Chinese (Buddhists) Vegetarians

[V'nut-Beyond Redemption]

Hi there,

Thought I'd highlight what a Buddhist Vegetarian will NOT eat:

Chives
Onions
Spring onions
Leeks
Garlic

[Jenny Sanders]

Is that Chinese Buddhists too? I knew it was Vietnamese Buddhists. I have a friend who is deathly allergic to garlic, and needs to avoid all members of the allium family. Vietnamese Buddhist restaurants are amongst the few she can safely eat at.

[Chef #208121]

If I remember correctly it is also a prohibition for ISKCONS sects also.

I am not sure if this includes all Hindus or not. I do know on the Farm [we live near one of their farms] they use Asafoetida to replace these items.

Once one gets past the smell when you make something, it is delicious.

[Chef #208121]

What are the reasons why btw?

I am trying to recall the ISKCON reasons but am a bit foggy right now on that. I guess I will just have to attend another feast day of theirs and ask them.

edited to say found the reason for the ISKCON. http://www.kurma.net/faq/q1.html

[yogi]

Yes, I'd like to know WHY they won't eat those foods also!

[Missy Wombat]

I wasn't aware that Chinese/Vietnamese Buddhists avoided the onion group.
I found this for Jainism:

Quote:
Which ingredients are forbidden?

* Meat
* Fish
* Eggs
* Honey
* Figs

Strict Jains do not eat root vegetables, garlic, onions

All foods that might have meat, fish and eggs.

What are the main laws or beliefs relating to food?
As Jitubhai Shah, director of the L.D. Institute of Indology in Ahmedabad, India, says: "The Jain lifestyle is a perfect enunciation of ahimsa… The reason Jains don't normally eat or drink anything after sundown is because it is believed that doing so would cause the death of minute microorganisms that emerge in the dark. The entire lifestyle is geared towards causing least harm to other creatures and the environment…”

Apart from not eating meat, fish and eggs, strict Jains do not eat onions and garlic because they increase sexual desires. Strict Jains also do not eat any root vegetables like potatoes because smaller insects are killed in their harvest and the vegetable itself will have millions of bacteria.

http://www.faithandfood.com/Jainism.php

[Nolita_Food]

Same for Vietnamese buddhists.

I have been told several reasons why. Maybe they are just old wives' tales, but at home, this is what most people believe:

Garlic, onions... have very strong smell, and esp. garlic is often linked with bad force (the d word). Buddhist monks therefore try to stay away from those ingredients.

Garlic and onions help the digestion of meat and animal products more than vegetables and grains. Buddhist monks, who are vegans, don't need these ingredients. Some say they interfere with the digestion of some vegetables.

[yogi]

Thanks for the link Missy. And thanks for the info, Trang. Very interesting!