Lzh Sarv Bu Vb Pd 1Receiving a Nun’s Food
Pāli / Sanskrit:Paṭhamapāṭidesanīya
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Paṭhamapāṭidesanīya Sutta: On Receiving Food from Nuns
Background
The Paṭhamapāṭidesanīya Sutta (First Declaration Rule) belongs to the Vinaya Piṭaka in the Pāli Canon, where the complete rules for monks and nuns are recorded. The background for the arising of this discourse concerns discipline regarding the way male monastics receive and eat food from female monastics.
The Buddha laid down this rule when he saw that some male monastics were behaving in ways not in keeping with the spirit of pure practice. Specifically, these male monastics often went to ask food from female monastics in an intimate manner or with impure intentions, which could give rise to suspicion in the minds of Buddhist devotees and affect the reputation of the Dharma.
Main Content
According to the Vinaya Piṭaka, the Buddha prescribed that male monastics should not frequently or casually ask for food from individual female monastics, especially in circumstances that could give rise to unwholesome mutual speculation. If a male monastic must receive food from a nun, this should also be done openly, with witnesses, and with a mind focused on practice, without any eager or exploitative thought.
This rule expresses the principle of protecting body, speech, and mind for both monastic communities. Male monastics avoid criticism, and nuns are also not placed under suspicion. This also relates to the Four Foundations of Mindfulness (Satipaṭṭhāna), complete awareness, in which monks and nuns must govern the sense faculties strictly.
The Paṭhamapāṭidesanīya Sutta also states that if this rule is violated, the male monastic must declare (paṭidesana) the matter publicly before the monastic assembly to apologize and confess. This is the practice of purification (parisuddhi), the cleansing of the mind from faults.
Practical Meaning
This discourse does not speak only about personal freedom, but also emphasizes the social responsibility of each practitioner.
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