Quote Originally Posted by phytokind
Buddhism is a lazy religion in the sense that you don't have to get it right the first time, you just keep getting reincarnated until you're ready to move on. And you in no way need to be a vegetarian to be a buddhist, most buddhists are meat eaters. .
Not all forms of Buddhism beleive in reincarnation, I personally don't. And those who do don't think idly to themselves that life, practise and morality don't have to be practised because we can 'get it right next time'

It's a strange and sweeping generalisation to say that most Buddhists are meat eaters, I'm not sure what you can base that on. There are millions of vegetarian Buddhists all over the world. For some traditions it's mandatory not to eat meat, in others it's a personal choice, but I think anyone who believes in and adheres to the basic teachings can't help but *want* to be vegetarian.

In some traditions breaking the 'rules' of Buddhism will bring bad Karma and displeasure, but in others being good, being a vegetarian, non-killing etc., are just suggestions, ways to a better, happier life, not mandatory rules. There are no punishments for not following these ideas. It isn't a religion, it's a philosophy that you choose to follow or not. It's a code that you discipline yourself to follow personally, you aren't being forced into it.

MelT