Lzh Mg Bu Pm Sk 46Soiling
Pāli / Sanskrit:Sāmisa
Save your scripture progress
Create a free account to save scriptures, track progress, and continue your daily learning path.
THE SĀMISA SUTTA (WITH FAT)
A Commentary on the Rules of the Traditional Theravāda Vinaya
Background
The Sāmisa Sutta is an important rule within the Vinaya Piṭaka of the Theravāda Buddhist tradition. Sāmisa means "salty," "fatty," or more broadly, "possessing a material or fleshly quality." This text belongs to the Pāṭimokkha — the fundamental code of rules that monks must observe daily. According to historical context, the regulations of the Vinaya Piṭaka were established by the Blessed One Gotama gradually, as circumstances required, in order to maintain discipline within the Sangha and to uphold the dignity of the Buddhist dispensation.
The Sāmisa Sutta pertains specifically to the matter of food and nourishment for monks. In the early period of the training, the Blessed One encountered particular situations that made it necessary to establish restrictions concerning the manner in which those who had gone forth nourish the body. This reflects the ideal of the Middle Way (madhyamā paṭipadā) — the path between indulgence in sensual pleasure and self-mortification — which the Blessed One taught from the very beginning.
Principal Content
The Sāmisa Sutta sets forth regulations concerning foods containing fat or grease that monks are permitted to make use of, as well as the restrictions related thereto. Specifically, this text establishes that monks may receive fatty or rich foods only under certain circumstances and may not store them for an extended period, so as to avoid habits of attachment rooted in sensual craving (kāma-taṇhā) or material desire.
The content of the regulations expresses the principle that monks live by alms-gathering (piṇḍapāta) — that is, they live by virtue of the compassion and generosity of lay supporters. However, in cases of illness or legitimate need, the Blessed One permitted the receiving of nutritious foods. The condition, nonetheless, is that there must be no arising of a grasping mind, and no causing of burden or inconvenience to the lay community. This text forms part of the Pārājika or Pācittiya — the rules governing offenses of varying degrees of gravity.
🌏 The Buddhist canon is vast — some sūtras (such as comparative Vinaya across schools, or untranslated Tibetan-canon texts) have to this day NEVER been translated into Vietnamese or English by anyone, scholars included. Rather than leave it blank, Inti AI offers a FAITHFUL summary grounded in the tradition — from the sūtra's title, origin and essence — so you can still reach this rare part of the treasury. Whenever an original translation exists, the app shows the original first.
Translations belong to the translator/source credited above. The bilingual compilation, presentation, and AI translations compiled by Inti are © Inti Foundation. Please attribute when quoting; do not bulk-copy or use commercially without permission.