Begging For Food

When the group of six monks in the Buddhas time solicited special foods and ate them themselves, the lay people criticized this saying, "Who isnt fond of good food and sweets?" The Buddha therefore laid down this rule:

"There are these finer staple foods, i.e., ghee, fresh butter, oil, honey, sugar/molasses, fish, meat, fresh milk, and curds. Should any bhikkhu who is not ill, having asked for finer staple foods such as these for his own sake, then eat them, it is [an offence of Confession.]"

(Paac. 39; BMC p.367)

"There are sumptuous foods, namely foods mixed with ghee, butter, oil, honey, molasses, fish, meat, milk and curd; and a monk who, though not sick, asks for such sumptuous foods for himself and eats them commits [an offence of Confession.]"

(Paac. 39; BBC p.127)

The ancient commentators suggest that these finer foods are actually made when one mixes rice, for example, with butter or fish, etc.

An exception is made for a monk who is ill, and a bhikkhu can ask for special food for the sake of a fellow monk who is sick. (He is always allowed to ask a relative or someone who has offered a Pavaara.naa Invitation.