Lzh Dg Bi Pm Pc 21Eating at a Public Guest-house
Pāli / Sanskrit:Āvasathapiṇḍa
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SUTRA ON EATING AT A PUBLIC GUEST-HOUSE
Āvasathapiṇḍa — Western Vinaya Record
Background
This sutra belongs to the Vinaya Piṭaka in the Pāli Canon, the collection of rules of training established by the Buddha for the Sangha. Rule 21 belongs to the Pātimokkha, the fundamental code of 227 rules for monastics. This sutra was recorded in the context of the Buddha residing in various regions and witnessing situations in which bhikkhus did not preserve right and wrong conduct in communal eating.
The situation posed is this: when bhikkhus ate at public guest-houses (āvasatha), places open to everyone, they often had no control over the quality of the food or the manner of conduct. This could easily lead to actions not in accord with the mind of the path, affecting the honor of the Sangha in the community.
Main Content
This rule prescribes that bhikkhus should avoid eating at public guest-houses, or, if they do eat there, must observe certain principles. A violation is considered Pācittiya, an offense requiring confession and declaration before the community.
The deeper reason for this rule is not only food quality, but also concentration of mind. When eating in crowded public places, the mind is easily distracted by noise, pictures on the walls, or communication with non-Buddhists. This is contrary to the bhikkhu’s way of eating, which is an act of meditation, where each mouthful is received with full mindfulness (sammāsati) and right concentration (sammāsamādhi).
Moreover, public guest-houses may serve alcohol, meat, or foods unsuitable to the renunciant life. The presence of bhikkhus there may also cause laypeople to misunderstand the nature of Buddhism.
Practical Meaning
The sutra teaches the principle of “harmony with the Sangha” (saṅghānisaṃsa).
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