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[354]
[Nishīthasūtra]
If there are no material objects, then the monk can use them after carefully examining them. There is no prāyaścitta (atonement) mentioned in the sūtra for doing so.
It is an inappropriate tendency to place food on the ground voluntarily. The sūtra mentions the prāyaścitta for such a tendency. The prāyaścitta for eating in front of householders is as follows:
36. The monk who eats with other non-Jain ascetics or householders, or approves of those who eat.
37. The monk who eats surrounded by other non-Jain ascetics or householders, or approves of those who eat. (He receives the laghu-cāumāsī prāyaścitta.)
36. The monk who eats with other non-Jain ascetics or householders [sitting nearby], or approves of those who eat.
37. The monk who eats surrounded by other non-Jain ascetics or householders [sitting or standing some distance away], or approves of those who eat. (He receives the laghu-cāumāsī prāyaścitta.)
Discussion: In the fifteenth uddeśaka, the prāyaścitta for giving food etc. to a householder is mentioned. Now, here, it is appropriate to understand the meaning of the word "saddi" as eating while sitting nearby. Because, if they eat together, i.e., from the same vessel, then there is a possibility of many faults. If the food is brought by the householder, then it may be contaminated with prādhākarma etc. faults. If the food is brought by the monk, then the fault of adatta (not giving) is incurred, and these faults are worthy of the guru-cāumāsī prāyaścitta, whereas the present sūtra mentions the laghu-cāumāsī prāyaścitta. Therefore, from the first sūtra, one should understand the prāyaścitta for eating together with a householder and a monk sitting nearby.
If the householder is not eating, but is standing or sitting in a distant direction or all around, then if the monk eats in front of them, then the prāyaścitta for that is mentioned in the second sūtra.
When eating near a householder, there is a possibility of the householder inviting, giving, etc., and those who see may have doubts. Sometimes, a householder may forcibly put food into the vessel or snatch it away.
Among the householders who are sitting or standing in front, there may be some who are curious or hateful. They may insult the food or the monk eating in many ways.
The method of eating for a monk is also different from that of a householder. For example, eating after wiping and cleaning the vessel, or drinking after washing it, etc. Therefore, one should eat in a secluded place with walls and a roof on all sides.
Even while eating, if a householder happens to come there and sit down, then the monk should also go elsewhere in the "ekāsana" tapa.