From The Latest Issue: How The Middle Path Shapes What Buddhists Eat

Buddhism is one of the major religions of the world. Its adherents number in the hundreds of millions, approximately six to seven per cent of the global population. Beginning in the sixth century BCE as a largely non-theistic and pragmatic guide to liberation, it evolved over millennia into diverse traditions with distinct rites and rituals. What remains constant, however, is a deep commitment to non-violence, reflected not only in ethical conduct but also in daily habits of sustenance. In Buddhism, food is not merely nourishment; it becomes discipline.