Lzh Mi Bu Pm Pc 34Accepting Two or Three Bowls Full

The Sutta on Accepting Two or Three Bowls Full

Some Remarks on the Moderation of the Sangha

Background

This sutta appears in the Vinaya Piṭaka, specifically in the Pātimokkha section of the Theravāda tradition. The Vinaya Pitaka is a collection of rules and directives intended to regulate the collective life of monks and nuns, helping to preserve the teaching and maintain internal discipline.

During the Buddha's lifetime, bhikkhus had to live by alms round, going from house to house to request food from faithful laypeople. However, subtle issues concerning the course of action and refinement in receiving offerings became complex. The detailed regulations established by the Buddha were meant to protect the purity of the Sangha and avoid behaviors that could invite criticism or loss of trust from the community.

Main Content

The sutta "Accepting Two or Three Bowls Full" (Dvittipattapūrapaṭiggahaṇa) concerns whether a bhikkhu is permitted to accept more than one bowl of food from one household. Specifically, the issue raised is: when a layperson offers two or three full bowls of food to a bhikkhu, is this in accord with the Dharma?

According to the rule recorded in the Vinaya Pitaka, a bhikkhu should accept only one bowl of food from each household, except in certain specially permitted cases. Accepting too much may reflect greed, or cause other laypeople to feel that it is unfair. This is also related to the principle of "accordance with the Dharma" (dhammaṭṭhiti), meaning that actions must accord with the spirit and purpose of the Buddha Dharma.

The rule states that if a layperson voluntarily offers more, the bhikkhu should find a reasonable way to decline tactfully, or accept only if there are valid reasons, such as illness or other cases allowed in the Vinaya. The goal is to maintain propriety, simplicity, and freedom from causing burden.