56. The training rule on containing rice

The chapter on training The subchapter on slurping

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 discarding their bowl-washing water containing rice in inhabited areas. People complained and criticized them, “How can the Sakyan monastics discard their bowl-washing water containing rice in inhabited areas? 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 discard bowl-washing water containing rice in inhabited areas,” this is how you should train.’”

One should not discard bowl-washing water containing rice in an inhabited area. If a monk, out of disrespect, discards bowl-washing water containing rice in an inhabited area, 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 discards it after removing the rice, after breaking it up, into a container, or after taking it outside; if there is an emergency; if he is insane; if he is the first offender.

The sixth training rule is finished.