Lzh Sarv Bu Pm Pd 4Receiving Food in a Dangerous Region
Pāli / Sanskrit:Catutthapāṭidesanīya
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The Catutthapāṭidesanīya Sutta: Regulation on Receiving Food in a Dangerous Region
Background
Catutthapāṭidesanīya is the fourth rule in the Pāṭidesanīya class, regulations requiring public declaration, found in the traditional Theravāda Vinaya. This rule arose from concrete situations in the early monastic community, when the Blessed Buddha needed to act to protect the honor of the Sangha and maintain ethical discipline.
According to the historical context, in local regions where security was unstable or where residents lacked trust toward monks and nuns, the receiving of food by bhikkhus from unclear sources could lead to misunderstanding, offend local devotees, or even create risks for the renunciant himself.
Main Content
Catutthapāṭidesanīya stipulates that bhikkhus should not receive food, especially meat or other offerings, from regions considered dangerous or from people whose acceptance could cause misunderstanding. This is not intended as a complete prohibition, but as an ethical rule requiring public declaration when violated.
This regulation emphasizes that a bhikkhu must practice caution not only in action, but also in choosing the means of subsistence. Receiving food from people or places likely to cause controversy affects not only oneself but also the image of the Sangha as a whole. Therefore, the Blessed Buddha instructed his disciples to consider carefully the potential danger in each small decision.
This regulation also reflects an important principle in the Vinaya: practice is not only for the individual’s sake, but also carries responsibility toward the community and society. This shows that early Buddhism recognized the relationship between individual action and social influence.
Practical Meaning
The deep purpose of Catutthapāṭidesanīya is to train wisdom (paññā) and carefulness in every daily decision.
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