Origin story

At one time the Buddha was staying at Rājagaha in the Bamboo Grove, the squirrel sanctuary. At that time in Rājagaha there was a festival at the top of a hill, and the monks from the group of seventeen went to see it. When people saw the monks, they bathed them, anointed them, fed them staples, and gave them non-staple food. The monks brought that food back to the monastery. And they said to the monks from the group of six, “Take food and eat it!”

“But where did you get this food?” And they told them.

“So are you eating at the wrong time?”

“Yes.”

The monks from the group of six complained and criticized them, “How can those monks from the group of seventeen eat at the wrong time?”

They told the monks. The monks of few desires … complained and criticized those monks, “How can those monks from the group of seventeen eat at the wrong time?” … “Is it true, monks, that you did this?”

“It’s true, Master.”

The Buddha rebuked them, “… Foolish men, how can you eat at the wrong time? This will not give rise to confidence in those without it … And, monks, this training rule should be recited thus:

Final ruling

‘If a monk eats staple or non-staple food at the wrong time, he commits an offense entailing confession.’”

Definitions

A: whoever … Monk: … The monk who has been given the full ordination by a complete Order through a procedure consisting of one motion and three announcements that is unchallengeable and fit to stand— this sort of monk is meant in this case.

At the wrong time: when the middle of the day has passed, until dawn.

Non-staple food: apart from the five staple foods, the post-midday tonics, the seven-day tonics, and the lifetime tonics—the rest is called “non-staple food.”

Staple food: there are five kinds of staple food: cooked grain, porridge, flour, fish, and meat.

If he receives staple or non-staple food with the intention of eating it, he commits and offense of wrong conduct. For every mouthful, he commits an offense entailing confession.

Permutations

If it is the wrong time, and he perceives it as the wrong time, and he eats staple or non-staple food, he commits an offense entailing confession. If it is the wrong time, but he is unsure if it is, and he eats staple or non-staple food, he commits an offense entailing confession. If it is the wrong time, but he perceives it as the right time, and he eats staple or non-staple food, he commits an offense entailing confession.

If he receives post-midday tonics, seven-day tonics, or lifetime tonics for the purpose of food, he commits an offense of wrong conduct. For every mouthful, he commits an offense of wrong conduct.

If it is the right time, but he perceives it as the wrong time, he commits an offense of wrong conduct. If it is the right time, but he is unsure if it is, he commits an offense of wrong conduct. If it is the right time, and he perceives it as the right time, there is no offense.

Non-offenses

There is no offense: if, when there is a reason, he uses post-midday tonics, seven-day tonics, or lifetime tonics; if he is insane; if he is the first offender.

The seventh rule, the training rule on eating at the wrong time, is finished.