Lzh Mg Bu Pm Pc 33Eating More After Refusing an Invitation
Pāli / Sanskrit:Pavāraṇā
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The Pavāraṇā Sutta: Eating More After Refusing an Invitation
Background
This text belongs to the Vinaya Piṭaka, specifically the Bhikkhunī Pātimokkha (the Nuns' Code of Discipline), one of the most detailed legal collections of the Buddhist Sangha. Pavāraṇā, a Pāli term meaning "invitation" or "request," refers to rules governing the eating conduct of bhikkhunīs within the context of the monastic community.
The historical background of the Vinaya always originates from specific events — mistakes or improper conduct that the Buddha observed within the Sangha. When bhikkhunīs or bhikkhus behaved inappropriately, the Buddha would set forth rules (Pātimokkha) to correct such behavior and maintain diligence in practice. These precepts are not arbitrary punishments, but practical guidelines to protect inner tranquility and mutual respect within the Sangha.
Main Content
The precept concerning "Eating More After Refusing an Invitation" pertains to a specific situation: when a householder or a faithful supporter invites a bhikkhunī to eat, and the bhikkhunī initially declines (or indicates she does not wish to eat), but then returns to eat more food from the same person or the same household during the same meal — this is considered improper conduct.
Such behavior violates a principle that bodhisattvas and bhikkhunīs ought to practice: namely, kindness, honesty, and tactfulness in dealings with those who provide food. When one declines an offer, that constitutes a clear signal of the bhikkhunī's intention. Returning to eat more after an initial refusal may create an unfavorable impression, cause confusion for the provider, or manifest a disposition of "greed" incompatible with the path of practice.
The Vinaya Piṭaka regulates this behavior by requiring bhikkhunīs to maintain consistency in their decisions.
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