Lzh Dg Bu Vb Sk 37Without Bringing

– FOUR-PART VINAYA

– ŚAIKṢA-KARAṆĪYA

RULE 37

At one time, the Buddha was residing in the Anāthapiṇḍika Garden, Jeta's Grove, in the country of Śrāvastī. At that time, a layman invited the bhikkhus to take a meal the following morning, offering fine foods. During the night he made complete preparations, and early the next morning he came to invite the bhikkhus to eat.

The bhikkhus put on their robes, took their bowls, went to the layman's house, and sat down in their seats. The layman personally, with his own hands, served food to the Sangha. The group of six bhikkhus received food to eat. While the food had not yet reached their mouths, they opened their mouths wide in anticipation. The layman saw this and was displeased, saying: "These Śākyan monastics have no sense of shame. They receive without knowing satisfaction. Why do they open their mouths wide in anticipation before the food has even arrived? They eat like pigs, dogs, camels, cattle, donkeys, birds, and crows!"

The bhikkhus heard this, and among them were those of few desires and contentment, who practiced the dhūta qualities, delighted in training in the precepts, and knew a sense of shame. They reproached the group of six bhikkhus: "Why do you open your mouths wide in anticipation of eating?"

The bhikkhus went to where the Blessed One was, bowed their heads at his feet, sat to one side, and reported this matter in full to the Blessed One. The Blessed One used this occasion to assemble the Sangha of bhikkhus and rebuked the group of six bhikkhus:

"What you have done is wrong, not in accordance with proper conduct, not in accordance with the Dharma of monastics, not in accordance with pure conduct, not in accordance with proper behavior—you have done what ought not to be done. Why did you open your mouths wide in anticipation of food?"

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

"These foolish men are a field that cultivates many defiled seeds; they are the first to commit this offense. From now on, I shall lay down a rule for the bhikkhus, comprising ten principles of meaning, up to and including the purpose of the long endurance of the true Dharma."

Wishing to recite the rule, it should be recited thus:

One should not open the mouth wide in anticipation of a morsel of food before eating—this is a śaikṣa-karaṇīya.

Opening the mouth wide: the morsel of food has not yet arrived, yet one has already opened the mouth wide in anticipation.

If a bhikkhu intentionally opens his mouth wide in anticipation of a morsel of food, he commits a duṣkṛta requiring confession. Because it is done intentionally, he commits a duṣkṛta of improper conduct. If it is not done intentionally, he commits a duṣkṛta.

Bhikkhunīs, as well as novices, male and female—duṣkṛta. This is called an offense.

Non-offense: if one suffers from some illness; or if the time is about to pass midday; or if there is a threat to one's life or a threat to one's chaste practice, and one needs to eat quickly—in all such cases there is no offense.

Those who do not commit an offense: one who commits the first offense before the rule has been laid down; one who is insane, of disturbed mind, or afflicted with severe pain and distress.

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

Chinese translation: Tripiṭaka Buddhayaśas and Zhu Fonian.

Revised and annotated: Bhikkhu Thích Nguyên Chứng

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

Buddhist Studies Editorial Board 2002