Lzh Dg Bu Pm 2 Pc 36Encouraging Another Monastic to Eat More After Refusing an Invitation

Exposition of the Dutiyapavāraṇā Sutta (Encouraging Another Monk to Eat More After Refusing an Invitation)

Context

This sutta belongs to the Vinaya Piṭaka of the Pāli Canon, where the rules of discipline and conduct for bhikkhus and bhikkhunis are recorded. Dutiyapavāraṇā, the second pavāraṇā, is a legal situation concerning encouraging another bhikkhu to eat or drink after he has declined an invitation.

In the Dharma, eating and drinking are not merely matters of food and clothing, but are also connected with rules of purity, balance in practice, and relationships within the Sangha community. This context arose in a Sangha community where bhikkhus needed to weigh respect for personal decisions against mutual care for health in an austere environment of practice.

Main Content

The situation described is this: a bhikkhu has personal reasons for declining an invitation to eat (pavāraṇā, an invitation or offering of food), but another bhikkhu sees that he needs nourishment to maintain his health and capacity for practice. That bhikkhu then encourages him to eat more in order to protect his health.

The important point here is that the Vinaya Piṭaka does not forbid encouraging another person to eat after that person has declined. Instead, this sutta recognizes that there are times when loving concern for the health of a fellow practitioner is valid and even necessary. However, the act must be done with a pure intention (kusala-citta), not from greed or coercion, but for the purpose of care.

This rule reflects balance in the Dharma: Buddhism does not demand unreasonable self-torment or neglect of health. Bodily health is a foundation by which the mind can effectively cultivate concentration (samādhi) and wisdom (paññā).

Practical Meaning

This sutta teaches that in a community of practice, active compassion (karuṇā-karma) is extremely important.