Lzh Sarv Bu Pm 2 Pc 35Encouraging Another Monastic to Eat More After Refusing an Invitation

Dutiyapavāraṇā Sutta: Encouraging a Teacher to Eat More After Refusing an Invitation

Background

The Dutiyapavāraṇā Sutta, the second Pavāraṇā, is recorded in the Vinaya Piṭaka of the Theravāda tradition, especially in the Pātimokkha rules. This sutta arose from practical situations in the Sangha of monks and nuns, when faithful donors offered food to the Sangha.

The historical background of the sutta records that the Buddha and his disciples often accepted invitations to meals from lay followers. However, in the course of practice, monks and nuns sometimes refused in order to preserve diligence or for reasons related to humility. When a certain monk refused the first time, other monks would encourage him to accept the offering a second time, hence the name “Dutiyapavāraṇā,” the second invitation.

This rule reflects balance in Buddhist practice: neither being too extreme in austerity nor falling into habits of greed.

Main Content

The sutta teaches that when a monk refuses a first invitation to eat from a compassionate household, the accompanying monks have the right, and even should, encourage him to accept the second time. This is not an insult or disobedience to the wish of the monk who refused, but an act of compassion and wisdom.

The deeper reason for this rule is that when an invitation is refused, monks and nuns may sometimes be misunderstood as not respecting the compassion of the laypeople. The laypeople may feel saddened or uneasy about being refused. However, if other monks encourage the monk who refused to accept the second time, this helps harmonize feelings and preserve the relationship between monks, nuns, and lay followers.

Furthermore, the sutta also recognizes that not all refusals arise from genuine humility or diligence. Sometimes they arise from fear, low self-regard, or other psychological factors.