San Bu Pm Qizil Sk 66Stuffing Cheeks
Pāli / Sanskrit:Avagaṇḍakāraka
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Explanation of the Avagaṇḍakāraka Sutta
(Sutta on the Act of Stuffing the Cheeks)
Background
The Avagaṇḍakāraka Sutta belongs to the Vinaya Piṭaka, where the Buddha Gotama established training rules (sīla) for the Sangha of monks and nuns. The Vinaya Piṭaka is the ethical foundation of the Theravāda Buddhist monastic community, recording occasions when the Buddha had to intervene in the mistakes of disciples during their training.
This sutta appears when, within the monastic community, some young monks behaved improperly. Specifically, they had the habit of stuffing their cheeks (avagaṇḍakāraka) while eating, that is, putting too much food in the mouth at once. This conduct was not only impolite but also reflected greed for food, lack of concentration, and lack of respect for the rules of training. After learning of the situation, the Buddha laid down a rule (pātimokkha) to correct this fault.
Main Content
The Buddha taught that stuffing the cheeks, that is, putting too much food in the mouth in an uncivil manner, is undignified conduct, unsuitable for the virtue of one who has gone forth. A practitioner should eat with awareness (sati) and self-control (dama), not allowing greed for food to dominate. Eating should be regarded as a simple bodily need, not an opportunity to satisfy unwholesome habits.
The Vinaya Piṭaka requires monastics to maintain courteous ways of eating: eating slowly, chewing thoroughly, and not letting the mouth become too full. This is not only a matter of courtesy but is also related to health and well-being. When one eats mindfully, without greed, the mind becomes clearer and does not fall into boundless craving.
This rule also reflects a broader principle in Theravāda Buddhism: restraint of the sense faculties (indriyasaṃvara). A monastic must train the ability to control the senses of sight, sound, smell, taste, and touch so as not to be swept away by desire. Stuffing the cheeks is an expression of loss of control, and therefore it must be treated seriously within the monastic community.
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