Lzh Mg Bu Vb Sk 34Licking the Bowl
Pāli / Sanskrit:Pattanillehaka
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34. "One must train: One shall not lick the fingers while eating from the bowl."
One shall not lick the fingers while eating from the bowl: One shall not curl the fingers to scrape the bowl. If milk, oil, or honey adheres to the bowl, one shall not curl the fingers to scrape it; instead, one must use the fingers to gather it together and then pick it up to eat.
If one is heedless with the sense faculties and licks the fingers while eating from the bowl, one thereby disregards this training rule. Except in the case of one whose mind is deranged — in that case there is no offense. Therefore it is said:
"One must train: One shall not lick the fingers while eating from the bowl."
When the Buddha was residing in the city of Sāvatthī, as related in full above. At that time, a lay person came to the monastery to offer a meal to the community of monks. While eating, the group of six bhikkhus licked their fingers as they ate, and so were reproached by people of the world: "Why do the Sakyan renunciants behave like children — upon receiving food, they lick their fingers as they eat?"
Then the lay person said:
"Venerable Sirs, I have generously offered you a full and sufficient meal. Why then do you lick your fingers while eating? These are people of degenerate conduct — what virtue do they have!"
The bhikkhus then brought this matter and reported it to the Blessed One. The Buddha immediately ordered the group of six bhikkhus to be summoned. When they had come, the Buddha asked:
"Did this matter truly occur as reported?"
"It did indeed, Blessed One."
"From this day forward, one shall not lick the fingers while eating."
Thereupon the Buddha commanded all the bhikkhus to assemble, and for ten reasons he laid down this training rule for the bhikkhus — one that, even if already heard, must be heard again:
Vietnamese translation: Thích Phước Sơn. MAHĀSĀṂGHIKA VINAYA
Chinese translation: THE TRIPIṬAKA MASTER BUDDHABHADRA OF INDIA
TOGETHER WITH THE ŚRAMAṆA FAXIAN, TRANSLATED DURING THE EASTERN JIN DYNASTY
Verified by: Thích Đỗng Minh
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