Lzh Dg Bu Pm 2 Sk 39Lifted Lump
Pāli / Sanskrit:Piṇḍukkhepaka
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Piṇḍukkhepaka Sutta — The Discourse on the Lifted Lump of Rice
Background
Piṇḍukkhepaka, also called “Lifted Lump” or “the lump of rice that is lifted,” is a rule belonging to the Vinaya Piṭaka in the Theravāda tradition. This discourse reflects specific details of monastic discipline in the early Buddhist Sangha, especially related to violations in handling food and rice.
The background from which this discourse arose was a specific event in the monastic community: a certain monastic had performed an action regarded as unsuitable to the teaching on purity, related to lifting up or touching a lump of rice in certain situations. The Buddha used this occasion to lay down a clear rule in order to protect the spirit of independent, self-controlled living and non-dependence on material calculations among bhikkhus.
Main Content
In the context of the Vinaya Piṭaka, the Piṇḍukkhepaka Sutta regulates the handling of food, especially rice received through almsround (piṇḍapāta). According to the Theravāda tradition, bhikkhus must maintain simplicity in daily life and should not perform actions that indicate greed or active selection in eating.
The discourse states that bhikkhus should not lift or move food unnecessarily, should not stir or toss portions of rice gradually in order to choose the better parts. These actions, though seemingly small, contain the act of violating the quality of non-greed and reveal a strong deliberate movement in the mind. They are signs of an impure mind and violate the spirit of alms practice for a bhikkhu.
The discourse also implies that selecting rice, lifting up a lump of rice to choose pieces of food, are expressions of not accepting the gift from the community wholeheartedly, which is contrary to the spirit of Buddhism.
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