Why beef and not pork?

[bapak]

I was a little surprised today when I went to a restaurant well frequented by foreigners up by the railway. The menu now has on its first page a notice basically saying " ... our chef is a strict Buddhist so excuse us for not serving beef but please go ahead and enjoy of pork, chicken and fish dishes." Then all the pages where beef had previous been listed, beef had been deleted.

Why the distinction between beef and pork?

[Spitfire]

They actually have these days quite frequently, think it's called 'Wan Pla' (Spelling). The butchers are all closed and no cows are killed, the guys that slaughter all the cows go to the temple and pray for the spirits they have released etc. The chef is propably of senior years and takes this sort of stuff seriously, more so than the younger Thais do now.

These days might be as frequent as once a week or every 8 days, something like that, cannot kill cows on that day. I think though that it is taken more seriously in the countryside than the cities, maybe just his decision.

There could also be other reasons too maybe.

[Roel]

It could have something to do with keeping a promise made to Buddha at the temple. As we all know most Thai Buddhists are regular visitors of temples. Of course some more than others. I read once in a book that all these devout Buddhists kneeling and praying in front of a Buddha images looks very pristine but actually 95% of them are only asking to win the lottery. A bit too cynical or maybe not?

I was told that if you ask for something you have to offer Buddha something in return in case your wish comes true. Then you must return to the temple and "pay your debt" by offering food to the monks, leaving flowers and fruit at the altar, things like that. Or the promise can be to eat for an x number of days only vegetarian food.

I once witnessed a Thai family who had won a substantial amount in the lottery (true story) and came to thank Buddha by offering 99 eggs (don't ask me why that was, perhaps the winning number) and a huge role of firecrackers.

I believe that the promise to stop eating beef is a quite common one. The promise always relates to the wish, so for a 'small' wish a small donation or some fruit will do. If the wish is 'bigger' like praying for the full recovery of a family member who has been in a serious accident, then the promise to stop eating beef would be an adequate one.

[Huahinian]

It is my experience that most Thai women do not eat beef. My late wife told me it was a Buddhist thing but could not explain why. Any thoughts?

[Takiap]

Not sure of the answers, but all members of my extended family eat beef. As far as praying for the spirits of the cows is concerned.......do they believe then that pigs and etc don't have spirits?

And yes, many who go and pray at the temples are in fact asking to win the lottery, and you'll find most are quite open about it.

I have also noticed it seems that women are more concerned about religion than men are. Let's face it, you rarely see men offering food to the monks in the mornings, and again, in my extended family, it seems only the women light incense, and hang flowers up for the spirits. It seems most of the men couldn't care less. Even when we head off up country, when the women head of for the temple, the men usually stay behind tending to the whiskey and beer

I once observed person after person after person coming to light incense at a small roadside shrine, which was quite unusual. When I commented on it to my wife, she immediately told me it was because it was the lottery that day, so they want to see if the burning incense sticks reveal any tips.


Meanwhile back on the ranch, I have always been under the impression that Buddha was opposed to material wealth - a far cry from what I see within this devout society, but oh well, each to their own.


Ah well, TIT, and I love it just the way it is

[PeteC]

I have a Thai friend who was in a very bad car accident in the late 70's and in the hospital for 6 months. He survived by the skin of his teeth. He swore he would never eat beef ever again if he survived, and he hasn't eaten it since. Interesting in that when the accident happened he was on a weekend trip to see his mia noy but he swore off beef for life, not girlfriends! Pete

[lomuamart]

I think the "not eating beef" regime is down to the fact that Buddhism is so closely related to the Hindu religion. Cows are sacred for Hindus.
However, the Thais have always adapted and if they enjoy eating beef, then why not? However, if some form of penance is necessary (say for a family member who's died before their time), then quite often the temple will say abstain from eating beef.
That's the way my wife has explained it to me and her mother who's a Buddhist nun made the suggestion to her years ago after a brother was killed in a motorcycle accident.
As with most religions, there's normally some practical reason for the abstinence as well. In this case, I would guess because water buffaloes are a beast of burden. They plough the fields to produce the food, so it's not a good idea to kill them.

[malcolminthemiddle]

My wife doesn't eat beef. It was a promise she made and has kept if she would pass here degree exams. She doesn't like the smell either.

[Spitfire]

I think the "not eating beef" regime is down to the fact that Buddhism is so closely related to the Hindu religion. Cows are sacred for Hindus.

Yes, probably some element of truth in that, they are certainly valued to a higher level than other animals that are slaughtered for food.

Also agree that it could be more of a personal situation/abstinance for whatever reason. Think in my earlier post I was more probably talking about the killing and sale of fresh beef, like at those roadside butchers you see that kill the animal on the side of the road too.

Also will mentioned that the date, whether it's a 'one-off' or happens often, could be his birthday/date of relative's death etc and on and on and on.

Interesting in that when the accident happened he was on a weekend trip to see his mia noy but he swore off beef for life, not girlfriends

Yeah funny! You'd have though that giving up whoring would be the proper thing to offer up to Buddha as a sacrifical offering for being good enough to spare his philandering arse.

[migrant]

You'd have though that giving up whoring would be the proper thing to offer up to Buddha as a sacrifical offering for being good enough to spare his philandering arse.

Buddha works in mysterious ways and is all understanding and benevolent

[Vital Spark]

I've asked this question many times, but have never really got a concrete answer. The following are the most used reasons (after a pretty long pause...)
1) It's a big animal - we don't eat big animals.
2) It works on the farm - we don't eat things that help us farm.
3) My parents told me I shouldn't eat it.
4) I don't know...

There you go, pick your favourite. But I'm still none the wiser.

VS

[STEVE G]

I wonder if the origins of the practice go back as far as the Khmer Empire which I believe was basically Hindu.
When you consider the things in the West that come from pagan times, mistletoe at Christmas and things like that, it shows how long traditions can survive.

[Randy Cornhole]

I personally don't dine on swine. Well actually thats a lie I love it...

[TypicallyTropical]

Can you imagine if they hired a Jewish Sou Chef?! Seriously, it's a business, they should hire a chef who keeps religion out of the kitchen.

[margaretcarnes]

Can you imagine if they hired a Jewish Sou Chef?! Seriously, it's a business, they should hire a chef who keeps religion out of the kitchen.

Or perhaps people who hold strong beliefs about certain foods shouldn't become chefs in the first place?