Master Qingliang Yue: A vegetarian diet is basically taken for the cultivation of compassion. Besides, meat diet can easily lead to drowsiness. This is because all animals are in lower states in which they often have a delusive mind. When we eat their body, the matter which corresponds to their distracted mind, we naturally come to a state of distraction. This kind of distraction will block the travel of Qi in meridians and change our body, making us feel drowsy constantly. Therefore, on the whole, a vegetarian diet is better. On the one hand, it cultivates great compassion, and on the other hand, it is good for Qi in the body.
Vegetarian Diet
Master Qingliang Yue: Before we reach the level of Samadhi (or subconscious concentration), whatever thing we eat, whether it is vegetables, or meats, or other things, will surely affect our body, however not after we reach this level. In other words, as kinds of matter in this world, they could only exert influence on the objects in this world. For those who are in Samadhi, they are of no use.
Why do we take up meat after a period of vegetarian diet? Living in the current state of mind, all the animals are not human beings in our eyes and it is ok for us to eat their meat. But we will change our mind when we reach a higher level of empirical practice, in which we understand what animals are talking, discussing, and quarrelling about, knowing they are not different from human beings. So, at proper time, we will change our concepts basically, no longer treating these beings as animals. As you see, a change of our concepts is the key to solve this problem. But this change of mind could only be available when we come to the state of Rulai Zang (Tathāgatagarbha), the advanced state of mind.
Will a vegetarian diet lead to asthenia of qi and blood?
The asthenia of qi and blood is caused by many reasons. It is not that people who are vegetarians have weak qi and blood. Ordinary people always have this syndrome if he consumes more than what he could be supplemented. But those who conduct empirical research are different. They rely on meditation rather than food to make their body recover. They are still very healthy even they eat nothing. In other words, food is not the only thing that brings recovery of the body. Other methods, such as having meditation, can also work very well. We don’t need any food if we could achieve a higher level of meditation.
If we do not practice meditation, a very simple and limited vegetarian diet might be harmful to our body. This is mainly because what the body consumes can’t be sufficiently supplemented. Just like the water in the reservoir, it will gradually decrease if the water from the upstream fails to reach the reservoir.
