Xct Mu Bu Pm Sk 60Not prefer one taste

Explanation of the “Not Preferring One Taste” Sutta

Background

This sutta is recorded in the Vinaya Piṭaka, specifically in the Suttavibhaṅga section of the Pāṭimokkha, where the Buddha laid down rules of practice for monks and nuns. The Vinaya Piṭaka is not merely a collection of dry prohibitions, but practical instructions arising from specific situations in the monastic community.

The “Not Preferring One Taste” sutta, which may be translated as “Not Choosing One Flavor,” arose from a moment when a teacher and disciples argued over the flavor of food or the manner in which meals were served in the community. This may seem a small matter, but it reflects a profound issue: attachment to personal preferences divides the harmony of the monastic body.

The historical context shows that in the early days of the Sangha Jewel, the monks were kind, but there were no clear rules about eating and drinking. This led to a situation in which some preferred a certain flavor, while others refused to share portions unless the food was prepared as they wished. Such rigidity broke the spirit of collective practice.

Main Content

This sutta teaches that monks and nuns should not have a special preference for one flavor or one manner of eating. This is not an absolute prohibition, but counsel regarding one’s mental attitude. When a practitioner accepts only one “taste” (rasa), that person creates a psychological boundary: “this is good for me; that is not.” Such discrimination leads to greed, hatred, and delusion, the three poisons of the mind.

The Buddha taught that a monk or nun is truly free when they can accept any reasonable portion that is offered. If there is rice, they eat rice. If there is porridge, they eat porridge. If there is soup, they eat soup. There is no complaint, no comparison. This is the expression of sati (mindfulness) and saṃvara (sense restraint).

Furthermore, the sutta reminds us that having personal preferences creates difficulty for the community.