Lzh Dg Bu Vb Sk 26Receiving Respectfully

– DHARMAGUPTAKA VINAYA

– ŚAIKṢA-DHARMAS

RULE 26

At one time, the Buddha was dwelling in the Anāthapiṇḍika Park, Jeta's Grove, in the country of Śrāvastī. At that time, a lay devotee invited the Saṅgha to receive a meal the following morning. That night the lay devotee prepared a full array of fine and nourishing foods, and in the morning came to invite the community of monks to receive the meal.

When the hour arrived, the bhikkhus robed, took up their bowls, and went to the lay devotee's home, seating themselves in the places prepared. The lay devotee served food to the Saṅgha with his own hands. The group of six bhikkhus paid no heed when receiving the food, and rice and broth were spilled and dropped. Seeing this, the lay devotees spoke among themselves, saying: "These Śākyan monastics are without shame. They receive without knowing moderation. Outwardly they declare, 'I know the true Dharma.' What kind of true Dharma is this? How can they be so heedless when receiving food, receiving so much with greedy minds — just as in a time of famine!"

The bhikkhus heard this. Among them were those of few desires, who knew contentment, practiced the austere dhūta qualities, delighted in training in the precepts, and knew shame. They reproached the group of six bhikkhus: "Why do you not pay heed when receiving food?"

The bhikkhus went to where the World-Honored One was, paid homage at his feet, and sat to one side. They then reported this matter in full to the World-Honored One. The World-Honored One used this occasion to convene an assembly of the Saṅgha of bhikkhus, and rebuked the group of six bhikkhus:

"What you have done is wrong — it is not proper conduct, not the way of a śramaṇa, not pure practice, not befitting behavior; it is something that ought not to be done. Why did you fail to pay heed when receiving food, so that rice and broth were spilled and dropped?"

Thereupon the World-Honored One, having rebuked them by means of countless skillful teachings, said to the bhikkhus:

"These foolish men are a field in which many seeds of the āsavas are sown; they are the first to commit this offense. From this day forward, I shall lay down a rule for the bhikkhus, comprising ten principles of meaning, up to and including the phrase: so that the true Dharma may long endure."

The rule should be stated as follows:

One must be attentive when receiving food. This is a śaikṣa-dharma.

Bhikkhu: the meaning is as given above.

Should a bhikkhu fail to be attentive when receiving food, causing food to be spilled and dropped — if he deliberately fails to pay heed when receiving food, he commits a duṣkṛta that requires confession. Because it is committed with deliberate intent, it constitutes a duṣkṛta of improper conduct. If it is without deliberate intent, he still commits a duṣkṛta.

For a bhikkhunī: duṣkṛta. For a śikṣamāṇā, a śrāmaṇera, or a śrāmaṇerī: duṣkṛta. These are called offenses.

Non-offense: if one is afflicted with such an illness; or if the bowl is small so that food spills when received; or if food falls upon the table — in all such cases there is no offense.

Those who do not offend: one who commits the act before the rule has been promulgated; one who is insane, of confused mind, or overcome and oppressed by pain.

Vietnamese translation: Bhikkhu Thích Đỗng Minh and Thích Đức Thắng. DHARMAGUPTAKA VINAYA, PART ONE

Chinese translation: Tripiṭaka masters Buddhayaśas and Zhu Fonian.

Revised and annotated: Bhikkhu Thích Nguyên Chứng

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

Buddhist Publication Committee, 2002