Jainism

[g0rph]

Yes, some sects of some religions take a compulsory stance on vegetarianism, but I was referring to the whole religion. I think Jainism is the only one where the whole religion in all of its sects and denominations have compulsory vegetarianism (not counting new religious movements).

Buddhists are very good at practicing vegetarianism in a few limited number of sects. Many Buddhists eat meat though. I think the "half" figure is mistaken though. According to Grok:

Even The Dalai Lama isn't vegetarian. From what I remember from his "Freedom in Exile" book, they won't harm an animal, but often take meat, dairy etc from others.
Kind of like most meat eaters I guess.

 

[g0rph]

Yes, some sects of some religions take a compulsory stance on vegetarianism, but I was referring to the whole religion. I think Jainism is the only one where the whole religion in all of its sects and denominations have compulsory vegetarianism (not counting new religious movements).

Buddhists are very good at practicing vegetarianism in a few limited number of sects. Many Buddhists eat meat though. I think the "half" figure is mistaken though. According to Grok:

I am amazed you are using Grok with all that it stands for

 

[spencer]

I am amazed you are using Grok with all that it stands for

Ha! I think you'll find similar results with other AI programs. Google AI:

While there are no precise global statistics, researchers estimate that roughly half (50%) of the world's Buddhists follow a vegetarian or near-vegetarian diet.
Dietary practices vary significantly by region and tradition:

• India: According to the Pew Research Center, approximately 25% of Buddhists in India identify as vegetarian.
• China: While many Chinese Buddhist monastics are strictly vegetarian, research indicates only about 4% of the broader population (which includes many Buddhists) follows a full vegetarian diet.
• Traditions:
  • Mahayana: Generally encourages or requires vegetarianism.
  • Theravada: Typically does not require it; monks often eat what is offered during alms.
  • Vajrayana (Tibetan): Traditionally permits meat due to the harsh Himalayan climate, though many modern teachers advocate for vegetarianism.

In Western countries, converts to Buddhism tend to have a higher rate of vegetarianism—often cited around 50%—compared to practitioners in traditionally Buddhist nations.

I think it's the Western convert Buddhists who have the higher rate of being vegetarian (about 50%) whereas, the Buddhists from Asian countries are at a rate of 4% to 25%.

 

[g0rph]

Ha! I think you'll find similar results with other AI programs. Google AI:

Grok has been allowing the undressing of people, including kids.
I am not on about ecological concerns. It's owned by one of the world's biggest A-Holes.