Lzh Dg Bu Pm Pc 41Giving Food to Ascetics
Pāli / Sanskrit:Acelaka
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The Acelaka Sutta: Giving Food to Ascetics
Background
The Acelaka Sutta (Pāli: Acelaka, meaning “those without hair” or “ascetic practitioners”) is recorded in the Vinaya Piṭaka, in the Parivāra section, belonging to the Early Buddhadharma tradition. This discourse reflects an important aspect of Sangha life during the Buddha’s time: regulations concerning the provision of food to ascetics living austere lives.
In the Buddha’s age, besides Buddhist Sanghas, there existed many other groups of ascetics following various teachings. Among them were those called Acelaka, renunciants following non-Buddhist teachings who lived by various ascetic principles. This discourse concerns the rules for how the Buddhist Sangha interacts with such ascetics, especially in the context of providing food and necessities.
Main Content
The rule on giving food to Acelaka ascetics revolves around the basic principle that the Buddhist Sangha should be fair and compassionate in providing food to other ascetics, regardless of what teaching they follow. However, this must observe clear guidelines in order to avoid abuse or impropriety.
This discourse states that bhikkhus may provide leftover food to other ascetics, including Acelakas, on the condition that this is done appropriately and does not violate the rules of the Bhikkhu Vinaya. In particular, the discourse emphasizes that the food given should be leftovers, what the Buddhist Sangha has not used up, rather than deliberately taken from the portion intended for the Sangha itself.
The important point is that this regulation reflects the impartial compassion of Early Buddhism, in which the Sangha respects all who follow a path of practice, even if they do not have faith in the Buddhadharma. However, this compassion does not disturb the internal disciplinary principles of the Sangha.
Practical Meaning
The essence of the Acelaka Sutta is to teach that compassion must be combined with wisdom.
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