Question: Is there a need to be a full-time vegetarian if I pay homage to Ksitigarbha Bodhisattva (Dizang Pusa)? Am asking because I’m going to install his image at home.
Answer: It’s not compulsory, but it would be good to eat less meat, as many animals and Ksitigarabha Bodhisattva would rejoice greatly when they know of your compassionate efforts. Actually, there are adequate and solid secular reasons to go vegetarian or vegan, whether you are Buddhist or not, whether you pray to any Bodhisattva or not. Please do see http://viva.org.uk/goingveggie for reasons to go veggie and http://viva.org.uk/goingvegan for reasons to go vegan (which is even more comprehensive in practising compassionate consumption).
If you wish to practise the Bodhisattva path like Ksitigarabha Bodhisattva, whom I assume you might be emulating (as a model example of perfect compassion), to maximise helping of as many beings as possible and to minimise harming of as few as possible, directly or indirectly, being vegetarian is one of the Bodhisattva precepts (third of the secondary ones) to observe.
A disciple of the Buddha must not deliberately eat meat. He should not eat the flesh of any sentient being. The meat-eater forfeits the seed of Great Compassion, severs the seed of the Buddha-nature and causes [animals and transcendental] beings to avoid him. Those who do so are guilty of countless offenses. Therefore, Bodhisattvas should not eat the flesh of any sentient beings whatsoever. If instead, he deliberately eats meat, he commits a secondary offense.
– Brahma Net Sutra
Question: Is it okay to eat meat as long I don’t kill or ask someone to kill?
Answer: This is not so clear cut. To see what I mean, please see ‘The Invisible Conveyor Belt of Meat and Murder’ at http://www.4ui.com/eart/214eart1.htm