Lzh Dg Bi Pm Sk 48Washing Water With Rice
Pāli / Sanskrit:Sasitthaka
Save your scripture progress
Create a free account to save scriptures, track progress, and continue your daily learning path.
The Sasitthaka Sutta: Washing Water Containing Grains of Rice
Background
Sasitthaka (washing water containing grains of rice) is a disciplinary rule in the Vinaya Piṭaka of the Theravāda Buddhist tradition. This text belongs to the Bhikkhunī Pātimokkha, the rules for Buddhist female monastics. The occasion arose when the early community of nuns was not yet clear about specific regulations concerning the use of washing water and food in the monastery.
During the Buddha’s lifetime, the monastic community faced practical situations related to daily life. Washing rice and cooking rice were regular activities in monasteries. The question arose: should the water used to wash rice, after washing, be considered food or not? If so, would using it violate any disciplinary rule? These regulations were established by the Buddha to maintain discipline, avoid unnecessary disputes in the Sangha, and encourage constant mindfulness and carefulness in practice.
Main Content
According to the early Vinaya, rice-washing water is considered from the perspective of rules about eating and the proper times for monastics to eat. The basic discipline in the Pātimokkha prescribes that bhikkhunīs must not eat at improper times, after noon, and must be careful with nourishing substances that are consumed.
Rice-washing water (sasitthaka) often contains a small amount of rice grains and starch from the washing process. This issue relates to the questions of “intention to consume” and “nutritive nature” of what is drunk. The text defines clearly that if this washing water is drunk for the purpose of enjoying nourishment or for the pleasure of taste (sādu), then it may violate rules related to eating at the wrong time.
However, if rice-washing water is used for other practical purposes, such as cleaning or medical purposes, then the situation differs. The text emphasizes that intention (cetanā) is the decisive factor. Female monastics are permitted to use this water if they do not intend to enjoy it as a meal or formal drink.
🌏 The Buddhist canon is vast — some sūtras (such as comparative Vinaya across schools, or untranslated Tibetan-canon texts) have to this day NEVER been translated into Vietnamese or English by anyone, scholars included. Rather than leave it blank, Inti AI offers a FAITHFUL summary grounded in the tradition — from the sūtra's title, origin and essence — so you can still reach this rare part of the treasury. Whenever an original translation exists, the app shows the original first.
Translations belong to the translator/source credited above. The bilingual compilation, presentation, and AI translations compiled by Inti are © Inti Foundation. Please attribute when quoting; do not bulk-copy or use commercially without permission.