Lzh Mg Bi Vb Pc 81Giving Food

– MAHĀSĀṂGHIKA VINAYA

– THE PRECEPTS OF THE BHIKKHUNĪS

– CLARIFYING THE FIRST SECTION OF THE 141 PĀCITTIYAS

81. PRECEPT: GIVING FOOD TO LAY PEOPLE.

When the Buddha was residing in the city of Sāvatthī, at that time the sister of Raṭṭhapāla passed away, and she went to beg for food and drink to give to her deceased sister's child. Because of this, people of the world criticized her, saying: "Why does a female renunciant take food offered in faith by devotees and then give it to lay people?"

The bhikkhunīs heard this and reported it to Mahāpajāpatī. Mahāpajāpatī then presented the matter in full to the Blessed One. The Buddha ordered that bhikkhunī to be summoned. When she arrived, the Buddha asked:

—Did this actually happen?

—It did indeed, Blessed One.

—From this day forward, I do not permit personally handing food to lay people.

Again, when the Buddha was residing in the city of Sāvatthī, at that time a non-Buddhist wanderer named Kiṭṭhapillar came to visit his mother. His mother, seeing him arrive, filled a bowl with various foods and gave it to him. Having received the food, he took it into a tavern and sat eating it, while also giving some to others. Someone asked:

—Where did you get such fine food?

—Be quiet about it. People regard female renunciants as a field of merit, and the female renunciant regards me as a field of merit.

Because of this, people of the world criticized her, saying: "Why does a female renunciant take food donated by lay supporters for herself and give it to one who does not cultivate merit?"

The bhikkhunīs heard this and reported it to Mahāpajāpatī. Mahāpajāpatī then presented the matter to the Blessed One. The Buddha ordered that bhikkhunī to be summoned. When she arrived, the Buddha asked:

—Did this actually happen?

—It did indeed, Blessed One.

—That is a bad thing. Why did you personally hand food to a non-Buddhist wanderer? From this day forward, I do not permit personally handing food to non-Buddhist wanderers.

Thereupon, the Buddha instructed Mahāpajāpatī Gotamī to convey the ruling to all the bhikkhunīs living in the city of Sāvatthī, requiring them all to assemble, and even those who had already heard it must hear it again:

—If a bhikkhunī personally hands food to lay people or non-Buddhist wanderers, she commits a pācittiya offense.

EXPLANATION:

(Some terms above have already been explained.)

If a bhikkhunī has a relative who comes to visit and she wishes to give them food, she may not hand it to them directly with her own hands; she must instruct a female attendant to give it. If there is no female attendant, she should say: "You may take the food from there with your own hands and eat." If she is concerned they will take too much, she should say: "Take that amount of food and bring it here; whatever remains, put it away." When she has received the food, she should place it on the ground and instruct them to take it themselves.

If a non-Buddhist wanderer comes, she may not personally hand food to them; she must instruct a female attendant to give it to them. If there is no female attendant, she should say: "Take the food from there with your own hands and eat." If she is concerned they will take too much, she should say: "Take that amount of food and bring it here; whatever remains, put it away." She may then place the food on the ground with her own hands for them.

If her relative reproaches her, saying: "Are you treating me like an outcaste?"—she should reply: "You have gone forth into an unfavorable place. The Blessed One has laid down this precept not permitting me to hand you food. The Buddha also taught: 'One may have non-Buddhist wanderers cook food and then say to them: Give me what you have, and you may eat whatever remains.' That is what the Blessed One has taught."

Vietnamese translation: Thích Phước Sơn. MAHĀSĀṂGHIKA VINAYA

Chinese translation: TRIPIṬAKA BUDDHBHADRA OF INDIA

TOGETHER WITH ŚRAMAṆA FAXIAN, TRANSLATED DURING THE EASTERN JIN DYNASTY

DOCTRINAL VERIFICATION: THÍCH ĐỖNG MINH