Lzh Mi Bu Vb Pc 34Accepting Two or Three Bowls Full
Pāli / Sanskrit:Dvittipattapūrapaṭiggahaṇa
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THE SUTTA ON ACCEPTING TWO OR THREE FULL BOWLS
Background
This sutta belongs to the Vinaya Piṭaka, the Pātimokkha section, the collection of basic training rules that bhikkhus must observe. Specifically, it lies in the Pācittiya section, offences requiring confession, which regulates in detail actions and attitudes in the life of study and practice.
The background giving rise to this rule concerns how bhikkhus behave in accepting and using the almsbowl, the means of livelihood for one gone forth in Buddhism. At first, before the Buddha laid down the training rule, some bhikkhus accepted too many bowls at once from generous donors, or accepted bowls not for reasons of practice but out of greed. This polluted the mind of practice, burdened donors, and violated the basic principle of restraint for one gone forth.
Main Content
This training rule states that a bhikkhu must not accept more than two or three full bowls, that is, more than two or three bowls full of rice. If he exceeds this number and still accepts them, the act is considered Pācittiya, an offence requiring confession before the Sangha.
The word “Dvittipattapūrapaṭiggahaṇa” (Dvitti = two or three; patta = bowl; pūra = full; paṭiggahaṇa = accepting) clearly indicates the specific act: accepting bowls without observing the prescribed limit. This rule does not completely forbid accepting bowls, but emphasizes moderation and clear awareness of the actual needs of the practitioner.
The deeper reason for the rule is to cultivate a mind free from craving, without desire or greed. A bhikkhu should accept only enough food to sustain the body in service of the goal of practice. Accepting too much is a compromise with craving, one of the three poisons, greed, hatred, and delusion.
Practical Meaning
This sutta teaches that moderation is not merely a formality, but an expression of wisdom. The practitioner must be clear about the main purpose: sustaining life only enough to practice the Dharma. Every act of accepting, whether a bowl of rice, a robe, or any other requisite, is an opportunity to examine the mind.
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