"It is clear that a man's duty with regard to himself is to develop all his different vehicles as far as possible, in order to make them finished instruments for the use of the soul.... The physical matter in man is in close touch with the astral and mental matter - so much so that each is to a great extent a counterpart of the other....We all know that on the physical plane the effect of over-indulgence in dead flesh is to produce a coarse, gross appearance in the man.....it means also that those parts of the man which are invisible to our ordinary sight, the astral and the mental bodies, are not in good condition either.....Any one who adopts a vegetarian diet will speedily begin to notice that his sense of taste or of smell is far keener than it was when he fed upon flesh.....The same thing is true to a still greater extent with regard to the higher bodies."

"In happiness and suffering, injury and grief, we should regard all creatures as we regard our own self, and should therefore refrain from inflicting upon others such injury as would appear undesirable to us if inflicted upon ourselves."

"Flesh cannot be procured without causing destruction of life; and who uses flesh, therefore, commits himsa [injury] unavoidably."

"He who does not seek to cause the sufferings of bonds of death to living creatures [but desires] the good of all beings, obtains endless bliss."

"Without killing living beings, meat cannot be made available, and since killing is contrary to the principles of ahimsa [non-violence], one must give up eating meat."

"If one has a strong desire for meat, he may make an animal out of clarified butter, or one out of flour, and eat that. But let him never seek to destroy a living being."

"Harmlessness, truth, absence of wrath, renunciation, peacefulness, absence of crookedness, compassion to living beings,.........these are his who is born with the divine properties, O Bharata."

"Regard every living being as thyself and hurt no more."

"All beings are fond of themselves, they like pleasure, they hate pain, they shun destruction, they like life and want to live long. To all, life is dear; hence their life should be protected."

"Non injury to beings is the highest religion - harmlessness is the only religion."

"All beings hate pain: therefore you should not kill them - this is the quintessence of wisdom; not to kill anything."

"All breathing, existing, living, sentient creatures should not be slain, nor treated with violence, nor abused, nor tormented, nor driven away. This is the pure unchangeable Law."

"A monk has to be overscrupulous to avoid any injury to subtle or gross beings, while moving, talking, eating, drinking, rising, sitting, or sleeping."

"The eating of meat extinguishes the seed of great compassion."

"He who, seeking his own happiness, punishes or kills beings who also long for happiness, will not find happiness after death."

"A man is not an elect (Ariya) because he injures living creatures; because he has pity on all living creatures, therefore is a man called Ariya."

"Him I call indeed a Brahamana who without hurting any creatures, whether feeble or strong, does not kill nor cause slaughter."

"Meat eating in any form, in any manner, and in any place is unconditionally and once and for all prohibited."

"For fear of causing terror to living beings, Mahamati, let the Bodhisattva who is disciplining himself to attain compassion, refrain from eating flesh."

"All beings seek for happiness; so let your compassion extend itself to all."

"He who slaughters an ox is like him who kills a man."

"And the flesh of slain beasts in his own body will become his own tomb. For I tell you truly, he who kills, kills himself, and whoso eats the flesh of slain beasts, eats the body of death."

"Not by shedding innocent blood, but by living a righteous life shall ye find the peace of God.....Blessed are they who keep this law; for God is manifested in all creatures. All creatures live in God, and God is hid in them.....

"The fruit of the trees and the seeds and of the herbs alone do I partake, and these are changed by the spirit into my flesh and blood. Of these alone and their like shall ye eat who believe in me and are my disciples; for of these, in the spirit, come life and health and healing unto man...."

"There is not an animal in the earth, nor a flying creature on two wings, but they are peoples like unto you."

"Therewith He causes crops to grow for you, and the olive and the date-palm and grapes and all kinds of fruit. Lo! herein is indeed a portent for people who reflect."