San Lo Bi Vb Sk 31Overlarge Mouthful
Pāli / Sanskrit:Nātimahanta
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Nātimahanta Sutta — The Overlarge Mouthful
Background
The Nātimahanta Sutta is found in the Vinaya Piṭaka, an important division of the Pāli Canon. The Vinaya Piṭaka is the collection of rules of practice and discipline that the Blessed Buddha established for the monastic community of monks and nuns. This sutta belongs to the Sanghadisesa, rules whose violation has serious consequences for the Sangha community and requires the whole assembly to gather for resolution.
The background for the arising of this sutta was when bhikkhus and bhikkhunīs gathered to eat together on Uposatha days, days for recitation and observance of the precepts. In these circumstances, incidents occurred concerning improper ways of eating, and from this the Blessed Buddha laid down a rule to correct them.
Main Content
The Nātimahanta Sutta, "The Overlarge Mouthful," instructs on the issue of eating portions of rice or food that are too large, exceeding what is reasonable. This rule was established to maintain dignity, discipline, and courtesy during communal meals.
According to the Vinaya Piṭaka, when a bhikkhu or bhikkhunī eats a mouthful of rice of a size beyond what is considered normal, especially a size difficult to chew thoroughly and swallow properly, this is considered a violation of the principles of careful eating. This action not only shows a lack of self-control, but may also create distraction in the community, affecting the calm mood of others eating together.
The Blessed Buddha emphasized that eating and drinking by a bhikkhu or bhikkhunī is not merely a personal matter, but reflects the ethics and discipline of the entire Sangha community. Careless or overly greedy actions in eating may produce negative effects, leading the Buddhist lay community to doubt the Sangha.
Practical Meaning
The Nātimahanta Sutta bears a profound meaning beyond basic eating and drinking.
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