Lzh Dg Bu Vb Sk 27Receiving Even Level

– FOUR-PART VINAYA

– ŚAIKṢA-KARAṆĪYA

RULE 27

At one time, the Buddha was staying in the garden of Anāthapiṇḍika, in the Jeta Grove, in the country of Śrāvastī. At that time, a householder invited the Saṅgha to receive a meal the following morning. During the night he prepared all the food in full, and at early dawn came to invite the Saṅgha to come and receive the meal.

When the time came, the bhikkhus put on their robes, took up their bowls, went to the householder's home, and sat down in their seats. The householder, with his own hands, ladled rice and broth for the Saṅgha. The group of six bhikkhus received food heaped up and overflowing their bowls, causing rice and broth to spill. The householder saw this and reproached them, saying: "These Śākyan recluses have no sense of shame. They receive food without knowing moderation. Outwardly they claim, 'I know the true Dharma.' But what kind of Dharma is this? They receive food until it overflows their bowls, like hungry people craving more."

The bhikkhus heard this. Among them were those of few desires and contentment, who practiced the austere dhūta practices, who delighted in training in the precepts, and who had a sense of shame. They reproached the group of six bhikkhus: "Why did you receive food heaped up and overflowing your bowls, causing rice and broth to spill?"

The bhikkhus went to where the Blessed One was, paid homage at his feet, and sat to one side. They then reported this matter to the Blessed One in full. The Blessed One, on account of this matter, convened an assembly of bhikkhus and rebuked the group of six bhikkhus:

"What you have done is wrong. It is not proper conduct, not the way of recluses, not pure practice, not befitting behavior—it is something that should not be done. Why did you receive food heaped up and overflowing your bowls, causing rice and broth to spill?"

At that time, the Blessed One, having rebuked them with countless skillful means, said to the bhikkhus:

"These foolish men are a field where many seeds of the āsravas are planted; they are the first to transgress this rule. From this day forward, I shall lay down a rule for the bhikkhus, comprising ten points of meaning, up to and including the phrase: so that the true Dharma may long endure."

The rule should be stated as follows:

When receiving food, one should receive it level with the bowl — this is a śaikṣa-karaṇīya.

Bhikkhu: the meaning is as above.

Not level with the bowl: meaning heaped up and overflowing.

If a bhikkhu intentionally receives food not level with the bowl, he commits a duṣkṛta that requires confession. Because it is done intentionally, he commits a duṣkṛta of improper conduct. If it is done unintentionally, he commits a duṣkṛta.

A bhikkhunī: duṣkṛta. A śikṣamāṇā, a śrāmaṇera, a śrāmaṇerī: duṣkṛta. This is called a transgression.

Non-transgression: at the very beginning before the rule was laid down; one who is mentally deranged; one whose mind is disturbed; one who is suffering and in distress; or one who is ill; or the bowl is small; or food falls onto the table.

One who does not transgress: one who commits the act for the first time before the rule was laid down; one who is mentally deranged, whose mind is disturbed, who is suffering and in distress.

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

Chinese translation: Tripiṭaka masters Buddhayaśas and Zhu Fonian.

Revision and annotation: Bhikkhu Thích Nguyên Chứng

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

Buddhist Publication Committee, 2002