At one time when the Buddha was staying at Sāvatthī in Anāthapiṇḍika’s Monastery, the monks from the group of six were eating fine foods that they had requested for themselves. People complained and criticized them, “How can the Sakyan monastics eat fine foods that they have requested for themselves? Who doesn’t like nice food? Who doesn’t prefer tasty food?” The monks heard the complaints of those people, and the monks of few desires complained and criticized those monks, “How can the monks from the group of six eat fine foods that they have requested for themselves?” … “Is it true, monks, that you do this?” “It’s true, sir.” The Buddha rebuked them … “Foolish men, how can you do this? This will affect people’s confidence …” … “And, monks, this training rule should be recited like this:

Preliminary ruling