Shadowland wrote:

> HINDUISM
>
> http://www.healthsystem.virginia.edu/internet/chaplaincy/hin du.cfm
>
> Dietary Regulations:* Vegetarianism is recommended in Hindu
> scriptures, but Hindus are free to choose their own diet.* In India,
> vegetarian diet is widespread.* Of those who eat meat, most abstain
> from beef and pork.* In America, many Hindus particularly second-
> generation, eat meat.* Hot, spicy food is common, particularly with
> those from South India.* Yogurt and sweets are taken along with
> meals.* Indian food is fairly salty.* Ghee (clarified butter) is often
> used for oil.* Coffee and tea are both used.* In the East, eating with
> the right hand, without utensils, is the traditional method.* In
> America, eating with utensils is considered acceptable.
>
> http://www.minoritynurse.com/features/health/10-25-05b.html
>
> The Hindu Dietary Code
> Devout Hindus believe that all of God's creatures are worthy of
> respect and compassion, regardless of whether they are humans or
> animals. Therefore, Hinduism encourages being vegetarian and avoiding
> the eating of any animal meat or flesh. However, not all Hindus choose
> to practice vegetarianism, and they may adhere to the religion's
> dietary codes in varying degrees of strictness. For example, some
> Hindus refrain from eating beef and pork, which are strictly
> prohibited in the Hindu diet code, but do eat other meats.
> Like Buddhists, Hindus believe that food affects both body and mind.
> Food is considered to be a source of the body's chemistry, which
> affects one's consciousness and emotions. Thus, expression of the soul
> depends on the body, which depends on the food. A proper diet is
> considered vital for spiritual development in Hinduism. The Hindu diet
> code divides food into three categories, based on the food's effect
> onthe body and the temperament:
>
> 7 Tamasic food is leftover, stale, overripe, spoiled or other impure
> food, which is believed to produce negative emotions, such as anger,
> jealousy and greed.
>
> 7 Rajasic is food that is believed to produce strong emotional
> qualities, passions and restlessness in the mind. This category
> includes meat, eggs, fish, spices, onions, garlic, hot peppers,
> pickles and other pungent or spicy foods.
>
> 7 The most desirable type of food, Sattvic, is food that is non-
> irritating to the stomach and purifying to the mind; it includes
> fruits, nuts, whole grains and vegetables. These foods are believed to
> produce calmness and nobility, or what is known as an "increase in
> one's magnetism."
>
>
> Some specific Hindu dietary customs and practices include the
> following:
> 7 A true devotee will refuse to accept any food that is not offered
> first to God. Gaining God's blessing before consuming the food is
> essential. Hindus may do this is by placing their daily food before
> the particular deities they worship and by reciting shlokas (prayers).
> Once the food is offered to God, it is eaten as prasad or blessed
> food.
> 7 Before starting any daily meal, a devout Hindu first sprinkles water
> around the plate as an act of purification.
> 7 Five morsels of food are placed on the side of the table to
> acknowledge the debt owed to the devta runa (divine forces) for their
> benign grace and protection.
> 7 For a child's birthday celebration, the sacred symbol "OM" is added
> onto the birthday cake along with "Happy Birthday." Also, a lamp is
> lit instead of having the child blow out the candles. In the Hindu
> faith, lighting a lamp is symbolic of new life, a new beginning or the
> spreading of knowledge.
>
> http://www.planetpapers.com/Assets/1441.php
>
> In Hinduism, they believe in Brahman, Karma, and do not eat meat.
> Brahman is the Supreme Hindu G-d. All other g-ds and goddesses are
> aspects of Brahman. In fact, everything in the world is part of
> Brahman. He destroys, recreates, maintains and creates in samsara,
> which is the cycle of birth, death, and rebirth again. It is a Hindu's
> main goal in life to reach Brahman, and by following one's dharma
> (rules and regulations one must follow starting at birth), one's soul
> may eventually be united with him. By following your dharma, you may
> also have a good next life and be reborn into a higher social class.
> The total bad and good deed a human soul carries from one life to the
> next is karma. The number of good and bad deeds you do also affects
> your next life, whether you're human/animal, rich/poor, happy/sad, and
> things you may experience in this next life. They believe that even
> though your body dies, your soul is taken into a new body. Hindus'
> diets consist of only vegetation, because they believe that a person
> in one life could be an animal in another. Therefore, if you killed an
> animal, it would be like murdering a human. So you would be robbing
> them of the chance to ever reach their goal in life (reaching
> Brahman). That is why they treat animals and people as equals.
>
> http://www.faqs.org/nutrition/Pre-Sma/Religion-and-Dietary-P ractices.h
> tml
>
> Hinduism.
> Hindus do not consume any foods that might slow down spiritual or
> physical growth. The eating of meat is not prohibited, but pork, fowl,
> ducks, snails, crabs, and camels are avoided. The cow is sacred to
> Hindus, and therefore no beef is consumed. Other products from the
> cow, however, such as milk, yogurt, and butter are considered innately
> pure and are thought to promote purity of the mind, spirit, and body.

Thanks!

--
Dan Goodman
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