San Lo Bu Pm Pc 35Eating Unoffered Food
Pāli / Sanskrit:Dantapona
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The Discourse on Eating Food Not Yet Offered (Dantapona)
Background
This discourse belongs to the Vinaya Piṭaka in the Theravāda tradition of the Buddha-Dharma, specifically the Pātimokkha Samvara of the bhikkhus. Its content revolves around a practical issue in the communal life of the Sangha: the restriction on food that has not been offered or has not been permitted for use.
In the time of the Buddha Gotama, the Sangha received food from the lay community. However, in order to cultivate the noble path, bhikkhus needed to observe strict regulations regarding food. This not only trained the mind in purity (sīla), but also ensured that each action of a bhikkhu was trusted by the people, thereby maintaining respect for the noble ones.
Main Content
The Dantapona rule states that bhikkhus should not eat food that has not been specifically offered or permitted by the owner. In other words, food is considered "offered" when the owner has completely relinquished ownership of it, or when it has been given with a clear intention for the bhikkhus.
Observing this rule is connected with the concept of "attha," twofold benefit: benefit for each individual bhikkhu, the personal cultivation of purity, and benefit for the whole Sangha, maintaining an ethical image in the eyes of the community. It also avoids suspicions or criticism that bhikkhus are appropriating the property of others.
According to the Vinaya Piṭaka, if a bhikkhu eats food that has not been offered, this action creates a Pācittiya offense, an offense requiring confession and correction. The degree of seriousness depends on such factors as intention, the degree of awareness of the rule, and the specific nature of the act.
Practical Meaning
The Dantapona rule is not merely a dry administrative regulation, but an expression of the noble path of practice.
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