Lzh Mi Bu Vb Pc 35Eating More After Refusing an Invitation
Pāli / Sanskrit:Pavāraṇā
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THE SUTTA ON EATING MORE AFTER HAVING REFUSED AN INVITATION
Background
Pavāraṇā, or “refusal of an invitation,” is a disciplinary rule in the Vinaya Piṭaka of the Theravāda tradition. This rule is recorded in the Bhikkhunī Vibhaṅga, the explanation of the bhikkhunī discipline, specifically as Pācittiya 35, one of the lighter offences.
The background of the rule arises from practical situations in the simple life of the early Buddhist monastic community. When bhikkhunīs were invited to eat at the homes of lay Buddhists, sometimes they would refuse the first or second time in a spirit of humility, but then later agree to eat. This could cause confusion or discomfort for the host. Moreover, it reflected an insincere or inconsistent attitude, which is not suitable to the pure life of those who study the Buddha’s teaching.
Main Content
According to Pavāraṇā Pācittiya 35, a bhikkhunī should not eat more after having already refused an invitation. Specifically, if a bhikkhunī is invited to eat and refuses (pavāraṇā), and then the inviter continues to invite again and the bhikkhunī still refuses, the inviter will not invite further. In this situation, if the bhikkhunī still seeks to eat additional food beyond what was initially given to her, she commits a pācittiya offence, an offence requiring confession.
This offence is not a pārājika, the gravest offence leading to expulsion, nor a saṅghādisesa, an offence requiring communal handling, but a pācittiya, a lighter offence that nevertheless must be confessed and repented of before the Sangha or another bhikkhunī.
The reason for this rule is to maintain truthfulness, humility, and respect for the wishes of lay Buddhists. When the inviter understands that the bhikkhunī has refused, they will stop inviting, and the bhikkhunī should observe that decision. Eating more afterward creates inconsistency and may be understood as deceitful or disrespectful.
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