Vinaya — Regras dos Monges (Bhikkhu Vibhaṅga) — Receiving food from a designated family

1First substory
At one time the Buddha was staying at Sāvatthī in the Jeta Grove, Anāthapiṇḍika’s Monastery. At that time in Sāvatthī there was a family where both the husband and the wife had confidence. They were growing in faith, but declining in wealth. Whatever food they had in the morning, they gave to the monks. Sometimes they went without food.

2People complained and criticized the monks, “How can the Sakyan monastics not have a sense of moderation in receiving offerings? After giving to them, these people sometimes go without.”

3The monks heard the complaints of those people and they told the Buddha. Soon afterwards the Buddha gave a teaching and addressed the monks:

4“Monks, if a family’s faith is growing, but its wealth is declining, you should designate it as ‘in training’, through a legal procedure consisting of one motion and one announcement.

5And the designation should be given like this. A competent and capable monk should inform the Sangha:

6‘Please, venerables, I ask the Sangha to listen. Such-and-such a family is growing in faith, but declining in wealth. If the Sangha is ready, it should designate such-and-such a family as “in training”. This is the motion.

7Please, venerables, I ask the Sangha to listen. Such-and-such a family is growing in faith, but declining in wealth. The Sangha designates such-and-such a family as “in training”. Any monk who approves of designating such-and-such a family as “in training” should remain silent. Any monk who doesn’t approve should speak up.

8The Sangha has designated such-and-such a family as “in training”. The Sangha approves and is therefore silent. I will remember it thus.’

9And, monks, this training rule should be recited like this:

10First preliminary ruling
‘There are families that are designated as “in training”. If a monk eats fresh or cooked food after personally receiving it from such a family, he must acknowledge it: “I have done a blameworthy and unsuitable thing that is to be acknowledged. I acknowledge it.”’”

11In this way the Buddha laid down this training rule for the monks.

12Second substory
Soon afterwards there was a celebration in Sāvatthī and people invited the monks for a meal. And so did the family that had been designated as in training. But knowing that the Buddha had prohibited eating fresh or cooked food after personally receiving it from such a family, and being afraid of wrongdoing, the monks did not accept. That family complained and criticized them, “What is it with us that they don’t receive from us?”

13The monks heard the complaints of those people and they told the Buddha. Soon afterwards the Buddha gave a teaching and addressed the monks:

14“Monks, if you have been invited, I allow you to eat fresh or cooked food after personally receiving it from a family designated as in training.

15And so, monks, this training rule should be recited like this:

16Second preliminary ruling
‘There are families that are designated as “in training”. If a monk, without first being invited, eats fresh or cooked food after personally receiving it from such a family, he must acknowledge it: “I have done a blameworthy and unsuitable thing that is to be acknowledged. I acknowledge it.”’”

17In this way the Buddha laid down this training rule for the monks.

18Third substory
Soon afterwards a certain monk was associating with that family. One morning he robed up, took his bowl and robe, went to them, and sat down on the prepared seat. Just then that monk was sick, and so they invited him to eat. But knowing that the Buddha had prohibited an uninvited monk from eating fresh or cooked food after personally receiving it from such a family, and being afraid of wrongdoing, he did not accept. And being unable to walk for alms, he missed his meal.

19He then returned to the monastery and told the monks what had happened, who in turn told the Buddha. Soon afterwards the Buddha gave a teaching and addressed the monks:

20“Monks, I allow a sick monk to eat fresh or cooked food after personally receiving it from a family designated as in training.

21And so, monks, this training rule should be recited like this:

22Final ruling
‘There are families that are designated as “in training”. If a monk, without being sick and without first being invited, eats fresh or cooked food after personally receiving it from such a family, he must acknowledge it: “I have done a blameworthy and unsuitable thing that is to be acknowledged. I acknowledge it.”’”

23Definitions
There are families that are designated as “in training”:

24a family designated as in training: a family growing in faith but declining in wealth. Such a family is designated as “in training” through a legal procedure consisting of one motion and one announcement.

25A:

26whoever …

27Monk:

28… The monk who has been given the full ordination by a unanimous Sangha through a legal procedure consisting of one motion and three announcements that is irreversible and fit to stand—this sort of monk is meant in this case.

29Such a family:

30that kind of family.

31Without being invited:

32without being invited for the same or the following day. If the invitation is made when he has entered the vicinity of the house, this is called “without being invited”.

33Invited:

34invited for the same or the following day. If the invitation is made when he has not entered the vicinity of the house, this is called “invited”.

35Without being sick:

36who is able to walk for alms.

37Sick:

38who is unable to walk for alms.

39Fresh food:

40apart from the five cooked foods, the post-midday tonics, the seven-day tonics, and the lifetime tonics, the rest is called “fresh food”.

41Cooked food:

42there are five kinds of cooked food: cooked grain, porridge, flour products, fish, and meat.

43If, without being sick and without being invited, he receives fresh or cooked food with the intention of eating it, he commits an offense of wrong conduct. For every mouthful swallowed, he commits an offense entailing acknowledgment.

44Permutations
If a family is designated as in training, and he perceives it as such, and he, without being sick and without being invited, eats fresh or cooked food after personally receiving it from that family, he commits an offense entailing acknowledgment. If a family is designated as in training, but he is unsure of it, and he, without being sick and without being invited, eats fresh or cooked food after personally receiving it from that family, he commits an offense entailing acknowledgment. If a family is designated as in training, but he does not perceive it as such, and he, without being sick and without being invited, eats fresh or cooked food after personally receiving it from that family, he commits an offense entailing acknowledgment.

45If 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 swallowed, he commits an offense of wrong conduct. If a family is not designated as in training, but he perceives it as such, he commits an offense of wrong conduct. If a family is not designated as in training, but he is unsure of it, he commits an offense of wrong conduct. If a family is not designated as in training, and he does not perceive it as such, there is no offense.

46Non-offenses
There is no offense: if he has been invited; if he is sick; if he eats the leftovers from one who has been invited or who is sick; if other people’s almsfood is prepared there; if they give after coming out from the house; if it is a regular meal invitation; if it is a meal for which lots are drawn; 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 the family gives post-midday tonics, seven-day tonics, or lifetime tonics, saying, “Use these when there’s a reason;” if he is insane; if he is the first offender.

47The third training rule on receiving food from a designated family is finished.