Lzh Dg Bu Pm Pc 42Visiting Families Before a Meal
Pāli / Sanskrit:Cāritta
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The Cāritta Sutta: The Upright Conduct of Bhikkhus
Background
The Cāritta Sutta (proper conduct, upright conduct) is part of the Vinaya Piṭaka in the Early Buddhadharma tradition. The Vinaya Piṭaka is the collection of rules and judgments related to monastic discipline, taught by the Buddha to protect harmony in the community of monastics (Sangha). This discourse addresses a specific situation in the daily life of bhikkhus: visiting families before the mealtime.
This background reflects the life of bhikkhus during the Buddha’s time, when they depended on alms from lay devotees for material support. Visiting families was not only an expression of gratitude to donors, but also an opportunity to guide people onto the Path of Liberation. However, this rule needed to be observed properly to avoid loss of concentration and to maintain reverence for the Sangha.
Main Content
The Cāritta Sutta concerns upright conduct (sucarita) that bhikkhus should cultivate. Specifically, when bhikkhus visit the families of devotees before the main meal, they must:
First, observe rules about time. A bhikkhu should not visit too late, making the householder feel inconvenienced or affecting the preparation of the meal. This reflects the spirit of respect and not troubling others.
Second, the action must be performed with an upright and unselfish mind. The main purpose is not to obtain a better meal, but to continue the relationship with those who trust and support monastics. Purity of conduct is considered most important.
Third, the outward behavior of a bhikkhu must be dignified. Unlike worldly people who may behave in any way, a bhikkhu is a symbol of Buddhism; therefore every action, from the way he walks and speaks to the way he sits, must reflect respect for the Dharma and the Vinaya.
This rule is also related to protecting the bhikkhu’s own mind.
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