Lzh Dg Bu Vb Sk 46Whole Hand

– DHARMAGUPTAKA VINAYA

– ŚAIKṢA-KARAṆĪYA

RULE 46

At one time, the Buddha was dwelling in the Anāthapiṇḍika Garden, the Jeta Grove, in the country of Śrāvastī. At that time, a householder invited the bhikkhus to offer them fine foods on the following day. Having made full preparations during the night, early in the morning he came to invite the Sangha to come and receive the meal.

The bhikkhus put on their robes, took up their bowls, and went to the householder's home, where they took their seats. The householder personally served food to the bhikkhus. At that time, a group of six bhikkhus picked up fallen food from the ground and ate it. The householder saw this and reproached them, saying: "These Śākyan ascetics have no sense of shame… eating like chickens, like birds, like crows."

The bhikkhus heard this, and among them were those of few desires and contentment, who lived the ascetic practices, delighted in learning the precepts, and knew shame. They reproached the group of six bhikkhus, then went to the Blessed One, bowed their heads at his feet, sat to one side, and reported this matter fully to the Blessed One.

The Blessed One, on account of this matter, convened an assembly of the Sangha of bhikkhus and rebuked the group of six bhikkhus… as before, up to the passage: "From now on, I shall establish a rule for the bhikkhus comprising ten phrases of meaning," up to the passage on the long endurance of the true Dharma.

The precept should be proclaimed as follows:

One should not pick up fallen food with one's hand and eat it — this is a śaikṣa-karaṇīya.

Fallen rice: This refers to rice that has dropped to the ground.

If a bhikkhu intentionally picks up fallen rice and eats it, he commits a duṣkṛta requiring confession. Because it is done intentionally, he commits a duṣkṛta of improper conduct. If it is done unintentionally, he commits a duṣkṛta.

For bhikkhunīs, and likewise for śrāmaṇeras and śrāmaṇerīs, it is a duṣkṛta. This is called an offense.

Non-offense: if one suffers from such an illness, or if while eating there is grass, insects, or some impure substance, or if before eating there is something that needs to be discarded — there is no offense.

Those who do not offend: one who commits the act for the first time before the rule has been established, one who is mentally deranged, one whose mind is disturbed, one who is afflicted with severe pain and distress.

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 by: Bhikkhu Thích Nguyên Chứng

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

Buddhist Publication Committee 2002