Lzh Mg Bu Vb Sk 39Na gulugulu

– MAHĀSĀṂGHIKA VINAYA

– CLARIFICATION OF THE BEGINNING PORTION OF THE SEKHIYA RULES:

– CLARIFICATION OF THE REMAINING PORTION OF THE SEKHIYA RULES.

39. "A rule to be trained in: One must not eat by gulping food down."

One must not gulp food down making a gulping sound. However, if the throat is diseased and one swallows food with such a sound, there is no offense.

If the throat is dry, one should drink water to moisten it before swallowing food.

If one is heedless in the sense faculties and gulps food down, this constitutes disregard for the rule to be trained in. Except in the case of deranged mind, there is no offense. Therefore it is said:

"A rule to be trained in: One must not eat by gulping food down."

When the Buddha was dwelling in the city of Śrāvastī, as described in full above. At that time, a householder came to the monastery to offer a meal to the Sangha. While eating, the group of six bhikkhus put rice into their mouths, half of which fell to the ground. People of the world criticized them, saying:

—Why do Śākya monastics eat and drink so slovenly, just like persons of loose conduct?

Then they asked:

—Venerable sirs, do you think this food cost nothing to obtain? I took the portion belonging to my wife and brought it as an offering to seek merit. Each single grain of rice required hundreds of efforts to produce. It should be eaten completely—why let it fall to the ground? These are corrupt individuals; what virtue do they possess!

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

—Did this matter truly occur?

—It truly did, Blessed One.

—From this time forth, one must not eat and drink in a manner that spills food.

Then the Buddha commanded all the bhikkhus to assemble together and, for ten benefits, established this training rule for the bhikkhus, so that even those who have already heard it must hear it 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

Verification of meaning: Thích Đỗng Minh