Vegetarians have several different motives for not eating animal flesh. Some are motivated by considerations of health, others are concerned for the ecology of the Earth, and some use vegetarianism as part of a spiritual practice. Many vegetarians, however, adopt the diet for ethical or philosophical reasons. Vegetarianism, whatever its motive, is by no means a requirement for membership in the Theosophical Society. Yet many Theosophists are vegetarians, and Theosophical principles encourage this way of life.
Theosophy teaches that all life is interrelated.
Long before the current interest in holism and ecology, the Wisdom Tradition pointed to a web of relations among all living things, reflecting the transcendental Unity from which all arise. This philosophical view of ultimate oneness is reflected in the Theosophical Society's first Object, which affirms the universal brotherhood of humanity, not as an ideal to strive for but as a fact in nature. Recognizing our oneness with one another and with all living beings, we see the earth and its largesse not as the property of humankind, ripe for exploitation, but rather as a trust to be cared for and used with prudence and compassion. Another basic Theosophical teaching is that of the evolution of consciousness and spiritual awareness as well as of physical form. We have evolved from the animal kingdom, which is obviously close to the human in physical development, particularly the other mammals.