While chatting with Sophie over dinner at Yes Natural (a healthy vegetarian food restaurant) this evening, she asked if it was okay to dedicate non-vegetarian food to all beings. I replied, ‘Hey, I blogged about this recently. I’ll email my answer to you.’ (The link’s below.) To summarise, I felt that continually dedicating some dead beings for the welfare of all beings (which would include the dead beings) seems somewhat ironical and hypocritical. As anticipated, she wondered aloud, ‘But isn’t it better to dedicate than not to at all?’
My (here elaborated) reply – ‘Hmmm… on second thought (in some contrast to the ideas in the link), it might be better for you to keep dedicating food to all beings… Actually, when you asked whether it was okay, it hinted that you already kinda knew it wasn’t totally alright.’ (Sophie – ‘Yeah, I thought so…’) As such, if you continue to dedicate each time, this should increase your awareness that you are having meat by choice. Hopefully, there will be some healthy remorse generated, which would decrease the likeliness of ordering meat the next time!’
Related Article:
Greed Vs Gratitude for Meat
https://moonpointer.com/new/2008/12/meat-gratitude-vs-greed
When dedicating not pure vegetarian food, I will generally add in the final phrase: “…less whatever not applicable…”
Good idea… Hopefully the ‘disclaimer’ can eventually be left out in good time, lest it subtly becomes a qualifier to carry on a meaty diet 😮
Something make me sad! The offering of non-vegetarian food by vegetarian to non-vegetarian in situation where it can be controlled or unnecessary.
There is a Buddhist-Vegetarian, decide to have a party for the 45 kids (non-vegetarian), but chosen to have non-vegetarian food instead. I can’t understand. The kids will not suffer from having one non-vegetarian meal (not forcing them to turn vegetarian from one meal anyway). Moreover vegetarian food is getting so yummy now, the kids won’t suffer from not having good food.
Why???? What is the thinking behind? Afraid of the kids? Or the meat not eaten by me, so I won’t have the karmic effect. Or I go vegetarian just for my own good, I don’t care about other gaining merit or demerit? Or their condition is not ready yet, so serving non-vegetarian meal is ok? Or they are non-vegetarians so might give them non-vegetarian food? Many Q marks?:(
The oxymoron thing is, one hand so frantic involved in life liberating activities monthly (die die must do) and yet on the other hand serving meat to others …
Something not quite right … maybe it could be a little indication of moving out of vegetarianism, or don’t fully understand the real purpose of vegetarianism … sigh!
So sad to hear that, it could have been good chance to show the kids that vegetarian food could be as tasty!
It would be good if we could have a list of buffet caterers that serve delicious vegetarian food (after own trial) of course just to make sure the standard is there least side-effect…:P
May I know the difference between butter & margarine? Both from milk sources hence non vegan? Butter has animal content?
Butter is usually made from animal milk, while margarine is often seen as a butter-substitute made from vegan sources. (See http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Margarine ), but this is not always so. From the link:
‘In the meantime, margarine manufacturers had made many changes. Modern margarine can be made from any of a wide variety of animal or vegetable fats, and is often mixed with skimmed milk, salt, and emulsifiers. Margarine made from vegetable oils is especially important in today’s market, as it provides a vegan and pareve substitute for butter.’
So, it is good to play safe and simply read the ingredient listings, especially when the terms butter and margarine are also used interchangeably, adding to the confusion. ^_^
Unpure, you are right, it is a very good opportunity to show the kids that veggie food can be yummy. Canberra Primary School in Singapore goes vegetarian once a fortnight (stated in the ST last year Sept). The VP said, they want to encourage kid to eat healthily.
It is also a good chance to teach the kid eating veggies not only good for our body, is going green to be kind to our mother earth.
Finding vegetarian food is not that difficult. Even non-vegetarian eateries upon request are able to come up with yummy veggie option. Talking about Fast Food – we do have veggie pizza etc (although there is ? mark on the type of cheese) but I think it is still better than KFC drumstick (45 kids one drumstick, cost the lives of 22.5 chicken!). Now, more and more veg*n eateries offer catering services, even Buddha Tooth Relic Temple – Tea House, does it.
Maybe it is not right for me to comment the action of other, he or she could be a Buddhist vegetarian for other reasons. I can only hope that more (vegetarian or non-vegetarian) can understand the reason of going veg*n.