Vinaya — Regras dos Monges (Bhikkhu Vibhaṅga) — Accepting more than three bowlfuls

1Origin story
At one time the Buddha was staying at Sāvatthī in the Jeta Grove, Anāthapiṇḍika’s Monastery. At that time there was a female lay follower Kāṇamātā who had faith and confidence. She had a daughter, Kāṇā, who had been given in marriage to a man in a certain village.

2On one occasion Kāṇā went to her mother’s house on some business. Kāṇā’s husband sent her a message: “Please come, Kāṇā, I want you back.” Kāṇamātā thought, “It’s shameful to go empty-handed,” and she baked some cookies. Just when the cookies were finished, an alms-collecting monk entered Kāṇamātā’s house, and she gave him some. After leaving, he told another monk, and he too was given cookies. And the same happened a third time. At that, all the cookies were gone.

3A second time Kāṇā’s husband sent her the same message, and everything unfolded as before.

4A third time he sent the same message, adding, “If Kāṇā doesn’t come, I’ll find another wife.” But once again all the cookies were given to monks. Kāṇā’s husband found another wife, and when Kāṇā heard what had happened, she cried.

5Soon afterwards, after robing up in the morning, the Buddha took his bowl and robe and went to Kāṇamātā’s house where he sat down on the prepared seat. Kāṇamātā approached the Buddha, bowed, and sat down. The Buddha asked her why Kāṇā was crying, and she told him what had happened. After instructing, inspiring, and gladdening her with a teaching, the Buddha got up from his seat and left.

6Soon afterwards a certain caravan was ready to go south from Rājagaha. An alms-collecting monk went up to that caravan to get almsfood, and a lay follower gave him flour products. After leaving, that monk told another monk, and he too was given flour products. And the same happened a third time. At that, all his provisions were gone.

7That lay follower said to the other people in the caravan, “Sirs, please wait one day. I’ve given my provisions to the monks. I need to prepare more.”

8“We can’t wait. The caravan is already on its way.” And they left.

9After preparing provisions, that lay follower followed after the caravan, but he was robbed by thieves. People complained and criticized them, “How can the Sakyan monastics receive without moderation? This man gave to them, and then because he was following after the caravan he was robbed by thieves.”

10The monks heard the complaints of those people and they told the Buddha. Soon afterwards he gave a teaching and addressed the monks: “Well then, monks, I will lay down a training rule for the following ten reasons: for the well-being of the Sangha, for the comfort of the Sangha, for the restraint of bad people, for the ease of good monks, for the restraint of the corruptions relating to the present life, for the restraint of the corruptions relating to future lives, to give rise to confidence in those without it, to increase the confidence of those who have it, for the longevity of the true Teaching, and for supporting the training. And, monks, this training rule should be recited like this:

11Final ruling
‘If a monk goes to a family and is invited to take cookies or crackers, he may accept two or three bowlfuls if he wishes. If he accepts more than that, he commits an offense entailing confession. If he accepts two or three bowlfuls, he should take it away and share it with the monks. This is the proper procedure.’”

12Definitions
A monk goes to a family:

13a family: there are four kinds of families: the aristocratic family, the brahmin family, the merchant family, the worker family.

14Goes to:

15he has gone there.

16Cookies:

17whatever has been prepared for the purpose of sending away.

18Crackers:

19whatever has been prepared as provisions for a journey.

20Is invited to take:

21“Take as much as you like.”

22If he wishes:

23if he desires.

24He may accept two or three bowlfuls:

25two or three bowlfuls can be accepted.

26If he accepts more than that:

27when he accepts more than that, he commits an offense entailing confession.

28If he accepts two or three bowlfuls:

29leaving that place and seeing a monk, he should tell him, “I’ve accepted two or three bowlfuls from such-and-such a place; don’t accept anything from there.” If he sees a monk, but does not tell him, he commits an offense of wrong conduct. If the one who is told accepts from there regardless, he commits an offense of wrong conduct.

30He should take it away and share it with the monks:

31he should take it away when returning from almsround and then share it.

32This is the proper procedure:

33this is the right method.

34Permutations
If it is more than two or three bowlfuls, and he perceives it as more, and he accepts it, he commits an offense entailing confession. If it is more than two or three bowlfuls, but he is unsure of it, and he accepts it, he commits an offense entailing confession. If it is more than two or three bowlfuls, but he perceives it as less, and he accepts it, he commits an offense entailing confession.

35If it is less than two or three bowlfuls, but he perceives it as more, he commits an offense of wrong conduct. If it is less than two or three bowlfuls, but he is unsure of it, he commits an offense of wrong conduct. If it is less than two or three bowlfuls, and he perceives it as less, there is no offense.

36Non-offenses
There is no offense: if he accepts two or three bowlfuls; if he accepts less than two or three bowlfuls; if they give anything that has not been prepared for sending away or as provisions for a journey; if they give the leftovers from what was prepared for sending away or as provisions for a journey; if they give after the plans to travel have been canceled; 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.

37The training rule on accepting more than three bowlfuls, the fourth, is finished.