Kashrut in India and Entering a Buddhist Monastery

Greetings and blessings. 

1-2. Naturally vegetarian food does not require certification outside of Israel, where laws of terumah, ma'aser, or orlah do not apply, but cooked food—even if vegetarian—requires reliable kosher certification, because it is generally forbidden for a Jew to eat food cooked by a non-Jew, even if the item itself is kosher. Additionally, there are concerns about the utensils used in cooking, which may be treif, since it is impossible to know whether meat, fish, or non-kosher creatures were cooked in the same vessel previously. Therefore, one should not eat at a restaurant lacking kosher certification, even if it is strictly vegetarian.

3. I include here the words of the esteemed Maran Rabbi Ovadia Yosef, of blessed memory, in his responsa Yabia Omer, part 4, section 45: Question: Is it permitted for a Jew to visit a Christian church? Answer: In the tractate Avodah Zarah (page 17a), it is stated that it is forbidden even to approach the entrance of a house of idolatry, as it says, "Do not come near the threshold of her house." The Tosafot also write this. Maimonides, in his commentary on the Mishnah, Avodah Zarah (chapter 1, page 11b), explains that any city inhabited by a nation that worships avodah zarah (idolatry) contains therein a house of prayer for idolatry, i.e., a house of avodah zarah. Ideally, Jews should not live in such a city, but nowadays, we are forced against our will to dwell in the lands of idolaters during our exile, and their worship there is of gods made by human hands, wood and stone. If the entire city is forbidden to live in, certainly the idolatrous house itself is forbidden; one is forbidden almost even to see it, let alone enter it. Therefore, there is a very clear prohibition to visit Christian churches. Rabbeinu Yehuda HaChasid, in Sefer Chassidim (section 845), recounts a story of a Jew who pursued an obligation against a non-Jew into an idolatrous house, regretted doing so, and was instructed to fast annually on that day as repentance. The Chida writes in Birkei Olam (section 845), quoting his great-grandfather Rabbi Avraham Azoulay that entering a house of idolatry places one under the influence of the side of impurity (sitra achra), gradually defiling one without awareness. Rabbi Chaim Palaggi, in his responsa Chaim Be'ad (section 26), also ruled decidedly that it is forbidden to enter a house of idolatry, including even its courtyard, and many poskim have been stringent on this prohibition. In summary, it is absolutely forbidden to visit Christian churches, and tour guides must take great care not to cause Jews visiting Israel to stumble by leading them to Christian churches, as this violates the prohibition of "Do not place a stumbling block before the blind." May those who heed this be blessed. Regarding Buddhism, poskim consider it to be idolatry, and although its adherents are atheists, they are connected to ancient avodah zarah. Therefore, there is no permission to enter their monasteries, even just to view the scenery. The esteemed Rabbi Eliezer Yehuda Waldenberg, in his responsa Tzitz Eliezer, vol. 14, section 91, writes explicitly that entering a church, monastery, or mosque courtyard solely to look at the scenery is forbidden. The Rema (Shulchan Aruch Yoreh Deah 148:2) rules it is forbidden to enter the courtyard of idolatry even when idolaters are not gathered for worship, so it is obviously forbidden to enter just to look at the view. Rabbi Chaim Palaggi, in Chaim Be'ad (section 26), elaborates on the severity of this prohibition, including prohibition to enter the courtyard even to speak with them or conduct business, even when it is not their holiday. He emphasizes that their worship is a remnant of ancient idolatry that introduces impurity and the sitra achra (the evil side), especially affecting a Jew, and therefore, immersion and lashes are required as atonement for one who enters such a place mistakenly. Similarly, Rabbi Moshe Feinstein zt"l ruled that all matters of enjoying the beauty surrounding monasteries are done to entice and mislead, and it is certainly forbidden to go there. May this suffice.