Vinaya Pitaka - Monastic Rules
Bhikkhu Vibhanga - Sekhiya 42: Not to put the hand in the mouth while eating.
- Translated from the Pali by I.B. Horner.
… in Anāthapiṇḍika’s monastery. Now at that time the group of six monks, while eating, put the whole hand into the mouth … " …
‘I will not put the whole hand into the mouth while eating,’ is a training to be observed."
One should not put the whole hand into the mouth while eating. Whoever out of disrespect puts the whole hand into the mouth while eating, there is an offence of wrong-doing.
There is no offence if it is unintentional … if he is the first wrong-doer.
1 tena samayena buddho bhagavā sāvatthiyaṃ viharati jetavane anāthapiṇḍikassa ārāme. tena kho pana samayena chabbaggiyā bhikkhū bhuñjamānā sabbaṃ hatthaṃ mukhe pakkhipanti … pe … .
2 "na bhuñjamāno sabbaṃ hatthaṃ mukhe pakkhipissāmīti sikkhā karaṇīyā"ti. (42:187)
3 na bhuñjamānena sabbo hattho mukhe pakkhipitabbo. yo anādariyaṃ paṭicca bhuñjamāno sabbaṃ hatthaṃ mukhe pakkhipati, āpatti dukkaṭassa.