Question
Does consuming non-vegetarian food hinder our spiritual progress?
Answer
I have found some scriptures of what they say about eating non-vegetarian from a vlog:
Anumantaa vishasitaa nihantaa krayavikrayee Samskartaa chopahartaa cha khadakashcheti ghaatakaah : Manusmrithi 5.51
Those who permit slaying of animals, those who bring animals for slaughter, those who slaughter, those who sell meat, those who purchase meat, those who prepare dish out of it, those who serve that meat and those who eat are all murderers.
Breehimattam yavamattamatho maashamatho tilam Esha vaam bhaago nihito ratnadheyaaya dantau maa hinsishtam pitaram maataram cha : Atharvaveda 6.140.2
O teeth! You eat rice, you eat barley, you gram and you eat sesame. These cereals are specifically meant for you. Do not kill those who are capable of being fathers and mothers.
Aghnyaa yajamaanasya pashoonpahi : Yajurveda 1.1
“O human! animals are 'Aghnya' – not to be killed. Protect the animals”
Mahabharata:
"He who desires to augment his own flesh by eating the flesh of other creatures, lives in misery in whatever species he may take his [next] birth." (Mahabharata, Anu.115.47)
So there's no specific texts I could find where we can conclude that we cannot get Moksha, but yes our texts seem to indirectly point out that its a sin.
But yes some texts also say that one can still be a good devotee if he consumes meat. I would suggest to read KulArnava Tantram, Chapter 5, Verse 45 which specifies that Lord Shiva doesnot accept the consumption of meat unless its a part of a ritual. This one:
Pitridevatayajneshu VaidahimsA Vidhiyate | AtmArtham PrAninAm HimsA kadAchinnoditA Priye ||
In Pitru Yanjna and Deva Yajnas sacrificial killing is allowed. But other than that the Shastras never allow prani himsa (killing) for one's own pleasure.
So one can still be a devotee but as I said, our texts seem to indirectly point that its a sin(that's what I think).
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