Lzh Sarv Bu Pm 2 Pc 36Eating in a Group

The Scripture on Eating Together (Gaṇabhojana)

Background

The Scripture on Eating Together belongs to the Vinaya Piṭaka of the Early Buddhist tradition, recorded in the Vinaya texts of the early Buddhist schools. It is a rule of practice concerning conduct around food within the monastic community, reflecting the Buddha's deep concern for harmony and diligence in the Sangha.

In the time of the Buddha, the bhikkhus lived in dependence upon the threefold offering (three forms of provision: for an individual monk, for a small group, or for a large community). When eating together—a common form of communal life among the monastics—the bhikkhus were required to maintain mindfulness, self-restraint, and an awareness of balance in consumption. This was especially important because eating and drinking is a domain in which greed, discrimination, and heedlessness can easily arise.

Main Content

The Scripture on Eating Together prescribes that when bhikkhus eat together in a communal setting (gaṇabhojana), they are to follow specific guidelines regarding proper conduct. These rules are not harsh restrictions, but rather practical guidelines that help protect the mind from those influences that cause agitation.

In particular, the bhikkhus are encouraged not to:
Eat with an attitude of greed, motivated solely by the desire to take the finest and greatest amount of food;
Eat hastily, without mindfulness, or to engage in excessive laughing and talking;
Create unnecessary distinctions among the various kinds of food.

Instead, when eating together, the bhikkhus should:
Maintain mindfulness (sati) with regard to the act of eating;
Recollect that food is provided to nourish health for the purpose of continuing one's practice;
Eat in a calm and composed manner, showing respect for the food and for those who have offered it;
Refrain from making distinctions or comparisons regarding the quality and quantity of food.