Lzh Sarv Bu Vb Pc 37Eating at the Wrong Time
Pāli / Sanskrit:Vikālabhojana
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Discourse on Eating at the Wrong Time (Vikālabhojana)
Background
The rules concerning the time for eating in the Vinaya Piṭaka are not arbitrary prohibitions, but arise from specific events in the lives of the Buddha and his disciples. The Vikālabhojana discourse records one of the important decisions concerning Sangha discipline, related to monastics’ breach of conditions of practice (paccaya) by eating outside the prescribed time.
In the early tradition, a monastic’s day is divided into two parts: divasabhāga (daytime) and rattiabhāga (nighttime). The permitted time for eating is from sunrise until the moment the sun reaches the zenith, around noon or before. Any eating after this point, including at night, is considered vikālabhojana, eating at the wrong time.
This decision was not made because Buddhism wished to force monastics into an unreasonably severe diet, but to support three goals of the Sangha: (1) reducing wandering in search of food at night, (2) protecting small living beings that might be harmed when moving about in darkness, and (3) creating conditions for meditation and spiritual practice during the late evening hours.
Main Content
The discourse clearly states that eating outside the prescribed time (vikālabhojana) is regarded as a light offense, belonging to the pācittiya class, the confession rules. This means that female or male monastics do not violate a bodhisattva vow, but the act reflects a lack of self-control and may create habits unhelpful to practice.
The reasons given for maintaining this rule are very practical. First, eating at night interrupts meditation practice, because a full stomach can cause discomfort while sitting. Second, searching for food at night can lead to dangers or situations unsuitable to virtue. Third, keeping a common discipline regarding the time for eating helps maintain harmony in the monastic community.
However, the Vinaya Piṭaka also provides reasonable exceptions.
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