How Can Swami Vivekananda be Called a Saint When He Was a Non-vegetarian?

[Śrī Anil asked: Pādanamaskāraṃ Swāmi, some questions raised in internet discussion forum is presented below. Please grace Your response to the same. At Your Lotus Divine Feet-anil]

Q. Swāmi Vivekānanda was a non-vegetarian, so why was he called a saint?

Swāmi replied: Even Lord Śrī Rāma was a non-vegetarian, who was the incarnation of God. A saint is lesser than God. Even Śrī Rāmakṛṣṇa Paramahaṃsa, the Guru of Vivekānanda ate fish. Sometimes, the incarnation neglects a point in order to stress on other important points, which are more important. Killing animals and birds for non-vegetarian food is certainly a sin as preached by God Buddha and God Ṛṣabhadeva Jaina. Even Jesus took non-vegetarian food, but, He criticised people killing the animals and birds for food. If all other important points are achieved, this one point can be concentrated upon in a later period. We shall not imitate what God does, but, we shall follow what God says. Some critical points have hidden backgrounds and there is always an underlying meaning in the actions of God.

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