Buddhism (Encyclopedia of Food & Culture)   Buddhism is divided
into several branches or ordination traditions. The Mahayana
tradition, based on Sanskrit texts, spread into China, Korea,
Vietnam, and Japan. The Buddhism of Tibet, Nepal, and Mongolia
is also known as Vajrayana. Theravada Buddhism, "the way of the
elders," is the form of Buddhism found in Sri Lanka, Burma,
Thailand, Laos, and Cambodia. It is based on Pali texts. More
recently, Buddhism has spread to Europe, Australia, and North
America, where people are converting in large numbers, partly
out of interest in Buddhist meditation practices.  Food Rituals
Food rituals transmit collective and individual messages about
religious principles. Religion influences dietary intake by
prescribing or proscribing certain foods, providing ritual foods
or meals, and reinforcing key cultural and social values. Unlike
Hinduism, Islam, and Judaism, Buddhism has less rigid dietary
laws defining what people can eat and with whom they can dine.
However, fasting and