Lzh Mu Bu Vb Pc 33Accepting Two or Three Bowls Full
Pāli / Sanskrit:Dvittipattapūrapaṭiggahaṇa
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Discourse on Accepting Two or Three Bowls of Rice
Dvittipattapūrapaṭiggahaṇa
Background
This discourse belongs to the Vinaya Piṭaka of the Pāli Canon, where the rules of communal life for the Sangha of monks and nuns in the time of Buddha Śākyamuni are recorded. In the Theravāda tradition, the Vinaya Piṭaka is the collection of disciplinary rules (Sutta Vibhaṅga) and practical instructions for disciples after the Buddhadharma was established.
This is especially related to the life of almsround (piṇḍapāta), a fundamental activity in the practice life of bhikkhus. Going for alms is not begging out of weakness, but an opportunity for the Sangha to practice mindfulness and humility, while allowing laypeople to accumulate merit. This discourse addresses a specific question: may a bhikkhu accept two or three bowls of rice when laypeople offer them?
Main Content
According to the Vinaya Piṭaka, regulations concerning almsround are very detailed. A bhikkhu is usually permitted to carry only one bowl (patta) for alms. When receiving rice from devoted laypeople, the purpose is to sustain life so that one can practice the Dharma. However, special situations can occur: a householder may wish to offer an additional full bowl of rice, or several people may wish to accumulate merit together by giving food.
This discourse states that a bhikkhu may accept two or three full bowls of rice (dvittipattapūra) in permitted circumstances, such as when there is illness or when the almsgoing community lacks rice. The important point is that he must not accept out of greed or seek alms beyond actual need. This decision depends on the context and intention of the donor as well as the mental state of the recipient.
Meaning for Practice
The discourse on accepting two or three bowls of rice may seem a small matter, but it expresses a profound principle in the Theravāda Dharma. It is the balance between strict rules and sensitivity to actual circumstances. Almsround is not a mechanical constraint, but an act full of educational meaning for the community.
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