Giving food to a non-monastic (PLI-TV-BI-VB-PC46)

Theravāda Collection on Monastic Law

The Nuns’ Analysis

The chapter on offenses entailing confession

The subchapter on galleries

Giving food to a non-monastic

Origin story

At one time the Buddha was staying at Sāvatthī in the Jeta Grove, Anāthapiṇḍika’s Monastery.

At that time the nun Thullanandā was personally giving food to actors, dancers, acrobats, magicians, and musicians, saying,

“Please praise me in public.”

And they did:

“Venerable Thullanandā is a learned reciter; she’s confident and skilled at giving teachings.

Give to her; work for her!”

The nuns of few desires complained and criticized her,

“How could Venerable Thullanandā personally give food to householders?” …

“Is it true, monks, that the nun Thullanandā does this?”

“It’s true, sir.”

The Buddha rebuked her …

“How could the nun Thullanandā do this?

This will affect people’s confidence …” …

“And, monks, the nuns should recite this training rule like this:

Final ruling

‘If a nun personally gives fresh or cooked food to a householder or a male wanderer or a female wanderer, she commits an offense entailing confession.’”

Definitions

A:

whoever …

Nun:

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

A householder:

anyone who lives at home.¹

A male wanderer:

any male wanderer apart from Buddhist monks and novice monks.

A female wanderer:

any female wanderer apart from Buddhist nuns, trainee nuns, and novice nuns.

Fresh food:

apart from the five cooked foods

and water and tooth cleaners, the rest is called “fresh food”.²

Cooked food:

there are five kinds of cooked food: cooked grain, porridge, flour products, fish, and meat.³

Gives:

if she gives by body or by what is connected to the body or by releasing, she commits an offense entailing confession.

If she gives water or tooth cleaners, she commits an offense of wrong conduct.

Non-offenses

There is no offense:

if she does not give, but has it given;

if she gives by placing it near the person;

if she gives ointments for external use;

if she is insane;

if she is the first offender.

The sixth training rule is finished.