Xct Mu Bi Sk 60Not prefer one grain

Discourse on “Not Preferring One Grain”

Explanation According to the Theravāda Tradition

Context

This discourse belongs to the Vinaya Piṭaka, the collection of training rules and discipline of the Buddhist Sangha. The Vinaya Pitaka is not merely a set of dry prohibitions; it expresses profound wisdom about how to govern the mind and maintain a harmonious community of practice.

The discourse “Not preferring one grain” arises from a specific situation in the life of monks and nuns. It concerns one’s attitude toward food and living conditions. In the earliest tradition of practice, monks and nuns had to live on whatever was provided and were not to choose according to personal preference. This principle arises from a larger principle: actively nourishing a mind free from greed (anupādinna-citta) and from self-view (anattā).

This context reflects a common problem: when monastics begin to have personal preferences regarding food, they immediately nourish dissatisfaction, discrimination, and greed. These restraints were established not because of material hardship, but for spiritual benefit.

Main Content

The specific content of this discourse has not been fully translated in the available descriptive information source. However, based on the context of the Vinaya Pitaka and the principle of “not preferring one grain,” we may understand that the discourse teaches that monastics should not discriminate among types of food or living conditions.

More specifically, this principle instructs those gone forth to accept whatever food is provided in the most even-minded way, not allowing their mental karma (intention, cetanā) to be defiled by craving or blame. A grain of rice and another grain differ only in form, but if the mind of the eater nourishes preference, then impermanence (anicca) and suffering (dukkha) will still sink more deeply.