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Pāli / Sanskrit:Kabaḷāvacchedaka
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Commentary on the Kabaḷāvacchedaka Sutta (The Discourse on Dividing Food)
Background
The Kabaḷāvacchedaka Sutta is found in the Vinaya Piṭaka, specifically in the Sutta Vibhaṅga, the detailed regulations concerning monastic principles. This discourse was spoken when the Buddha was at Sāvatthī, in order to guide the community of bhikkhus in upright conduct when dividing portions of food, especially rice and staple food (kabaḷa, a mouthful of rice).
The background arose from situations in which bhikkhus did not carefully consider how they divided food among themselves, or did not observe the rules of fairness and cleanliness during the process. The Vinaya Piṭaka records these regulations to protect the spirit of restraint (saṃvara, self-control) and loving-kindness (mettā) within the community of bhikkhus.
Main Content
The Kabaḷāvacchedaka Sutta states that when dividing rice or staple food, bhikkhus must follow specific principles. First, food portions must be divided fairly, without bias or discrimination. The person dividing them, usually the bhikkhu assigned to manage the kitchen or food, must have a clear intention: the portions of rice are divided to sustain life and support practice, not for indulgence or the satisfaction of greed.
The discourse also points out prohibited situations when dividing rice: it must not be scattered, it must not be unclean, and one must make sure that the food being divided is clean and suitable. If a bhikkhu violates these rules intentionally or through negligence, the Vinaya provides appropriate penalties or corrective measures, from admonition to more complex penances depending on the severity of the violation.
More importantly, the discourse emphasizes that dividing food is not merely a material act, but an expression of virtues such as fairness (sammā-diṭṭhi, right view), loving-kindness (mettā), and carefulness (appamāda). Every mouthful of rice that is divided should be regarded as a true offering for the practice of the community.
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