BUDDHIST MONASTIC CODE I

Buddhist Monastic Code 1The Commentary adds that if a bhikkhu asks for one kind of finer staple food butreceives another kind instead, he incurs the dukkaṭa for asking, but no penalty foraccepting and eating what he gets. It also notes that when a bhikkhu asks a layperson for any of the finer staple foods, and the lay person makes a donation ofmoney to the bhikkhu's steward to buy that food, then once the food is bought itcomes under this rule all the same.Non-offenses. There is no offense:in asking for food — any kind of food — when one is ill, and then eating it,even if one has recovered in the meantime (§);in eating food that has been requested for the sake of an ill bhikkhu and isleftover after his meal;in asking from relatives;in asking from those who have offered an invitation to ask;in asking for the sake of another person; orin asking that food be bought with one's own resources.Also, according to the Meṇḍaka Allowance (Mv.VI.34.21), a bhikkhu going on ajourney through a wilderness area where almsfood is difficult to obtain may searchfor provisions of husked rice, kidney beans, green gram (mung beans), salt, sugar,oil, and ghee for the journey. The Commentary says, though, that he should firstwait for spontaneous offerings of these provisions from people who learn of hisplans for the journey. If these aren't forthcoming, he should ask from his relatives orfrom those who have given him an invitation to ask. Or he may see what he gets onhis alms round. (This last alternative apparently applies to the salt, sugar, oil, andghee; people ordinarily would not be giving uncooked rice, beans, or green gram foralms.) Only when these avenues fail should he ask from people who are unrelatedto him and have not given an invitation to ask. Furthermore, he should ask for nomore than the journey will require.None of the texts mention any permission for the bhikkhu, after he has searched forthe provisions, to store them longer than usual or to cook them in any way.Apparently, they expect him to arrange for an unordained person — or people — toaccept the provisions and be responsible for their storage and preparation while onthe road.Summary: Eating finer staple foods, after having asked for them for one's own sake— except when ill — is a pācittiya offense.40. Should any bhikkhu take into his mouth an edible that has notbeen given — except for water and tooth-cleaning sticks (§) — it is tobe confessed."Now at that time a certain bhikkhu, living entirely off of what was thrown away (§),was staying in a cemetery. Not wanting to receive gifts from people, he himself tookthe offerings for dead ancestors — left in cemeteries, under trees, and on330