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RefrainingfromEatingattheWrongTime
Dr.PhraSithawatchamethi AssistantRectorforForeignAffairs DirectorofInternationalProgramme MahachulalongkornrajavidyalayaUniversity Bangkok,Thailand We live in an everchanging world, in which events are overtaking us with such rapidity that we sometimes scarcely know how to adapt to the changing circumstancesthatfrequentlyconfrontus.Inashrinkingworld,thingsthatwereonce crystalcleartousnolongerappearso,yetwithoutobvioussolutionstotheproblem itself. In the Theravada tradition, it is taughtthat the Buddha instructed his monks that they should eat only inthe morning, and refrainfrom eating atall other times, whichweredeemedvikala,orthewrongtimetoeat.Yet,whilethismayhavebeen appropriateinthefifthcenturyBC,itmaynotbesoappropriateinthepresentday,in whichmonks,especiallythoseoftheTheravadatradition,frequentlyfindthemselves obligedtotraveltoothercountries,mostofwhichobservedifferenttimezones,and all of which brings to question: what precisely we should understand in such circumstancesbythetermvikala. Myaim,therefore,inthepresentpaper,istodiscussthehistoryof,andthe intentbehind,theruleagainsteatingattimesdeemedvikala,andthenproceedto someobservationsastohowtoobservethatrule,oratleastseektoviolateitwitha minimumdegreeofculpability. ShortlyaftertheLordBuddhasParinibbana,aprominentelder,bythename ofMahakassapa,convenedanassemblyof500arahantmonksinthe SattapannaguhaonMountVebharajustoutsideRajagaha(modernRajgir),in northwestIndia.Themeetingwassummonedinordertodeterminewhathadbeen theauthenticteachingsoftheBuddha,withtheaimofpreservingitforposterity.The variousdetailsofmonasticdisciplinewereprovidedbyUpali,whichwerethen assembledintowhatisnowknownastheVinayapitaka.Thecontentsofwhatis nowknownastheSuttapitakacamemainlyfromAnanda,whohadbeenthe Buddhaspersonalattendantduringthelast25yearsoftheBuddhasministry,and whohad,therefore,beenpresentoneachandeveryoccasionuponwhichthe Buddhahaddeliveredateaching[orprivately,onlateroccasionsconcerningearlier

teachings].Finally,atthecloseofthemeeting,whichhassincecometobecalled theFirstCouncil,orSangayana,alloftheteachingsagreeduponwererecited. ItisinterestingtonotethatAnandainformedthecouncilofanimportantevent thathadtakenplaceontheeveoftheBuddhasMahaparinibbana,atKusinara,in whichtheBuddhatoldAnandathat,afterhispassing,theSanghacould,shoulditso wish,abolishtheminorandlesserrules. Ananda,however,seeminglyfailedatthetimetoaskwhichparticularrules theBuddhahadinmind.TheCouncil,therefore,undertheleadershipof Mahakassapa,unanimouslydecidedthattheSanghashouldneitherabolish,nor alter,anyrulethathadbeenadvocatedbytheBuddhahimself,sincethiswasfeltthe bestwayofpreservingtheauthenticityoftheteachinginitsunbrokenentirety. TheteachingsthisunanimouslyagreeduponattheFirstCouncil subsequentlybecamethebasisoftheTheravada(DoctrineoftheElders), sometimesalsospokenofastheKassapavamsa(theKassapaLineage).Inthis way,theFirstCouncilgavesubstancetotheBuddhasstatement,shortlybeforehis death,thatwhateverDhammaandVinayahehadpointedoutandformulatedfor themshouldbecometheirTeacherwhenhehadgone[DN16].Sincethen,nobody intheTheravadatraditionhas,overtheintervening2500years,everdaredto introduceanynewitemintothebodyofthemonasticdisciplinaryrulesadvocatedby theBuddha,nortorevokeanyexistingonesletaloneinnovateanychangesto thoserules,notevenanythatmightbeconsideredbysomeastheminorandlesser ones.Thatistosay,thetraditionhasthroughout,adheredtothedecisionbythe FirstCouncil,toretaineverythingintact. TheSignificanceoftheVinaya:

WhenamanbecomesamonkintheTheravadatradition,hemustshavehis head,leadacelibatelife,andembarkonalifeofdependinguponlittleforhis existence.Attheconclusionofthefullordinationceremony,thenewlyordained monkistoldbyhispreceptorofthefourrequisitesorresources,thathecanalways dependupon.Thesefourare:clothing,food,accommodation,andmedicine.In addition,heisallowedonlyeightpossessionsorattaparikkarathreerobes,a beggingbowl,arazor,aneedle,awaterstraininer,andabeltinwhichtocarrythese eightrequisites.Amonkisnotallowedtopossessanyothertreasures,suchas money,gold,jewelry,orothervaluablethings,sincetheseareregardedas

temptationsthatmightleadbacktothelaylifeandthuspresentanobstacletothe spiritualwayoflife.Heisallowedtopossessonlywhateverisneededfortheroad leadingtotheattainmentofnibbanaorultimatetruth. Moreover,uponfullordination,amonkistaughtthe227monasticdisciplinary rules,knownasthePatimokkha,towhichallmonksmustadhere,andtowhichare recitedoneachfullmoondayandoneachnewmoonday.Thepenaltiesfor infringementofthese227rulesvaryinseverity,dependinguponwhethertheyare classifiedasmajor,mediumorminor.Themostserioustransgressionsarethose involvingsexualintercourse,stealing,intentionalkilling,andclaimingfalsespiritual attainments.Themajoronesareknownasthefourparajikas(defeats)andleadto expulsion fromtheSangha.Oftheremainingtransgressions,thethirteenknownas theSanghadisesaareconsideredmediuminfringements,andrequirethatthe Sanghabeconvenedwithatleasttwentymonkspresent.Finally,theminor offences,knownasthepacittiya,usuallyrequirethatamonkconfesstosomefellow monknotinbreachofthesaidoffenseofthepossessionofsomeprohibiteditem, whichheshouldthenforfeit.Anexampleofapacittiyaoffencemightbethatofa monkwhohasbreachedtherulesconcernedwitheatingbyeatingatthewrongtime. IthasbecomecustomaryinSoutheastAsianBuddhistcountriestoseetwomonks turningtofaceoneanotherandthenconfesssomeminoroffenceinthechapelhall, whentheyaregatheredthereforthemorningandeveningchantingsessionsandfor listeningtothePatimokkha. Thevariousrulessurroundingeatingarepractical,andseemtocomefrom theBuddhasfirstteaching,knownastheDhammacakkappavattanasutta,delivered tohisfiveformerasceticcompanionsatSarnath.Inthisdiscourse,theBuddha suggestedthathisdisciplesavoidthetwoextremesofsensualindulgenceandself mortification,andadoptinsteadthemajjhimapatipada,ormiddlepath,leadingtothe cessationofsuffering. TheBuddharefusedtoallowamonktocheworconsumestapleandnon staplefoodatanytimehedeemedawrongtime(vikala).Seeminglyasimplerule, yetonewhichisgivingrisetomuchconsternationinthemindofthemonkoftoday, especiallywhenitsbreach,evenwhenaccidental,orasaresultofmisinformation, stillrequiresconfessionofthetransgressiontoanothermonk. Traditionally,byvikala,itisunderstoodtobethetimefromnoonandthe followingdawn.Theoccasionofdawnis,nodoubt,veryeasytodetermine,being clearlydiscernibleevenondark,wet,andwindydays.Noon,ontheotherhand,can

giverisetosomeuncertainty.Strictlyspeaking,bynoonismeantthemomentwhen thesunreachesthezenithofitsdailycoursethroughthesky,whichmaynotbethe precisemomentatwhichtheclockstrikestwelve.Nodoubt,noonwouldhavebeen equallydiscernibleformonkslivingtheoutdoorlifeinthejungleofancientIndia.Not soforhismodern,oftencitydwellingcounterpartwho,forpracticalreasons, generallyisobligedtotakenoontobe12oclockmidday,ratherthantheactual positionofthesunoverhead. However,eventhisisnotassimpleasitsounds,sincethesedaysmany monksliveoverseas,incountrieswhichoftenintroducedaylightsavingstime.Again strictlyspeaking,noonisstillnoonevenifatsuchtimestheclockshouldshowthe timeeitheraselevenorasoneoclock. Moreover,thingstodayarenotassimpleastheywereinthetimeofthe Buddhawhenlifewasconductedatamuchmoreleisurelypace,andwhenthe normalmeansoftransportwaswalkingaroundonfoot.Noonecouldhave suspectedthat,centurieslater,people,includingmonks,mightfindthemselves passingthroughmultipletimezones,astheyflewaroundtheworldonboard internationalflights. Theproblemforthemodernperiodis,therefore,whatismeantbymidday, andwhatnoonshouldamonktravelingonaninternationalflightobserve,ifheisnot tobeinbreachoftherule,evenaccidentally,orunknowlingly,ofrefrainingtoata timedeemedvikala?Shouldheobservenoonasunderstoodinthecountryheis departingfrom,thelocalnoonbelowinthecountryoverwhichheispresentlyflying, orthenooninthecountryofdestination. AcolleaguetellsmethatheonceflewfromDelhitoLondon,duringthe evacuationofSaigon,onaPanAmericanhoppingjumbo,whichlandedenroute firstatKarachi,andthenatTehran,Istanbul,andFrankfurtbeforefinallytouching downatLondonsometwelvehourslater.Theplane,hesays,originallytookofffrom Delhiat7oclockinthemorning(Indiantime),whenhewasservedalarge Americanstylebreakfast.WhenittookoffatKarachi,itdidsoagainat7oclockin themorning(Karachitime),whenhewasagainservedalargeAmericanbreakfast. Itwasalso7oclockinthemorningwhenittookoffbothatTehranandIstanbul, immediatelyafterwhich,onbothoccasions,hewasservedalargeAmerican breakfast.Hewastherefore,veryrelievedtofindthat,whentheplanetookofffrom Frankfurt,justbeforenoon,hewasserved,instead,anevenlargerlunch.

Fourbreakfastsandalunch,allwithinatwelvehourflight,andnonpossibly incurringabreachofthevikalarule,wereonetocalculatenoonasthelocaltimeon eachstageoftheflight. Sothequestionashowtocalculatewhatisactuallymeantbynoon,and thusvikala,ifwearetoretainthespiritualvaluebehindtheoriginalVinayarule,has becomingoneofincreasingsignificanceforthepresentdaySangha.Thereseemto beatleastfivealternatewaysofresolvingtheissueforamonktravelingoverseas: 1. Todeclinefoodservedduringtheflightthatwouldresultinhiseatingvikalainthe timezoneinwhichheisnormallyresident,orfromwhichheisdeparting 2. Toadheretothetimezoneapplicabletothenationalityoftheplaneinwhichheis sittingifitisaBritishplane,heshouldobservetheBritishnoonifitisan Australianplane,Australiannoonasindeed,somemonkshavesuggested 3. Toadheretothelocalnooninthecountryoverwhichheisflyingatanygiven time(despitetheunexpectedconsequencesthismightgiveriseto,asnotedin thestoryabove) 4. Toadheretothetimezoneofhisultimatedestination,fromthemomenthesteps onboardtheaircraft,sincethiswillbethetimezonetowhichhewillhaveto adapthisroutine,oncehehasarrived 5. Orperhaps,simplydeclineanyfoodofferedwhiletraveling Clearly,somedegreeofflexibilityisrequiredininterpretingtheprohibitionon eatingvikalabutifwecanachievethiswithoutviolatingeithertheletterorthespirit oftheBuddhasoriginalintentions,somuchthebetter. Itissaid,thattheBuddhaoncelaiddownthefourmahapadesas,orthefour criteriabymeansofwhichonemightdeterminewhether,byadoptingagivencourse ofactioninasituationnotanticipatedbyhim,onewouldstillremainfaithfultorules actuallyadvocated.Weread: Monks,whateverIhaveobjectedto,saying,Thisisnotallowable,ifitfits withwhatisnotallowable,ifitgoesagainstwhatisallowable,thatisnotallowablefor you. WhateverIhavenotobjectedto,saying,Thisisallowable,ifitfitsinwith whatisallowable,ifitgoesnotagainstwhatisallowable,thatisallowableforyou. AndwhateverIhavepermitted,saying,thisisallowableifitfitsinwithwhat isallowable,ifitgoesnotagainstwhatisallowable,thatisallowableforyou.

AndwhateverIhavenotpermitted,saying,Thisisnotallowable,ifitfitsin withwhatisnotallowable,ifitgoesagainstwhatisallowable,thatisnotallowablefor you. Perhaps,thefifthoptionabove,thatofsimplydeclininganyfoodofferedwhile traveling,istheonewhichaboveallothersguaranteesthattherewillbenobreach, ortransgression,oftheruleagainsteatingvikala.However,thismaynotalwaysbe practical,inwhichcaseamonkshouldgivesomeconsiderationtotheotherfour possiblecoursesofaction,allofwhichseektopreventeatingvikala.Andinthiswe mayhavetoborrowsomethingfromourMahayanafriendsandtrytoexercisealittle upayakausalya[Pali:upayakosalla],orskillfulmeans.Thatistosay,eachofthe aboveotherfourproposedsolutionsmaybeacceptableundercertaincircumstances, butunacceptableunderothers.Ifitisimpracticalforamonktoadoptthefifth, completelyblamelesssolutionsincethereis,tomyknowledgenocompulsionin theVinayathatamonkshouldeatwhenhedoesnotwishtodosothenhewill havetoexercisecaution,temperedbywisdom,indecidingwhichoftheotherfour alternativecoursesofactionare,ifstilltechnicallyinbreachoftheruleagainsteating vikala,atleastthebestoptionopentohim,andtheleastcensurable,duringaperiod intheworldshistoryinwhichwehavenoclearguidance. [Editorscomment:Perhapsbetterexploredwouldbe:Isthemonkblamelessly eatingfivelargemealswithintwelvehoursunderscrutinyfromlaypeopleorother seatedneighborsobservingthemonksoverindulgenceandsensualfulfillment?If themonkadoptsmindfulnessestablishinghisdepartureandarrivaltimesforthe travelingperiodandonlytakingappropriatemeals,duringatraveldaybecause: clearly,noteatingfora24hourdaymightbringonillness,andeatingfivetimesin twelvehoursisexcessive.Learnedmonksaretaughttoeatinmoderation,thusone mighteatasinglebreakfastandrefuseadditionalmeals,thinking:Nutrimentwas alreadyeatentosustainthebodytoday,furtherfoodshouldbedeclined.Inthis respect,anyphilosophicalspeculationsareputtorest,andthemonkhasnotbroken anyrule.Additionally,modernairlinescanprovidemealspertainingtotheindividual needsofmostcustomerseliminatingignorancefromthemindofthehungry troubledmonk.]