Origin story

First sub-story

At one time the Buddha was staying at Vesālī in the hall with the peaked roof in the Great Wood. At that time in Vesālī people had arranged a succession of fine meals. And a certain poor worker thought, “Why don’t I prepare a meal? It won’t be inferior to the meal respectfully prepared by these people.”

He then went to his boss Kira and said, “Sir, I wish to prepare a meal for the Order of monks headed by the Buddha. Please give me my salary.” Because Kira also had faith and confidence,

he gave the worker his salary and much extra. Soon afterwards that worker went to the Master, bowed down to him, and sat down to one side. He then said, “Venerable Sir, please accept a meal from me tomorrow together with the Order of monks.”

“Do you know that the Order is large?”

“Let the Order be large, Venerable Sir. I’ve prepared much jujube and also drinks mixed with jujube.” The Master consented by remaining silent, and the worker understood.

He rose from his seat, circumambulated the Master with his right side towards him, and left.

The monks heard that a poor worker had invited the Order of monks headed by the Buddha for a meal on the following day, complete with drinks mixed with jujube. And so they ate in the morning after walking for alms.

When people heard that a poor worker had invited the Order of monks headed by the Buddha for a meal, they brought much food of various kinds to him. The following morning that worker prepared that food, and then told the Master, “It’s time, Venerable Sir, the meal is ready.”

The Master robed up, took his bowl and robe, and together with the Order of monks, he went to the house of that poor worker, where he sat down on the prepared seat in the dining hall. The worker served the monks, but they kept saying, “Give just a little.”

“Venerables, don’t accept so little because you think I’m just poor worker. I’ve prepared much food of various kinds. Venerables, please accept as much as you like.”

“We’re not accepting so little because of that, but because we ate in the morning after walking for alms.”

That poor worker complained and criticized them, “How can the Venerables eat elsewhere when invited by me? Am I not able to give as much as they need?”

The monks heard the complaints of that worker, and the monks of few desires … complained and criticized those monks, “How can those monks eat elsewhere when invited for a meal?” … “Is it true, monks, that monks did this?”

“It’s true, Master.”

The Buddha criticized them, “… How can those foolish men eat elsewhere when invited for a meal? This will not give rise to confidence in those without it … And, monks, this training rule should be recited thus:

First preliminary ruling

‘If a monk eats a meal before another, he commits an offense entailing confession.’”

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

Second sub-story

Soon afterwards a cetain monk became sick. Another monk took some almsfood, went to that monk, and told him to eat it.

“I can’t; I’m expecting another meal.”

But that almsfood only arrived after midday, and that monk did not eat as much as he had intended. They told the Master. Soon afterwards the Master gave a teaching and addressed the monks, “Monks, I allow a sick monk to eat a meal before another. And so, monks, this training rule should be recited thus:

Second preliminary ruling

‘If a monk eats a meal before another, unless there is an appropriate reason, he commits an offense entailing confession. The appropriate reason is this: he is sick.’”

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

Third sub-story

Soon afterwards, during the robe-giving season, people prepared a meal together with robe-cloth and then invited the monks, “We wish to offer you a meal and give you robe-cloth.” Knowing that the Master had prohibited eating a meal before another and being afraid of wrongdoing, they did not accept. As a result they only obtained a small amount of robe-cloth. They told the Master. … “Monks, I allow you to eat a meal before another during the robe-giving season. And so, monks, this training rule should be recited thus:

Third preliminary ruling

‘If a monk eats a meal before another, unless there is an appropriate reason, he commits an offense entailing confession. The appropriate reasons are these: he is sick, it is the robe-giving season.’”

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

Fourth sub-story

Soon afterwards people invited monks who were making a robe for a meal. Knowing that the Master had prohibited eating a meal before another and being afraid of wrongdoing, they did not accept. They told the Master. … “Monks, I allow you to eat a meal before another when you are making a robe. And so, monks, this training rule should be recited thus:

Final ruling

‘If a monk eats a meal before another, unless there is an appropriate reason, he commits an offense entailing confession. The appropriate reasons are these: he is sick, it is the robe-giving season, he is making a robe.’”

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

Fifth sub-story

Soon afterwards the Master robed up in the morning, took his bowl and robe, and went to a certain family with Venerable Ānanda as his attendant. He sat down on the prepared seat, and the people there gave staple food. Being afraid of wrongdoing, Ānanda did not accept it. The Master said, “Accept it, Ānanda.”

“I can’t, Master, I’m expecting another meal.”

“Well then, Ānanda, transfer that meal to someone else and then receive this.”

Soon afterwards the Master gave a teaching and addressed the monks, “Monks, I allow you to eat a meal before another if you transfer the other meal to someone else. And, monks, this is how it should be transferred: ‘I give my expected meal to so-and-so.’”

Definitions

Eats a meal before another: if he has been invited to eat any of the five staple foods, and he then eats any of the five staple foods elsewhere—this is called “eats a meal before another.”

Unless there is an appropriate reason: except at an appropriate time.

He is sick: if he is not able to eat as much as he needs in one session, he may eat a meal before another.

It is the robe-giving season: That is, the last month of the rainy season, plus the four months of the cold season.if he has not done the robe-making ceremony, he may eat a meal before another during the last month of the rainy season. If he has done the robe-making ceremony, he may eat a meal before another during the five month period.

He is making a robe: if he is making a robe, he may eat a meal before another.

If he receives food with the intention of eating it, unless there is an appropriate reason, he commits an offense of wrong conduct. For every mouthful, he commits an offense entailing confession.

Permutations

If it is a meal before another, and he perceives it as a meal before another, and he eats it, unless there is an appropriate reason, he commits an offense entailing confession. If it is a meal before another, but he is unsure if it is, and he eats it, unless there is an appropriate reason, he commits an offense entailing confession. If it is a meal before another, but he does not perceive it as a meal before another, and he eats it, unless there is an appropriate reason, he commits an offense entailing confession.

If it is not a meal before another, but he perceives it as a meal before another, he commits an offense of wrong conduct. If it is not a meal before another, but he is unsure of it, he commits an offense of wrong conduct. If it is not a meal before another, and he does not perceive it as a meal before another, there is no offense.

Non-offenses

There is no offense: if there is an appropriate reason; if he transfers his other meal to someone else and then eats; if he eats the food from two or three invitations together; if he eats the meals in the same order that the invitations were received; if he is invited by a whole village and he eats anywhere in that village; if he is invited by a whole association and he eats anywhere within that association; if, when being invited, he says, “I’ll get almsfood;” if it is a regular meal invitation; if it is a meal invitation decided by drawing lots; if it is a half-monthly meal; if it is on the observance day; if it is on the day after the observance day; if it is anything apart from the five staple foods; if he is insane; if he is the first offender.

The third rule, the training rule on eating a meal before another, is finished.