Lzh Mi Bi Pm Pc 23Accepting Two or Three Bowls Full
Pāli / Sanskrit:Dvittipattapūrapaṭiggahaṇa
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Discourse on Accepting Two or Three Full Bowls
Background
This discourse belongs to the Vinaya Piṭaka, specifically in the Pātimokkha, the basic code that bhikkhus and bhikkhunīs must observe. It is not a sermon of the Buddha on lofty doctrine, but a practical regulation concerning the way practice is carried out within the Sangha, the monastic community.
The background for the arising of this rule is connected with managing the food intake of bhikkhus. In the early Buddhist tradition, renunciants live by going on alms round, relying on offerings from laypeople to sustain life. However, to avoid unrestrained behavior or causing difficulty for donors, the Buddha established specific rules on how food should be received. This discourse concerns accepting a quantity of food, specifically two or three full bowls, in order to maintain moderation and respect the kindness of donors.
Main Content
The discourse states that a bhikkhu is permitted to accept two or three full bowls of food from a donor. This regulation reflects the Buddhist principle of the middle way, avoiding extremes: one should not eat too little, weakening the body and lacking energy for practice, nor eat too much, giving rise to greed, laziness, and abuse of the kindness of laypeople.
The number “two or three bowls” is not arbitrary, but reflects the practical standpoint of the Buddha. One bowl may not be enough to maintain health, especially for monastics who must perform hard labor or whose bodies are weak. Yet exceeding three bowls can easily lead to greed, excess, and burdening the donor. This rule expresses the balance between practical need and spiritual training.
Furthermore, the rule acknowledges that differences in age, constitution, the nature of practice duties, and individual health conditions require a certain flexibility. Not everyone needs only one bowl to live, but no one should abuse offerings.
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