Sai Baba on Vegetarianism

By Terry Reis Kennedy

From the beginning of his teaching, Bhagawan Sri Sathya Sai Baba has been clear. “It is a sin to kill an animal. You may reply that an animal was killed by the butcher. That is incorrect; it is only because you are eating them that the animals are being killed.”

When I lived in California, I believed, “You are what you eat.”  But I was a vegetarian more out of stylishness than out of heartfelt conviction that eating meat was wrong.

Then I moved to India, land of Buddha, the great Masters, and home to Lord Sathya Sai.  Living in the physical proximity of Beloved Sai, my thinking changed by osmosis. However, not enough to stop me from gobbling chicken tikka, mutton biriyani, and gobs of fish when I could get these “treats”.

Nevertheless, Swami had said long ago, "Today, let it be anyone, whether one deems himself a devotee or not, he should give up meat eating. Why? Meat eating promotes only animal qualities. It has been well said that the food one consumes determines one's thoughts. By eating the flesh of various animals, the qualities of these animals are imbibed. How sinful is it to feed on animals, which are sustained by the same five elements as human beings! This leads to demonic tendencies, besides committing the sin of inflicting cruelty on animals. Hence, those who genuinely seek to become devotees of God have to give up non-vegetarian food. Calling themselves Sai devotees or devotees of Rama and Krishna, they fatten on chickens. How can they be deemed Sai devotees? How can God accept such a person as a devotee?  Therefore, whether they are devotees in India or outside, they should give up from this instant meat eating...... those who aspire to become true devotees of God have to give up meat, liquor and smoking."

Of course, Sai’s words echoed in my consciousness as I devoured meat, smoked cigarettes, and sipped the best wines. I justified my habits with perverse logic, saying that as a spiritual aspirant I was above the mundane world.  It’s all Maya, I told myself. But who was I kidding?  My clay feet were upon the earth—His earth.

Eventually, by the grace Sai, my mind changed about meat-eating, smoking, and drinking.  I was finally able to accept his words which I heard in person, but resisted, as far back as November 23, 1994.

“Embodiments of Love,” he had said. “You are deeming this day as the 69th birthday of Swami. I have no desire to celebrate such birthdays. As I was coming I was greeted by many wishing me Happy Birthday. I am always happy. Why should anyone wish Happy Birthday for me? Be Happy yourselves. Your happiness is my happiness.  Today as an offering to Swami, give up meat eating, consuming liquor and smoking. By renouncing these three, you will benefit yourselves as well as society and the nation. Swami's sole aim is to promote the welfare of the family, the society and the nation. If you wish to carry out Swami's aim, renounce from this moment itself these bad habits.”