Bu Pd 44. Receiving food in a dangerous place
Pāli / Sanskrit:Catutthapāṭidesanīya
A monk who receives food in a dangerous wilderness dwelling must acknowledge the offense.
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The Fourth Pāṭidesanīya: The Act of Receiving Food in a Dangerous Place
Background
Within the Vinaya Piṭaka of Theravāda Buddhism, the Pāṭidesanīya (Pāli: Pāṭidesanīya) is a category of offense requiring the offender to make a public confession before the Sangha. The Catutthapāṭidesanīya—the fourth such rule—addresses the matters of safety and proper conduct of a Bhikkhu (monk) when living and practicing in remote forests or dangerous dwellings.
This context arose from practical situations encountered during the early period of the Sangha's practice. When bhikkhus chose to dwell in remote, sparsely inhabited areas, they faced many dangers—wild animals, malicious persons, or difficulties in obtaining food. In order to protect the monks both spiritually and physically, the Buddha established clear restrictions regarding the manner of receiving food in such places.
Main Content
The fourth Pāṭidesanīya stipulates that a bhikkhu should not personally receive food directly from the hands of a donor while residing in a dangerous dwelling. The act of receiving food in this manner is considered incompatible with the caution required in such circumstances—it is not a violation of the Pārājika (a major prohibition) or the Saṅghādisesa (an offense requiring formal reconciliation), but rather an act that the bhikkhu must "confess" or "acknowledge publicly" (desanīya) before the other members of the Sangha.
The fundamental reason lies in the purpose of protection. A dangerous dwelling may be a deep forest, a cave, or a place frequently beset by threats. When an outside party (one who is not a bhikkhu) comes bearing food for the bhikkhu, the act of the bhikkhu receiving it directly may give rise to undesirable consequences: difficulty in maintaining vigilance, a lapse in alertness, or even the possibility of being taken advantage of. Therefore, the rule requires the mediation or witnessing of another bhikkhu.
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