The Bhikkhus Rules
A Guide for Laypeople
by Bhikkhu Ariyesako | 1998 | 50,970 words
The Theravadin Buddhist Monk's Rules compiled and explained by: Bhikkhu Ariyesako Discipline is for the sake of restraint, restraint for the sake of freedom from remorse, freedom from remorse for the sake of joy, joy for the sake of rapture, rapture for the sake of tranquillity, tranquillity for the sake of pleasure, pleasure for the sake of conce...
Mixing Edibles
When different kinds of edibles are mixed, their category will usually change to that with the shortest life span. For example, ginger can be used as a herbal lifetime medicine for stomach ailments. However, grated ginger that has been used for food preparation is classed as food and therefore should not be kept overnight or used as a medicine. Likewise, if honey is used as a solvent or base for herbal medicines, because the honey has a seven day limit, that lifetime (herbal) medicine becomes a seven day medicine.
This is another reason that bhikkhus may be careful about the ingredients of medicines that are offered. When offering medicines the donor should try to be aware of what the bhikkhu considers allowable and what will cause him to fall into offence.