Swami Brahmananda Says —
[To the question: “Should we avoid eating meat, since it entails killing?”] Nonsense! The Buddhists say: ‘Harmlessness is the highest virtue.’ What does this mean? You can understand the significance of this only when you have attained Samadhi, when you have reached enlightenment and have seen God in all creatures. Until then mere talk is useless. When you can see the same God in the ant as in yourself, then you can practice this virtue. You may talk of not killing, but can you possibly avoid killing? What would you eat? Potatoes? Plant a potato underground, it shots forth young sprouts. Has the potato no life? Would you eat rice? Plant a paddy grain in the earth, it grows into a rice plant. You want to drink water? Examine a drop of water under a microscope and see how many millions of tiny lives are there. You must breathe to live. Yet with every breath you kill millions of creatures. Do you see any harm in that? You think you lose your religion if you take a little fish. Such arguments are foolish. The ancient Hindus held no such ideas. These are later Buddhist and Vaishnavite interpolations. (Et. Comp. p. 188)
Swami Shivananda Says —
[To the question: “ … Should I be very strict about food and such other things?”] No, my daughter, you need not be very strict about these matters. Only use your discrimination a little more when following the usual routine. You may well avoid those things that excite the nerves too much. Food is not meant for the mere gratification of the sense of taste; it is meant for the maintenance of the body. And the maintenance of the body is meant for God-realization. It is better to avoid those kinds of food that create mental disturbance and prevent the mind from concentrating on God. (For Seekers p. 215)
Swami Adbhutananda Says —
What is wrong with eating meat and fish? So long as your mind wants them, then eat them; when you don’t feel like eating them, don’t. The main thing in spiritual life is to have love, devotion, and faith in God. He is our close relative. He lives in the hearts of all beings. One does not incur sin for taking something for maintaining the body. Eating meat or fish cannot harm a person who has steadfast love for God. (Adbh. p. 167)
Swami Saradananda Says —
You have asked me whether vegetarianism is absolutely necessary for leading a spiritual life. My answer is that no hard and fast rule can be made with regard to food. Can we live without doing harm to some form of life? Do you think plants and vegetables have no life? Our scriptures say they have; science has proven it. If you can preserve the strength and vigour of your body and mind while living on vegetarian food, you are at liberty to do so. But if, while foregoing fish and meat, your health deteriorates, you must give up such ideas and take a more moderate stand. (Glimpses p. 142)