Karma Dorje wrote:AlexanderS wrote:
I was thinking about trying out egg protein powder, but is that highly unethical from a buddhist pov?
What makes you think that eating eggs is unethical from a buddhist pov? Eggs that we eat are not fertilized, hence you are not killing anything. If you are concerned with the treatment of egg laying hens, I think getting genuinely free range eggs from a local farm is the best bet.
I'm in no way trying to start the conversation about what's ethical from a Buddhist POV or not, (since there's a huge thread about that already). But since you're asking, the reason why
some may find eggs unethical is basically this: Some chickens have been bred for meat, some for eggs. The egg type is not great for meat, and vice versa. These egg laying-type of chickens don't live forever of course, so new ones have to be bred, and like us both males and females are born. 100% of the male hatchlings get killed, typically just tossed in the garbage on top of each other to suffocation, because as egg-type chickens they are useless. In factory farming this is
always the case, and it happens on a large scale. When you go to a store, eggs can be labeled free range, or even pasture-raised, and it is still very likely the case. Pastures are also not designed as environments chickens actually like (they're not naturally even in open fields), and they have still often been bred in a way that causes them to lay way more eggs than they naturally would, leading to many painful/fatal health problems.
Maybe some farms have created exceptions to this, I don't know. I'm also not saying what someone should eat. I eat fish. But you asked as to why some could find it objectionable, and my guess is those are the reasons.
PS As to the op, if you're trying to be vegan as opposed to just vegetarian, I have found beans, nuts, and lentils are great sources of protein you could try. As others have said, things like black beans and walnuts and almonds are some of the best foods out there.