San Sarv Bu Pm Finot Pc 81Visiting Families Before a Meal
Pāli / Sanskrit:Cāritta
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Commentary on the Cāritta Sutta
On the Conduct of Bhikkhus Before a Meal
Background
The Cāritta Sutta belongs to the Vinaya Piṭaka of the Theravāda Buddhist tradition, comprising detailed rules of practice for the fourfold community of monastics. The word cāritta in Pāli means "conduct" or "proper deportment," referring to modes of behavior and ways of living that must accord with Buddhist ethical principles.
This passage of scripture records the practice of bhikkhus when visiting lay households before receiving a meal. These are not punitive regulations, but rather guidelines that help bhikkhus maintain purity, reverence, and honorable standing in the eyes of the lay Buddhist community. Holding conduct in high regard is a foundational principle of the Theravāda Vinaya.
Main Content
In the context of the Vinaya Piṭaka, when bhikkhus enter a village to teach the Dharma or to receive a meal from lay households, they must at all times preserve their virtue through every action and every word. The Cāritta Sutta emphasizes that bhikkhus are to maintain a dignified outward bearing: walking with steady, even steps, casting the gaze downward about five spans, and speaking wisely and appropriately. The demeanor of a bhikkhu is not merely a personal expression, but also a representation of the Dharma in the eyes of the lay community.
When visiting households before a meal, bhikkhus must avoid actions that may give rise to misunderstanding or cause lay persons to lose faith. They should not select for themselves the most desirable food, should not discuss the flavors of what they eat, and should not display greed or partiality. All such things are regarded as violations of proper conduct (cāritta), even if they may not constitute serious offenses under the Pātimokkha.
The essence of this regulation is to educate bhikkhus in integrity and self-restraint.
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