Theravāda Collection on Monastic Law

The Great Analysis

The chapter on training

The subchapter on respectfully

37. The training rule on requesting rice and bean curry

Origin story

First sub-story

At one time the Buddha was staying at Sāvatthī in the Jeta Grove, Anāthapiṇḍika’s Monastery.

At that time the monks from the group of six ate rice and bean curry that they had requested themselves.

People complained and criticized them,

“How can the Sakyan monastics eat rice and bean curry that they have requested themselves?

Who doesn’t like nice food?

Who doesn’t prefer tasty food?”

The monks heard the complaints of those people,

and the monks of few desires complained and criticized those monks,

“How can the monks from the group of six do this?” …

“Is it true, monks, that you do this?”

“It’s true, sir.”

The Buddha rebuked them …

“Foolish men, how can you do this?

This will affect people’s confidence …” …

“And, monks, this training rule should be recited like this:

Preliminary ruling

‘“I will not request bean curry or rice for myself and then eat it,” this is how you should train.’”

In this way the Buddha laid down this training rule for the monks.

Second sub-story

Soon afterwards a number of monks were sick.

The monks who were looking after them asked,

“I hope you’re bearing up? I hope you’re getting better?”

“Previously we ate rice and bean curry that we had requested ourselves, and then we were comfortable.

But now

that the Buddha has prohibited this, we don’t ask because we’re afraid of wrongdoing. And because of that we’re not comfortable.”

They told the Buddha. Soon afterwards he gave a teaching and addressed the monks:

“Monks, I allow a sick monk to eat rice and bean curry that he has requested for himself.

And so, monks, this training rule should be recited like this:

Final ruling

‘“When not sick, I will not request bean curry or rice for myself and then eat it,” this is how you should train.’”

When one is not sick, one should not request bean curry or rice for oneself and then eat it.

If a monk who is not sick, out of disrespect, eats bean curry or rice that he has requested for himself, he commits an offense of wrong conduct.

Non-offenses

There is no offense:

if it is unintentional;

if he is not mindful;

if he does not know;

if he is sick;

if it is from relatives;

if it is from those who have given an invitation;

if it is for the benefit of someone else;

if it is by means of his own property;

if there is an emergency;

if he is insane;

if he is the first offender.

The seventh training rule is finished.