In Buddha’s time, the disciples went for almsgiving. They ate whatever was given, including meat. However, the Buddha encouraged disciples to eat only the ‘clean’ flesh offered under three conditions (Skt., tri-koṭi-śuddha-mâṃsa; the meat that was not killed for you and was not seen nor heard by you when it was killed). Even though Buddha did not request vegetarian diet for His disciples, many sutras recorded that the Buddha suggested disciples should reduce meat consumption gradually, because meat eating can harm one’s great compassion root.

Vegetarian diet in Buddhist circles was advocated and practiced in China about 1500 years ago by Emperor Liang Wu. At that time, Emperor Liang Wu was deeply touched by the statement from Mahayana sutras which specified that Bodhisattvas cannot bear to eat the flesh of any sentient beings. Since Emperor Liang Wu was the greatest Dharma Guardian in Chinese history, all monastic practitioners responded to his call. Vegetarian diet became a characteristic of Chinese Mahayana Buddhism since then.