Lzh Sarv Bi Vb Pc 65Visiting Families Before a Meal
Pāli / Sanskrit:Cāritta
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The Cāritta Discourse: The Conduct and Character of Monastics
Background
The Cāritta discourse (conduct, character) belongs to the Vinaya Piṭaka in the Early Buddhist tradition, within the Bhikkhunī Vibhaṅga, the regulations concerning nuns. This is a practical rule related to visiting families before mealtime, reflecting the delicate balance between the austere life of practice and social relationships.
In its historical context, when the Blessed One was still in the world, female monastics (bhikkhunī) had to follow the rules of the Four Arati, the four improper things, and many Pātimokkha rules (communal rules). The Cāritta discourse refers to the situation in which some bhikkhunī frequently visited their families before the meal period (bhatta-kāla), which attracted attention and was sometimes misunderstood by the community of devotees. The issue lay in the question: was this action in accord with the spirit of renunciation, non-attachment, and a mind directed toward 涅槃?
Main Content
The discourse clearly states that female monastics should not make a habit of visiting their families before the midday meal (today called bhikkhu-bhojana or the practice hall). The reason is not financial capacity or an absolute prohibition, but because this action reflects emotional attachment to the worldly family, contrary to the principle of energy (viriya) in practice.
When monastics frequently visit their families as mealtime approaches, this creates problems:
First, it reduces the time for participation in communal practices such as chanting, meditation, or studying the Dharma with teachers. Second, it may provide grounds for laypeople to speculate that female monastics still maintain a close connection with worldly family life. Third, according to the Pāli tradition, this action is classified as Pācittiya, offenses requiring confession and restoration (Pācittiya 65).
The discourse states clearly: if a nun frequently visits her family or relatives before the meal, she commits a Pācittiya offense.
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