Tag: Tibetan buddhism

While many people assume all monks follow a strict vegetarian diet, the reality is far more complex and varied across different traditions. Do all monks avoid eating meat? The answer depends heavily on the specific Buddhist school, geographic location, and monastic rules they observe.

While most people associate Buddhism with vegetarianism, dietary practices differ significantly across its traditions. The question of whether Buddhists can have chicken, therefore, has no single answer, instead depending on an individual's tradition, personal circumstances, and interpretation of core Buddhist principles like *ahimsa* (non-harming).

While the Dalai Lama is a well-known advocate for compassion, his personal dietary choices have been a subject of public curiosity for decades. The short answer to 'Does the Dalai Lama eat eggs?' is generally no, especially not at his home in Dharamsala, but the full story is more nuanced, involving historical context, health issues, and compassion.

While the first Buddhist precept prohibits taking life, dietary practices differ significantly across Buddhist traditions, with a 2022 survey finding that only a portion of Chinese Buddhists follow a vegetarian diet. The answer to what kind of diet do Buddhists eat is thus complex, guided by regional interpretations and individual choices, all centered on the principle of non-harming.