Lzh Sarv Bu Pm Pc 33Accepting Two or Three Bowls Full

The Sutta on Accepting Two or Three Full Bowls of Food

Dvittipattapūrapaṭiggahaṇa

Background

This text belongs to the Vinaya Piṭaka, specifically the Pātimokkha Saṃvara — the restraints connected with observing the discipline of the Sangha. These are detailed regulations on how bhikkhus eat and receive food according to the teaching of the Buddha Gotama.

This rule was composed in the early Buddhist period, when bhikkhus lived on food offered by the Buddhist community. The Buddha established specific regulations to govern eating behavior, in order to protect the purity of practice, avoid troubling the lay community, and maintain the discipline of the monastic order.

The rules concerning “accepting two or three full bowls” arose from practical situations: when going for alms, bhikkhus might receive too much from devoted laypeople. The monastic legislators needed clear guidance to avoid wastefulness, distraction from practice, and violation of the sanctity of the humble life.

Main Content

The Pātimokkha prescribes that bhikkhus should not actively accept two or three bowls of rice or excessive food, even when laypeople offer it voluntarily. This principle is part of the Dhamma-Vinaya, intended to nurture noble-mindedness and restrain greed.

Specifically, when a bhikkhu is received by a householder and told, “I wish to provide you with two or three bowls,” that bhikkhu should modestly decline and accept only enough food for his meal. If he accepts too much, this is regarded as a violation of the Sekhiya sīla, the training rules concerning detailed conduct.

This rule also reflects the principles of nekkhamma (renunciation) and apariggaha (non-accumulation). Bhikkhus practicing according to the Buddha’s teaching must live with few wishes (appicchatā) and contentment (santuṭṭhitā), that is, with little desire and knowing sufficiency.