Lzh Sarv Bi Pm Dh Pd 8Asking for Dried Meat

The Sutta on Asking for Dried Meat

Background

This text is recorded in the Vinaya Piṭaka of the Pāli Canon, specifically within the Pacittiya, lighter but still obligatory disciplinary rules for monks and nuns. The background of the text arises from an event in the Sangha during the Buddha's lifetime, when the Buddha was instructing his disciples on rules of conduct, eating and drinking, and the propriety of monastic actions.

At that time, monks and nuns still depended on alms from the people (piṇḍapāta). Even so, the Buddha did not forbid monks and nuns from requesting particular or refined foods, but he set certain conditions in order to prevent desire from arising. The text "Asking for Dried Meat" is a concrete example of the balance between practical need and principles of diligence.

Main Content

According to the Sarv Vinaya (Sarvāstivāda), translated into Chinese and also recorded in the Pāli tradition, this text refers to a situation in which monks and nuns or their close relatives asked for a particular food, in this case dried meat (sūkara-māṃsa).

The issue in asking for dried meat is not the eating of meat itself. The Buddha-Dharma does not forbid monks and nuns to eat meat if it is given sincerely, provided they do not kill or incite killing. Rather, the issue concerns the attitude of mind and the purpose. If a monk or nun actively asks for special foods out of desire, craving for good taste, or self-will, that is an action inconsistent with monastic ethics.

The Buddha established that, except in special situations such as illness requiring nourishment, monks and nuns should not request or hint that others bring particular foods for them. Such conduct may burden the donor, provoke discrimination within the community, and harm one's own humility.