Lzh Mi Bu Vb Pc 82Visiting Families Before a Meal
Pāli / Sanskrit:Cāritta
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The Text on Visiting Families Before a Meal
(From the Pātimokkha - Rules of Purity)
Background
The Cāritta section (Pāli: Cārittagātavibhaṅga) is found in the Vinaya Piṭaka of the Pāli Canon, specifically in the Pātimokkha, the basic code that monastics must observe. The Vinaya Piṭaka records regulations concerning the pure life of Buddhists gone forth, established step by step by the Blessed Buddha according to situations that arose in the Sangha. This text reflects a detail in the cultivation and harmony of the Sangha: the issue of how bhikkhus or bhikkhunīs should conduct themselves when visiting families before the morning meal.
The legal background of this rule arose from bhikkhus visiting the homes of the faithful in connection with almsround (piṇḍapāta), but such acts could create misunderstandings or establish inappropriate relationships. The Blessed Buddha therefore laid down a specific regulation to protect the honor of the Sangha and preserve the purity and freedom of monastic practitioners.
Main Content
The Cāritta rule concerns the conduct and behavior (cāritta means "action, way of conduct") of monastics. Specifically, the text states that bhikkhus should not visit other families before the morning meal, that is, before the main meal of the day, the one meal permitted for bhikkhus and bhikkhunīs in the Theravāda tradition.
This is not an absolute prohibition, but a wise guideline. If a bhikkhu visits a family too early in the morning, before the almsround is complete, this may create many inconveniences or misunderstandings. For example, the householder may feel pressured to offer food, or the bhikkhu may be suspected of coming for purposes other than the practice. In addition, visiting too early may also cause distraction from the monastic's early morning practice, precious time devoted to meditation and chanting.
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