Many well meaning people at one point myself included became vegetarian and many for spiritual reasons after studying the ancient Vedic texts. I extended my own vegetarianism for such reasons as well as many have. This is not to deride or blame anyone for such. But to point out the reality of events and how what has been taught is not what was originally there.
Vegetarianism was only brought in to the East sixteen hundred years ago. This is why the original Buddhist texts make no mention of such and the Character of Siddhartha eats meat as well. Buddhism while corrupted and guised Jainism does still not go as far to push vegetarianism while open Jainism does. But around nine hundred years later in India a false discourse was created where Siddhartha preaches vegetarianism. Because its at this point vegetarianism was being imposed on the population by the ruling class. So any temples that wanted to stay open had to fall inline as the rulers where the money patrons of the religious orders and temples. They where holding the purse strings.
The only group originally preaching vegetarianism where the Jains. Who where well known to be anti Dharmic and constantly trying to subvert the culture with their ideology which amounts to metaphysic Communism. If one takes the sermon on the mount and puts a Jain in the place of Jesus. You have Jainism. Sadly as Hindu scholars mention the old Dharma is long gone and replaced by Jainism in the guise of Dharma. There is a warning to this in the Siva Purana's. And the tales of the Sivaite saints mention the Jains violently attacking the bastions of Dharma and its followers and also trying to subvert them from within [like the Christians do everywhere]. This program was obsessed with removing spiritual knowledge and authentic tapas [exercises that transmute the soul] and replacing them with the gross self modification one sees today in the East and in the Christian Monasteries.
The current eightfold path of Dharma in Hinduism is actually the eightfold path of Jainism the original was removed. But remained in the Tantric path. The amount of removal of spiritual knowledge that has occurred is staggering. The push to vegetarianism is within this environment. Note the proof is in the result. India under this corrupted paradigm has fallen apart and stagnated and has hardly produced any highly ascended if any beings in centuries. The corruption of spiritual knowledge and the norms imposed makes it impossible or close to impossible to advance to any high level.
Vegetarianism:
With caraka samhita which has been stated to be the oldest Ayurvedic text it state: Sharirabrinhane Nanyat Khadyam Mamsadwishishyate." Which translates to 'For the promotion and nourishment of the body, no other food item is better than meat." Another Ayurvedic text the Bhava Prakash, states 'Sadyohatasya Mamsam Syadbyadhidhatiyathaamritam', which translates to 'the meat of freshly killed animals is like Amirt (the ultimate lifefiving fluid that sustains the Divine)' We have the Bagabhatt (Astanga Samgraha) stating nothing equals meat for promotion of health and substance of the body." The Vedic text Satapatha Brahamana states 'Paramam Annadyam Yan Mamsam', meaning "Meat is the best kind of food."
Meat is listed under the sattvic category. "The life substance."
"Consumption of meat improves one's mind inner energy and strength; and that the consumption of fish restores one generative power." The Yoga of Power.
I have a slight different take on meat and vegetarianism.
First off all.. Don't be compelled to be a vegetarian or a non-vegetarian. It is your choice. But do not follow either just because you are forced upon it or peer pressure or someone tells you so. I also remember reading that in one of the HP's sermons (I guess Zevios Metathronos himself) as it is your choice to follow either. There are certain things you should however check out before deciding whether you should be a vegetarian or meat eater.
Personally, I prefer to remain vegetarian, with occasional meat (I haven't eaten meat in two months). Moreover, I was born and raised as a vegetarian (in a Hindu Brahmin family), where meat is strictly prohibited, but I am pretty much used to it. We also have thousands of dishes that can be prepared from vegetables, roots and what not, that I don't find a need to survive on meat. And I am really healthy by all standards. I don't get tired easily (I workout regularly and some of them are really tiring workouts), I have good energy and bio-electricity (I know that from my experiences from meditation). In India, several ascended yogis are known to be strict vegetarians. In fact, I find it easier to cleanse my system, when I completely avoid meat.
Having said that, I have developed a taste for meat. I pretty much love chicken and fish. So, I am a non-vegetarian by choice. But yeah, I prefer to be only an occasional meat eater. Also from personal experience, my body doesn't easily accept meat, for whatever reason. I have to be very careful about what I eat and how much I eat when it comes to non-vegetarian dishes, because my stomach can go for a toss if I overeat or eat the wrong food. That is why I tend to eat occasionally and small portions.So, you need to see how much your body accepts.
Secondly, whether you eat meat also depends on your lifestyle. If you are involved in heavy physical activity or workout, then nothing can replace meat due to its proteins. You can not life heavy weights by being a vegetarian. Your body requires proteins from meat to repair your body tissues and muscles. But, if you do not have an extremely active lifestyle or you are not into heavy physical exercise, then you may not need much of meat. In fact, vegetarian is better then, as it is easily digested. Even Soy bean or soy products can give you the required proteins (unless you are allergic to Soy or have other similar food allergies).
I also believe that climate does have an effect on whether you eat meat or you avoid it.
So, do take care of these things before you jump into a decision. Not all meat-eaters who have become vegetarians are able to continue it, and vice versa.
Note: I completely agree with others and HPs about veganism. While being vegetarian is alright, being vegan is not. It is not natural, and quite harmful. For our present lifestyle, you should be at least vegetarian. You can just see how unattractive and skinny a vegan looks. It is a false propaganda and lies spread by idiots to become vegan. Just ask a vegan to do certain physical exercises and you will know how healthy (read it as unhealthy) he/she is. Never ever fall into the trap of veganism. It does not give your body the required nutrients.
Hail Satan!!Hail our gods!!