Bu Pc 3535. Eating more after refusing an invitation
Pāli / Sanskrit:Pavāraṇā
A monk who eats after finishing his meal must confess the offense.
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Pavāraṇā: On Eating More After Refusing
Background
This rule is found in the Bhikkhunī Pātimokkha (the code of discipline for nuns), specifically within the Pācittiya chapter (offenses requiring confession). In the Theravāda tradition, the Pātimokkha is the foundational code of the Sangha, governing the actions and conduct of monks and nuns.
This rule arises in the context of regulating the eating practices of the Sangha. According to the Vinaya, monastics are expected to partake of food offered during the prescribed period—generally from morning until noon. If a monastic has concluded his or her meal (that is, has indicated that he or she will eat no more) but then proceeds to eat again, this is regarded as a breach of discipline, particularly because it reflects a lack of mindfulness and the presence of greed.
This rule has its origins in specific situations encountered by the disciples of the Buddha. The regulations governing eating are not merely about the practice of restraint, but also about training the mind, cultivating freedom from material desires, and teaching fellow monastics that discipline is the foundation of virtue.
Main Content
The rule formula (Pācittiya 35) stipulates that if a monastic has concluded his or her meal—by declaration or by a gesture indicating that no more will be eaten—and thereafter continues to eat or consume food, he or she commits a Pācittiya offense, that is, an act requiring confession before the Sangha or before another bhikkhu.
Furthermore, Nissaggiya (offenses involving forfeiture) similarly requires that the offending monastic forfeit the relevant item or food and make confession. The distinction in the Vinaya between "refusing an invitation" (pavāraṇā) and actually concluding one's meal is clearly drawn—once the refusal has been made, any subsequent eating is regarded as an act of unmindful greed and lack of discipline.
Notably, this rule applies to all categories of food: rice, bread, or anything considered "principal food."
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