The principles of spirituality have remained the same throughout the centuries. Modern science is only now coming to the conclusions that saints and mystics have realized since time immemorial. Also in the field of nutrition, modern research is confirming the supremacy of the diet followed by those who lead a spiritual life: the vegetarian diet. In all aspects, spiritual, moral and physical, the vegetarian diet is the most suitable for man. And for those who wish to follow the path that leads to self-knowledge and God-realization, a strict vegetarian diet is essential.
If we examine various religious and mystical traditions, we find that they recommend or require vegetarianism. Such a diet is associated with early religious traditions. Thus, Pythagoras and his followers were strict vegetarians. The Greek sage taught: “My friends, do not defile your bodies by partaking of impure food. We have plenty of grain and trees that are laden with fruit. We have delicious vegetables and roots that can be easily cooked. And there is no shortage of milk and honey.” Our land has an abundance of these pure and harmless foods and there is no need for us to partake of foods for which blood has to be shed and innocent lives sacrificed.”
Many of the famous early philosophers like Plato, Plotinus, Empedocles, Apollonius, Plutarch and Porphyry also followed the vegetarian diet. Again, many of the early mystery religions, such as the Orphics and Essenes, had vegetarianism as a prerequisite for initiation. If we carefully study the Holy Bible, we find that God wanted man to be a vegetarian. In Genesis, God says, “I have given you every seed that bears fruit that is on the face of the whole earth, and every tree in which there is fruit of seed that bears fruit of a tree; meat” (Genesis 1:29). Even when God gave Moses the Ten Commandments, vegetarianism was necessarily implied. If we follow the commandment, “Thou shalt not kill” (Exodus 20:13), it is naturally impossible to eat meat, fish, birds or eggs How can we claim to be lovers of God, lovers of His creation, if we kill the lowliest members of God’s family?
Jesus Christ was the Apostle of Peace; he was the embodiment of nonviolence. He taught, “Whoever strikes you on the right cheek, turn to him the other also” (Matthew 5:39). If he was not violent up to that point, could he have been violent towards the lower levels of God’s creation? Christ taught universal love and total nonviolence. He asked us not to indulge in any murder, and he commanded that we have love for everyone.
The great Sufi saints of the past were vegetarians. Therefore, Mirdad declares: “Those who follow the spiritual path must never forget that if they partake of the flesh, they must pay for it with their own flesh.” Buddha, the Compassionate, taught non-violence towards all creatures, and originally his followers were vegetarians. Mahavira, the founder of the Jain religion preached a strict vegetarian diet. And of course vegetarianism is an integral part of the Hindu religious tradition. In Sikh Gurdwaras (temples) no meat is served in the free kitchen, and when Sikhs observe a religious ceremony in their homes, vegetarian meals are served after the recitation of scriptures. A Mughal historian has significantly recorded in his book Dabistan-e-Mazahib (School of Religions) that Guru Arjan Dev made a special proclamation: “Eating meat is forbidden among those who follow Guru Nanak.”
The instructions given to the disciples by the Sixth Sikh Guru Har Gobind are quite explicit: “Do not go near fish or meat.” (These instructions, sent in a circular called “Hukamnama”, are kept at Patna Saheb Gurdwara).
If you make a comparative study of religious traditions, you will find that after a saint or Master has concluded his ministry, the esoteric side of his teachings is quickly forgotten and replaced by rites and rituals. To make the teachings more acceptable to a large number of people, those who come after him make changes in diet and discipline. But the mystical tradition is clear in defending vegetarianism.