Lzh Mu Bu Pm Sk 68Overlarge Mouthful
Pāli / Sanskrit:Nātimahanta
Save your scripture progress
Create a free account to save scriptures, track progress, and continue your daily learning path.
Nātimahanta Sutta — An Overlarge Mouthful of Rice
Background
The Nātimahanta Sutta appears in the Vinaya Piṭaka, especially among the rules concerning the discipline of monks and nuns. The Vinaya Piṭaka is not merely a collection of dry laws, but a record of real events that occurred while the Buddha was still in the world, from which he established precepts to maintain the practice of his many disciples.
This discourse records a situation related to the way monks or nuns ate. The word "Nātimahanta" (Pāli) means "too large" or "unnecessarily large," referring to mouthfuls of rice picked up or eaten in a size exceeding what is necessary. This is a small detail in life, but it carries deep meaning concerning diligence, self-control, and respect for food.
In the Theravāda tradition, the Vinaya Piṭaka is regarded as the foundation of the Sangha lineage. Each rule is recorded not because of vague esotericism, but because of specific causes, often to correct an unsuitable behavior of a certain disciple.
Main Content
In the context of the Theravāda Vinaya Piṭaka, this discourse concerns unbalanced conduct in the use of food, especially rice. Bhikkhus and bhikkhunīs are encouraged to practice eating in a measured and proper way. A mouthful of rice that is too large is not only difficult to swallow and may harm health, but also reflects a state of mind fallen into the enjoyment of taste, which the Buddha wanted his disciples to avoid.
The rule concerning the size of a mouthful also reflects the principle of austerity (dhutaṅga), noble practices for reducing desire and greed. Regulating the amount of food and the manner of eating not only strengthens awareness with every breath, but is also a training in contemplation (satipaṭṭhāna), complete presence.
This discourse may also relate to respect for bhikkhunīs or other monastics.
🌏 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.