Why Buddhist monastics don't eat garlic or onions

[Gail]

I knew that Buddhists don't, but never quite knew why before. Now I know:

From askville.amazon.com:

Quote:

For peacefulness of the mind...

Radish, leek, onion, garlic, and a few other such herbs such as Asafoetida, an ingredient common in curries etc are Aphrodisiacs.Eaten raw they are believed to incite people to anger and disputes; eaten cooked they increase one's sexual desire. Buddhist adepts are advised to avoid them, as their consumption tends to disturb the peacefulness of the mind. According to [the sutras], garlic, three kinds of onions, and leeks are the five forbidden pungent roots. `If eaten raw, they are said to cause irritability of temper, and if eaten cooked, to act as an aphrodisiac; moreover, the breath of the eater, if reading the sutras, will drive away the good spirits.'"

Much of the publicized health benefits of garlic and other pungent roots may be industry-inspired and/or commercial puffery. Buddhist practitioners, particularly Tantric ones, are advised to avoid them altogether.

[phkrause]

I think they are wrong, there are definitely big time benefits from eating onions, garlic, etc.

[Gail]

I think they are wrong, there are definitely big time benefits from eating onions, garlic, etc.

From reading the article, I guess they don't see THAT as a benefit :)