user21202: I feel guilty about eating non-vegetarian food (fish, eggs and chicken). I know Buddhist followers, brahmins (Hindus) and Jains follows strict rules for vegetarianism. Does eating any sort of meat have an impact on your overall mentality?

user7138: No vegetarianism doesn't have a real impact on mentality. But if someone wishes to be vegetarian as a social responsibility or for health concerns, they may do so. The Buddha has stated that non-veg food is bad for longevity. But with respect to the practice of mental well being, it has no affect. This is because by eating food, we do not harm anyone or intend to harm anyone, thus no bad karma. It is only the people who kill animals and keep them caged and sell them, who are doing real harm.
There was one occasion in the Buddha's time when a monk needed to eat meat for medicine. For monks, only certain types of meat like human flesh, dog meat and some other specific types of meat are forbidden. But for lay practitioners, there are no rules regarding non-veg food what so ever.
The most important thing is to not to crave food, either it's Veg or Non-veg.
Edit : Also it is not good to ask someone to kill an animal so that we can eat the meat. But buying meat that was not specifically killed for you is not harmful.

user21211: It's amazing to me to see how people use religious justifications to justify things that against the spirit of their own religion.
The Buddha advocated for loving kindness, compassion and non-harming. For me, it strictly follow that if we can avoid harm, then we should. If we can live on a diet that's healthy and avoid harm, then what is the reason not to do it?
2500 years ago in India, people were probably straggling with getting food anyway, and it was not realistic to ask from them to cut out meat of their menu when it's an important source of food from them. Today, most people are no way near the conditions of ancient India, and it is quit easy to avoid animal products and live a healthy life. The fact that the Buddha didn't forbidden meat then does not mean that we can use the same justifications given 2500 years ago.
Also, in the time of the Buddha the conditions of the animals were compliantly different. Today, animals that are born and raised in the meat, dairy and egg industry are living an actual hell realm, when their body parts are being cut while they are still awake, they live in crowded small cages when they can barely move, they are separated from their children in the moment of birth, and they're killed in various horrific ways like gas chambers, electrification, spinning blades, and so on. Raising animals for meat today is not the same as it was at the time of the Buddha.
The Buddha did allowed monks to eat meat, but only is the animal was not slaughtered just for them. As monks were beggars, and they were supposed to eat everything that is served to them, it is impolite to say no to a piece of meat that is served to you. Today a lot of monasteries are not living in a beggar lifestyle, but has their own kitchen, and most of them do serve meat, because "the Buddha didn't explicitly forbidden it". If they buy meat at the store, doesn't that means they are paying someone to slaughter animals just for them? I think it's absolutely ridicules and it's an example of religious dogmatism, rather then connecting to the true spirit of the Buddha of non-harm and compassion.
Anyway, that's only my own opinion, and I'm not arrogant enough to say that my own opinion is the one that the Buddha would have if he was alive today. I only know that through the compassion that had opened to me through my own practice it has become impossible for me to consume animal products, and I encourage anyone to open to their own compassion and to see where does it takes them.

user19480: 
My question is does eating any sort of meat have an impact on your
overall mentality?

Yes Nandita, as you testify, you experience much guilt because you intuitively feel that eating meat goes against the Buddha’s intrinsic selfless compassion and his teachings on that subject. For example:

The reason for practicing dhyana and seeking to attain Samadhi is to
escape from the suffering of life, but in seeking to escape from
suffering ourselves, why should we inflict it upon others? Unless you
can so control your minds that even the thought of brutal unkindness
and killing is abhorrent, you will never be able to escape from the
bondage of the world's life. No matter how keen you may be mentally,
no matter how much you may be able to practice dhyana, no matter to
how high a degree of Samadhi you may attain, unless you have wholly
annihilated all tendency to unkindness toward others, you will
ultimately fall into the realms of existence where the evil ghosts
dwell. You of this great assembly ought to appreciate that those human
beings who might become enlightened and attain Samadhi, because of
eating meat, can only hope to attain the rank of a great Raksha and
until the end of their enjoyment of it, must sink into the never
ceasing round of deaths and rebirths. (Surangama Sutra: Importance of
Keeping the Precepts)


The Buddha said, “Son of my lineage, my teaching is not like that of
the naked ascetics. I, the Tathagata, established rules of discipline
in relation to specific individuals. Consequently, with a certain
purpose in mind, I did give permission to eat meat regarded as
suitable for consumption after it has been subjected to threefold
examination. In other contexts, I have proscribed ten kinds of meat.
And yet again, with someone else in mind, I have declared that it is
improper to consume meat of any kind, even of animals that have died
of natural causes. But I have affirmed, O Kashyapa, that henceforth,
all those who are close to me should abstain from meat.
(Mahaparinirvana Sutra: Abstaining From Eating Meat and Fish, Even
Died by Natural Causes)

Unfortunately, there are many who will try to persuade you to think that eating meat is ok, as long as you don’t kill the sentient being yourself. The Buddha foresaw this:

After my Parinirvana in the last kalpa these different kinds of ghosts
will be encountered everywhere deceiving people and teaching them that
they can eat meat and still attain enlightenment. But how can any
faithful follower of the Lord Tathagata kill sentient life and eat the
flesh? (Surangama Sutra, Ibid)


The root tantra of Kalachakra says: Wicked people, hard to train, kill
harmless beasts as sacrifice to gods and for their ancestors, to gain
protection, profit, and fulfil their aims. To buy the meat, to wish to
eat it, is indeed an evil act.

The Buddha was quite clear that he taught compassion, not evasion of responsibility:

For innumerable reasons, Mahamati, the Bodhisattva, whose nature is
compassion, is not to eat any animal flesh. I will explain the
reasons: Mahamati, in the long course of transmigration, all sentient
beings have been our brothers, sisters, mothers, fathers, sons, and
daughters, and we have felt many different kinds and degrees of
kinship with each and every one of them. These sentient beings have
been beasts, domestic animals, birds, and humans in different
lifetimes and have often been related to us in some way. This being
the case, how can the Bodhisattva-Mahasattva who desires to respect
all sentient beings as he or she would respect himself or herself and
who is committed to devotedly practising the Dharma eat the flesh of
any sentient being whose nature is the same as himself or herself?
Even, Mahamati, the Rakashasa, when they listened to a discourse on
the highest essence of the Dharma by the Tathagata, were inspired to
protect Buddhism. Through this they had awakened to the feeling of
compassion, became sensitive to the sorrows of sentient beings, and
therefore chose to refrain from eating animal flesh. How much more
should human beings who love the Dharma do the same! Thus, Mahamati,
whenever and wherever there is evolution among sentient beings, let
people cherish the thought of kinship with them, and holding the
thorough intention of treating them as if they were our only child,
and therefore refrain from eating their flesh. So much more should
Bodhisattvas, who are committed to being compassionate towards all
sentient beings, and whose inner nature is compassion itself, choose
to refrain from eating animal flesh. For a Bodhisattva to keep good
integrity with the Dharma, he or she should not make any exceptions to
the eating of animal flesh. He or she is not to eat the flesh of dogs,
donkeys, buffaloes, horses, bulls, humans, or any other sentient being
whether or not such flesh in generally eaten by some humans in some
culture or society. Nor should a Bodhisattva eat flesh sold by others
for monetary profit.” (A Re-translation of the Eighth Chapter of the
Lankavatara Sutra and Commentary, By William Bagley, 2006)


Pure and earnest bhikshus, if they are true and sincere, will never
wear clothing made of silk, nor wear boots made of leather because it
involves the taking of life. Neither will they indulge in eating milk
or cheese because thereby they are depriving the young animals of that
which rightly belongs to them. It is only such true and sincere
bhikshus who have repaid their karmic debts of previous lives, who
will attain true emancipation, and who will no more be bound to wander
to this triple world. To wear anything, or partake of anything for
self-comfort, deceiving one's self as to the suffering it causes
others or other sentient life, is to set up an affinity with that
lower life which will draw them toward it. So all bhikshus must be
very careful to live in all sincerity, refraining from even the
appearance of unkindness to other life. It is such true hearted
bhikshus who will attain a true emancipation. Even in one's speech and
especially in one's teaching, one must practice kindness for no
teaching that is unkind can be the true teaching of Buddha. Unkindness
is the murderer of the life of Wisdom. (Surangama Sutra, Ibid)


Whoever, having laid aside violence in respect of all beings, moving
or still, does not kill or cause to kill, him I call a brahman.
(Sutta-Nipata III.9:629)

These are just a representative example of quotes. There are many more. There are also reinterpretations of the Buddha’s teachings that stray from his heartfelt-intent. In those cases, ask yourself if he meant selective compassion, or compassion for all sentient beings. And follow your heart—don’t listen to others.

user254: I know Buddhist followers, brahmins(Hindus) and Jains follows strict rules for vegetarianism.
I don't think so -- I think that Buddhist doctrine teaches a middle way (avoiding extremes), including in rules about diet, perhaps in contrast to (some more extreme elements of) Jain doctrine.
So far as I know, Mahayana Buddhists are more likely to be vegetarian, but the Theravada doctrine in more-or-less as summarised in sandeepani's answer -- see Are all Buddhists vegetarian? for further details.
My question is does eating any sort of meat have an impact on your overall mentality?
Perhaps it depends on your beliefs.
My wife had the view that she couldn't "love animals" and at the same time want to eat them, so she became vegetarian to avoid feeling hypocritical or guilty.
Other people argue there's an important difference between compassion towards live animals, versus willingness to consume non-living flesh, and so see nothing wrong with the latter.
I guess there's more to it. At a minimum you possibly shouldn't feel superior ("I'm better than you") as a result of having a vegetarian diet -- and other behavioural characteristics (generosity, non-anger, mindfulness) may be more important.
There might even be a Buddhist practice -- perhaps not a mainstream practice -- of eating some meat specifically in order to avoid the "conceit" of considering oneself superior because of diet.

user19984: “All tremble at violence; all fear death. Putting oneself in the place of another, one should not kill nor cause another to kill.” - Dhammapada 129
Now it is up to you Nandita whom you want to consider as another !!!.
Related to the other question about the impact of meat eating on mentality why can't you experiment yourself ?
Stop eating meat for some time and see yourself if it improves your ability to concentrate or if it improves meditation and overall well being.
If it doesn't improve anything then you know what to do.
Lastly, whatever may be the food, has it become a craving for you? Couldn't you resist not having certain kinds of food?  Be honest with yourself.
Any craving can hinder your spiritual progress.

user17628: My answer is simple but I know many here won't like it. Supply follows demand, active or passive. If you take frozen meat imagining that you did not kill the animal so it is okay, as suggested by some here, you are simply justifying your craving with left-handed logic. The animal was killed not only because someone openly demanded to eat flesh but also because some other person acquiesed to the killing of the hapless creature by accepting it as an offering or buying it in the market. The second person is as much a part of the demand as the first one. At least, the first guy is honest while the other is not.

21202: <p>I feel guilty about eating non-vegetarian food (fish, eggs and chicken). I know Buddhist followers, brahmins (Hindus) and Jains follows strict rules for vegetarianism. Does eating any sort of meat have an impact on your overall mentality?</p>
 7138: <p>No vegetarianism doesn't have a real impact on mentality. But if someone wishes to be vegetarian as a social responsibility or for health concerns, they may do so. The Buddha has stated that non-veg food is bad for longevity. But with respect to the practice of mental well being, it has no affect. This is because by eating food, we do not harm anyone or intend to harm anyone, thus no bad karma. It is only the people who kill animals and keep them caged and sell them, who are doing real harm.</p>
<p>There was one occasion in the Buddha's time when a monk needed to eat meat for medicine. For monks, only certain types of meat like human flesh, dog meat and some other specific types of meat are forbidden. But for lay practitioners, there are no rules regarding non-veg food what so ever.</p>
<p>The most important thing is to not to crave food, either it's Veg or Non-veg.</p>
<p>Edit : Also it is not good to ask someone to kill an animal so that we can eat the meat. But buying meat that was not specifically killed for you is not harmful.</p>
 21211: <p>It's amazing to me to see how people use religious justifications to justify things that against the spirit of their own religion.</p>
<p>The Buddha advocated for loving kindness, compassion and non-harming. For me, it strictly follow that if we can avoid harm, then we should. If we can live on a diet that's healthy and avoid harm, then what is the reason not to do it?</p>
<p>2500 years ago in India, people were probably straggling with getting food anyway, and it was not realistic to ask from them to cut out meat of their menu when it's an important source of food from them. Today, most people are no way near the conditions of ancient India, and it is quit easy to avoid animal products and live a healthy life. The fact that the Buddha didn't forbidden meat then does not mean that we can use the same justifications given 2500 years ago.</p>
<p>Also, in the time of the Buddha the conditions of the animals were compliantly different. Today, animals that are born and raised in the meat, dairy and egg industry are living an actual hell realm, when their body parts are being cut while they are still awake, they live in crowded small cages when they can barely move, they are separated from their children in the moment of birth, and they're killed in various horrific ways like gas chambers, electrification, spinning blades, and so on. Raising animals for meat today is not the same as it was at the time of the Buddha.</p>
<p>The Buddha did allowed monks to eat meat, but only is the animal was not slaughtered just for them. As monks were beggars, and they were supposed to eat everything that is served to them, it is impolite to say no to a piece of meat that is served to you. Today a lot of monasteries are not living in a beggar lifestyle, but has their own kitchen, and most of them do serve meat, because &quot;the Buddha didn't explicitly forbidden it&quot;. If they buy meat at the store, doesn't that means they are paying someone to slaughter animals just for them? I think it's absolutely ridicules and it's an example of religious dogmatism, rather then connecting to the true spirit of the Buddha of non-harm and compassion.</p>
<p>Anyway, that's only my own opinion, and I'm not arrogant enough to say that my own opinion is the one that the Buddha would have if he was alive today. I only know that through the compassion that had opened to me through my own practice it has become impossible for me to consume animal products, and I encourage anyone to open to their own compassion and to see where does it takes them.</p>
 19480: <blockquote>
<p>My question is does eating any sort of meat have an impact on your
overall mentality?</p>
</blockquote>
<p>Yes Nandita, as you testify, you experience much guilt because you intuitively feel that eating meat goes against the Buddha’s intrinsic selfless compassion and his teachings on that subject. For example:</p>
<blockquote>
<p>The reason for practicing dhyana and seeking to attain Samadhi is to
escape from the suffering of life, but in seeking to escape from
suffering ourselves, why should we inflict it upon others? Unless you
can so control your minds that even the thought of brutal unkindness
and killing is abhorrent, you will never be able to escape from the
bondage of the world's life. No matter how keen you may be mentally,
no matter how much you may be able to practice dhyana, no matter to
how high a degree of Samadhi you may attain, unless you have wholly
annihilated all tendency to unkindness toward others, you will
ultimately fall into the realms of existence where the evil ghosts
dwell. You of this great assembly ought to appreciate that those human
beings who might become enlightened and attain Samadhi, because of
eating meat, can only hope to attain the rank of a great Raksha and
until the end of their enjoyment of it, must sink into the never
ceasing round of deaths and rebirths. (Surangama Sutra: Importance of
Keeping the Precepts)</p>
</blockquote>
<blockquote>
<p>The Buddha said, “Son of my lineage, my teaching is not like that of
the naked ascetics. I, the Tathagata, established rules of discipline
in relation to specific individuals. Consequently, with a certain
purpose in mind, I did give permission to eat meat regarded as
suitable for consumption after it has been subjected to threefold
examination. In other contexts, I have proscribed ten kinds of meat.
And yet again, with someone else in mind, I have declared that it is
improper to consume meat of any kind, even of animals that have died
of natural causes. But I have affirmed, O Kashyapa, that henceforth,
all those who are close to me should abstain from meat.
(Mahaparinirvana Sutra: Abstaining From Eating Meat and Fish, Even
Died by Natural Causes)</p>
</blockquote>
<p>Unfortunately, there are many who will try to persuade you to think that eating meat is ok, as long as you don’t kill the sentient being yourself. The Buddha foresaw this:</p>
<blockquote>
<p>After my Parinirvana in the last kalpa these different kinds of ghosts
will be encountered everywhere deceiving people and teaching them that
they can eat meat and still attain enlightenment. But how can any
faithful follower of the Lord Tathagata kill sentient life and eat the
flesh? (Surangama Sutra, Ibid)</p>
</blockquote>
<blockquote>
<p>The root tantra of Kalachakra says: Wicked people, hard to train, kill
harmless beasts as sacrifice to gods and for their ancestors, to gain
protection, profit, and fulfil their aims. To buy the meat, to wish to
eat it, is indeed an evil act.</p>
</blockquote>
<p>The Buddha was quite clear that he taught compassion, not evasion of responsibility:</p>
<blockquote>
<p>For innumerable reasons, Mahamati, the Bodhisattva, whose nature is
compassion, is not to eat any animal flesh. I will explain the
reasons: Mahamati, in the long course of transmigration, all sentient
beings have been our brothers, sisters, mothers, fathers, sons, and
daughters, and we have felt many different kinds and degrees of
kinship with each and every one of them. These sentient beings have
been beasts, domestic animals, birds, and humans in different
lifetimes and have often been related to us in some way. This being
the case, how can the Bodhisattva-Mahasattva who desires to respect
all sentient beings as he or she would respect himself or herself and
who is committed to devotedly practising the Dharma eat the flesh of
any sentient being whose nature is the same as himself or herself?
Even, Mahamati, the Rakashasa, when they listened to a discourse on
the highest essence of the Dharma by the Tathagata, were inspired to
protect Buddhism. Through this they had awakened to the feeling of
compassion, became sensitive to the sorrows of sentient beings, and
therefore chose to refrain from eating animal flesh. How much more
should human beings who love the Dharma do the same! Thus, Mahamati,
whenever and wherever there is evolution among sentient beings, let
people cherish the thought of kinship with them, and holding the
thorough intention of treating them as if they were our only child,
and therefore refrain from eating their flesh. So much more should
Bodhisattvas, who are committed to being compassionate towards all
sentient beings, and whose inner nature is compassion itself, choose
to refrain from eating animal flesh. For a Bodhisattva to keep good
integrity with the Dharma, he or she should not make any exceptions to
the eating of animal flesh. He or she is not to eat the flesh of dogs,
donkeys, buffaloes, horses, bulls, humans, or any other sentient being
whether or not such flesh in generally eaten by some humans in some
culture or society. Nor should a Bodhisattva eat flesh sold by others
for monetary profit.” (A Re-translation of the Eighth Chapter of the
Lankavatara Sutra and Commentary, By William Bagley, 2006)</p>
</blockquote>
<blockquote>
<p>Pure and earnest bhikshus, if they are true and sincere, will never
wear clothing made of silk, nor wear boots made of leather because it
involves the taking of life. Neither will they indulge in eating milk
or cheese because thereby they are depriving the young animals of that
which rightly belongs to them. It is only such true and sincere
bhikshus who have repaid their karmic debts of previous lives, who
will attain true emancipation, and who will no more be bound to wander
to this triple world. To wear anything, or partake of anything for
self-comfort, deceiving one's self as to the suffering it causes
others or other sentient life, is to set up an affinity with that
lower life which will draw them toward it. So all bhikshus must be
very careful to live in all sincerity, refraining from even the
appearance of unkindness to other life. It is such true hearted
bhikshus who will attain a true emancipation. Even in one's speech and
especially in one's teaching, one must practice kindness for no
teaching that is unkind can be the true teaching of Buddha. Unkindness
is the murderer of the life of Wisdom. (Surangama Sutra, Ibid)</p>
</blockquote>
<blockquote>
<p>Whoever, having laid aside violence in respect of all beings, moving
or still, does not kill or cause to kill, him I call a brahman.
(Sutta-Nipata III.9:629)</p>
</blockquote>
<p>These are just a representative example of quotes. There are many more. There are also reinterpretations of the Buddha’s teachings that stray from his heartfelt-intent. In those cases, ask yourself if he meant selective compassion, or compassion for all sentient beings. And follow your heart—don’t listen to others.</p>
 254: <p><strong>I know Buddhist followers, brahmins(Hindus) and Jains follows strict rules for vegetarianism.</strong></p>
<p>I don't think so -- I think that Buddhist doctrine teaches a middle way (avoiding extremes), including in rules about diet, perhaps in contrast to (some more extreme elements of) Jain doctrine.</p>
<p>So far as I know, Mahayana Buddhists are more likely to be vegetarian, but the Theravada doctrine in more-or-less as summarised in sandeepani's answer -- see <a href="https://buddhism.stackexchange.com/q/1365/254">Are all Buddhists vegetarian?</a> for further details.</p>
<p><strong>My question is does eating any sort of meat have an impact on your overall mentality?</strong></p>
<p>Perhaps it depends on your beliefs.</p>
<p>My wife had the view that she couldn't &quot;love animals&quot; and at the same time want to eat them, so she became vegetarian to avoid feeling hypocritical or guilty.</p>
<p>Other people argue there's an important difference between compassion towards live animals, versus willingness to consume non-living flesh, and so see nothing wrong with the latter.</p>
<p>I guess there's more to it. At a minimum you possibly shouldn't feel superior (&quot;I'm better than you&quot;) as a result of having a vegetarian diet -- and other behavioural characteristics (generosity, non-anger, mindfulness) may be more important.</p>
<p>There might even be a Buddhist practice -- perhaps not a mainstream practice -- of eating some meat specifically in order to avoid the &quot;conceit&quot; of considering oneself superior because of diet.</p>
 19984: <p>“All tremble at violence; all fear death. Putting oneself in the place of another, one should not kill nor cause another to kill.” - Dhammapada 129</p>
<p>Now it is up to you Nandita whom you want to consider as another !!!.</p>
<p>Related to the other question about the impact of meat eating on mentality why can't you experiment yourself ?</p>
<p>Stop eating meat for some time and see yourself if it improves your ability to concentrate or if it improves meditation and overall well being.
If it doesn't improve anything then you know what to do.</p>
<p>Lastly, whatever may be the food, has it become a craving for you? Couldn't you resist not having certain kinds of food?  Be honest with yourself.
Any craving can hinder your spiritual progress.</p>
 17628: <p>My answer is simple but I know many here won't like it. Supply follows demand, active or passive. If you take frozen meat imagining that you did not kill the animal so it is okay, as suggested by some here, you are simply justifying your craving with left-handed logic. The animal was killed not only because someone openly demanded to eat flesh but also because some other person acquiesed to the killing of the hapless creature by accepting it as an offering or buying it in the market. The second person is as much a part of the demand as the first one. At least, the first guy is honest while the other is not.</p>
