Lzh Mi Bi Vb Pd 5Asking for Milk

Khīraviññāpana Discourse (Asking for Milk)

Background

The Khīraviññāpana discourse is found in the Vinaya Piṭaka, specifically in the Pātimokkha Saṁvara section, the training rules that bhikkhus must practice. This discourse records an event that occurred in the region of Sāvatthī, where the Buddha resided and taught.

According to the Theravāda tradition, the Vinaya Piṭaka is the foundation of the Sangha, the monastic community. Every recorded rule has a specific cause, an actual incident involving the Buddha’s disciples, from which he gave instruction and established a regulation for monastics to train accordingly.

The Khīraviññāpana discourse concerns the issue of asking for food and drink, specifically bhikkhus asking for milk. This is not a trivial event, for it raises a question about the nature of almsgoing (piṇḍapāta), or “going from house to house for alms,” according to the tradition of the bhikkhus.

Main Content

In the historical context of the early Sangha, bhikkhus lived by alms, receiving food from the local people. Yet almsgoing did not involve only basic food, but also drinks and other supports.

The event recorded in this discourse concerns some bhikkhus actively asking people for milk. Although milk provides nourishment, asking for or demanding specific things beyond basic alms can create discrimination and break the principle of “eating without preference.”

The Buddha became aware of this situation and laid down a clear regulation. According to the Pātimokkha rule, bhikkhus should not actively ask for or request drinks such as milk, fruit juice, or other liquids besides plain water and the drinks that lay supporters or devotees voluntarily provide.

The basic principle here is that bhikkhus should “not seek, not actively request.” This protects both the spirit of the Sangha and the harmonious relationship between monastics and the people.