Lzh Sarv Bu Pm 2 Pd 3Receiving Food From Designated Families
Pāli / Sanskrit:Tatiyapāṭidesanīya
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Interpretation of the Tatiyapāṭidesanīya Sutta
Receiving Food from Designated Families
Background
The Tatiyapāṭidesanīya Sutta is found in the Vinaya Piṭaka, especially in the Pātimokkha, the basic ethical rules for monastics. It is one of the important regulations concerning the receiving of food by renunciants in the Theravāda Buddhist tradition.
The background for the arising of this regulation comes from a specific situation in the Sangha community during the Buddha's time. Some faithful families wished to set aside portions of food for particular teachers, or requested that certain persons be allowed to receive food from their houses. This could lead to discrimination, create unnecessary distinctions among members of the Sangha, and violate the spirit of equality and non-possession (apariggaha), one of the basic principles of the life of practice.
The Buddha laid down the Tatiyapāṭidesanīya Sutta to guide the monastic community in the proper way of dealing with food supplies from specifically designated families.
Main Content
The discourse states that when a designated family (pāṭidesanīya) wishes to reserve food for particular monastics, renunciants should not accept attached conditions that are discriminatory or create personal preference. The key point is the principle of equality in the Sangha: all bhikkhus and bhikkhunīs have the right to receive food according to their reasonable needs, not according to the preference or benefit of any individual.
If a monastic accepts from a designated family good food reserved only for himself and not for others, or accepts special privileges not enjoyed by other members of the Sangha, this act is considered a violation of the Pāṭidesanīya rule, one of the four types of violations in the Pāli legal system. It is not the gravest violation, but still requires acknowledgment and confession.
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