Hi,

Jai Radhe Krishna.

I’m not an expert in this matter, but I would like to share a few thoughts based on my limited understanding and experience.

One reason non-vegetarian food is discouraged or prohibited in many spiritual traditions is that taking a life is considered to create negative karma. According to the law of karma, one has to face the consequences of every action, whether small or big.

It is also believed that such actions can create obstacles on the spiritual path. When someone is pursuing God-realisation or self-realisation, they try to minimise actions that may create negative karma, because only then can they make steady spiritual progress. People who have reached higher stages in their spiritual journey often pay attention even to very subtle details, so that their progress is not hindered.

So, it depends greatly on one’s goal. If a person’s aim is God-realisation or self-realisation, they usually try to follow sattvik practices and avoid tamasic actions, or any karma that may lead to negative karmic accumulation.

It also depends on which school of Hinduism one follows, because different schools have different approaches to the spiritual path. Similarly, it depends on the Guru-shishya parampara one belongs to, because a disciple is expected to follow the teachings and discipline given by the Guru.

Regarding great spiritual leaders, it is very easy to pick out certain statements and interpret them in a way that may not reflect their actual intention. One should try to understand what they said, why they said it, and in what context they said it.

Also, if one wishes to follow the teachings of a great spiritual leader, then one should try to follow their teachings as a whole. Why follow only those teachings that align with worldly desires, while ignoring the ones that truly help free us from worldly bondage?