Receiving with soiled hand (PLI-TV-BU-VB-SK55)

Theravāda Collection on Monastic Law

The Great Analysis

The chapter on training

The subchapter on slurping

Receiving with soiled hand

Origin story

At one time when the Buddha was staying in the Bhagga country at Susumāragira in the Bhesakaḷā Grove,

the monks in the Kokanada stilt house were receiving the drinking-water vessel with hands soiled with food.

People complained and criticized them,

“How can the Sakyan monastics receive drinking-water vessels with hands soiled with food? They’re just like householders who indulge in worldly pleasures!”

The monks heard the complaints of those people,

and the monks of few desires complained and criticized those monks,

“How can those monks do this?” …

“Is it true, monks, that they do this?”

“It’s true, sir.”

The Buddha rebuked them …

“How can those foolish men do this?

This will affect people’s confidence …” …

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

Final ruling

‘“I will not receive the drinking-water vessel with a hand soiled with food,” this is how you should train.’”

One should not receive the drinking-water vessel with a hand soiled with food.

If a monk, out of disrespect, receives the drinking-water vessel with a hand soiled with food, he commits an offense of wrong conduct.

Non-offenses

There is no offense:

if it is unintentional;

if he is not mindful;

if he does not know;

if he is sick;

if he receives it with the intention of washing it or having it washed;

if there is an emergency;

if he is insane;

if he is the first offender.

The fifth training rule is finished.