Lzh Sarv Bu Vb Pc 31Eating Successive Meals
Pāli / Sanskrit:Paramparabhojana
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PARAMPARABHOJANA DISCOURSE: ON EATING SUCCESSIVE MEALS
Background
Paramparabhojana (Pāli: parampara = successive, bhojana = meal) is a prohibition in the Vinaya Piṭaka of the early tradition, belonging to the Pātimokkha, the list of precepts. This rule was established due to situations in the life of the Sangha during the Buddha’s time, when some bhikkhus took advantage of eating habits to satisfy desire and laziness in practice.
According to the Vinaya Piṭaka, this prohibition belongs to the Pācittiya category, that is, minor offenses requiring confession and correction. It is not a grave offense like Pārājika or Saṃghādisesa, but it still must be observed in order to maintain discipline in the Sangha and help bhikkhus train in non-greed, the restraint of desire.
Main Content
The rule of paramparabhojana forbids bhikkhus from eating several successive meals in the same day. Specifically, after completing the main meal in the morning, from waking until noon according to the rule against eating after midday, if a bhikkhu wishes to eat another meal, there must be a definite interval between the meals to distinguish them. If he eats successively without a clear “break,” or eats repeatedly while food from the previous meal has not yet been digested, this violates the rule.
The basis of this prohibition is not scarcity of food or poor eating conditions, but the principle of training: non-greed concerning food. A bhikkhu should know how to control himself and not allow eating to become a sensual indulgence. By limiting the number of meals, the Dharma helps practitioners clearly recognize the difference between eating in order to live, rather than living in order to eat, and satisfying limitless craving.
This rule is also related to courtesy within the bhikkhu community: it helps maintain order in communal meals, avoiding a situation in which some eat too much while others must wait, thereby causing disorder in the Sangha.
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