San Bu Pm Qizil Pc 40Asking for Fine Foods
Pāli / Sanskrit:Paṇītabhojana
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SUTTA ON ASKING FOR FINE FOODS (PANITABHOJANA)
Background
This sutta is recorded in the Vinaya Pitaka of the early tradition, within the collection of ethical regulations for monks and nuns, here referring to bhikkhunis. The Vinaya Pitaka is the collection of rules of practice established by the Buddha Gotama in order to maintain discipline within the religious community, protect the purity of the Dharma, and create favorable conditions for the practice of liberation.
The content of this sutta arises from a specific situation concerning nuns (bhikkhunis) asking for delicious foods, better than what was normally provided. This is not a trivial matter in the context of early Buddhist practice, because the ethics of eating and the attitude toward material happiness must be carefully governed so as not to fall into greed and desire.
Main Content
The Panitabhojana Sutta (Asking for fine food) revolves around rules concerning nuns who should not actively request delicious foods superior to what donors ordinarily offer. The word "panita" means superior, refined, or excellent; "bhojana" means food.
The basic principle taught by the Buddha is that nuns should be content with what they are provided through the almsgiving of faithful people. Asking for special, delicious, or valuable foods is an action arising from greed (lobha), harming one's own virtue and also creating a burden for donors.
The sutta states that nuns who violate this rule are regarded as acting inappropriately. This is intended to guide monks and nuns in maintaining purity of mind and avoiding greedy actions, because asking for better things is a sign of dissatisfaction and craving, the chief obstacles to attaining nirvana (nibbana).
Practical Meaning
The Panitabhojana Sutta teaches us that Buddhist practice is not a process of pursuing better or higher-quality things in the material realm.
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