San Sarv Bi Pm Tf 44 Pd 2Asking for Curd

Dadhiviññāpana Sutta (The Sutta on Asking for Curd)

Background

The Dadhiviññāpana Sutta is found in the Vinaya Pitaka, especially in the Pātimokkha section of the Sangha. This context is recorded in the rules concerning conduct, particularly in relation to maintaining discipline in practice within the community of bhikkhus. In the early period of Buddhism, as the Sangha developed, the Buddha established the precepts (sīla) not to restrict, but to protect spiritual purity and build the trust of the community.

This sutta concerns a specific situation: a bhikkhu or follower of the Buddha requesting curd (dadhi, yogurt or sour milk in the context of ancient India). This is not an ordinary everyday request, but reflects rules concerning moderation, the manner of asking for material necessities, and respect in practice.

Main Content

In the training rules of the Sangha, a bhikkhu’s request for food or requisites must follow certain principles. The Dadhiviññāpana Sutta handles this situation through two important aspects.

First is the matter of how to request (viññāpana). A bhikkhu is not permitted to say directly, “Give me curd,” with disrespectful or overly direct words. Instead, there must be a courteous and respectful manner corresponding to the providers, usually upāsakas and upāsikās, the laymen and laywomen who make offerings.

Second is the point concerning motive and awareness (cetanā). The request must not arise from greed (lobha) or desire beyond the actual need to maintain health for practice. When a bhikkhu asks for curd, it may be for reasons of health or reasonable nutritional need, but not from greed.

The sutta records that curd is regarded as “nutritious food” (rasa, or something with nutritive value), but requesting it must still conform to Vinaya rules.