Lzh Dg Bu Vb Pc 42Visiting Families Before a Meal

– FOUR-PART VINAYA

– PĀCITTIYA

42. VISITING OTHER HOUSES BEFORE OR AFTER A MEAL WITHOUT INFORMING

A. ORIGIN OF THE RULE

At one time, the Buddha was dwelling in the Anāthapiṇḍika Garden, the Jeta Grove, in the city of Śrāvastī. At that time, in the city of Śrāvastī there was a wealthy householder of noble family who was a former close friend of Bhadrananda, son of the Śākyas. He thought: "If Bhadrananda, son of the Śākyas, comes to this city, I will prepare a meal-offering for the Saṅgha on his behalf."

Afterward, Bhadrananda, son of the Śākyas, arrived in the city. The householder, upon learning of this, sent a person to the monastery to invite the bhikkhus to receive a meal the following morning.

That night, the householder prepared abundantly all manner of fine foods and drinks. In the morning he sent word that the hour had come. The bhikkhus put on their robes, took up their bowls, went to the householder's residence, and took their seats. The bhikkhus said to the householder:

"The Saṅgha has assembled. The food and drink have been prepared. Please serve them."

The householder replied:

"Please, venerable ones, wait a moment. Let us wait for Bhadrananda, son of the Śākyas, to arrive."

The bhikkhus said:

"The Saṅgha has already assembled. If the food and drink are ready, then please serve them. Why must we wait? The sun is already close to midday. I fear the bhikkhus will not have enough time to eat their fill."

Then the householder said to the bhikkhus:

"Previously I made a vow: if Bhadrananda, son of the Śākyas, comes to this city, I will prepare a meal and offer it to the Saṅgha on his behalf. Therefore, please, venerable ones, wait a moment for Bhadrananda."

That day, Bhadrananda went to another household during the time of the minor meal, and only returned close to midday. At that point, the bhikkhus, seeing it was nearly noon, ate and drank but were not fully satisfied.

Among those bhikkhus there were some of few desires and contentment, who practiced the austere dhūta practices, who delighted in training in the precepts, who knew shame and remorse. They reproached Bhadrananda, son of the Śākyas:

"Bhadrananda, son of the Śākyas, why did you go to another house during the time of the minor meal and not return until nearly midday, causing the bhikkhus to take their meal without being fully satisfied?"

The bhikkhus went to where the Blessed One was, paid homage at his feet, and sat to one side. They reported this matter in full to the Blessed One. The Blessed One, on account of this, assembled the Saṅgha of bhikkhus and rebuked Bhadrananda, son of the Śākyas, with many skillful means:

"What you have done is wrong — it is not proper conduct, not the practice of a śramaṇa, not the pure practice, not a conforming conduct; it is something that should not be done. Bhadrananda, son of the Śākyas, why did you go to other houses during the time of the minor meal and return only close to midday, causing the bhikkhus to take their meal without being fully satisfied?"

Having rebuked Bhadrananda with many skillful means, the Blessed One said to the bhikkhus:

"This foolish man is a field that grows many seeds of the āsavas; he is the first to commit this offense. From now on, I shall lay down a precept for the bhikkhus, with ten aims in mind, up to and including the aim that the true Dharma may long endure."

The precept should be stated as follows:

Whatever bhikkhu, having previously accepted an invitation, goes to another house during the time of the minor meal — pācittiya.

The Blessed One thus laid down the precept for the bhikkhus. At that time, in the city of Rājagṛha there was a high minister who was a former close acquaintance of Bhadrananda, son of the Śākyas. One day that minister obtained some sweet fruit, and sent a servant with these instructions:

"Bhadrananda, son of the Śākyas, is my old friend. Take this fruit to the monastery and present it to him, saying clearly: 'You and I are old friends. I ask you to distribute this fruit among the Saṅgha.'"

The messenger obeyed and brought the fruit to the monastery, where he said to the bhikkhus:

"Venerable ones, here is fresh fruit, an offering for the Saṅgha."

The bhikkhus said:

"If it is offered to the Saṅgha, then it should be distributed right away."

The messenger said:

"The minister in the city of Rājagṛha instructed me: 'Take this fruit to the monastery and ask Bhadrananda, son of the Śākyas, to distribute it to the Saṅgha.' Therefore, it is necessary to wait until Bhadrananda, son of the Śākyas, returns before distributing it to the Saṅgha."

At that time, after the meal, Bhadrananda had already gone to another house. When he returned, the proper time had passed, and the Saṅgha was unable to partake of the fresh fruit.

When the bhikkhus heard of this, among them were those of few desires and contentment, who practiced the dhūta practices, who delighted in training in the precepts, who knew shame and remorse. They reproached Bhadrananda:

"Why did you go to another house after the meal and return only when the time had passed, causing the bhikkhus to be unable to partake of such fresh fruit?"

The bhikkhus went to where the Blessed One was, paid homage at his feet, sat to one side, and reported this matter in full to the Blessed One. The Blessed One, on account of this, assembled the Saṅgha of bhikkhus and rebuked Bhadrananda, son of the Śākyas:

"What you have done is wrong — it is not proper conduct, not the practice of a śramaṇa, not the pure practice, not a conforming conduct; it is something that should not be done. Bhadrananda, son of the Śākyas, why did you go to another house after the meal and return only when the time had passed, causing the bhikkhus to be unable to partake of the fresh fruit?"

From now on, the precept should be stated as follows:

Whatever bhikkhu, having previously accepted an invitation, goes to another house before or after a meal — pācittiya.

The Blessed One thus laid down the precept for the bhikkhus. At that time, in the city of Rājagṛha there were many places where the Saṅgha was invited, but the bhikkhus, out of fear, did not dare accept invitations to enter the city, lest they violate the rule by going to another house without informing anyone. They reported this to the Buddha. The Buddha said:

"From now on, I permit bhikkhus to inform one another when entering the city."

The bhikkhus did not know whom they should inform. The Buddha said:

"They should inform a bhikkhu. If one is dwelling alone in a cell, inform a bhikkhu in a nearby cell."

From now on, the precept should be stated as follows:

Whatever bhikkhu, having previously accepted an invitation, goes to another house before or after a meal without informing — pācittiya.

The Blessed One thus laid down the precept for the bhikkhus. At that time, there was a sick bhikkhu who had previously asked a donor's household to prepare broth, porridge, and rice for him. He was afraid and did not dare enter the city, fearing he would violate the rule by going to another house after the meal. He reported this to the Buddha. The Buddha said:

"I permit a sick bhikkhu to enter the city without informing."

From now on, the precept should be stated as follows:

Whatever bhikkhu, having previously accepted an invitation, goes to another house before or after a meal without informing another bhikkhu, except in special circumstances — pācittiya. The special circumstance is when one is sick.

The Blessed One thus laid down the precept for the bhikkhus. At that time, the robe-making season had arrived. The bhikkhus needed various items such as large pots, small pots, jars, ladles, bowls, axes, cups, basins, small bowls, kettles, drying lines, robe-hangers, yīniándā, and woolen cloth. The bhikkhus, out of fear, did not dare enter the city, lest they violate the rule by entering the village without informing anyone. The Buddha said:

"From now on, I permit bhikkhus during the robe-making season to enter the village without informing."

From now on, the precept should be stated as follows:

Whatever bhikkhu, having previously accepted an invitation, goes to another house before or after a meal without informing another bhikkhu, except in special circumstances — pācittiya. The special circumstances are: being sick, the robe-making season.

The Blessed One thus laid down the precept for the bhikkhus. At that time, the robe-offering season had arrived. In some places robes had already been offered; in others, robes were still being sought. The bhikkhus were afraid and did not dare enter the city, concerned they would violate the rule by entering the city without informing anyone. The Buddha said:

"From now on, during the robe-offering season, I permit bhikkhus to enter the city without informing."

From now on, the precept should be stated as follows:

Whatever bhikkhu, having previously accepted an invitation, goes to another house before or after a meal without informing another bhikkhu, except in special circumstances — pācittiya. The special circumstances are: being sick, the robe-making season. These are the special circumstances.

B. CHARACTERISTICS OF THE OFFENSE

Bhikkhu: as defined above.

Before the meal: from the time when dawn appears until the time of eating.

After the meal: from the time of eating until midday.

House: a place where men and women reside.

Other bhikkhus: those living together within the same boundary.

Sick: as stated above.

Robe-making season: after the Pravāraṇā ceremony — if the Kaṭhina robe has not been received, one month; if the Kaṭhina robe has been received, five months. Furthermore, the occasion of soliciting food offerings, including robe-offerings, also falls within the robe-offering season.

If a bhikkhu informs that he is going to a village but turns back midway, the prior notification is no longer valid; if he wishes to go again, he must give notification again. If a bhikkhu informs that he is going to a particular place in the village but does not go to the place he mentioned, going instead to another house, the prior notification is no longer valid; if he wishes to go there, he must give notification again before going.

If one has given notice of going to a white-robed householder's home but instead goes to a storehouse, a village, or a border dwelling; or goes to a bhikkhunī monastery or to a white-robed householder's home and immediately returns—in such cases the prior notice is nullified, and one must give notice again before going. If a bhikkhu has already accepted an invitation and then, before or after the meal, goes to another household without informing a bhikkhu before entering the village, except in special circumstances, it is a Pācittiya. If one foot is inside the door and one foot outside, or if one makes preparations to go yet does not go, all such cases incur a Dukkaṭa.

For a bhikkhunī, it is a Pācittiya. For a sikkhāmānā, a sāmaṇera, or a sāmaṇerī, it is a Dukkaṭa. These are called offenses.

Non-offenses: during illness; during the robe-making period; during the robe-offering period; when one has informed another bhikkhu; or when there is no bhikkhu available and one has not given notice; when going to a storehouse, a village, or a border dwelling; or going to a bhikkhu monastery; when one has given prior notice to a white-robed householder's home; or when there are many households, a sitting mat is spread out, and bhikkhus are invited; or when compelled by a powerful person; or when there is danger to life or danger to the holy life—in these cases there is no offense.

Those who do not commit an offense: one who transgresses for the first time before the rule has been promulgated; one who is insane, mentally deranged, or in extreme pain and distress.

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Vietnamese translation: Bhikkhu Thích Đỗng Minh and Thích Đức Thắng. Tứ Phần Luật, Part One.

Chinese translation: Tripiṭaka masters Buddhayaśas and Zhu Fonian.

Revised and annotated by: Bhikkhu Thích Nguyên Chứng.

(Chinese translation, fascicles 1–21; Vietnamese translation, fascicles 1–2)

Phật Học Publishing Committee, 2002.