Ka Bu Pm Sk 42Na anāgate khādanīyabhojanīye pātram upanāmayiṣyāma

Explanation of the Na anāgate khādanīyabhojanīye pātram upanāmayiṣyāma Sutta

Background

This discourse is recorded in the Vinaya Piṭaka, specifically in the Pātimokkha, where the rules governing the lives of bhikkhus in the Buddhist Sangha are set forth. The founding context of this rule arose from specific situations in the monastic community, when the Buddha discovered misunderstandings or inappropriate behavior connected with the storing and use of the alms bowl.

The bowl (pātram) is a central implement in Buddhist monastic life, especially for bhikkhunīs. It is not only an ordinary tool of daily life but also carries sacred meaning connected with discipline and dignity in practice. The rules about how to treat the bowl reflect the Buddhist philosophy of careful preservation, respect for one’s own implements, and active preparation for the life of practice.

Main Content

The sentence “Na anāgate khādanīyabhojanīye pātram upanāmayiṣyāma” may be provisionally translated as “We shall not set out the bowl for food to come in the future,” or, in a deeper sense: “We shall not prepare the bowl for eating on a future day without a lawful basis.”

This rule forbids monastics from preparing their bowls in advance for future meals without a legitimate reason. In other words, this is an instruction concerning discipline in relation to time: monastics must not actively prepare in advance to attend meals that have not been formally announced or organized. Behind this prohibition is the principle that monastics should live each day wholeheartedly, without excessive anticipation or merely perfunctory planning.

This is also connected with the principle of purity in eating (bhojane sucillaṃ) and avoiding behavior that appears “greedy for food” or lacking self-control. By not preparing the bowl beforehand, monastics practice diligence, mindfulness (appamāda), and do not let their minds be governed by groundless expectations.