Ka Bu Pm Sk 67Na sāmiṣeṇodakenāntarikaṁ bhikṣuṁ

Exposition of the Na sāmiṣeṇodakenāntarikaṁ bhikṣuṁ Sutta

Context

This sutta appears in the Vinaya Piṭaka, specifically in the Khandhaka section of the Theravāda Pāli Canon tradition. The Vinaya Piṭaka is a collection of rules, instructions, and disciplinary provisions for the Buddhist Sangha. These legal suttas are not philosophical doctrines but practical guidance for practice and communal life.

The Pāli title of this sutta means "One should not [give a bhikṣu to drink] water in between [two places] with food." This is a detailed rule in the Vinaya Piṭaka concerning the regulation of conduct in the daily life of monastics, especially actions to be avoided or actions that are permitted.

Main Content

In the context of the Vinaya Piṭaka, this sutta regulates a matter that seems small but has meaning in practice: drinking water while eating food or while food remains in the hand. This rule arises from a basic principle in the Vinaya Piṭaka: to avoid unmindful or heedless actions in daily activities.

"Sāmiṣa" here indicates the presence of food, "odaka" is water, and "antarikaṁ" may be understood as between, or during the process. This rule encourages monastics to maintain clarity between actions: when eating, eat; when drinking, drink; do not mix them together or act in an unmindful way.

Although at first it may sound strict, this rule in fact reflects an ideal of early Buddhist practice: heedfulness (appamāda) and mindfulness (sati) should be present in every moment. Even small actions such as drinking water should not be done mechanically or improperly.

Practical Meaning

This legal sutta teaches that practice is not only focused on great actions or profound spiritual work. On the contrary, the perfection of conduct begins with the smallest details of life.