Lzh Mg Bu Vb Sk 37Crunching

– MAHĀSĀṂGHIKA VINAYA

– EXPLAINING THE BEGINNING PORTION OF THE SEKHIYA RULES:

– EXPLAINING THE REMAINING PORTION OF THE SEKHIYA RULES.

37. "One should train thus: One must not chew food making a crunching sound."

If, through lack of restraint of the sense faculties, one chews food making a crunching sound, this constitutes disregard for the rule to be trained in. Except in the case of mental derangement, there is no offense. Therefore it is said:

"One should train thus: One must not chew food making a crunching sound."

When the Buddha was residing in the city of Śrāvastī, as described in full above. At that time a donor came to the monastery to offer a meal to the Saṅgha. While eating, the group of six bhikkhus slurped and sucked their food noisily. People criticized them, saying:

—Why do these Śākyan monastics eat by slurping their food like camels, oxen, and donkeys? These are corrupt individuals—what spiritual conduct do they have!

The bhikkhus then brought this matter and reported it to the Blessed One. The Buddha ordered the group of six bhikkhus to be summoned. When they had come, the Buddha asked:

—Did this thing truly happen as reported?

—It truly happened thus, Blessed One.

—From now on, you must not eat by slurping food noisily.

Thereupon the Buddha commanded all the bhikkhus to assemble, and for the sake of ten benefits he promulgated the rule for the bhikkhus—even those who have already heard it must hear it again:

Vietnamese translation: Thích Phước Sơn. MAHĀSĀṂGHIKA VINAYA

Chinese translation: THE TRIPIṬAKA MASTER BUDDHABHADRA FROM INDIA

TOGETHER WITH THE ŚRAMAṆA FAXIAN, TRANSLATED DURING THE EASTERN JIN DYNASTY

Meaning verified by: Thích Đổng Minh