Vinaya Pitaka - Monastic Rules
Bhikkhu Vibhanga - Pācittiya 32: The Training Rule on Group Meals.
- Translated from the Pali by Brahmali Bhikkhu.
Origin story
First sub-story
1 At one time the Buddha, the Master, was staying at Rājagaha in the squirrel sanctuary in the Bamboo Grove. At that time, because of decline in support and loss of respect, Devadatta and his followers were only invited to meals after repeatedly asking. People grumbled and complained: “How can the Sakyan ascetics eat at invitations after repeatedly asking? Who doesn’t like nice food? Who doesn’t delight in tasty food?"
2 Monks heard those people grumbling and complaining, and the monks of few desires … complained and criticised those monks: “How can Devadatta and his followers eat at invitations after repeatedly asking?" … “Is it true, Devadatta, that you do this?" “It’s true, Master." The Buddha, the Master, criticised them: “ … Foolish man, how can you and your followers eat at invitations after repeatedly asking? This will not give rise to confidence in those without it … And, monks, this training rule should be recited thus:
Preliminary ruling
3 “If a monk eats in a group, he commits an offence entailing confession."
4 In this way the Master laid down this training rule for the monks.
Second sub-story
5 Soon afterwards, people invited sick monks to a meal. Knowing that the Master had prohibited eating meals in a group and being afraid of wrongdoing, they did not accept. They informed the Master of what had happened. He spoke on the Dhamma and then addressed the monks: “Monks, I allow you to eat in a group with a sick monk. And so, monks, this training rule should be recited thus:
Preliminary ruling
6 “If a monk eats in a group, unless there is an appropriate reason, he commits an offence entailing confession. The appropriate reason is this: a monk is sick."
7 In this way the Master laid down this training rule for the monks.
Third sub-story
8 Around that time, during the robe-giving season, people prepared a meal together with robe-cloth, and then invited the monks: “We wish to offer you a meal and then give you robe-cloth." Knowing that the Master had prohibited eating meals in a group and being afraid of wrongdoing, they did not accept. As a result they only obtained a small amount of robe-cloth. They informed the Master of what had happened. … “Monks, I allow you to eat in a group when robe-cloth is being given. And so, monks, this training rule should be recited thus:
Preliminary ruling
9 “If a monk eats in a group, unless there is an appropriate reason, he commits an offence entailing confession. The appropriate reasons are these: a monk is sick, robe-cloth is being given."
10In this way the Master laid down this training rule for the monks.
Fourth sub-story
11Around that time, people invited monks who were making a robe for a meal. Knowing that the Master had prohibited eating meals in a group and being afraid of wrongdoing, they did not accept. They informed the Master of what had happened. … “Monks, I allow you to eat in a group when a robe is being made. And so, monks, this training rule should be recited thus:
Preliminary ruling
12“If a monk eats in a group, unless there is an appropriate reason, he commits an offence entailing confession. The appropriate reasons are these: a monk is sick, robe-cloth is being given, a robe is being made."
13In this way the Master laid down this training rule for the monks.
Fifth sub-story
14Around that time, monks went travelling with some people. Then those monks said to those people: “Please wait a moment while we walk for alms." They replied: “Bhante, please eat right here." Knowing that the Master had prohibited eating meals in a group and being afraid of wrongdoing, they did not accept. They informed the Master of what had happened. … “Monks, I allow you to eat in a group while you are travelling. And so, monks, this training rule should be recited thus:
Preliminary ruling
15“If a monk eats in a group, unless there is an appropriate reason, he commits an offence entailing confession. The appropriate reasons are these: a monk is sick, robe-cloth is being given, a robe is being made, a monk is travelling on a road."
16In this way the Master laid down this training rule for the monks.
Sixth sub-story
17Around that time, monks boarded a boat with some people. Then those monks said to those people: “Please go to the shore for a moment while we walk for alms." They replied: “Bhante, please eat right here." Knowing that the Master had prohibited eating meals in a group and being afraid of wrongdoing, they did not accept. They informed the Master of what had happened. … “Monks, I allow you to eat in a group while you are on-board a boat. And so, monks, this training rule should be recited thus:
Preliminary ruling
18“If a monk eats in a group, unless there is an appropriate reason, he commits an offence entailing confession. The appropriate reasons are these: a monk is sick, robe-cloth is being given, a robe is being made, a monk is travelling on a road, a monk is travelling by boat."
19In this way the Master laid down this training rule for the monks.
Seventh sub-story
20Around that time, monks who had completed the rainy season in that region were coming to Rājagaha to see the Master. People saw those monks who had come from various countries and they invited them for a meal. Knowing that the Master had prohibited eating meals in a group and being afraid of wrongdoing, they did not accept. They informed the Master of what had happened. … “Monks, I allow you to eat in a group on big occasions. And so, monks, this training rule should be recited thus:
Preliminary ruling
21“If a monk eats in a group, unless there is an appropriate reason, he commits an offence entailing confession. The appropriate reasons are these: a monk is sick, robe-cloth is being given, a robe is being made, a monk is travelling on a road, a monk is travelling by boat, it is a big occasion."
22In this way the Master laid down this training rule for the monks.
Eighth sub-story
23Around that time, a relative of King Seniya Bimbisāra of Māgadha who had gone forth among the Ājīvakas approached the King and said: “Great King, I wish to make a meal for the followers of all sects."
“Thatʼs fine, bhante, if you first feed the Sangha of monks headed by the Buddha."
“I will do that."
Then that Ājīvaka sent a messenger to the monks: “Please accept a meal from me tomorrow." But knowing that the Master had prohibited eating meals in a group and being afraid of wrongdoing, they did not accept. Then that Ājīvaka went to the Master, exchanged friendly greetings with him, and stood to one side. And he said this: “Good Gotama has gone forth and so have I. One who has gone forth is entitled to give alms to another who has gone forth. Good Gotama, please accept a meal from me tomorrow, together with the Sangha of monks." The Master consented by remaining silent. The Ājīvaka understood that the Master had consented and he left.
The Master then spoke on the Dhamma and addressed the monks: “Monks, I allow you to eat in a group when the meal is being given by an ascetic. And so, monks, this training rule should be recited thus:
Final ruling
24“If a monk eats in a group, unless there is an appropriate reason, he commits an offence entailing confession. The appropriate reasons are these: a monk is sick, robe-cloth is being given, a robe is being made, a monk is travelling on a road, a monk is travelling by boat, it is a big occasion, the meal is being given by an ascetic."
Definitions
25Eats in a group: wherever four monks, after being invited, eat any of the five staple foods. This is called ‘eats in a group.’
26Unless there is an appropriate reason: except at an appropriate time.
27A monk is sick: even if he just has split feet, he may eat in a group.
28Robe-cloth is being given: if he has not done the kathina ceremony, he may eat in a group during the last month of the rainy season. If he has done the kathina ceremony, he may eat in a group during the five month period. That is, the last month of the rainy season, plus the four months of the cold season,
29A robe is being made: when a robe is being made, he may eat in a group.
30A monk is travelling on a road: if he intends to travel at least six kilometres, he may eat in a group. Half a yojana. The length of a yojana has not been precisely established (perhaps it never was a precise distance), but a reasonable estimate is 8 miles or just under 13 kilometres (see T.W. Rhys Davids, “On the Ancient Coins and Measures of Ceylon", p.16). Thus half yojana is just over 6 km. And he may eat in a group while travelling, and after travelling.
31A monk is travelling by boat: if he intends to board a boat, he may eat in a group. And he may eat in a group while on-board, and after disembarking.
32It is a big occasion: if two or three monks can get by by walking for alms, but not a group of four, he may eat in a group.
33The meal is given by an ascetic: if any kind of wanderer is making the meal, he may eat in a group.
34If he receives it intending to eat it, unless there is an appropriate reason, he commits an offence of bad conduct. For every mouthful, he commits an offence entailing confession.
Permutations
35If it is a group meal, and he perceives it as a group meal, and he eats, unless there is an appropriate reason, he commits an offence entailing confession. If it is a group meal, but he has doubts about it, and he eats, unless there is an appropriate reason, he commits an offence entailing confession. If it is a group meal, but he does not perceive it as a group meal, and he eats, unless there is an appropriate reason, he commits an offence entailing confession.
36If it is not a group meal, but he perceives it as a group meal, he commits an offence of bad conduct. If it is not a group meal, but he has doubts about it, he commits an offence of bad conduct. If it is not a group meal, and he does not perceive it as a group meal, there is no offence.
Non-offences
37There is no offence: if he has an appropriate reason; if two or three eat together; if they eat together after walking for alms; if it is a regular meal invitation; if it is a meal invitation decided by drawing lots; if it is on the half-moon day; if it is on the uposatha day; if it is on the day after the uposatha; if it is anything apart from the five staple foods; if he is insane; if he is the first offender.
38The second rule, the training rule on group meals, is finished.
1
tena samayena buddho bhagavā rājagahe viharati veḷuvane kalandakanivāpe. tena
kho pana samayena devadatto parihīnalābhasakkāro sapariso kulesu viññāpetvā
viññāpetvā bhuñjati. manussā ujjhāyanti khiyyanti vipācenti— "kathañhi nāma
samaṇā sakyaputtiyā kulesu viññāpetvā viññāpetvā bhuñjissanti. kassa sampannaṃ
na manāpaṃ, kassa sāduṃ na ruccatī"ti.
2 assosuṃ kho bhikkhū tesaṃ manussānaṃ ujjhāyantānaṃ khiyyantānaṃ vipācentānaṃ. ye te bhikkhū appicchā … pe … te ujjhāyanti khiyyanti vipācenti— "kathañhi nāma devadatto sapariso kulesu viññāpetvā viññāpetvā bhuñjissatī"ti … pe … "saccaṃ kira tvaṃ, devadatta, sapariso kulesu viññāpetvā viññāpetvā bhuñjasī"ti? "saccaṃ, bhagavā"ti. vigarahi buddho bhagavā … pe … kathañhi nāma tvaṃ, moghapurisa, sapariso kulesu viññāpetvā viññāpetvā bhuñjissasi. netaṃ, moghapurisa, appasannānaṃ vā pasādāya … pe … evañca pana, bhikkhave, imaṃ sikkhāpadaṃ uddiseyyātha—
4 evañcidaṃ bhagavatā bhikkhūnaṃ sikkhāpadaṃ paññattaṃ hoti.
5 tena kho pana samayena manussā gilāne bhikkhū bhattena nimantenti. bhikkhū kukkuccāyantā nādhivāsenti— "paṭikkhittaṃ bhagavatā gaṇabhojanan"ti. bhagavato etamatthaṃ ārocesuṃ. atha kho bhagavā etasmiṃ nidāne etasmiṃ pakaraṇe dhammiṃ kathaṃ katvā bhikkhū āmantesi— "anujānāmi, bhikkhave, gilānena bhikkhunā gaṇabhojanaṃ bhuñjituṃ. evañca pana, bhikkhave, imaṃ sikkhāpadaṃ uddiseyyātha—
6 "gaṇabhojane, aññatra samayā, pācittiyaṃ. tatthāyaṃ samayo. gilānasamayo— ayaṃ tattha samayo"ti.
7 evañcidaṃ bhagavatā bhikkhūnaṃ sikkhāpadaṃ paññattaṃ hoti.
8 tena kho pana samayena manussā cīvaradānasamaye sacīvarabhattaṃ paṭiyādetvā bhikkhū nimantenti— "bhojetvā cīvarena acchādessāmā"ti. bhikkhū kukkuccāyantā nādhivāsenti— "paṭikkhittaṃ bhagavatā gaṇabhojanan"ti. cīvaraṃ parittaṃ uppajjati. bhagavato etamatthaṃ ārocesuṃ … pe … anujānāmi, bhikkhave, cīvaradānasamaye gaṇabhojanaṃ bhuñjituṃ. evañca pana, bhikkhave, imaṃ sikkhāpadaṃ uddiseyyātha—
9 "gaṇabhojane, aññatra samayā, pācittiyaṃ. tatthāyaṃ samayo. gilānasamayo, cīvaradānasamayo— ayaṃ tattha samayo"ti.
10 evañcidaṃ bhagavatā bhikkhūnaṃ sikkhāpadaṃ paññattaṃ hoti.
11 tena kho pana samayena manussā cīvarakārake bhikkhū bhattena nimantenti. bhikkhū kukkuccāyantā nādhivāsenti— "paṭikkhittaṃ bhagavatā gaṇabhojanan"ti. bhagavato etamatthaṃ ārocesuṃ … pe … anujānāmi, bhikkhave, cīvarakārasamaye gaṇabhojanaṃ bhuñjituṃ. evañca pana, bhikkhave, imaṃ sikkhāpadaṃ uddiseyyātha—
12 "gaṇabhojane, aññatra samayā, pācittiyaṃ. tatthāyaṃ samayo. gilānasamayo, cīvaradānasamayo, cīvarakārasamayo— ayaṃ tattha samayo"ti.
13 evañcidaṃ bhagavatā bhikkhūnaṃ sikkhāpadaṃ paññattaṃ hoti.
14 tena kho pana samayena bhikkhū manussehi saddhiṃ addhānaṃ gacchanti. atha kho te bhikkhū te manusse etadavocuṃ— "muhuttaṃ, āvuso, āgametha; piṇḍāya carissāmā"ti. te evamāhaṃsu— "idheva, bhante, bhuñjathā"ti. bhikkhū kukkuccāyantā na paṭiggaṇhanti— "paṭikkhittaṃ bhagavatā gaṇabhojanan"ti. bhagavato etamatthaṃ ārocesuṃ … pe … anujānāmi, bhikkhave, addhānagamanasamaye gaṇabhojanaṃ bhuñjituṃ. evañca pana, bhikkhave, imaṃ sikkhāpadaṃ uddiseyyātha—
15 "gaṇabhojane, aññatra samayā, pācittiyaṃ. tatthāyaṃ samayo. gilānasamayo, cīvaradānasamayo, cīvarakārasamayo, addhānagamanasamayo— ayaṃ tattha samayo"ti.
16 evañcidaṃ bhagavatā bhikkhūnaṃ sikkhāpadaṃ paññattaṃ hoti.
17 tena kho pana samayena bhikkhū manussehi saddhiṃ nāvāya gacchanti. atha kho te bhikkhū te manusse etadavocuṃ— "muhuttaṃ, āvuso, tīraṃ upanetha; piṇḍāya carissāmā"ti. te evamāhaṃsu— "idheva, bhante, bhuñjathā"ti. bhikkhū kukkuccāyantā na paṭiggaṇhanti— "paṭikkhittaṃ bhagavatā gaṇabhojanan"ti. bhagavato etamatthaṃ ārocesuṃ … pe … anujānāmi, bhikkhave, nāvābhiruhanasamaye gaṇabhojanaṃ bhuñjituṃ. evañca pana, bhikkhave, imaṃ sikkhāpadaṃ uddiseyyātha—
18 "gaṇabhojane, aññatra samayā, pācittiyaṃ. tatthāyaṃ samayo. gilānasamayo, cīvaradānasamayo, cīvarakārasamayo, addhānagamanasamayo, nāvābhiruhanasamayo— ayaṃ tattha samayo"ti.
19 evañcidaṃ bhagavatā bhikkhūnaṃ sikkhāpadaṃ paññattaṃ hoti.
20 tena kho pana samayena disāsu vassaṃvuṭṭhā bhikkhū rājagahaṃ āgacchanti bhagavantaṃ dassanāya. manussā nānāverajjake bhikkhū passitvā bhattena nimantenti. bhikkhū kukkuccāyantā nādhivāsenti— "paṭikkhittaṃ bhagavatā gaṇabhojanan"ti. bhagavato etamatthaṃ ārocesuṃ … pe … anujānāmi, bhikkhave, mahāsamaye gaṇabhojanaṃ bhuñjituṃ. evañca pana, bhikkhave, imaṃ sikkhāpadaṃ uddiseyyātha—
21 "gaṇabhojane, aññatra samayā, pācittiyaṃ. tatthāyaṃ samayo. gilānasamayo, cīvaradānasamayo, cīvarakārasamayo, addhānagamanasamayo, nāvābhiruhanasamayo, mahāsamayo— ayaṃ tattha samayo"ti.
22 evañcidaṃ bhagavatā bhikkhūnaṃ sikkhāpadaṃ paññattaṃ hoti.
23 tena kho pana samayena rañño māgadhassa seniyassa bimbisārassa ñātisālohito ājīvakesu pabbajito hoti. atha kho so ājīvako yena rājā māgadho seniyo bimbisāro tenupasankami; upasankamitvā rājānaṃ māgadhaṃ seniyaṃ bimbisāraṃ etadavoca— "icchāmahaṃ, mahārāja, sabbapāsaṇḍikabhattaṃ kātun"ti. "sace tvaṃ, bhante, buddhappamukhaṃ bhikkhusaṇghaṃ paṭhamaṃ bhojeyyāsi". "evaṃ kareyyāmī"ti. atha kho so ājīvako bhikkhūnaṃ santike dūtaṃ pāhesi— "adhivāsentu me bhikkhū svātanāya bhattan"ti. bhikkhū kukkuccāyantā nādhivāsenti— "paṭikkhittaṃ bhagavatā gaṇabhojanan"ti. atha kho so ājīvako yena bhagavā tenupasankami; upasankamitvā bhagavatā saddhiṃ sammodi, sammodanīyaṃ kathaṃ sāraṇīyaṃ vītisāretvā ekamantaṃ aṭṭhāsi. ekamantaṃ ṭhito kho so ājīvako bhagavantaṃ etadavoca— "bhavampi gotamo pabbajito, ahampi pabbajito; arahati pabbajito pabbajitassa piṇḍaṃ paṭiggahetuṃ. adhivāsetu me bhavaṃ gotamo svātanāya bhattaṃ saddhiṃ bhikkhusaṇghenā"ti. adhivāsesi bhagavā tuṇhībhāvena. atha kho so ājīvako bhagavato adhivāsanaṃ viditvā pakkāmi. atha kho bhagavā etasmiṃ nidāne etasmiṃ pakaraṇe dhammiṃ kathaṃ katvā bhikkhū āmantesi— "anujānāmi, bhikkhave, samaṇabhattasamaye gaṇabhojanaṃ bhuñjituṃ. evañca pana, bhikkhave, imaṃ sikkhāpadaṃ uddiseyyātha—
24 gaṇabhojane, aññatra samayā, pācittiyaṃ. tatthāyaṃ samayo. gilānasamayo, cīvaradānasamayo, cīvarakārasamayo, addhānagamanasamayo, nāvābhiruhanasamayo, mahāsamayo, samaṇabhattasamayo— ayaṃ tattha samayo"ti. (32:81)
25 gaṇabhojanaṃ nāma yattha cattāro bhikkhū pañcannaṃ bhojanānaṃ aññatarena bhojanena nimantitā bhuñjanti. etaṃ gaṇabhojanaṃ nāma.
26 aññatra samayāti ṭhapetvā samayaṃ.
27 gilānasamayo nāma antamaso pādāpi phalitā honti. "gilānasamayo"ti bhuñjitabbaṃ.
28 cīvaradānasamayo nāma anatthate kathine vassānassa pacchimo māso, atthate kathine pañcamāsā. "cīvaradānasamayo"ti bhuñjitabbaṃ.
29 cīvarakārasamayo nāma cīvare kayiramāne. "cīvarakārasamayo"ti bhuñjitabbaṃ.
30 addhānagamanasamayo nāma "addhayojanaṃ gacchissāmī"ti bhuñjitabbaṃ, gacchantena bhuñjitabbaṃ, gatena bhuñjitabbaṃ.
31 nāvābhiruhanasamayo nāma "nāvaṃ abhiruhissāmī"ti bhuñjitabbaṃ, āruḷhena bhuñjitabbaṃ, oruḷhena bhuñjitabbaṃ.
32 mahāsamayo nāma yattha dve tayo bhikkhū piṇḍāya caritvā yāpenti, catutthe āgate na yāpenti. "mahāsamayo"ti bhuñjitabbaṃ.
33 samaṇabhattasamayo nāma yo koci paribbājakasamāpanno bhattaṃ karoti. "samaṇabhattasamayo"ti bhuñjitabbaṃ.
34 "aññatra samayā bhuñjissāmī"ti paṭiggaṇhāti, āpatti dukkaṭassa. ajjhohāre ajjhohāre āpatti pācittiyassa.
35 gaṇabhojane gaṇabhojanasaññī, aññatra samayā, bhuñjati, āpatti pācittiyassa. gaṇabhojane vematiko, aññatra samayā, bhuñjati, āpatti pācittiyassa. gaṇabhojane nagaṇabhojanasaññī, aññatra samayā, bhuñjati, āpatti pācittiyassa.
36 nagaṇabhojane gaṇabhojanasaññī, āpatti dukkaṭassa. nagaṇabhojane vematiko, āpatti dukkaṭassa. nagaṇabhojane nagaṇabhojanasaññī, anāpatti.
37 anāpatti— samaye, dve tayo ekato bhuñjanti, piṇḍāya caritvā ekato sannipatitvā bhuñjanti, niccabhattaṃ, salākabhattaṃ, pakkhikaṃ, uposathikaṃ, pāṭipadikaṃ, pañca bhojanāni ṭhapetvā sabbattha anāpatti, ummattakassa, ādikammikassāti.