Eat beef?

[DarwidHalim]

Dear members,

Does Theravadist eat beef?

Are there rules for them what food can be eaten and what food cannot?

I heard from my Myanmar friend who studied in Thailand, the monks over there don't eat beef.

However, I am not very sure about it.

[retrofuturist]

Greetings Darwid,

In the Vinaya there are prohibitions on certain meats, but not beef.

For lay practitioners there is no direct prohibition on any kind of meat.

Metta,
Retro.

[DarwidHalim]

Hi Retro,

Do you have the link or some references for it, particularly for that vinaya?

What i am referring to is actually for monks.

This knowledge may be important as well in case we want to donate food to the monks.

[David N. Snyder]

"I say that there are three instances in which meat should not be eaten: when it is seen, heard, or suspected that the living being has been slaughtered for the bhikkhu. I say that meat should not be eaten in these three instances. I say that there are three instances in which meat may be eaten: when it is not seen, not heard, and not suspected, that the living being has been slaughtered for the bhikkhu." Majjhima Nikaya 55.5

3 fold rule

Flesh from the following is not allowed, even if offered:
humans, elephants, horse, dog, snake, lion, tiger, leopard, bear, and hyena (Vinaya, Mahavagga VI.23.10-15)

The reason for the above appears to be from cultural reasons, looking unseemly to the lay people and also the scent of the flesh from these animals could attract other predators.

[Ben]

I heard from my Myanmar friend who studied in Thailand, the monks over there don't eat beef.

No, there is no prohibition regarding beef and I witnessed monks in Myanmar being served various forms of meat for their lunch.
In the early 20th Century, Ledi Sayadaw wrote a short treatise "Cow Dhamma" which encouraged all Buddhists to refrain from eating beef. Perhaps your friend knows of monks who are within the Ledi lineage who may have taken his teachings to refrain from eating beef, to heart.
http://www.aimwell.org/Books/Ledi/Cows/cows.html
kind regards,

Ben

[DarwidHalim]

Thanks David, it's very clear there.