Lzh Mu Bu Pm Sk 67Stuffing Cheeks

Commentary on the Avagaṇḍakāraka Sutta

(The Sutta on Puffing the Cheeks)

Background

The Avagaṇḍakāraka Sutta belongs to the Vinaya Piṭaka of the Pāli Canon, within the tradition of Theravāda Buddhism. These are disciplinary regulations laid down by the Buddha for monastics in order to protect the purity of the Sangha and to uphold the dignity of spiritual practice.

The background from which this sutta arose records an incident within the Sangha: a certain bhikkhu or bhikkhunī, being given to greed in eating, would habitually puff out the cheeks while consuming food, thereby displaying greediness and a lack of sense restraint. This behavior not only reflected a weakness in one's effort toward practice, but also harmed the image of the Sangha in the eyes of the broader community. The Buddha, recognizing this problem, laid down a specific rule to guide the bhikkhunīs regarding proper conduct in eating, thereby cultivating mindfulness and moderation.

Principal Content

In the Vinaya Piṭaka, the Avagaṇḍakāraka Sutta stipulates that a bhikkhunī should not puff out her cheeks while eating—that is, she should not accumulate a large amount of food inside the mouth or swallow an excessive quantity all at once, thereby producing an unsightly appearance. The act of "puffing the cheeks" (avagaṇḍa) is regarded as coarse and unbefitting one who has gone forth into the purity of the monastic life.

The Buddha taught that the proper manner of eating is as follows: to eat slowly, to chew thoroughly, and to avoid giving rise to any appearance of indulgence or lack of restraint. A bhikkhunī should eat with clear mindfulness (sati), recognizing that food is merely nourishment to sustain life for the purpose of continuing the practice of the Dhamma—this is the principle of "right use of requisites," by which food is regarded as medicine for the ailment of the body.

Should a bhikkhunī transgress this rule, she must confess and undertake renewed practice. This rule belongs to the category of Pācittiya offenses—those requiring confession—reminding practitioners that even the minor details of daily life are inseparable from the conduct of the spiritual path.