San Lo Bu Pm Pd 2Receiving Food From Designated Families
Pāli / Sanskrit:Tatiyapāṭidesanīya
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THE THIRD SELF-DECLARATION DISCOURSE (Tatiyapāṭidesanīya)
Background
The Tatiyapāṭidesanīya belongs to the Vinaya Piṭaka in the Theravāda Buddhist tradition, within the Pāṭidesanīya section, the rules of self-declaration established by the Buddha for the bhikkhus. These rules are not severe penalties like the Pārājika or Saṅghādisesa, but are blameworthy acts for which bhikkhus are advised to disclose themselves and apologize before the Sangha.
This discourse was laid down by the Buddha in the context of regulating the training life of bhikkhus, especially concerning the acceptance of food from families designated to provide it. In ancient Indian society, faithful families often voluntarily provided food for monastics. However, to avoid irregularities and conflicts, the Buddha issued clear rules about how to receive and use meals from designated sources.
Main Content
The Tatiyapāṭidesanīya rule states that a bhikkhu should not accept food from a designated family if that family has reserved that portion of food for that particular bhikkhu alone, or if there is some other irregular arrangement concerning the distribution and consumption of the food.
More specifically, this rule reminds bhikkhus to observe fairness and transparency in receiving food from supporting families. If a family sets aside a portion of food for a particular bhikkhu without informing the others, or without following the general rule of the Sangha, that bhikkhu should refuse it or seek to make the distribution public and proper.
A violation of this rule does not lead to grave consequences like other offenses in the Vinaya Piṭaka, but it still requires the bhikkhu to disclose the fault before the Sangha; hence the name “self-declaration” (Pāṭidesanīya), meaning that the bhikkhu must publicly declare and state his action.
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