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Should Buddhists not eat onion and garlic?
I read somewhere that it's wrong for Buddhists to not these foods. Is true? If this so, why? Thanks! 
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Comments
Welcome on board. I'm veggie and have been so for a very long time. Also been a Buddhist for as long. I've occasionally heard such mutterings about garlic and onions myself but never a proper explanation.
It's vague stuff, usually along the lines of it not being 'sattvic' food and conducive of lust or torpor or whatever.
In any case, I've never read anything said by the Buddha about it. I grow garlic in my garden and value it as much for its flavour as its medicinal qualities.
Namaste
Kris
Have a look at this link, and also, here:
(from this link)
These regulations were originally implemented for the ordained. So a lay person really, should look to the Four Noble Truths, Take Refuge in the Triple Gem, and undertake to adhere to thge first 5 precepts (usually increased to the first 8 at times of festival celebrations, or important Buddhist events).
This is sufficient.
And no mean feat.....
Hope this helps.
Interesting links. I especially liked this passage from the second one: Awesome. I like my garlic but to my knowledge have never had a snog from a hungry ghost. It's good at keeping colds and other minor ailments at bay though.
Then this rather intriguing bit... As if!!!
I'll let you know how I get on ;-)
Namaste
I would many a time include myself in the above category, BTW.....
In Theravada, the prohibition against eating onions applies only to monastics:
i. Now at that time the Blessed One when,
surrounded by a great assembly, he was preaching
the Dhamma, was seated. And a certain Bhikkhu,
who had eaten onions, sat down apart, thinking,
' Let not the Bhikkhus be annoyed 3 !'
The Blessed One saw that Bhikkhu sitting apart ;
and on seeing him, he said to the Bhikkhus, ' Why
now, O Bhikkhus, is that Bhikkhu seated apart ? '
' This Bhikkhu, Lord, has eaten onions, and has
1 This story forms the Introductory Story also to the Gagga
Gataka (No. 155 in FausbolPs edition). On the superstition here
condemned, see Dr. Morris's remarks in the ' Contemporary Review '
for May, 1881.
2 Gihi bhikkhave mahgalika.
3 Vyabahiwsu is for vyabadhiwsu. See p. 320 of the edition
of the text.
1 54 tfULLAVAGGA. V, 34, 2.
seated himself apart in order not to annoy the
Bhikkhus.'
' But ought, O Bhikkhus, anything to be eaten,
that will cause the eater to keep away from such
a preaching of the Dhamma as this ?'
' No, indeed, Lord.'
' You are not, O Bhikkhus, to eat onions. Who-
soever does so, shall be guilty of a dukka/a 1 .'
2. Now at that time the venerable Sariputta
had wind in his stomach. And the venerable Maha
Moggallana went up to the place where the vener-
able Sariputta was, and when he had come there,
he said to the venerable Sariputta :
* How did you formerly, friend Sariputta, get
relief, when you had wind in the stomach ?'
I By eating onions, my friend V
They told this matter to the Blessed One.
I 1 allow you, O Bhikkhus, to eat onions on ac-
count of disease.'
But in general, there is nothing wrong with eating onions or garlic in Theravada.
Jason
Thanks for that information. I found the 'note' on the 2nd link interesting:
Whilst "commercial puffery" exists in all walks of life - garlic has been extolled by herbalists for centuries.
I wonder if the reciters of mantra are particularly advised to avoid garlic, as chanting would spread the smell even more?
Well, that's enough superstition for one day for me.
The plain truth is that we all know the stuff keeps vampires away!
So funny!
I've really enjoyed reading this thread, thanks everyone.:)
Dazzle
Sariputta & Maha Moggallana. Always loveable.
Palzang
I don't know if the monks have any other reasons for not eating them but I've often thought about the rule because I'm a firm believer in the health benefits of that particular food group. I can certainly understand the courtesy of the rule though.
The decision not to consume food which aggravates the doshas is a mental method. So is the decision to eat sattvic foods that are conducive to dhyana. The natural corollary of your statement would be:
"Lust is a mental thing. One should be able to eradicate lust while continuing to watch pornography on late night cable."
Or perhaps more succinctly:
"It's all words, man."
Now your mileage may vary, but I prefer to cut down on those things that excite the mind when I am trying to cultivate tranquility. This is not to say that these foods are bad and should be completely avoided at all times. This is largely just during retreat.
There is nothing to stop any of you from nailing it to your doors to keep the vampires/tax collectors away. Just don't eat it before the meditation session.
Namgyal
Gosh I'm permanently on the full "stupa diet" then apart from an occasional foray into the realm of garlic and onions.:)
I don't quite understand how certain foods would increase emotion or desire though. Personally I don't ever recall feeling angrier or randier after eating garlic or spicy food. Bad breath or wind, yes!
.
If I may quote Mingyur Dorje Rinpoche from his excellent book 'The Joy of Living'
" The Buddha compared attachment to drinking salt water from an ocean. The more we drink, the thirstier we get. Likewise, when our mind is conditioned by attachment, however much we have, we never really experience contentment. We lose the ability between the bare experience of happiness and whatever objects temporarily make us happy. As a result, we not only become dependent on the object, but we also reinforce the neuronal patterns that condition us to rely on an external source to give us happiness."
.
Hey, that's my excuse when my wife walks in and yells "What are you watching that filth for? It stinks of garlic in here as well!"
Life's tough sometimes.
Anyway, I hope lisathevegan got some useful information off this thread. She's not been back though.
That sounds so freakin' hot!
-bf
Goats????
Wasn't it ghosts?
Yeah.
That's what I meant. Ghosts.
Not goats.
Cuz kissing hungry goats would be gross, right?
-bf
:crazy:
Have you seen a hungry ghost yourself then, Jinzang?
.
For me, I guess this would become an article of faith. Buddha said it, therefore it must be true.
But I still find myself wrestling with thoughts like I did with the Bible. The bizarre laws in the Old Testament about God approved slavery and slayings. Could the onion and garlic precept come from the "thoughts of the time" 2500 years ago?
-bf
Coffee, tobacco, chili, chocolate, etc... any strong spices, bitter tastes, these are all held to excite the passions. Mind you, the average mind is such a soup of passions that people don't usually notice or suspect the causality.
These can all be easily empirically validated, there is no need to accept something like this as buddhavacana.
Yes, I believe foods affect us in many different ways. I believe "a chemical is a chemical is a chemical". Where is it that aspirin came from? I know it's the bark or skin of a tree. The same with cinnamon. Both are organic. St. John's Wort? Red Clover? Many "plants" affect different areas of the human body.
But, I still say that I wonder how much of this had something to do with the mindset of the time. Not discounting it. Just wondering.
-bf
Thankfully, no. I'm relying on the traditional descriptions.
These remind me of the Christian Medieval European descriptions of horrid ghosts and walking corpses everywhere (and no electricity of course)
I prefer to interpret the six realms as mental states (which does not contradict some teachers)
.
I think you're quite right, bf. The context of available diet and preservation techniques, diet and social position, and medical opinions may all be temporary but, while they prevail, are taken as 'gospel'. This is as true today, in our own context, as with cultures that follow, for example, Ayurvedic principles.
Dietary rules have existed in all disciplines (including, for example, sport). The longer they have been in force, unquestioningly accepted, the more important it is to question them.
They're everywhere!
And yes, they make me puke!!:mad:
Willow bark, I believe.
Next stupa we build, I'll give you a call!
Palzang
I agree. I visit all the realms several times daily (at least!).
Palzang