Lzh Mg Bu Pm Pc 39Asking for Fine Foods
Pāli / Sanskrit:Paṇītabhojana
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PAṆĪTABHOJANA SUTTA – THE RULE ON ASKING FOR FINE FOODS
Background
The Paṇītabhojana (Pāli: paṇīta = refined, fine; bhojana = food) is a rule belonging to the Pātimokkha — the list of fundamental training rules that monks must uphold. This rule is recorded in the Vinaya Piṭaka (the Basket of Discipline), specifically within the Pācittiya section (offenses requiring individual confession).
The origin of this rule is connected to the habit of certain monks who exploited the reverence of the lay community in order to solicit fine and precious foods. Such requests not only violated the spirit of humility but also placed a financial burden on those providing the food, while at the same time tarnishing the image of the Saṅgha in the eyes of outsiders, who perceived the monks as greedy and fastidious.
Upon learning of this behavior, the Blessed One established this rule to preserve the moral integrity and dignity of his disciples, and to protect lay people from subtle forms of exploitation.
Main Content
According to the Paṇītabhojana rule, a monk is not permitted to actively request or suggest to lay people that they provide refined or precious foods such as ghee, honey, sugar, salt fish, meat, or other special foods. This includes making such suggestions in subtle ways, such as speaking of the health benefits of these foods or remarking that people in other regions commonly partake of them.
If a monk transgresses this rule — whether by direct or indirect request — he must confess the offense and perform expiation privately before another monk, or before the community of the Saṅgha, depending on the gravity of the transgression and the number of times it has been repeated. This act is classified as a Pācittiya — a category of offense that requires confession but is not as grave as a Saṅghādisesa offense, which requires collective resolution.
However, if lay people voluntarily offer such foods without any request from the monk, the monk is permitted to accept and make use of them.
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