I recently completed a 10-day Vipassana meditation course, and it was one of the most transformative experiences of my life. Like millions of practitioners around the world, I am deeply grateful to S. N. Goenka, the teachers, volunteers, and everyone who has selflessly preserved and shared this invaluable practice. This appeal comes from a place of gratitude and sincere reflection.

During my stay at the centre, I observed that dairy products were served regularly during breakfast, lunch, and evening tea. This led me to ask a simple question: Can the food served at Vipassana centres evolve to more closely align with the principles of compassion and non-harming that Vipassana already teaches?

This appeal is not about changing the teachings, adding new doctrines, or asking Vipassana centres to teach veganism or any particular lifestyle. Vipassana already teaches the principles needed to live compassionately. This is simply an invitation to align institutional food choices with those existing teachings.

Vipassana teaches us to observe reality as it is. Many modern dairy systems involve practices such as artificial insemination, separation of calves from mothers, confinement, and slaughter of animals when they are no longer economically productive. These practices have been documented in various regions and have led many practitioners to reflect on the ethical implications of dairy consumption. As practitioners of Dhamma, this reality naturally invites reflection.

The Noble Eightfold Path already gives us the framework:

• Sammā Diṭṭhi (Right View): Seeing reality clearly and understanding the consequences of our actions.
• Sammā Saṅkappa (Right Intention): Cultivating compassion and non-cruelty towards all beings.
• Sammā Kammanta (Right Action): Avoiding actions that contribute to the suffering of living beings.
• Sammā Ājīva (Right Livelihood): Avoiding participation in systems built upon exploitation and suffering.

This petition is therefore not asking Vipassana to become something new. It is asking whether our institutional choices can further embody what is already being taught.

Vipassana centres are unique spaces. Every year, thousands of people come to these centres to learn how to reduce suffering within themselves and cultivate compassion towards all beings. Their institutional choices therefore offer a unique opportunity to embody compassion in practical ways. Fortunately, this may be one practical area in which suffering can potentially be reduced. Most meals served at Vipassana centres are already naturally plant-based, and today there are abundant, nutritious, and accessible alternatives to dairy.

Therefore, I respectfully invite Vipassana meditation centres to begin a gradual transition towards fully plant-based meals. This would not be a new rule. It would be one possible institutional expression of compassion and non-harming as understood by many practitioners.

Ultimately, this appeal comes down to one sincere question: If many practitioners feel that plant-based food may more closely align with compassion and non-harming, can our institutional food choices evolve accordingly?

With immense gratitude for everything Vipassana has given me, I respectfully invite the global Vipassana community to begin this conversation.

May all beings be happy.
May all beings be peaceful.
May all beings be free from suffering.

-Raj

Image Attribution: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Global_Vipassana_Pagoda#/media/File:Truly_gold_Global_Vipassana_Pagoda.jpg