A Quick Lament on Singaporean Vegetarianism
12 Jan 2019
Vegetarian in Singapore is usually driven by religion, specifically Buddhism, which about a third of Singaporeans profess to be adherents of. And many Hindus who are also vegetarian, although the percentage of Hindus is much less.
And according to dharmic religions, alliums, a type of root vegetables, are not vegetarian. the Buddhism rationale is that these plants contain compounds which excite and distract from the peace and enlightenment process, as well as making the breath stink and the person unpleasant. Jainism furthers the concept of ahimsa to say that plants are hurt and die when they are picked from the ground, and little bugs are also killed in the process, (hence fruitarianism does least harm). The excitability claim is reminiscent of Fully Raw Kristina’s avoidance of alliums because they are supposedly excitotoxins and destroy brain cells.
Hence in the case of Singaporean vegetarians, they usually avoid garlic, onions and ginger. A pity, really, when garlic and onions is such a flavour enhancer and garlic and ginger boost the absorption of nutrients often lacking in a vegetarian diet. Vegetarian food can really be a lot healthier if instead of using so much oil to provide so little flavour and making the food so greasy, some garlic is used instead to provide flavour. Bee hoon is one such dish.
Dharmic religions are usually lacto-vegetarian as Indian culture purports that cows are sacred and they are relatively well cared for and drinking the secretions of a sacred thing is good for a person. That is perfectly fine, since they don’t make preposterous claims about how milk is nutritious and healthy, since according to logic and philosophy and science, milk designed for baby cows can never be perfect for humans. Dharmic religions forbid egg since it has the capability for life as a chicken.
Hence true Buddhist vegetarianism does not include egg. But as happens to all things when they enter Singapore, it gets bastardized. So Singaporean Buddhist vegetarians are in the awkward position of not eating alliums, while relying on eggs for important protein, while simultaneously pumping their blood full of cholesterol. When the inclusion of allium would probably make up for the nutrients you actually desire in egg.
Besides, the production of egg and the sanctity of the propensity for life of an egg, far outweighs any harm which a plant may “feel” when plucked. Cos, idk, science?
Of course, there are many vegetarians in Singapore who are actually lacto, or vegan, while still removing alliums. My criticism is only directed towards the paradoxical behaviour of allium-avoiding-ovo-lacto-vegetarians.
Also, the milk available in Singapore is not produced by happy cows which traditionally produced the sacred milk. It is cruelty-laden, factory produced. Hence even lacto-vegetarianism is hardly an ethical choice by religious standards, for a person living in urban Singapore. Besides, the sheer number of Chinese who are lactose intolerant or lactose sensitive should raise some eyebrows on the suitability of milk in a healthy human diet.
And amidst the recent zero waste hippie trend in Singapore, veganism appears to be on the rise. And some people choose to slowly transition to veganism, which I think is a really good idea to ensure long term success. But I am very perplexed by why they choose to become vegetarian first, by removing meat and fish while still eating eggs and milk. Perhaps removing eggs and milk, while keeping (and slowly reducing) small amounts of pasture raised, non-halal, meat will cause less suffering. I’m not sure if electrifying the water will stun fish and make them unconscious enough to be butchered while unconscious, and it is probably not a method right now, hence even pescetarianism is less desirable for animal suffering than non-halal pastured beef or pork. (unless you believe that fish can’t feel pain, which is dumb.) If this monstrosity did become a farming practice, then farmed fish may just fit into an ethical requirement.
Vegetarian in Singapore is usually driven by religion, specifically Buddhism, which about a third of Singaporeans profess to be adherents of. And many Hindus who are also vegetarian, although the percentage of Hindus is much less.
And according to dharmic religions, alliums, a type of root vegetables, are not vegetarian. the Buddhism rationale is that these plants contain compounds which excite and distract from the peace and enlightenment process, as well as making the breath stink and the person unpleasant. Jainism furthers the concept of ahimsa to say that plants are hurt and die when they are picked from the ground, and little bugs are also killed in the process, (hence fruitarianism does least harm). The excitability claim is reminiscent of Fully Raw Kristina’s avoidance of alliums because they are supposedly excitotoxins and destroy brain cells.
Hence in the case of Singaporean vegetarians, they usually avoid garlic, onions and ginger. A pity, really, when garlic and onions is such a flavour enhancer and garlic and ginger boost the absorption of nutrients often lacking in a vegetarian diet. Vegetarian food can really be a lot healthier if instead of using so much oil to provide so little flavour and making the food so greasy, some garlic is used instead to provide flavour. Bee hoon is one such dish.
Dharmic religions are usually lacto-vegetarian as Indian culture purports that cows are sacred and they are relatively well cared for and drinking the secretions of a sacred thing is good for a person. That is perfectly fine, since they don’t make preposterous claims about how milk is nutritious and healthy, since according to logic and philosophy and science, milk designed for baby cows can never be perfect for humans. Dharmic religions forbid egg since it has the capability for life as a chicken.
Hence true Buddhist vegetarianism does not include egg. But as happens to all things when they enter Singapore, it gets bastardized. So Singaporean Buddhist vegetarians are in the awkward position of not eating alliums, while relying on eggs for important protein, while simultaneously pumping their blood full of cholesterol. When the inclusion of allium would probably make up for the nutrients you actually desire in egg.
Besides, the production of egg and the sanctity of the propensity for life of an egg, far outweighs any harm which a plant may “feel” when plucked. Cos, idk, science?
Of course, there are many vegetarians in Singapore who are actually lacto, or vegan, while still removing alliums. My criticism is only directed towards the paradoxical behaviour of allium-avoiding-ovo-lacto-vegetarians.
Also, the milk available in Singapore is not produced by happy cows which traditionally produced the sacred milk. It is cruelty-laden, factory produced. Hence even lacto-vegetarianism is hardly an ethical choice by religious standards, for a person living in urban Singapore. Besides, the sheer number of Chinese who are lactose intolerant or lactose sensitive should raise some eyebrows on the suitability of milk in a healthy human diet.
And amidst the recent zero waste hippie trend in Singapore, veganism appears to be on the rise. And some people choose to slowly transition to veganism, which I think is a really good idea to ensure long term success. But I am very perplexed by why they choose to become vegetarian first, by removing meat and fish while still eating eggs and milk. Perhaps removing eggs and milk, while keeping (and slowly reducing) small amounts of pasture raised, non-halal, meat will cause less suffering. I’m not sure if electrifying the water will stun fish and make them unconscious enough to be butchered while unconscious, and it is probably not a method right now, hence even pescetarianism is less desirable for animal suffering than non-halal pastured beef or pork. (unless you believe that fish can’t feel pain, which is dumb.) If this monstrosity did become a farming practice, then farmed fish may just fit into an ethical requirement.
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