01-12-2006, 03:12 AM
Re: Food classifications:
Apart from the classification based on guNa (sAttvika, rAjasika and tAmasika) or nature of the food, the other classification is sAmiSha and nirAmiSha, based on the process through which the food is acquired.
<b>sAmiSha</b> = food that is obtained through violence upon a living being
<b>nirAmiSha</b> = food obtained without violence
Therefore milk is nirAmiSha, but meat is sAmiSha. Eggs are embryos and therfore are sAmiSha. Vegetables, fruits and grains are nirAmiSha. One can argue that even fruits, vegetables and grains involve some violence. But taking the fruits, vegetables, grains etc doesn't kill the plant/tree. And in many cases plants and trees voluntarily drop fruits and seeds etc anyway. Meat-eating is in another ballpark as no living animal voluntarily drops its body parts. Milking the cow is considered nirAmiSha as it doesn't do violence to the cow. Only violence could be to the calf who may be denied his food. But calves are allowed some milk and they are fed otherwise. So milk may be considered quite nirAmiSha.
That is the reason milk is non-vegetarian in western countries, but considered "vegetarian" in India. The problem is that English lacks the sAmiSha/nirAmiSha kind of classification, so Indians make do with "vegetarin/non-vegetarian" classification.
Therefore a so called "vegtarian" hindu is not really vegetarian, but nirAmiSha.
Apart from the classification based on guNa (sAttvika, rAjasika and tAmasika) or nature of the food, the other classification is sAmiSha and nirAmiSha, based on the process through which the food is acquired.
<b>sAmiSha</b> = food that is obtained through violence upon a living being
<b>nirAmiSha</b> = food obtained without violence
Therefore milk is nirAmiSha, but meat is sAmiSha. Eggs are embryos and therfore are sAmiSha. Vegetables, fruits and grains are nirAmiSha. One can argue that even fruits, vegetables and grains involve some violence. But taking the fruits, vegetables, grains etc doesn't kill the plant/tree. And in many cases plants and trees voluntarily drop fruits and seeds etc anyway. Meat-eating is in another ballpark as no living animal voluntarily drops its body parts. Milking the cow is considered nirAmiSha as it doesn't do violence to the cow. Only violence could be to the calf who may be denied his food. But calves are allowed some milk and they are fed otherwise. So milk may be considered quite nirAmiSha.
That is the reason milk is non-vegetarian in western countries, but considered "vegetarian" in India. The problem is that English lacks the sAmiSha/nirAmiSha kind of classification, so Indians make do with "vegetarin/non-vegetarian" classification.
Therefore a so called "vegtarian" hindu is not really vegetarian, but nirAmiSha.