Book Title: Studies in Buddhist and Jaina Monachism
Author(s): Nand Kishor Prasad
Publisher: Research Institute of Prakrit Jainology & Ahimsa Mujjaffarpur
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THE SALIENT FEATURES OF BUDDHIST VINAYA
51
Receiving food more than one's fill or less than required purposely was deemed a sinful act. 1
The momks tried their best to adhere to the social customs and etiquettes. Therefore even a senior member was not allowed to start eating till the food had not been served to all or to wash his hands and bowl till taking of food was not finished. So also eating or dining together in one dish or vessel was not permitted to them.
Besides, such behaviour as pressing the food from the top, gazing at others bowl with greed and eagerness, making a very large mouthful opening the inonth quite in advance, putting the whole hand in the mouth, talking with food in the mouth, tossing the food in the mouth, biting the food playfully, stuffing the cheeks with food and the like were deemed unworthy of a monk.?
The community dinner was closed with the act of thanks-giving. Very likely this act comprised of a religious discourse preached to the donor by the invitee-monks. Though the senior most monk was entrusted with the duty, others sharing the dinner were also to wait till the end of the ceremony."
This was in brief the process of 'attending a community-dinner'. The way of 'proceeding on a begging-tour' was almost identical with the process of 'attending a cominunity dinner'. Besides, the following may be noted as special features of the former.
Nobody was allowed to force his way into a house where a meal was going on from before, much less to take a seat there. If needed to go inside a house, he must thoroughly inspect the way of entrance and exit before going inside it. When entered inside a house, he must stay at a considerable distance from the donor for a limited period of time, if there was any hope of getting alms. After receiving the alms with downcast eyes, he should come back to the monastery self-possessed and with the bow! covered up with robe. The monk returning first from the begging-tour had to open the service-hall (upalthānasala) and arrange it with necessary articles and one returning last had to close it. 4
Thus they could take only one meal a day, which must be finished by mid-day as taking food or entering a village (for alms)
1. CV, 8. 5. 9. pp. 317-18; 8. 6. 11, p. 320; PM, 7. 1-26. 2. Ibid, 5. 8. 22, p. 213. 3. Ibid, 8. 5. 9, pp. 318-19; PM, 7. 27--56. 4. Ibid, 8. 6. 11, pp. 320-21
