BUDDHIST MONASTIC CODE I

Pāṭidesanīya Chapter 9Summary: Eating staple food accepted at a meal to which one has been invited andwhere a bhikkhunī has given directions, based on favoritism, as to which bhikkhushould get which food, and none of the bhikkhus have dismissed her, is apāṭidesanīya offense.3. There are families designated as in training. Should any bhikkhu,not being ill, uninvited beforehand, chew or consume staple or nonstaplefood, having received it himself at the homes of familiesdesignated as in training, he is to acknowledge it: "Friends, I havecommitted a blameworthy, unsuitable act that ought to beacknowledged. I acknowledge it."The term in training (sekha) is usually used to refer to anyone who has attained atleast the first noble path but has yet to become an arahant. Here, though, theVibhaṅga uses it to refer to any family whose faith is increasing but whose wealth isdecreasing — i.e., a family whose faith is so strong that they become generous tothe point of suffering financially. In cases such as these, the Community may, as aformal transaction, declare them as families in training so as to protect them withthis rule from bhikkhus who might abuse their generosity.The factors for the offense here are two.1) Object: staple or non-staple food accepted at the residence of a familydesignated as in training when one is not ill and has not been invited by thembeforehand.2) Effort: One eats the food.Object. Staple food follows the standard definition given in the Food Chapter underthe pācittiya rules. Non-staple food includes all edibles except juice drinks, tonics,and medicines. Staple and non-staple food are grounds for a pāṭidesanīya; juicedrinks, tonics, and medicines taken as food, grounds for a dukkaṭa.Ill is defined as being unable to go for alms.Invited means that one has been invited on that day or a previous day by a memberof the family — or a messenger — standing outside of the residence or itsyard/compound. If they invite one while they are inside the residence or itsyard/compound, one is not exempt from the offense in accepting and eating theirfood.Perception as to whether the family has been designated as "in training" is not amitigating factor here (see Pd 1).Effort. There is a dukkaṭa in accepting staple or non-staple food with the purposeof eating it, or in accepting juice drinks, tonics, or medicine with the purpose of431