Transcript The Culture and Diet of Buddhism and Hinduism

The Culture
and Diet of
Buddhism and
Hinduism
Christina Ferraiuolo
Colleen Lynch
Objectives
I.
II.
III.
Identify the history and dietary practices
of Buddhism and their origin.
Identify the history and dietary practices
of Hinduism and their origin.
Compare and contrast the Buddhist
and Hindu cultures.
Origin of Buddhism
Nepal, India
Bihar, India
Buddhism Beginning

6th Century B.C.E - 490-410 BCE Life of
Siddhartha Guatama, the historical Buddha.

4th Century -Second Buddhist Council at
Vesali, India (386)

3rd Century- Indian Emperor Asoka (272-231)
converts and establishes the Buddha's
Dharma on a national level for the first time.
Buddhism Beginnings
 2nd
Century BC-The beginning of the
Mahayana
 1st
Century CE-Buddhism enters Central
Asia and China.
 2nd
Century CE- The Age of Indian
Buddhist
Teachings of
Buddha
The Self

The Western notion of the individual self (or
shall we say "selfish individual") is distinctly "un"Buddhist

“He who lives only for pleasures, and whose
soul is not in harmony, who considers not the
food he eats, is idle, and has not the power of
virtue - such a man is moved by MARA (evil
one), is moved by selfish temptations, even as
a weak tree is shaken by the wind.”
Karma
 Karma-
karma


We are affected by a collective
Bad karma from not following the moral
code causes a person to be reborn as a
lesser being
Good karma from following moral precepts
will be born a higher being.
Holy Days in Buddhism
 Vesak
or Visakah Puja ("Buddha Day")
 Buddhist
New Year
 Ulambana
(Ancestor Day)
The Buddhist teachings and
tradition provide important
"food for thought" to all of us.
Buddhist Meal Chant


First, let us reflect on our own work and the effort of
those who brought us this food.
Second, let us be aware of the quality of our deeds
as we receive this meal.
Third, what is most essential is the practice of
mindfulness, which helps us to transcend greed,
anger and delusion.
Fourth, we appreciate this food which sustains the
good health of our body and mind.
Fifth, in order to continue our practice for all beings
we accept this offering.
The first morsel is to cut all delusions.
The second morsel is to maintain our clear mind.
The third morsel is to save all sentient beings.
May we awaken together with all beings.
A Theravada Meal Chant
 Wisely
reflecting, I use this food not for fun,
not for pleasure, not for fattening, not for
beautification, but only for the
maintenance and nourishment of this body,
for keeping it healthy, for helping with the
Spiritual Life;
Thinking thus, I will allay hunger without
overeating, so that I may continue to live
blamelessly and at ease.
Buddhism Diet Restrictions
 “A
son of the Buddha shall not eat the
flesh of any sentient beings. If he eats their
flesh, he shall cut off great compassion, as
well as the seed of Buddhahood within
him.”
 Buddhism, in general, fundamentally
prohibits any and all animal meat or
intoxicants at all times.
A Part of the Whole
 The
Buddha taught that all sentient beings
are really a part of one original whole
organism. Therefore, when one kills
another, they are actually killing a part of
themselves. They are also killing a part of
their parents (also forbidden in Buddhism).
So, in effect, eating meat is suicidal!
Vegetarianism and Veganism
 “A
natural and logical ramification of the
moral precept against the taking of life" is
a diet that includes no animal meat.

In modern terms, we might use the word
"vegan" to describe the strict Mahayana
diet.
Pure Bodhisattvas follow this
ideal:
 “[they]
who do not wear silk, leather
boots, furs, or down ...and who do not
consume milk, cream, or butter, can truly
transcend this world. Both physically and
mentally one must avoid the bodies and
the by-products of beings, by neither
wearing them or eating them. I say that
such people have true liberation.”
Forbidden Foods

It is important to know why certain foods and drink
fall into either the forbidden or appropriate
categories

Vegetables that result in the death of the plant
were not eaten.

"Five Pungent Spices", including garlic and onions,
are forbidden.

If these five are eaten cooked, they increase one's
sexual desire; if they are eaten raw, they increase
one's anger.
Other Restrictions
 Proper
times and amounts of food that
can be eaten
 forbiddance of raw foods
 The observance of a diet that does not
violate the moral precept of no killing is
most important and universal.
 Many only eat after dawn and before
midday.
Ceremonial Food Offerings
 In
Theravada countries such as Thailand,
monks still rely on receiving alms for most
of their food.
 Food may be simply and silently left on an
altar, with a small bowl.
 Zen make food offerings to the hungry
ghosts.
"Five Moral Precepts"
 Failure
to follow any of the "Five Moral
Precepts" causes harm to others, further
clouds one's true seeing nature, and
greatly decreases one's chances of being
born a human again (a vantage point
along the path to enlightenment).
 NO
killing, stealing, sexual misconduct,
lying, or partaking of intoxicants.
"Five Contemplations While
Eating"



This is an exercise that forces the Buddhist to
stop and think about the food they are
eating.
What food is, why we eat it, where it comes
from, and when and how we should eat it.
"think about where the food came from and
the amount of work necessary to grow the
food, transport it, prepare and cook it and
bring it to the table.”
Killing or eating meat breaks
several rules:




One who harms other sentient beings and
restricts their path/chance to gain
enlightenment/nirvana.
One also hurts one's self since all beings are a
part of one whole.
One also spreads the bad killing karma, which
will later cause one suffering, or propagate
more killing.
One also enforces the suffering caused by the
cycle of death and rebirth.
It is believed that the
Buddha himself actually
died from food poisoning.
Hinduism
Origin


Originated around
the Indus Valley near
the River Indus in
modern day
Pakistan.
The religion of the
majority of people in
India and Nepal.
Over 900 million
practicing
worldwide.
Teachings
 No
single founder, no single scripture, and
no commonly agreed set of teachings
 The main Hindu texts are the Vedas and
their supplements.
 Veda- a Sanskrit word meaning
'knowledge'. Many scriptures discuss
dharma, which can be rendered as 'code
of conduct', 'law', or 'duty'
Beliefs



Most Hindus believe in a Supreme God,
whose qualities and forms are represented by
the multitude of deities which emanate from
him.
Existence is a cycle of birth, death, and
rebirth, governed by Karma.
The soul passes through a cycle of successive
lives and its next incarnation is always
dependent on how the previous life was lived.
Holy Days
 Diwali-
the Hindu festival of lights
 Holi-
originally a spring festival of fertility
and harvest
 Ganesh
Ganesh
Chaturthi- the birthday of lord
Hindu beliefs emphasize the
importance of living in
harmony with nature, and
having mercy, respect and
compassion for all creatures.
Dietary Practices




Ayurvedic dietary practices- under this
system, certain foods are classified as hot or
cold and can adversely or positively affect
health conditions and emotions.
Hot foods-foods which are salty, sour or high in
animal protein.
Cold foods- generally sweet or bitter.
Food is divided into three categories based
on how they enhance or hinder physical and
spiritual development.
Three Categories



Tamasic foods- foods considered heavy, dull
and depressive; Including meat, heavy
cheese, onions, garlic, and mushrooms, old
and stale food.
Rajasic foods- foods that are hot, spicy and
salty are said to irritate and stimulate, often to
a state of high agitation, anger and hate.
Sattvic foods- foods like many fruits, fresh
yogurt and leafy greens, are supposed to
bring clarity and perception and help unfold
love and compassion in the consumer.
Vegetarianism
 Hindus
believe in the interdependence of
life and will not eat any food that has
involved the taking of life.
 Many do not eat beef or beef products
because the cow is held to be sacred.
 Fish is a staple food product.
Preparation and Drink




Milk products are considered essential to a
vegetarian diet and ghee (clarified butter) is
a widely used frying medium.
Spices provide taste, aid digestion and
promote good health.
The main meal, lunchtime, will typically consist
of rice, sabji, dahl and chapattis.
Orthodox Hindus and most vegetarians are
unlikely to consume alcoholic beverages.
Food and Worship



Food offered to the
deities is thought to
bestow considerable
religious merit, purifying
body, mind and spirit.
Temple cooks are
usually brahmanas and
follow strict standards of
personal cleanliness.
There is a belief that the
consciousness of the
cook enters the food
and influences the mind
of the eater.
Prasad

For true service to God, purity of food is necessary
to maintain the desirable state of mind that leads
to enlightenment. Food is consumed not only to
survive but also to stay healthy and maintain
mind/body equilibrium.

A true devotee will refuse to accept any food that
is not offered first to God.
Before starting any daily meal, water is sprinkled
around the plate as an act of purification.
Five morsels of food are placed on the side of the
table to acknowledge the debt owed to thedevta
runa (divine forces) for their benign grace and
protection.


Fasting




Fasting is seen as a means of purifying the body
and the soul, encouraging self-discipline, and
gaining emotional balance.
Practiced on specific days of the week, during
festivals or on holy days, or in conjunction with
special prayers.
It is not required for a Hindu patient to fast during
hospitalization. However, some may wish to do so.
There is no specified way to fast. May choose to
abstain completely from all food and drink or only
abstain from certain foods.
Buddhism
Both
India, Nepal
Tibet, Sri Lanka
Siddhartha Gautama
Sutras, Pali canon,
Tipitaka
Eightfold Path
Vedas and the
Brahmans
Atman
bodhisattva
Collective
Hinduism
Polytheistic
Reincarnation
Vegetarianism
Karma
Forbiddance
of onions and
garlic
Use of spices
No single founder
Vedas, Upanishad,
Puranas, Gita
dharma shastras
Perist and
Brahmins
The five Jivas
Ashrama
Individual
References
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