🌸Lunar July, Eat a Bite of Early Vegetarian Meal, Give Yourself a Pure Heart｜Buddhist Girl's Faith Confession
In Lunar July, many people think of Ghost Festival, ancestor worship, salvation of souls, and blessings. But for me, I want to turn this month into a reminder to have less attachment and more compassion; less harm and more kindness.
So today I want to advise everyone: If you are willing, why not start with one meal of “early vegetarian meal”.🌱
You don’t have to change your whole life at once, and you don’t need to follow others just because they are vegetarian; it can be just one day, one meal, one kind thought.
To me, being vegetarian is not something to show off how devout I am, nor to criticize those who eat meat.
It is my own lifestyle choice.
I have been a “born vegetarian” since childhood and have continued to this day. Along the way, I have also encountered different religions, beliefs, and spiritual practices. These experiences have made me understand more and more: what truly matters in religion is not just rituals, but whether a person becomes kinder, more empathetic, and more willing to respect others because of it.
🪷 Buddhism is not idol worship, nor is it superstition
Many people ask: “Is Buddhism about worshipping Buddha statues?”
My own understanding is: Buddha statues are symbols and reminders, not to be worshipped as divine idols.
“Buddha” originally means “the Awakened One,” referring to someone who has thoroughly realized the truth of life through practice.
In simple terms:
The Buddha is not someone who tells you not to think and only demands belief.
Buddhism talks about karma, compassion, wisdom, precepts, meditation, and awareness. Buddha statues can serve as symbols reminding us to “learn the Buddha’s wisdom, compassion, and enlightenment.”
Of course, different Buddhist schools and practitioners may have different understandings of faith and rituals; I respect everyone’s approach.
I also want to say especially:
Buddhism cannot be simplified into superstition.
If someone uses religion to threaten you: “If you don’t spend money you’ll have bad luck,” “If you don’t buy ritual items something bad will happen,” “If you don’t listen to me you’ll face divine punishment,” then it’s worth being alert.
A truly healthy faith should make people wiser, more compassionate, and better at independent judgment.
🌏 Religion, politics, and family are all sensitive topics
In one family, there may be people who believe in Buddhism, Christianity, other religions, or none at all.
The same goes for politics.
We can disagree, but we don’t need to insult each other.
You can be vegetarian, I can eat meat;
You can believe in Buddhism, I can believe in Christianity;
You can have a religion, I can have none;
You support a different political stance, I can have my own views.
A truly mature person does not demand the whole world to be like them, but rather:
“I have my beliefs, you have your choices; we can be different, yet still respect each other.”
🪷 My 500-Word Self-Introduction｜A “Born Vegetarian” Girl Who Has Walked Through Many Religious Experiences
I am Noguchi Xiaobo, a girl who has been connected with vegetarianism, photography, art, and different faith experiences since childhood.
I call myself a “born vegetarian,” having grown up in a vegetarian environment. Around age 5, I encountered Buddhism and, based on my childhood memories, had the experience of taking the Three Refuges, and even met Master Chin Kung in Taipei. At that young age, I couldn’t fully understand many things.
At age 9, because of Christmas, a classmate invited me to church, where I encountered Catholicism and was baptized. That was my first direct contact with a religion different from Buddhism.
At age 21, I went through a memorable romantic experience, and relatives introduced me to Christianity, where I was also baptized later.
At age 24, through an online connection while looking for models for photography, I encountered Yiguandao and again took the Three Refuges.
Looking back, my life seems to have walked through many different paths of faith. But now I cherish one thing even more:
Faith should not make us hate each other, but should teach us to be kind.
I am not asking everyone to believe in the same religion as me, nor trying to prove one religion is superior to another.
I simply want to share my life story.
I believe a person’s value is not determined by the name of the religion they claim, but by how they treat their family, friends, strangers, and vulnerable lives.
🌍 Spiritual Mottos of Major World Religions — 5 Each
The following are paraphrased spiritual cores or motto-style expressions, not literal quotes from scriptures.
🪷 Buddhism
Refrain from all evil, practice all good.
Treat others with compassion, handle affairs with wisdom.
Observe yourself, have fewer attachments and more awareness.
Bear your own karma; good and evil are your own responsibility.
Treat all beings with a compassionate heart.
✝️ Christianity
Love others as yourself.
Treat others with love and forgiveness.
Have mercy on the weak, help those in need.
Faith, hope, love.
Do not repay evil with evil.
✡️ Judaism
Pursue justice and integrity.
Respect life and human dignity.
Learn, think, and pass on wisdom.
Help those in need.
Make the world a better place.
☪️ Islam
Believe in God, do good deeds.
Compassion and mercy.
Fairness and justice.
Help the poor and disadvantaged.
Live with responsibility and moderation.
🕉️ Hinduism
Respect life.
Pursue truth and self-knowledge.
Do good and fulfill duties.
Control desires.
Seek inner freedom.
🚨 How to Distinguish Legitimate Religions, Cults, and Charlatans? 20 Observation Points
No single feature can determine a group 100%, but the following are important warning signs:
Does it encourage independent thinking?
Does it allow you to ask questions?
Does it respect your freedom to leave?
Does it demand absolute obedience to the leader?
Does it claim the leader is “never wrong”?
Does it use fear to threaten believers?
Does it demand large donations?
Does it lure you with “the more you donate, the greater your blessings”?
Does it force you to buy ritual items, courses, or services?
Does it require you to cut ties with family and friends?
Does it prohibit contact with outside information?
Does it label everything outside as “evil”?
Does it require you to hand over property?
Does it frighten you with illness or disaster?
Does it claim only itself holds the truth?
Does it use sex, emotions, or power to control believers?
Does it encourage illegal behavior?
Does the leader enjoy privileges while believers are asked to sacrifice?
Does it refuse transparent financial and organizational information?
After joining, do you become freer and kinder, or more fearful, isolated, and lose judgment?
This last point, I think, is especially important.
A good faith should not make you lose yourself.
🌱 Does Vegetarianism “Change Your Luck”?
I see “vegetarianism changes your luck” as a blessing of kind thoughts and lifestyle attitude, not a scientific law that guarantees wealth or changes destiny.
Vegetarianism can help us practice compassion, moderation, and cherishing life; but true life success still depends on our own actions, choices, efforts, and ability to face problems.
So my cute version is:
“I don’t know if vegetarianism changes your luck, but eating one early vegetarian meal at least gives today’s self a little more kindness.🌱”
If you eat it and still no luck change—
😂 No worries, I’ll be waiting for you at Taichung Transfer Station!
No luck change? Then let’s figure out where life needs a turn together.🤣
Friends in Kaohsiung, don’t be sad:
If you pay in Kaohsiung, I can come too.😂🚄
🌸 Finally, to everyone
Whether you believe in Buddhism, Christianity, Catholicism, Islam, Hinduism, other religions, or have no religious belief at all, I hope we remember:
Faith can differ, kindness can be the same.
Thoughts can differ, respect can be the same.
Politics can differ, being human can have a bottom line.
Family can differ, yet we can still leave space for each other.
In Lunar July, may we have less fear and more wisdom;
Less superstition and more thinking;
Less attack and more compassion.
🌱 Today, would you join me for one early vegetarian meal?
🙏 Namo Amitabha Buddha
🌸 May all beings be safe, healthy, and free.
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