There are many schools of thought when it comes to Buddhism. Vegetarianism is often a practice however not necessary.

All life is life and the reality is that the body requires the sacrifice of life, whether animal, vegetable or mineral, to grow… and one day it will be our turn to feed life. (actually we all ready are)

‘Karma’ then isn’t about the eating of the animals but the consciousness of that reality.  Thus, we give thanks before a meal.  A unconscious gluttony and waist might be ‘bad’ Karma – viewing the world and life as something to be used vice entering into the flow of Life.

• This reply was modified 5 years, 4 months ago by Peter.

I’m mostly vegan and haven’t had meat in a few years. I guess these are the reasons I feel we humans are different than animals in regards to eating animals. 1) we don’t need it to survive. There are lots and lots of very healthy people who don’t. In fact, it is healthier to not. 2) we are different than animals due to our capacity of moral reasoning and recognizing the emotions and suffering of others. Because of this we are held to a different standard than animals and should act accordingly. We have the ability to understand that sentient being suffer. 3) Animals don’t inflict intentional suffering on the animals they kill like we humans do in our factory farming practices. Now, I’m in a time where I’m exploring different spiritual beliefs so I can’t say with any sort of authority what the relationship between karma and eating animals is, but what I’ve gathered in my little bit of understanding of Buddhism is that we are to a vapid doing harm. Not consuming animal products is one way to get towards this goal. Thanks for the interesting question and for letting me share my thoughts. I’m interested in what others think.