooded. Hence no crop can be grown. So people started eating fish. Today, most bengalis consider fish as veg.

Likewise, there are marathis who eat chicken or fish but not beef.

To live a spiritual life, being veg is advised.

Hari OM

... alyaa, saaraa maa saari aapDi khichDi. Waghaareli khichDi. Bas. Biju badhu bhaaDmaa gyu.