Confession 78

First Origin Story

The Buddha was staying at Vesālī. At that time, Bhaddā bhikkhunī’s family often sent her food. When she received it, she fried, boiled, and seasoned it again. When her brothers and uncles came to see her, they said: “We’d like some food.” She answered: “Okay.” Then they took and ate it, and noticed that the smell and the flavor were exceptional. They asked: “Where did you get this good food from?” She answered: “It was just my old family who sent it.” Then they said angrily: “The cooks in our home always waste much money, and we still don’t get good food.” They then returned home, whipped and beat the slaves, and scolded them: “You waste money in vain, and we still can’t eat.” These people became resentful, and said: “Because of that bhikkhunī, we incured suffering and vexation like this.” When the bhikkhunīs heard this, they told Mahāpajāpatī, and she went to the World-honored One, and informed him of this matter. The Buddha said: “Summon Bhaddā bhikkhunī.” When she came, he asked her: “Did you really do this?” She answered: “I really did this.” The Buddha said: “This is an unwholesome thing.

Preliminary Ruling

From now on, it’s no longer allowed to cook, boil, or fry oneself.

Second Origin Story

Another time, the Buddha was staying at Sāvatthī. Then there were bhikkhunīs from the Sakyan and Mallan clans. When they went on almsround, they received rice, curries, and vegetables leftover from the day before. When they ate it, they vomited. The bhikkhunīs told Mahāpajāpatī, and she went and asked the World-honored One: “May we obtain permission to reheat food?” The Buddha said: “You may.” The Buddha told Mahāpajāpatī Gotamī: “Convene all the bhikkhunīs living in the vicinity of Vesālī. Should read “Sāvatthī.*” … Those who have already heard it should listen again:

Final Ruling

If a bhikkhunī receives staple or non-staple food, and she still cooks it or has others cook it, boils it or has others boil it, or frys it or has others fry it, and if that bhikkhunī eats it when she’s not sick, it’s a pācittiya.”

Explanation

“Staple food” means the five kinds of staple foods. Pāli: khādanīya.* “Non-staple food” means the five kinds of non-staple foods. Pāli: bhojanīya.* “Cooking again” means she either cooks herself or has others cook. “Boiling” means she either boils herself or has others boil. “Frying” means she either fries herself or has others fry. “Sick” means the World-honored One said there’s no offense. What is “sick?” Old age, sickness, being weak and thin, eating cold food, vomiting, being uncomfortable. If a bhikkhunī who isn’t sick cooks food and eats it, it’s a pācittiya. “Pācittiya” is as explained above. It’s not allowed to boil or fry again to make the food nicer. If it’s cold, it may be reheated. It’s not allowed to cook in a pan or a pot. She should use a copper bowl, an earthen bowl, or a brass vessel to reheat things. It seems that the Buddha didn’t allow the use of lay people’s cooking utensils. Instead, almsbowls made from unallowable materials, such as copper bowls (銅盂 — tāmra-pātra), earthen bowls (鉤鉢 — kupātra) and brass vessels (鍵鎡 — kāṁsika) were to be used. Maybe such bowls accumulated in the monasteries because lay people didn’t know that only clay (瓦鉢) and iron almsbowls (鐵鉢) were allowed, and so the monastics were to make use of them in other ways.* If a bhikkhu cooks, boils, or fries food again to make it nicer, he breaks a minor vinaya rule. If he informs attendants, there’s no offense. If the food is cold when he goes on almsround, and he reheats it, there’s no offense. This is what the World-honored One said.

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