San Mu Bu Pm GBM 2 Pc 38Storing Food

SUTTA ON STORING FOOD (Sannidhikāraka)

Background

The Sutta on Storing Food (Sannidhikāraka) belongs to the Vinaya Piṭaka of the Theravāda Buddhist tradition and is found in the Pācittiya section, rules of light confession. The spirit of this sutta arises from practical guidance on managing property and food in the monastic community.

The historical background shows that in the Buddha’s time, the Sangha faced challenges in managing daily life. Bhikkhus often received food, robes, and necessities from laypeople. The question arose: how should these items be used in a way consistent with the spirit of practice, without falling into greed, excessive storing, or unclear management?

In particular, storing food is directly related to observing the principles of awareness, restraint of the senses, and practice of the Middle Way, core elements of Buddhism.

Main Content

The Sutta on Storing Food prescribes that a bhikkhu is not permitted personally to store perishable foods, especially kinds that may arouse craving or easily give rise to greed. Such foods must be entrusted to a designated steward or handled according to the common rules of the monastery.

Specifically, the personal storing of valuable foods such as milk, honey, or oil is considered a Pācittiya offense. The reason is not that these things are evil, but that they easily stimulate greed, leading to hoarding and loss of awareness. A bhikkhu in training should live with the attitude of a "pabbajita," one who has gone forth and abandoned worldly entanglements, and should not accumulate.

In addition, the sutta implies that storing goods may easily create misunderstandings or suspicion among the lay community, affecting the pure image of the Sangha Jewel. This relates to the principle of "āpatti," respect for public trust.