Vinaya Pitaka - Monastic Rules
Bhikkhu Vibhanga - Pāṭidesanīya 3: Not to accept food from poor people who show remarkable fervor towards the dhamma, without having been invited by them.
- Translated from the Pali by I.B. Horner.
… at Sāvatthī in the Jeta Grove in Anāthapiṇḍika’s monastery. Now at that time there was in Sāvatthī a certain family which on both sides came to be pleased, it grew in faith, it decreased in wealth; whatever solid food or soft food accrued to that family before a meal, having given it all away to monks, sometimes they went without food. People … spread it about, saying:
"How can the recluses, sons of the Sakyans, not knowing moderation, accept? These (people), having given to these (monks), sometimes go without food." Monks heard these people who … spread it about. Then these monks told this matter to the lord. Then the lord on this occasion, in this connection, having given reasoned talk, addressed the monks, saying:
"I allow you, monks, when a family is growing in faith, is decreasing in wealth, to give such a family an agreement as to learners by a (formal) act at which the motion is followed by one proclamation. And thus, monks, should it be given: The Order should be informed by an experienced, competent monk, saying: ‘Honoured sirs, let the Order listen to me. Such and such a family is growing in faith, is decreasing in wealth. If it seems right to the Order, let the Order give the agreement as to learners to such and such a family. This is the motion. Honoured sirs, let the Order listen to me. Such and such a family … in wealth. The Order gives the agreement as to learners to such and such a family. If the giving of the agreement as to learners to such and such a family is pleasing to the venerable ones, let them be silent; if it is not pleasing, they should speak. The agreement as to learners is given by the Order to such and such a family, and it is right … So do I understand this.’ And thus, monks, this rule of training should be set forth:
Whatever are those families that are agreed upon as learners, whatever monk having accepted among such families as are agreed upon as learners solid food or soft food with his own hand, should eat it or partake of it, it should be confessed by that monk, saying: ‘I have fallen, your reverences, into a blameworthy matter, unbecoming, which ought to be confessed; I confess it.’"
And thus this rule of training for monks came to be laid down by the lord.
Now at that time there came to be a festival at Sāvatthī. People, having invited monks, offered them food. The monks, being scrupulous, did not consent, thinking: "It is forbidden by the lord, having accepted among families that are agreed upon as learners solid food or soft food with one’s own hand, to eat it, to partake of it." These looked down upon, criticised, spread it about, saying: "But how is it that because of our way of living, the masters do not accept from us?" Monks heard these people who … spread it about. Then these monks told this matter to the lord. Then the lord, on this occasion, in this connection, having given reasoned talk, addressed the monks, saying:
"I allow you, monks, when invited, having accepted among families agreed upon as learners solid food or soft food with your own hand, to eat it, to partake of it. And thus, monks, this rule of training should be set forth:
Whatever are those families that are agreed upon as learners, whatever monk if he is not invited beforehand, having accepted among such families as are agreed upon as learners solid food or soft food with his own hand, should eat it or partake of it, it should be confessed by that monk, saying: ‘I have fallen, your reverences, into a blameworthy matter, unbecoming, which ought to be confessed; I confess it.’"
And thus this rule of training for monks came to be laid down by the lord.
Now at that time a certain monk came to frequent that family. Then that monk, having dressed in the morning, taking his bowl and robe, approached that family, and having approached he sat down on the appointed seat. At that time this monk came to be ill. Then these people spoke thus to this monk: "Eat, honoured sir." Then that monk, thinking: "It is forbidden by the lord, not being invited, having accepted among families agreed upon as learners solid food or soft food with one’s own hand, to eat it, to partake of it," and being scrupulous, he did not accept; he was not able to walk for alms, he became famished. Then that monk, having gone to the monastery, told this matter to the monks. The monks told this matter to the lord. Then the lord, on this occasion, in this connection, having given reasoned talk, addressed the monks, saying:
"I allow you, monks, when a monk is ill, having accepted among families agreed upon as learners solid food or soft food with his own hand, to eat it, to partake of it. And thus, monks, this rule of training should be set forth:
Whatever are those families that are agreed upon as learners, whatever monk, if he is not invited beforehand (and) not ill, having accepted among such families as are agreed upon as learners solid food or soft food with his own hand, should eat it or partake of it, it should be confessed by that monk, saying: ‘Your reverences, I have fallen into a blameworthy matter, unbecoming, which ought to be confessed; I confess it.’"
Whatever are those families that are agreed upon as learners means: a family agreed upon as learners is called that family which is growing in faith, decreasing in wealth; for such a family an agreement as to learners comes to be given by a (formal) act at which the motion is followed by one proclamation.
Whatever means: … monk is to be understood in this case.
Among such families as are agreed, upon as learners means: among families like these agreed upon as learners.
Not invited means: not invited for today or tomorrow. If he invites him as he is entering the precincts of the house, this means not invited. Invited means: invited for today or tomorrow. If he invites him not as he is entering the precincts of the house, this means invited.
Not ill means: he is able to walk for alms. Ill means: he is not able to walk for alms.
Solid food means: setting aside the five (kinds of) meals, (food that may be eaten) during a watch of the night, during seven days, during life, the rest means solid food.
Soft food means: the five kinds of meals: cooked rice, food made with flour, barley-meal, fish, meat.
If he is not invited, not ill, (and) accepts, thinking: "I will eat, I will partake of," there is an offence of wrong-doing. For every mouthful there is an offence which ought to be confessed.
If he thinks that they are agreed upon as learners when they are agreed upon as learners, (and) not invited, not ill, having accepted with his own hand solid food or soft food, eats it or partakes of it, there is an offence which ought to be confessed. If he is in doubt as to whether they are agreed upon as learners … If he thinks that they are not agreed upon as learners when they are agreed upon as learners … offence which ought to be confessed. If he accepts for the sake of nutriment (food that may be eaten) during a watch of the night, during seven days, during life, there is an offence of wrong-doing. For every mouthful there is an offence of wrong-doing. If he thinks that they are agreed upon as learners when they are not agreed upon as learners, there is an offence of wrong-doing. If he is in doubt as to whether they are not agreed upon as learners, there is an offence of wrong-doing. If he thinks that they are not agreed upon as learners when they are not agreed upon as learners, there is no offence.
There is no offence if he is invited; if he is ill; if he eats the remainder (of a meal) of one who was invited, or one who is ill; if there come to be alms there prepared for others; if having taken it out from the house, they give; if he is a regular diner; if it is (food allowed) by ticket; if it is food (given on) a day of the waxing or waning of the moon, on an Observance day, on the day after an Observance day; if, when there is a reason, he gives (food that may be eaten) during a watch of the night, during seven days, during life, and he makes use of it; if he is mad, if he is the first wrong-doer.
1 tena samayena buddho bhagavā sāvatthiyaṃ viharati jetavane anāthapiṇḍikassa ārāme. tena kho pana samayena sāvatthiyaṃ aññataraṃ kulaṃ ubhatopasannaṃ hoti. saddhāya vaḍḍhati, bhogena hāyati, yaṃ tasmiṃ kule uppajjati purebhattaṃ khādanīyaṃ vā bhojanīyaṃ vā taṃ sabbaṃ bhikkhūnaṃ vissajjetvā appekadā anasitā acchanti. manussā ujjhāyanti khiyyanti vipācenti— "kathañhi nāma samaṇā sakyaputtiyā na mattaṃ jānitvā paṭiggahessanti. ime imesaṃ datvā appekadā anasitā acchantī"ti.
2 assosuṃ kho bhikkhū tesaṃ manussānaṃ ujjhāyantānaṃ khiyyantānaṃ vipācentānaṃ. atha kho te bhikkhū bhagavato etamatthaṃ ārocesuṃ. atha kho bhagavā etasmiṃ nidāne etasmiṃ pakaraṇe dhammiṃ kathaṃ katvā bhikkhū āmantesi— "anujānāmi, bhikkhave, yaṃ kulaṃ saddhāya vaḍḍhati, bhogena hāyati evarūpassa kulassa ñattidutiyena kammena sekkhasammutiṃ dātuṃ. evañca pana, bhikkhave, dātabbā. byattena bhikkhunā paṭibalena saṇgho ñāpetabbo—
3 ‘suṇātu me, bhante, saṇgho. itthannāmaṃ kulaṃ saddhāya vaḍḍhati, bhogena hāyati. yadi saṇghassa pattakallaṃ, saṇgho itthannāmassa kulassa sekkhasammutiṃ dadeyya. esā ñatti.
4 suṇātu me, bhante, saṇgho. itthannāmaṃ kulaṃ saddhāya vaḍḍhati, bhogena hāyati. saṇgho itthannāmassa kulassa sekkhasammutiṃ deti. yassāyasmato khamati itthannāmassa kulassa sekkhasammutiyā dānaṃ, so tuṇhassa; yassa nakkhamati, so bhāseyya.
5 dinnā saṇghena itthannāmassa kulassa sekkhasammuti. khamati saṇghassa, tasmā tuṇhī, evametaṃ dhārayāmī’ti.
6 evañca pana, bhikkhave, imaṃ sikkhāpadaṃ uddiseyyātha—
7 "yāni kho pana tāni sekkhasammatāni kulāni, yo pana bhikkhu tathārūpesu sekkhasammatesu kulesu khādanīyaṃ vā bhojanīyaṃ vā sahatthā paṭiggahetvā khādeyya vā bhuñjeyya vā, paṭidesetabbaṃ tena bhikkhunā— ‘gārayhaṃ, āvuso, dhammaṃ āpajjiṃ asappāyaṃ pāṭidesanīyaṃ taṃ paṭidesemī’"ti.
8 evañcidaṃ bhagavatā bhikkhūnaṃ sikkhāpadaṃ paññattaṃ hoti.
9 tena kho pana samayena sāvatthiyaṃ ussavo hoti. manussā bhikkhū nimantetvā bhojenti. tampi kho kulaṃ bhikkhū nimantesi. bhikkhū kukkuccāyantā nādhivāsenti— "paṭikkhittaṃ bhagavatā sekkhasammatesu kulesu khādanīyaṃ vā bhojanīyaṃ vā sahatthā paṭiggahetvā khādituṃ bhuñjitun"ti. te ujjhāyanti khiyyanti vipācenti— "kiṃ nu kho nāma amhākaṃ jīvitena yaṃ ayyā amhākaṃ na paṭiggaṇhantī"ti.
10 assosuṃ kho bhikkhū tesaṃ manussānaṃ ujjhāyantānaṃ khiyyantānaṃ vipācentānaṃ. atha kho te bhikkhū bhagavato etamatthaṃ ārocesuṃ. atha kho bhagavā etasmiṃ nidāne etasmiṃ pakaraṇe dhammiṃ kathaṃ katvā bhikkhū āmantesi— "anujānāmi, bhikkhave, nimantitena sekkhasammatesu kulesu khādanīyaṃ vā bhojanīyaṃ vā sahatthā paṭiggahetvā khādituṃ bhuñjituṃ. evañca pana, bhikkhave, imaṃ sikkhāpadaṃ uddiseyyātha—
11 "yāni kho pana tāni sekkhasammatāni kulāni, yo pana bhikkhu tathārūpesu sekkhasammatesu kulesu pubbe animantito khādanīyaṃ vā bhojanīyaṃ vā sahatthā paṭiggahetvā khādeyya vā bhuñjeyya vā, paṭidesetabbaṃ tena bhikkhunā— ‘gārayhaṃ, āvuso, dhammaṃ āpajjiṃ asappāyaṃ pāṭidesanīyaṃ, taṃ paṭidesemī’"ti.
12 evañcidaṃ bhagavatā bhikkhūnaṃ sikkhāpadaṃ paññattaṃ hoti.
13 tena kho pana samayena aññataro bhikkhu tassa kulassa kulūpako hoti. atha kho so bhikkhu pubbaṇhasamayaṃ nivāsetvā pattacīvaramādāya yena taṃ kulaṃ tenupasankami; upasankamitvā paññatte āsane nisīdi. tena kho pana samayena so bhikkhu gilāno hoti. atha kho te manussā taṃ bhikkhuṃ etadavocuṃ— "bhuñjatha, bhante"ti. atha kho so bhikkhu— "bhagavatā paṭikkhittaṃ animantitena sekkhasammatesu kulesu khādanīyaṃ vā bhojanīyaṃ vā sahatthā paṭiggahetvā khādituṃ bhuñjitun"ti kukkuccāyanto na paṭiggahesi; nāsakkhi piṇḍāya carituṃ; chinnabhatto ahosi.
14 atha kho so bhikkhu ārāmaṃ gantvā bhikkhūnaṃ etamatthaṃ ārocesi. bhikkhū bhagavato etamatthaṃ ārocesuṃ. atha kho bhagavā etasmiṃ nidāne etasmiṃ pakaraṇe dhammiṃ kathaṃ katvā bhikkhū āmantesi— "anujānāmi, bhikkhave, gilānena bhikkhunā sekkhasammatesu kulesu khādanīyaṃ vā bhojanīyaṃ vā sahatthā paṭiggahetvā khādituṃ bhuñjituṃ. evañca pana, bhikkhave, imaṃ sikkhāpadaṃ uddiseyyātha—
15 "yāni kho pana tāni sekkhasammatāni kulāni, yo pana bhikkhu tathārūpesu sekkhasammatesu kulesu pubbe animantito agilāno khādanīyaṃ vā bhojanīyaṃ vā sahatthā paṭiggahetvā khādeyya vā bhuñjeyya vā, paṭidesetabbaṃ tena bhikkhunā— ‘gārayhaṃ, āvuso, dhammaṃ āpajjiṃ asappāyaṃ pāṭidesanīyaṃ, taṃ paṭidesemī’"ti. (3:144)
16 yāni kho pana tāni sekkhasammatāni kulānīti sekkhasammataṃ nāma kulaṃ yaṃ kulaṃ saddhāya vaḍḍhati, bhogena hāyati. evarūpassa kulassa ñattidutiyena kammena sekkhasammuti dinnā hoti.
17 yo panāti yo yādiso … pe … bhikkhūti … pe … ayaṃ imasmiṃ atthe adhippeto bhikkhūti.
18 tathārūpesu sekkhasammatesu kulesūti evarūpesu sekkhasammatesu kulesu.
19 animantito nāma ajjatanāya vā svātanāya vā animantito, gharūpacāraṃ okkamante nimanteti, eso animantito nāma.
20 nimantito nāma ajjatanāya vā svātanāya vā nimantito, gharūpacāraṃ anokkamante nimanteti, eso nimantito nāma.
21 agilāno nāma sakkoti piṇḍāya carituṃ.
22 gilāno nāma na sakkoti piṇḍāya carituṃ.
23 khādanīyaṃ nāma pañca bhojanāni— yāmakālikaṃ sattāhakālikaṃ yāvajīvikaṃ ṭhapetvā avasesaṃ khādanīyaṃ nāma.
24 bhojanīyaṃ nāma pañca bhojanāni— odano, kummāso, sattu, maccho, maṃsaṃ.
25 animantito agilāno "khādissāmi bhuñjissāmī"ti paṭiggaṇhāti, āpatti dukkaṭassa. ajjhohāre ajjhohāre āpatti pāṭidesanīyassa.
26 sekkhasammate sekkhasammatasaññī animantito agilāno khādanīyaṃ vā bhojanīyaṃ vā sahatthā paṭiggahetvā khādati vā bhuñjati vā, āpatti pāṭidesanīyassa. sekkhasammate vematiko … pe … sekkhasammate asekkhasammatasaññī animantito agilāno khādanīyaṃ vā bhojanīyaṃ vā sahatthā paṭiggahetvā khādati vā bhuñjati vā, āpatti pāṭidesanīyassa.
27 yāmakālikaṃ sattāhakālikaṃ yāvajīvikaṃ āhāratthāya paṭiggaṇhāti, āpatti dukkaṭassa. ajjhohāre ajjhohāre āpatti dukkaṭassa. asekkhasammate sekkhasammatasaññī, āpatti dukkaṭassa. asekkhasammate vematiko, āpatti dukkaṭassa. asekkhasammate asekkhasammatasaññī, anāpatti.
28 anāpatti— nimantitassa, gilānassa, nimantitassa vā gilānassa vā sesakaṃ bhuñjati, aññesaṃ bhikkhā tattha paññattā hoti, gharato nīharitvā denti, niccabhatte, salākabhatte, pakkhike, uposathike, pāṭipadike, yāmakālikaṃ sattāhakālikaṃ yāvajīvikaṃ— "sati paccaye paribhuñjā"ti deti, ummattakassa, ādikammikassāti.