Mpt Sk 64Licking the Bowl
Pāli / Sanskrit:Pattanillehaka
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Commentary on the Pattanillehaka Sutta (Licking the Bowl)
Background
The Pattanillehaka Sutta is found in the Vinaya Piṭaka of the Pāli Canon, belonging to the Early Buddhist tradition of the Dharma. This collection records rules of training and monastic discipline from early Buddhism, gathered in the form of actions that are approved or prohibited within the Sangha community. The title “Licking the Bowl” (Pattanillehaka — “licking the bowl”) refers to a specific action related to the use of the alms bowl in the daily rules of life of the Sangha.
In the context of ancient India, the bowl (patta) was a sacred implement of bhikkhus, not only an eating utensil but also a symbol of simplicity and non-ambition in monastic life. Small details about how the bowl is used and related actions reflect the spirit of disciplined practice, respect for communal property, and contemplation of minimalism in material needs.
Main Content
This sutta records a specific rule on the use of the alms bowl. Accordingly, a bhikkhu should not lick or scrape to obtain every remaining grain of rice in the bowl after eating. The act of licking the bowl (pattanillehaka) is considered unsuitable to the deportment of a practitioner and a violation of basic principles of discipline (vinaya).
The basic reason is that this act reflects a mind of greed — the effort not to waste or to obtain everything possible — even if the initial intention may appear good. Yet it reveals the agitation of the mind and dissatisfaction with what has been received. This is not true thrift, but an expression of subtle temptation and acquisitiveness.
This rule is also related to preserving collective discipline. In the Sangha community, individual actions affect not only oneself but also the image and spirit of the community.
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