Vegetarianism has been a common thread among the major world religions. It cannot be see in isolation of the religion. Vegetarianism and religion are strongly intermingled with each other in a number of religions that originated in ancient India. In fact, when the Indian religions are showing the way of life, vegetarianism becomes the powerful force for coexistence with vegetation world also. I do not like to unfold the tapestry of vegetarianism encapsuled into the Indian sacred texts, as all the texts unanimously speak for vegetarianism.
I would like
to begin with Semitic Religions and first of all I shall begin with Judaism.
Judaism:
Judaism is the mother of all Semitic religions, i.e Judaism, Islam and
Christianity. These three religions are also called Abrahamic religions, as
Abraham is the founding father of all these religions.
Vegetarianism
in Judaism: I would like to begin with a quotation from Exodus; “You who have
compassion for a lamb Shall be the shepherd of my people Israel” Unfortunately
today Orthodox Judaism does not generally teach that vegetarianism is a
scriptural principle. Ofcourse the scriptures do inform us that each generation
of the Jews has a lesser understanding of the Torah than its predecessor.
(Tractate Berakhot,20A Talmud Bavli)
This is
enough to account for modern Jews refusal of the vegetarian way of life. The
first diet given by Torah is clearly vegetarian. Genesis stresses “I have given
you every herb bearing seed which is upon the face of the earth and every tree
in which is the fruit of a tree giving seed: to you it shall be for food.” In
obedience to these instructions the people of Israel for three generations
(from Adam to Noah) were frugivorous (feeding on fruits) and vegetarian.
However this adherence to God’s commandment was very short lived. By the time
of Noah morality diminished considerably. Animal sacrifice started, animal’s
skin were used for clothing and human beings began to murder one
another.(GENESIS 4:8)
It was during
this period of falling into sin as the Bible describes it that God gave concessions
for eating flesh food. From then onward meat eating became rampant, After the
great flood that had destroyed all vegetation, God issued a temporary sanction
to eat meat.(Genesis 9:4)
There after
God again instituted a vegetarian diet. When people of Israel left Egypt God
provided manna a non-flesh food meant to sustain during arduous journey. Meat
eating by now has thoroughly become ingrained and wide spread among the Jews.
Mankind was given dominion over all creatures (Genesis 1:26) and many adherents
of Judeo-Christian tradition refer to this dominion in an attempt to
rationalize the killings and eating of animal flesh.Dr.Richard Schwartz says in
his Judaism and Vegetarianism “Dominion does not mean that we have the right to
conquer and exploit animals. Immediately after God gave dominion over animals,
he prohibited their use for food. Dominion means guardianship or being
co-worker with God in taking care of and improving the world. (Genesis1:26 and
1:29)
The Talmud
interprets dominion as the privilege of using animals for labour only. Rabbi
Kook states that dominion does not mean to govern cruelly for our personal
selfish ends with stubborn heart. Rabbi Hirch says that people have not been
given right to have other animals subservient to them. He also states that “The
earth and its creatures may have other relationship of which we are ignorant,
in which they serve their own purpose. Thus there is divine control over all
and neither Judaism nor any other religion has unlimited rights to use, misuse
or even kill other animals. The dietary regulations of Judaism: It is
interesting to note that all dietary laws of Judaism apply to flesh food only.
All fruits, vegetables, grains, cereals and even dairy products are KOSHER.
Only meat must be prepared in a special way. This is because Judaism stresses
to minimize meat eating. Meat is not for consumption. It is a compromise in a
dire need. Jewish dietary law ‘kushrut’ says that first of all eating meat
itself is a sort of compromise. Man ideally should not eat meat. Further the
Jewish laws prescribe a long and tiresome almost difficult procedure to
slaughter animal. If such procedure is not strictly followed the slain meat
becomes impure and it is not ‘kosher’ (permissible). This is an indirect
restriction on slaughtering and meat eating.
Christianity:
“Take care not to destroy god’s work for the sake of something to eat” (Romans
14:20) The New Testament focuses exclusively upon Jesus but little is known
about his diet. There were however many early Christians who did support
vegetarianism. They are St.Benedict, Clement, Eusebius, Cyprian, and John
Wesley to name a few. The Bible –including the Old Testament has its origin in
Judaism and by virtue of Torah’s declaration of vegetables as first food the vegetation
becomes the food of Christianity also. History relates that organized
Christianity gradually moved away from its vegetarian roots. The early
Christian fathers adhered to meatless regimen. More recently the Roman Catholic
Church had ruled that practicing Catholics at least observe certain fast and
abstain from meat eating on Fridays. This is a welcome step in the direction of
meatless food society.
Islam:
The
Islamic tradition holds that in Mecca, the birthplace of Mohammed, no creature
be slaughtered and that perfect harmony exists between all living things. In
fact, Muslim pilgrims approach Mecca wearing a shroud (ihram), and from the
time they don this religious apparel, no killing is allowed: not even
mosquitoes, lice, grasshoppers, or any other living creature. If a pilgrim sees
an insect on the ground, he will gesture to stop his comrades from
inadvertently stepping on it. Thus, while Islam is not generally viewed as a
religion that endorses vegetarianism and kindness to animals, the Islamic tradition
does have great deal to say about a person’s relationship to the animal world.
The Example
of Mohammed: Biographies of Mohammed (also written as Muhammad, peace be upon
him) include narrations that clearly depict his love for animals. And while one
would be hard-pressed to find Muslims today who feel that their religion
supports vegetarianism. (Although there are certain sects that do), Mohammed’s
teachings in this regard are clear. For instance, Margoliouth, one of
Mohammed’s chief biographers, writes,”His humanity extended itself to the lower
creation. He forbade the employment of towing birds as targets for marksmen and
remonstrated with those who ill-treated their camels. When some of his
followers had set fire to an anthill, he compelled them to extinguish it. Act
of cruelty was swept away by him.” Other biographers, such as Dr. M. Hafiz
syed, point out that Mohammed instructed those who eat meat to wash out their
mouth before going for prayer. While it is certainly a Muslim custom to clean
one’s mouth before going to prayer, many biographers say that only meat is
emphasized in this connection and not any other food. To a vegetarian Muslim,
this would come as no surprise. Why, it may be asked, did Mohammed allow meat
eating at all? One possible answer is that, because he based much of his
teaching on the Old Testament. Mohammed employed the same concession for
meat-eaters as God did in the scriptures and the same techniques of gradualism.
Although total compassion and abstinence from killing were the ideal, Mohammed
had to bring his followers to that platform slowly so as not to repel potential
adherents. Mohammed knew his people well. Before the advent of Islam, the
people of Arabia embraced a plurality of gods, bigamy was the rule, if a baby
girl was born the couple out of shame would bury her alive (Koran, surah 6,
verse 140). Sexual relation between mothers and sons were so widespread that
the Koran contained prohibition (Koran, surah4, verses 19-24). It was
Mohammed’s mission to uplift his people, but he knew that radical change was
doomed to fail. Like the great religious reformers before him, Mohammed
considered the time, place and circumstances surrounding his mission.
In fact,
Mohammed openly admitted that he only taught men according to their mental
capacities:” For if you speak all things to all men-some will not understand.”
In this regard, Mohammed said, “The teachings were sent in seven dialects; and
in every one of its sentences there is an external and an internal meaning....
I received two kinds of knowledge: one of these I taught-but if I had taught
them the other, it would have broken their throats.” Although Islamic tradition
and Arabic Linguists have long since developed an explanation for the peculiar
expression “broken their throats,” many vegetarian Muslim have suggested that
vegetarianism is implied with this phrase. In fact, Mohammed could only have
been in favour of vegetarianism, although he may have been unable to impose
this philosophy on the majority. He always showed the greatest
compassion-“universal compassion” –and he exhorted his followers to do the
same.
A touching
example for Mohammed’s life show how far his empathy extended. Awaking from a
nap one afternoon, he found a small, sick cat fast asleep on the edge of his cloak.
The prophet cut off his garment so that the cat could sleep undisturbed. Such a
man could never advocate the slaughter of innocent animals in the name of
religion.
In one
popular tradition (Hadith) Mohammed is depicted as having rebuked his followers
for not showing universal compassion. “But we do show compassion,” they
insisted,”-to our wives, children and relatives.” The prophet responded, “It is
not this to which I refer. I am speaking of universal mercy. One advantage of
Islam’s being a newer religion is that many specific facts regarding Mohammed’s
diet and attitude towards animals are well remembered and preserved. The
prophet’s earliest biographers indicate that he preferred vegetarian foods,
saying that he liked milk mixed with water, curd with butter or nuts and dates.
His favourite fruits were pomegranates, grapes and figs. He was particularly
fond of honey, often eating it mixed with vinegar, and he is quoted as saying
that in a house where there is vinegar and honey, there will certainly be the
blessings of the Lord.
The Quran
contains several references pertaining to vegetarianism, such as ‘Let man
reflect on the food he eats, how we poured out rain abundantly and split earth
and made fertile, and then we made the grains to grow and vines and reeds,
olives and palms and gardens and pastures- an enjoyment for you and your cattle
to delight in. ‘Ultimately Quran encourages Muslims to eat wholesome, healthful
vegetarian food. Al-Ghazzali (1058-111), one of Islam’s most brilliant
philosophers, who wrote in his book “Ihya Ulum ul-din.” Eating the meat of a
cow causes disease (marz), its milk is health (safa), and its clarified butter
(ghee) is medicine (dava). Compassionate eating leads to compassionate living.
The Koran clearly evokes compassion and mercy toward animals, and although many
Muslims never consider vegetarianism, certain sects, such as the shi’ites, do
have a core of vegetarian followers.Islamic
mystics, such as the Sufis, also hold vegetarianism as high spiritual ideal.
The Sufi Tradition:
There is an ancient story about a woman Sufi, Saint,
Hazarat Rabia Basri, who would regularly go to a particular mountain in the
forest in order to meditate in perfect tranquility. When she would go, all the
animals of the forest would come near to enjoy her good company. One day,
another Sufi arrived. But as soon as he approached, all the animals ran away,
as if in fear. Completely vexed, the Sufi inquired Rabia Basri, “Why do the
animals run away?” Rabia countered with another question: “what have you eaten
today?” The Sufi confessed that he; had eaten an onion fried in some fat. The
wise Sufi woman concluded, “You eat their fat! Why should they not flee from
you? This famous Sufi tale is perhaps indicative of the Islamic mystical
perspective on human-animal interrelations. Thousands of Sufis have advocated
vegetarian food. Another great Sufi Mohammed Rahim Bawa Mohiyuddin in his
monumental work “Come to the secret garden” talks about love and compassion
towards animals. The hunter learns compassion from a bird represents a clearly
vegetarian tradition within Islamic mysticism.
Hinduism,
Buddhism and Jainism : Needless to say that the Indian religious traditions have
always advocated vegetarianism, The Vedas do speak for sacrifice of different
animals on different occasions, but popular modern Hinduism does not advocate
animal sacrifice. The Hindu scriptures always speak about vegetarian way of
life. Manusmruti says; “having well considered the origin of flesh foods, and
the cruelty, of fettering slaying corporeal body let man entirely abstain from
eating flesh” Manusmriti 5.49 “by not killing any living being, one becomes fit
for salvation” Manusmriti 6.60 “You must not use your God given body for
killing God’s creatures, whether they are humans or animals” Yajur Veda 12.32
As I have said earlier that Judaism is the mother of Semitic religions, there
is nothing wrong if I say Hinduism is the mother of eastern religions
especially Jainism and Buddhism. No religion of the world has given such high a
place to AHIMSA as Jainism has.
Painting by Pashk Pervathi
