What are the five forbidden vegetables in Buddhism?
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5 min read
Not all vegetarian diets are created equal; in many Mahayana Buddhist traditions, the diet extends beyond abstaining from meat to include the 'five pungent roots'. These forbidden vegetables are believed to disrupt spiritual practice, making their exclusion a key aspect of monastic and dedicated lay diets. Understanding what are the five forbidden vegetables in Buddhism reveals the deep connection between diet and the path to enlightenment.