Lzh Sarv Bu Pm Pc 35Encouraging Another Monastic to Eat More After Refusing an Invitation
Pāli / Sanskrit:Dutiyapavāraṇā
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Explanation of the Dutiyapavāraṇā Sutta
On Encouraging Another to Eat More After Refusing an Invitation
Background
The Dutiyapavāraṇā rule (Pāli: “the second invitation”) belongs to the Vinaya Piṭaka, specifically the Pātimokkha Saṃvara — the rules monastics must keep. In the Theravāda tradition, the Vinaya Piṭaka is not merely a set of restrictions, but also guidance on how monastics live together harmoniously in the Sangha.
This situation arises from the foundation of Theravāda Buddhism: monastics live on alms from the community. When invited to eat, refusing or accepting is not only a personal matter, but affects the faith of food donors and the internal harmony of the Sangha. This rule addresses a delicate situation: when a monastic refuses an invitation to eat more, how can others support that person without violating the spirit of the discipline?
Main Content
Dutiyapavāraṇā deals with a practical question: if a bhikkhu has refused a portion of food — whether for reasons of health, effort in practice, or any valid reason — may another bhikkhu encourage him to eat more? And if so, does this violate the discipline?
According to the Theravāda Vinaya, renewing the invitation (pavāraṇā, literally “opening up” or “inviting again”) for a monastic to eat more after he has first refused is permitted if done with a proper motive: concern for health and a wish to support another’s practice. However, what matters is that the manner of doing so must respect the individual’s autonomy. No one has the right to compel or apply excessive pressure. The encouragement must express care, not control.
The subtle point here is that Buddhist ethics does not lie only in the outward action, but in intention (cetanā).
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