San Sarv Bi Pm Tf 44 Pd 7Asking for Meat
Pāli / Sanskrit:Maṁsaviññāpana
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Explanation of the Maṁsaviññāpana Discourse (Asking for Meat)
Background
The Maṁsaviññāpana discourse, Asking for Meat, is found in the Vinaya Piṭaka of the Pāli Canon, in the Parivāra or Appendix to the Vinaya. These are detailed regulations related to the Vinaya discipline of the traditional Theravāda Buddhist Sangha.
In the historical context, when the Buddha was still alive, bhikkhus lived dependent upon offerings from laypeople. Offered food included rice, soup, and kinds of meat. However, Theravāda Buddhism has clear regulations concerning bhikkhus' consumption of meat, in order to balance accepting offerings, which should not be refused, with compassion (karuṇā) toward living beings.
This discourse deals with a practical issue: when may a bhikkhu consume meat, especially when there has been a request (viññāpana) or a special order to obtain meat?
Main Content
According to the Pāli Vinaya tradition, the core issue is this: a bhikkhu may not request or hint to a donor, "Obtain meat to offer to me." This is an act that violates the rule, because it causes the direct or indirect death of an animal.
The discourse stipulates three kinds of meat that are not permitted to be eaten: elephant meat, human flesh, and lion meat. In addition, if a bhikkhu hears, sees, or suspects that an animal was killed specifically for him, that meat is considered "designated meat" (saṅkhāta-maṁsa) and may not be eaten.
However, meat offered voluntarily, without a prior request (ajjhāsita-maṁsa), is considered pure. This is an important distinction: the Theravāda Vinaya does not completely prohibit the consumption of meat, but prohibits participation in the process of harming animals through request or suggestion.
The basic ethical principle (pañcasīla, the Five Precepts) prohibits "killing living beings" (pāṇātipāta).
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