Are Monks Vegetarians ?

[SwaziBird]

I visited the Doi Saket Wat yesterday ( on the outskirts of Chiang Mai).

There was a lot of activity going on and inside we found a regular line-industry producing medalians on a hand-operated press ,all overseen by a monk.

There was stack upon stack of boxed sets of medalions available for 1850 baht each occupying the centre of the prayer hall as well as at the shop counters, also inside the main hall of the Wat.

The monk moved to a second production line, removed a small pouch from under his robe and took a pinch of something from that pouch which he added to the medalion press , to produce , what appeared to me to be a different type of amulet.

I must say I was somewhat amazed to see such full-on industrial/commercial activity taking place in the middle of the opluent and beautiful central hall of the Wat.

My puzzlement grew when we wandered outside and found a group of persons who had driven all the way up from Bangkok the day before to attend the ceremony which was to take place on this day. One of the English speaking young ladies invited us to join the group to share in some of the luncheon that the monks had prepared for them.

We were most grateful and we enjoyed the thoroughly delicious meal of rice and chicken.

I was under the impression that a monks kitchen wasn't the place to cook and serve chicken.

Sounds as though I'm taking shots at them. I'm not. I was simply bewildered by all that I experienced.

Was I expecting too much or do I simply not understand the way things work around here.

[seonai]

The monks would be blessing the amulets probably. No they are not veggies - but they can't actually kill the 'meat' themselves.

[cm das]

I believe the rule is that, in addition to a prohibition on killing, monks cannot receive meat if they know it has been killed specifically for them. But if wasn't, or they don't know that, then monks can accept meat as part of their alms.

[Grover]

I believe the rule is that, in addition to a prohibition on killing, monks cannot receive meat if they know it has been killed specifically for them. But if wasn't, or they don't know that, then monks can accept meat as part of their alms.

yes, and to add to this, certain types of meat, eg meat from a human, a tiger, snake, and several other animals is prohibited.

There is a group of monks in Thailand from "santi asok" temples that are vegetarians.

[chownah]

Also, monks are not allowed raw meat.

[gregybn]

Theravada monks not veggie

Vajrayana monks not veggie

Mahayana monks are veggie

[sabaijai]

I believe the rule is that, in addition to a prohibition on killing, monks cannot receive meat if they know it has been killed specifically for them. But if wasn't, or they don't know that, then monks can accept meat as part of their alms.

yes, and to add to this, certain types of meat, eg meat from a human, a tiger, snake, and several other animals is prohibited.

There is a group of monks in Thailand from "santi asok" temples that are vegetarians.

Those who take robes at Santi Asok are not accepted as monks by the Thai Sangha, so they call themselves samanera (novices).

[jumnien]

I believe "Buddha's Feast" in a Chinese restaurant has chicken, pork and shrimp.

[bigchang]

i believe if a guy is veggie before ones he take the robe he cant be to chosing,as he is given the food and its blessed by them

ofcourse they can not kill