Hinduism’s Philosophy of Vegetarianism

Hinduism’s respect for all living beings stems from the philosophy that all living beings have a soul.  The soul gives life to the mind, body and senses and is originally an infinitessimal spark of the Divine that is called atma.  The soul receives it’s life from its eternal relationship with Divine, eternal, omnipresent God.  The highest dharm of Hindu philosophy teaches that the ultimate goal of a soul is attaining supreme God.  Those who understand the philosophy of soul, also know that to take the life of any living being is considered a wrong action, the effects of which will move away from attaining our ultimate aim.  The Sanskrit word ahinsa, or non-violence, refers to not only the discipline of respecting all life, but also a state of consciousness in which we naturally cause no harm to other living beings, either through thought, word or deed. 

 

The means to attain this natural state of ahinsa is a combination of understanding, discipline and spiritual practice.  One of the important factors that assists us in this process is vegetarianism.

 

In Hinduism, it is understood that the mind, senses, body and the entire universe are comprised of matter or material energy, which is called maya in Sanskrit.  Maya has three inextricably interlaced qualities (see diagram). 

These are called the three gunas.  They are satva, rajas and tamas.  They produce a perfect duality in creation, such as day and night,  good and bad, life and death.

 Each of the gunas has their respective characteristics.

Tamas: passiveness, heaviness, dullness, laziness, darkness, inertia, inactivity, impurity, delusion, ignorance, torpor, violence

Rajas: energy, action, change, restlessness, movement, attraction, longing, attachment

Satva: harmony, balance, joy, intelligence, tranquility, purity, virtue, illumination, balance, peace

 

All three gunas are present simultaneously in any creation of maya, but at any given time, in any given situation, one of the qualities of maya is dominates over the other two; they are never equally in balance.  A vegetarian diet helps support the establishment of satva in the body and mind.  Such food (called satvic food), nourishes the body and, along with devotion, satsang and meditation, is conducive to calming and purifying the mind, allowing it to be more receptive to Divine vibrations and God’s Grace. 

 

Sattvic Food

Whole grains, beans, legumes, fresh fruit and vegetables, fresh fruit juices, milk, butter and cheese, legumes, nuts, seeds, sprouted seeds, honey, and herb teas.

Rajasic Food

Foods that are very hot, bitter, sour, dry, or salty, including sharp spices or strong herbs, stimulants, like coffee and tea, fish, eggs, salt and chocolate. Eating in a hurry is also considered rajasic.

Tamasic Food

Meat, alcohol, tobacco, onions, garlic, fermented foods, such as vinegar, and stale or overripe substances. Overeating is also regarded as tamasic.