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The first training rule on acknowledgment

1. Paṭhamapāṭidesanīyasikkhāpada

from: The Great Analysis

The chapter on offenses entailing acknowledgment

The first training rule on acknowledgment

Venerables, these four rules on acknowledgment come up for recitation.

Origin story

At one time when the Buddha was staying at Sāvatthī in Anāthapiṇḍika’s Monastery, a certain nun was returning from almsround in Sāvatthī. She saw a monk and said to him, “Here, venerable, please take some almsfood.”

Saying, “Alright, Sister,” he took everything. But because the time for eating was coming to an end, she was not able to go for alms, and she missed her meal.

The next day and the following day the same thing happened again. On the fourth day that nun was walking along a street, trembling. A wealthy merchant coming by carriage in the opposite direction saw her and shouted out, “Watch out, venerable!” As she stepped aside, she collapsed right there.

The merchant asked her for forgiveness: “Forgive me, venerable, since you fell because of me.”

“I didn’t fall because of you, but because I’m weak.”

“But why are you so weak?”

The nun told him what had happened. He then brought her to his house and gave her a meal. Afterwards he complained and criticized the monks, “How can the venerables receive food directly from a nun? It’s difficult for women to get material support.”

The monks heard the complaints of that merchant, and the monks of few desires complained and criticized that monk, “How could a monk receive food directly from a nun?” … “Is it true, monk, that you did this?”

“It’s true, sir.”

“Is she a relative of yours?”

“No, sir.”

“Foolish man, a man and a woman who are unrelated don’t know what’s appropriate and inappropriate, what’s good and bad, in dealing with each other. So how could you do this? This will affect people’s confidence …” … “And, monks, this training rule should be recited like this:

Final ruling

‘If a monk receives fresh or cooked food directly from an unrelated nun who has entered an inhabited area, and then eats it, he must acknowledge it: “I have done a blameworthy and unsuitable thing that is to be acknowledged. I acknowledge it.”’”

Definitions

A: whoever … Monk: … The monk who has been given the full ordination by a unanimous Sangha through a legal procedure consisting of one motion and three announcements that is irreversible and fit to stand—this sort of monk is meant in this case. Unrelated: anyone who is not a descendant of one’s male ancestors going back eight generations, either on the mother’s side or on the father’s side. A nun: she has been given the full ordination by both Sanghas. An inhabited area: a street, a cul-de-sac, an intersection, a house. Fresh food: apart from the five cooked foods, the post-midday tonics, the seven-day tonics, and the lifetime tonics, the rest is called “fresh food”. Cooked food: there are five kinds of cooked food: cooked grain, porridge, flour products, fish, and meat.

If he receives the food with the intention of eating it, he commits an offense of wrong conduct. For every mouthful swallowed, he commits an offense entailing acknowledgment.

Permutations

If she is unrelated and he perceives her as such, and he receives fresh or cooked food directly from her when she has entered an inhabited area, and then eats it, he commits an offense entailing acknowledgment. If she is unrelated, but he is unsure of it, and he receives fresh or cooked food directly from her when she has entered an inhabited area, and then eats it, he commits an offense entailing acknowledgment. If she is unrelated, but he perceives her as related, and he receives fresh or cooked food directly from her when she has entered an inhabited area, and then eats it, he commits an offense entailing acknowledgment.

If he receives post-midday tonics, seven-day tonics, or lifetime tonics for the purpose of food, he commits an offense of wrong conduct. For every mouthful swallowed, he commits an offense of wrong conduct. If he receives fresh or cooked food, with the intention of eating it, directly from a nun who is fully ordained only on one side, he commits an offense of wrong conduct. For every mouthful swallowed, he commits an offense of wrong conduct.

If she is related, but he perceives her as unrelated, he commits an offense of wrong conduct. If she is related, but he is unsure of it, he commits an offense of wrong conduct. If she is related, and he perceives her as such, there is no offense.

Non-offenses

There is no offense: if she is related; if she gets someone else to give it and does not give it herself; if she gives by placing it near; if it is inside a monastery; if it is at the dwelling place of nuns; if it is at the dwelling place of the monastics of another religion; if it is on returning to the monastery; if she gives after carrying it out of the village; if she gives post-midday tonics, seven-day tonics, or lifetime tonics, saying, “Use these when there’s a reason;” if it is a trainee nun; if it is a novice nun; if he is insane; if he is the first offender.

The first training rule on acknowledgment is finished.

Translation: English (Bhikkhu Brahmali). Source: SuttaCentral / Bilara (public domain, CC0).

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