Lzh Mu Bu Pm Pc 32Eating at a Public Guest-house
Pāli / Sanskrit:Āvasathapiṇḍa
Save your scripture progress
Create a free account to save scriptures, track progress, and continue your daily learning path.
SUTTA ON EATING AT A GUEST HOUSE (Āvasathapiṇḍa)
Background
This text is recorded in the Vinaya Piṭaka of the Theravāda tradition, one of the oldest bodies of monastic law taught by Śākyamuni Buddha to the Sangha. The Vinaya Piṭaka is a collection of rules, instructions, and the occasions for their arising, intended for those who go forth according to the Buddha-Dharma.
The event in this text arose from a specific situation: renunciant disciples encountered difficult cases when having to eat at a public guest house (āvasatha, a common place for guests). These were public places where travelers lodged, not private homes or monasteries. The issue that arose was whether monks should accept food offered in such places, or whether there were any restrictions. The Buddha recognized the need to establish a clear rule to guide his practicing disciples in acting appropriately.
Main Content
According to the regulation in this text, when monks eat food offered at a public guest house, they must observe criteria concerning the legitimacy of the offering. Most important is confirming that the food was prepared properly, from the intention of donors who honor the Three Jewels (Buddha, Dharma, Sangha), and not by chance or accident.
The text clearly stipulates the conditions: the food must be offered voluntarily, prepared with a mind of reverent kindness, and publicly verified by the person in charge. If there is no such confirmation, monks should not accept it, in order to avoid negligence and failure to follow the principle of the Pure Life (brahmacariya), the holy life within the Sangha.
In addition, the text emphasizes that when monks eat, they must maintain a respectful attitude, should not engage in idle talk, and should not eat too much or too little, but according to their digestive capacity and the need to maintain health in order to continue practicing. This is an expression of the moderate way of life, the Middle Way (Majjhimā Paṭipadā), a core principle in the Buddha-Dharma.
🌏 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.