On the duties of expressing appreciation

^Kd.18.4.1 Now at that time monks did not give thanks in a refectory. People looked down upon, criticised, spread it about, saying: “How can these recluses, sons of the Sakyans, not give thanks in a refectory?” Monks heard these people who … spread it about. Then these monks told this matter to the Lord. ^BD.5.298 Then the Lord, on this occasion, having given reasoned talk, addressed the monks, saying: “I allow you, monks, to give thanks in a refectory.” Then it occurred to the monks: “Now, by whom should thanks be given in a refectory?” They told this matter to the Lord. Then the Lord on this occasion, having given reasoned talk, addressed the monks, saying: “I allow you, monks, to give thanks in a refectory through a monk who is an elder.”

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Now at that time a certain guild had food for an Order;^[1] the venerable Sāriputta was the elder in the Order. Monks, thinking, ‘The Lord has allowed thanks to be given in a refectory through a monk who is an elder,’ departed, leaving the venerable Sāriputta alone. Then the venerable Sāriputta, having returned thanks to these people, later went away alone. The Lord saw the venerable Sāriputta coming in the distance; seeing him, he spoke thus to the venerable Sāriputta: “I hope, Sāriputta, that the meal was successful?”^[2]

“The meal, Lord, was successful, even though the monks departed leaving me alone.” Then the Lord on this occasion, having given reasoned talk, addressed the monks, saying:

“I allow, monks, four or five monks who are elders or next (in age) to the elders^[3] to wait in a refectory.”

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Now at that time a certain elder waited in a refectory although he wanted to relieve himself, and through restraining himself he fell down fainting. They told this matter to the Lord. He said: “I allow you, monks, if there is a reason, to go away, having asked (permission from) the monk immediately next^[4] (to you).”

Footnotes and references:

[1]:

Cf. Kd.15.5.2.

[2]:

iddha, as in Nuns’ Bi-Pc.56, there rendered “effective.”

[3]:

therānuthera. At Vin-a.1283, Dhp-a.ii.211 anuthera appears to be in opposition to mahāthera and saṅghathera, and at Dhp-a.iii.412 to mahāthera.

[4]:

ānantarika bhikkhu, as at Kd.9.4.8; Kd.16.10.1;Kd.17.3.9 and Vin.4.234.