Tag: Five pungent roots

Not all Buddhists avoid onions, but for those who do, the reasoning is deeply tied to spiritual practice. Specifically, certain Mahayana traditions abstain from what they call the 'five pungent roots,' which includes onions, believing they can disrupt mental clarity and hinder meditation.

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.