Lzh Mg Bi Pm Pd 5Asking for Milk
Pāli / Sanskrit:Khīraviññāpana
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THE DISCOURSE ON ASKING FOR MILK (Khīraviññāpana)
Background
The Discourse on Asking for Milk belongs to the Vinaya Piṭaka within the Pāli Early Buddhist Canon, which records the rules of practice and events related to the governance of the monastic community. This discourse appears in the context of the Buddha instructing his disciples on proper conduct in the monastic life, particularly regarding the selection of food and adapting to the conditions of one's circumstances.
During the time of the Buddha, the community of monks and nuns followed the principle of alms-going — living on what was offered by lay supporters. However, appropriate food was not always available in sufficient quantity. Thus, the Buddha gave guidance to his disciples on the practice of requesting, that is, asking for specific foods when genuinely necessary for the health of one's practice, without violating the spirit of alms-going.
Principal Content
The Discourse on Asking for Milk addresses the situation in which monks or nuns encounter difficulties with their health and require nourishing foods in order to maintain sufficient strength for their practice. Milk (khīra) is regarded as one of the important nutritious foods, particularly in cases of illness or physical debilitation.
This discourse establishes that when there is genuine need, a monk may make a request, asking lay supporters or other benefactors to provide milk for the purpose of treating illness or restoring health. However, such requesting must not arise from greed or self-indulgence, but must be grounded in the actual necessities of the practice. The Buddha emphasizes the balance between upholding the spirit of urgency and restraint and the practicality of maintaining one's health in order to continue along the path to awakening.
This reflects an important principle of the Buddha's Vinaya: the rules are not rigidly absolute, but are wise guidelines that enable monastics both to practice in purity and to sustain the capacity for continued practice. Milk here is not merely a physical food, but is also a symbol of proper care for the body as the "vehicle of practice."
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