Mpt Pc 34Eating More After Refusing an Invitation
Pāli / Sanskrit:Pavāraṇā
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Exposition of the Pavāraṇā Discourse (Mpt Pc 34)
Vinaya Piṭaka - Theravāda Tradition
Background
The Pavāraṇā discourse belongs to the Vinaya Piṭaka of the Pāli Canon and shows the strictness of Theravāda Buddhist discipline. The name "Pavāraṇā" means "refusal" or "invitation to speak openly," and is connected with rules concerning the conduct of bhikkhus when invited to eat.
This context appears during the lifetime of the Buddha, when he established ethical rules (sīla) to regulate the daily life of bhikkhus. These rules were intended to safeguard diligence in practice, avoid conduct that would undermine the trust of the lay community, and develop a mind of compassion and non-greed.
The Pātimokkha (Pācittiya) section, in which this discourse is found, is the list of the lightest class of offenses requiring confession in the Vinaya. The Pavāraṇā discourse specifically concerns proper conduct in accepting or refusing invitations to eat.
Main Content
The discourse states that if a bhikkhu has refused an invitation to eat rice from one householder, but afterward eats more from another householder at that same time or occasion, this action violates the Pātimokkha. Specifically, the bhikkhu must observe consistency: if he refuses, he must refuse completely; if he accepts, he must follow the rules concerning the quantity and time of eating.
The reason behind this rule is profound. First, it reflects the teaching on craving (taṇhā). Refusing and then eating more reveals a greedy mind: wanting to refuse in order to appear modest, while in fact still wanting to eat more. Second, it protects the ethics of truthfulness and consistency between speech and action. Third, it trains the mind in not indulging sensual pleasures.
This conduct also undermines the trust of householders. When a bhikkhu refuses, lay people believe that the monk truly has no need to eat more.
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