The chapter on confession (pācittiya)
Monks’ Confession 39
The training rule on fine foods
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 fine foods after asking for them. People grumbled and complained, “How can the Sakyan ascetics eat fine foods after asking for them? Who doesn’t like nice food? Who doesn’t want 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 eat fine foods after asking for them for themselves?” … “Is it true, monks, that you do this?”
“It’s true, Master.”
The Buddha rebuked them, “… Foolish men, how can you eat fine foods after asking for them for yourselves? This will not give rise to confidence in those without it … And, monks, this training rule should be recited thus:
Preliminary ruling
‘If a monk asks for any of these kinds of fine foods for himself—that is, ghee, butter, oil, honey, sugar, fish, meat, milk, and curd— and then eats it, he commits an offense entailing confession.’”
In this way the Master laid down this training rule for the monks.
Second sub-story
At one time a number of monks were sick. The monks who were looking after them asked, “We hope you’re bearing up; we hope you’re getting better?”
“Previously we ate fine foods after asking for them, and then we were comfortable. But now that this has been prohibited by the Master, we don’t ask because we’re afraid of wrongdoing. And because of that we’re not comfortable.”
They told the Master. Soon afterwards he gave a teaching and addressed the monks, “Monks, I allow a sick monk to eat fine foods after asking for them for himself. And so, monks, this training rule should be recited thus:
Final ruling
‘If a monk who is not sick asks for any of these kinds of fine foods for himself—that is, ghee, butter, oil, honey, sugar, fish, meat, milk, and curd— and then eats it, he commits an offense entailing confession.’”
Definitions
Ghee: ghee from cows, ghee from goats, ghee from buffaloes, or ghee from whatever animal whose meat is allowable.
Butter: butter from those same animals.
Oil: sesame oil, mustard seed oil, honey tree oil, castor oil, oil from tallow.
Fish: Here I follow the alternative reading udakacaro found in the PTS version. MS has udako, which must be an editing mistake.what lives in water is what is meant.
Meat: the meat of those animals whose meat is allowable.
Milk: milk from cows, milk from goats, milk from buffaloes, or milk from whatever animal whose meat is allowable.
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.
Any of these kinds of fine foods: such kinds of fine foods.
Not sick: one who is comfortable without fine foods.
Sick: one who is not comfortable without fine foods.
If he is not sick, then for the act of asking for himself, he commits an offense of wrong conduct. When he receives it with the intention of eating it, he commits an offense of wrong conduct. For every mouthful, he commits an offense entailing confession.
Permutations
If he is not sick, and he does not perceive himself as sick, and he eats fine foods after asking for them for himself, he commits an offense entailing confession. If he is not sick, but he is unsure of it, and he eats fine foods after asking for them for himself, he commits an offense entailing confession. If he is not sick, but he perceives himself as sick, and he eats fine foods after asking for them for himself, he commits an offense entailing confession.
If he is sick, but he does not perceive himself as sick, he commits an offense of wrong conduct. If he is sick, but he is unsure if he is, he commits an offense of wrong conduct. If he is sick, and he perceives himself as sick, there is no offense.
Non-offenses
There is no offense: if he is sick; if he asked for it when he was sick, but eats it when he is no longer sick; if he eats the leftovers from one who 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 he is insane; if he is the first offender.
The ninth rule, the training rule on fine foods, is finished.