162-The food in the temple part 2 - Buddhism in daily life

The food in the temple part 2

During my stays at Shaolin Temple, I became more and more comfortable with the vegetarian way of life at the monastery, even though I enjoyed trying all kinds of food at the restaurants in Dengfeng and Zhengzhou during my excursions on my days off. My favorite dish became Peking duck, which I still enjoy eating to this day.

Among Buddhists, there is the group of vegetarians (and of course the subgroup of vegans), which certainly makes up a large portion of the following. The controversy "meat" (and of course also fish) is partly bitterly led. During my stays in Southeast Asia (I lived in this part of the world for a total of almost 10 years), I noticed again and again that Thai, Cambodian and Vietnamese monks often consume meat and fish (and also like to drink a little), but Chinese monks usually live meatless, do not consume onion and garlic (which, according to them, are supposed to cause intoxicating feelings), unlike their Southeast Asian colleagues also live completely abstinent.

Chinese (Buddhist) monks adopted this type of diet early on from their Indian counterparts and have changed little about it to this day.

The fighting Shaolin monks are traditionally allowed to eat animal "products", because the training of Kung Fu in this special diet otherwise contains too little protein, which in turn (in combat) would be a distinct disadvantage, the human body is by evolution an omnivore, which includes meat and fish.

Buddha himself has demonstrably (also) consumed meat, at least this is described in the so-called Pali canon. Also in the rules of the mendicant monks meat is expressly permitted, further instructions (allegedly even from Buddha himself) in different writings hardly give restrictions for meat. In any case, killing a living being is not compatible with the path to enlightenment, but accepting a "share" is. As said, the Chinese way for monks was very early without meat and fish, a peculiarity that has been preserved until today.

Already during Buddha's lifetime, diet was an issue, excess and gluttony were vices that also affected monks. Thus, the great teacher ordered his followers to eat only until lunchtime, in order to counteract food addiction and obesity. Buddha himself was disciplined in your diet, ate little and fasted frequently.

In the Shaolin Temple in China, chants are often intoned before the meal to set the mood for the food. The usual vegetarian dishes are hardly seasoned, mostly steamed and not fried. There is always rice, even with noodles, and vegetables of all kinds are placed on top. According to tradition, monks in the temple (as far as possible) should not eat meat, because it would destroy the "seed" of compassion.

The way is the goal!

He who does not kill nor let kill, does not do violence nor let do violence, who is kind-minded against all beings, has no enmity to fear.

- Buddha - honorary name of Siddharta Gautama - 560 to 480 before the year zero

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