Lzh Mi Bu Pm Pc 40Giving Food to Ascetics
Pāli / Sanskrit:Acelaka
Save your scripture progress
Create a free account to save scriptures, track progress, and continue your daily learning path.
Acelaka Sutta: Providing Food to Ascetics
Background
The Acelaka Sutta (Pāli: acelako) is found in the Vinaya Pitaka, specifically in the Pātimokkha of the Bhikkhunī Sangha and related rule collections. The title "Giving Food to Ascetics" reflects an important feature of the Theravāda Buddhist monastic tradition: the need to maintain ethical conduct concerning how food is sought and shared.
In the historical context, this sutta was composed to manage situations arising when bhikkhunīs received or distributed food. The Vinaya Pitaka is not merely a set of restrictive rules, but also practical instruction intended to protect the purity and integrity of the Sangha.
Main Content
The Acelaka Sutta revolves around the matter of providing food to ascetics, whether bhikkhus or bhikkhunīs. According to the Theravāda tradition, the Buddha taught that bhikkhus live by alms or by receiving support from faithful laypeople. Food is not only nourishment for the body, but is also connected with spiritual purity.
The rule concerning the provision of food addresses basic principles: one must not use improper means to obtain food; one must not hoard food excessively; and one must not use food in a way that harms the spiritual mind. These regulations ensure that alms seeking and the use of food do not become motives for sensuality or greed.
The sutta may also mention regulations about when food may be received, in what circumstances it should be declined, and how to handle situations of violation. These rules reflect the Buddha's profound vision of the relationship between material ambition and spiritual progress.
Practical Meaning
For those practicing in the Theravāda tradition today, the Acelaka Sutta offers lessons in simplicity and purity in the use of resources.
🌏 The Buddhist canon is vast — some sūtras (such as comparative Vinaya across schools, or untranslated Tibetan-canon texts) have to this day NEVER been translated into Vietnamese or English by anyone, scholars included. Rather than leave it blank, Inti AI offers a FAITHFUL summary grounded in the tradition — from the sūtra's title, origin and essence — so you can still reach this rare part of the treasury. Whenever an original translation exists, the app shows the original first.
Translations belong to the translator/source credited above. The bilingual compilation, presentation, and AI translations compiled by Inti are © Inti Foundation. Please attribute when quoting; do not bulk-copy or use commercially without permission.