What is the right way to practice vegetarianism?

The word "Chay" (vegetarian) is derived from the Sanskrit word Upavasatha, meaning purity and also referring to "timely meal." "Timely meal" refers to eating lunch at noon, while "non-timely meal" refers to eating lunch after noon.

According to the common understanding of Mahayana Buddhists in Vietnam, vegetarianism means consuming light and simple foods, avoiding fish, meat, and pungent ingredients belonging to the five pungent spices (five spices with strong, spicy flavors: onion, chives, garlic, shallots, and asparagus).

A vegetarian diet brings people peace of mind and body, and helps them avoid many illnesses in daily life. (Illustrative image/Source: Internet)

According to Buddhism, there are two methods of vegetarianism: lifelong vegetarianism and periodic vegetarianism. Lifelong vegetarianism means voluntarily consuming only wholesome foods for life, abstaining from meat and blood products. Periodic vegetarianism, on the other hand, involves observing vegetarianism on specific days of the month or year.

Furthermore, one of the most serious sins in Buddhism is killing. Animals, like humans, have lives, and all life is precious. Therefore, Buddhism encourages vegetarianism with the meaning of protecting life, avoiding bad karma, and promoting harmonious and peaceful coexistence between humans and animals.

Vegetarianism is a daily practice that constantly reminds us of compassion. It helps to improve our own minds, making them more peaceful, compassionate, clear, expansive, and sensitive to the suffering of all beings.

When compassion is cultivated to its utmost, it leads the mind to wisdom, and wisdom is enlightenment. Only such compassion is truly Buddhist compassion. Only such vegetarianism can be called Buddhist vegetarianism.

Theravada Buddhists still eat animal meat, but their vegetarian diet adheres to the Five Pure Meat Principles: 1. Not witnessing the slaughter, 2. Not hearing the cries of the slaughtered animal, 3. Not intentionally killing the animal for personal consumption, 4. The animal dies naturally, 5. The meat is leftover from another animal's meal.

Mahayana Buddhists, on the other hand, follow a stricter vegetarian diet, but they often eat excessively, sometimes two or three meals a day, and sometimes they prepare elaborate meals, almost perfectly imitating meat and fish dishes from the secular world, sometimes looking exactly alike, even in taste.

It can also be a way of deceiving one's mind, nurturing craving and attachment. Therefore, practitioners, whether monastic or lay, must be very vigilant in every action they take.

Fasting days

02 days: 1st and 15th (15)
4 days: 1st, 14th, 15th and 30th
6 days: 8, 14, 15, 23, 29 and 30
8 days: The 1st, 8th, 14th, 15th, 18th, 23rd, 24th, and 30th.
10 days: 1, 8, 14, 15, 18, 23, 24, 28, 29, and 30.
01 month: January or April or July or October.
Three months: January, July, and October.
Four months: January, April, July, and October.
Long-term vegetarianism: Eating all year round.

If you are a vegetarian, it means your heart desires goodness and a more peaceful life. Therefore, don't be arrogant and think that your vegetarianism makes you superior to others. Being a vegetarian helps avoid negative karma and cultivate good relationships; it doesn't prove that you are more diligent or practicing the true path more effectively.

Nowadays, vegetarianism is both a spiritual ritual of Buddhism and a form of health maintenance that is widely adopted. Therefore, regardless of the purpose, vegetarianism should stem from personal willingness and be directed towards positive and virtuous values.