San Bu Pm Qizil Pc 35Encouraging Another Monastic to Eat More After Refusing an Invitation

Dutiyapavarana Sutta: Encouraging Another Renunciant to Eat After Refusing an Invitation

Background

In the early tradition, the Vinaya Pitaka is the collection of rules for the life of the monastic community, established by the Buddha so that his disciples might practice peacefully and harmoniously. The Dutiyapavarana Sutta appears in the context of the daily life of bhikkhus, especially matters related to eating and the provision of sustenance.

In ancient Indian society, inviting monks and nuns to eat was a common expression of reverence. However, a monk might refuse an invitation for many reasons, either because he had eaten enough or because of a practice he was observing. This text addresses the situation in which another monk sees that a monk who has refused food is nevertheless physically frail, and therefore encourages him to eat more in order to maintain his health for practice.

Main Content

The Dutiyapavarana Sutta, from "dutiya" meaning second and "pavarana" meaning invitation or request, revolves around an important principle in the Vinaya Pitaka: the balance between voluntary restraint in eating, not motivated by greed, and maintaining bodily health in order to practice the true Dharma.

In the context of the Vinaya, when a monk refuses an invitation to eat, he may be wishing to practice a restricted alms discipline, such as eating only once a day in the morning (ekabhattika). However, if that monk's body becomes so weak that it may affect his ability to practice, a fellow monk may encourage, even invite, him to eat more. This action is not interference with freedom, but an expression of care and companionship within the Sangha.

The key point in this text is the recognition that Buddhist practice is not self-torment or harm to the body. The Buddha taught the Middle Way (majjhima patipada), avoiding two extremes: excessive indulgence in pleasure and excessive self-mortification.