The Perfectly Enlightened One Taught Monks to Eat at a Single Session

On one occasion The Perfectly Enlightened One taught the Monks the benefits of eating in a single session that one will be free from illness and affliction, and will enjoy lightness, strength, and a comfortable residing.

Bhaddāli told The Perfectly Enlightened One that he was not willing to do so. Then The Perfectly Enlightened One agreed to allow Bhaddāli to keep the food for the next meal. Again, Bhaddāli told The Perfectly Enlightened One he was not willing to do that either. Then the Venerable Bhaddāli did not present himself to The Perfectly Enlightened One for a whole of three-month period. Until the robe making period where Monks said to Bhaddāli that his action was inappropriate, Bhaddāli then went to see The Perfectly Enlightened One.

‘Venerable Sir, a wrongdoing overcame me, in that like an unwise person, confused and blundering, when a training precept was being made known by The Perfectly Enlightened One, when The Community of Monks was undertaking the training, I declared my refusal [to observe your Teaching]. Venerable Sir, may The Perfectly Enlightened One forgive my wrongdoing seen as such for the sake of restraint in the future.’

Surely, Bhaddāli, a wrongdoing overcame you, in that like an unwise person, confused and blundering, when a training precept was being made known by me, when The Community of Monks was undertaking the training, you declared your refusal to practice this Teaching.

What do you think, Bhaddāli? Suppose a Monk here were one liberated-in-both-ways, and I told him: Come, Monk, be a plank for me across the mud. Would he walk across himself, or would he dispose his body otherwise, or would he say ‘No’?

‘No, Venerable Sir.’

What do you think, Bhaddāli? Suppose a Monk here were one liberated-by-wisdom... a body-witness… one attained-to-view... one liberated-by-confidence… a Teachings-follower… a Confidence-follower, and I told him: Come, Monk, be a plank for me across the mud. Would he walk across himself, or would he dispose his body otherwise, or would he say ‘No’?

‘No, Venerable Sir.’

What do you think, Bhaddāli? Were you on that occasion one liberated-in-both-ways or one liberated-by-wisdom or a body-witness or one attained-to-view or one liberated-by-confidence or a Teachings-follower or a Confidence-follower?

‘No, Venerable Sir.’

Bhaddāli, on that occasion were you not empty, unwise, and mistaken?

‘Yes. Venerable Sir. Venerable Sir, a wrongdoing came to me, in that like an unwise person, confused and blundering, when a training precept was being made known by The Perfectly Enlightened One, when The Community of Monks were undertaking the training, I declared my refusal to practice this Teaching. Venerable Sir, may The Perfectly Enlightened One forgive my wrongdoing seen as such for the sake of restraint in the future.’

Surely, Bhaddāli, a wrongdoing overcame you, in that like an unwise person, confused and blundering, when a training precept was being made known by me, when The Community of Monks was undertaking the training, you declared your refusal to practice this Teaching.

But since you see your wrongdoing as such and make apologies in accordance with The Teachings, we understand you; for it is growth in the Noble One’s Discipline when one sees one’s wrongdoing as such and makes apologies in accordance with The Teachings by undertaking restraint for the future.

(Reference: MN 65)

In this Teaching from Gotama Buddha, he shares how Students are not going to necessarily immediately do or follow what The Buddha is teaching. He helps his Student understand that he does not have an expectation that his Students would immediately implement his Teachings.

He encourages his Students learn, reflect, and practice, but the practice they develop is based on their own decision making. It is not through following rules or commandments that a Practitioner will attain Enlightenment. Instead, it is through deeply developing their life practice through learning, reflecting, and practicing to independently verify the truth to acquire wisdom. A Student is not expected to just follow their Teacher.

As explained in this Teaching, Students would not just follow a Teacher, laying down in the mud so that they can cross. Instead, if a Teacher makes an unreasonable request, a Student can share their honest opinions, thoughts, ideas, and explain why they feel The Teaching is unbeneficial. But, it is important to do that using Right Speech while being respectful to your Teacher.

Then, if there is wrongdoing, it would be wise for a Student to apologize to their Teacher and likewise, with an apology, a Teacher should always understand the Student and move forward letting go of the past wrongdoing not allowing it to affect the relationship with the Student or the mind of the Teacher or Student.

Rules of Forbidden Activity or Guidance that Leads to Enlightenment

Oftentimes, Gotama Buddha’s Teachings are thought of or discussed as “rules of forbidden activity”. Some will even translate his Teachings as “training rules”.

In my opinion, if a Practitioner approaches The Path to Enlightenment in this way, it is harmful to deeply understanding The Teachings of Gotama Buddha and can inhibit one from attaining the objective of Enlightenment.

Gotama Buddha shared Teachings that he knew would lead the mind to Enlightenment.

Enlightenment is a peaceful, calm, serene and content mind with joy that is permanent. The mind has eliminated all discontent feelings such as sadness, anger, frustration, irritation, annoyance, guilt, shame, fears, boredom, loneliness, shyness, jealousy, resentment, stress, anxiety, etc.

All discontent feelings are eliminated from the mind 100% with the mind residing perfectly in the middle - peaceful, calm, serene, and content with joy.

To attain the mental state of Enlightenment, a Practitioner needs to learn The Teachings with guidance and practice these Teachings to independently observe the “truth” for themselves acquiring wisdom.

It is through observing The Teachings in practice that one acquires wisdom. The mind then functions through this newly found wisdom making wholesome decisions based on the wisdom of The Teachings.

All progress on The Path to Enlightenment is attained through making wholesome individual choices, wholesome individual decisions as part of one’s own “free will”.

Following “rules of forbidden activity” will not lead a Practitioner to making wholesome choices based on the wisdom they acquired through learning and practicing The Teachings.

For Gotama Buddha’s Teachings to be “rules”, he would have had to create a doctrine of rules with an organization to collect, distribute, and enforce those rules.

That is not what Gotama Buddha did.

He offered Teachings that he knew lead to the mental state of Enlightenment, a peaceful, calm, serene, and content mind with joy that is permanent acquired through wise decision making by the individual Practitioner. The mind is liberated through wise decision making based on wisdom.

Through Students learning and practicing these Teachings, a Practitioner can observe through their own learning and practice that the condition of the mind improves.

Anger and frustration in the mind is slowly and gradually reduced and ultimately completely eliminated - along with all other discontent feelings. Individual Practitioners can observe for themselves that The Teachings and practices shared improved the condition of the mind through training of the mind.

Nothing Gotama Buddha taught is based on belief but instead, Teachings are shared with guidance that when learned and practiced can be observed as truth to acquire wisdom.

For one to learn and practice Gotama Buddha’s Teachings is a personal choice based on free will decisions.

To attain Enlightenment is not to “follow rules of forbidden activity” but instead “learning and practicing Teachings with guidance from a Teacher”.

Gotama Buddha did not establish a set of rules to be enforced but instead shared Teachings with guidance that through your own wholesome personal choices will lead the mind to Enlightenment - if you choose to learn and practice with the guidance of a Teacher.

There are no rules, forbidden activity, or certain things that Gotama Buddha necessarily allowed or disallowed.

His Teachings are guidance that you can choose to learn and practice or not.

If his Teachings are rules of forbidden activity, who is coming to enforce those rules?

Surely not Gotama Buddha or anyone else.

Learning and practicing The Teachings as guidance will lead a Practitioner towards making countless wholesome decisions not because of rules or enforcement of said rules, but because the Practitioner learns through experience, then chooses to make wise wholesome decisions leading to good wholesome results - the Enlightened mind.

Enlightenment is a peaceful, calm, serene, and content mind with joy that is permanent based on personal choices to learn and practice Gotama Buddha’s Teachings with guidance from a Teacher.

Gotama Buddha’s Teachings are guidance to learn and practice through personal choice. Not rules. The mind will awaken to Enlightenment as it gains wisdom in The Natural Laws of Existence (i.e. The Buddha’s Teachings) and decides to develop a life practice based on wise decision making.

Why Following Cultural Rules and Norms Will Not Lead to Peace and Joy - Enlightenment?

Populations of people oftentimes develop cultural rules or norms that are unwritten. These are shared expectations and guidelines that govern behavior within a group or society. They define what is deemed acceptable, desirable, or polite, encompassing customs, etiquette, and values that are thought to help maintain social order, harmony, and predictability.

However, cultural rules and norms are just sabotaging an individual’s ability to experience peace and joy that is permanent - the Enlightened mental state.

Societies might consider certain behavioral decisions to be normal and acceptable such as, waiting for everyone in a group of people dining together to get food before eating, taking pride in working long hours, being on time means you are being respectful, contacting family or friends on a regular basis, bringing a gift when you visit someone’s home, and avoiding asking one’s income, age, or relationship status.

As an individual is born and grows up in a certain population of people, these unwritten social expectations (i.e. rules and norms) conditions the mind to think what is or is not appropriate when interacting in the world. However, even if millions of individuals would agree to these unwritten rules (i.e. social norms), it is only a limited number of people who agree that these cultural rules define what is acceptable or not acceptable. Therefore, as one’s mind adopts these expectations of others and themselves, the mind craves/desires for everyone to follow these same rules which is impossible, especially as populations of people interact more globally across various cultures.

The idea that the entire world will learn, agree with, and adopt the same set of rules and expectations is the unEnlightened mind’s craving for permanence, which is impossible to achieve and only sets up the mind for discontent feelings when others do not conform to what the mind wants and expects of others.

Essentially, by not understanding and seeing how the world around us is impermanent, the mind craves and desires for everyone to do things a certain way permanently. The mind craves and desires others to make decisions in the same way in which the mind was conditioned to believe is “right or wrong”, which renders the mind unable to experience permanent peace and joy because it is impossible for everyone in the world to do things a certain way permanently.

For example, in Thai culture people are taught not to point their feet at the statue of the Buddha nor other people. Oftentimes, people are taught to not lie down in a Temple to meditate. This was not taught by The Buddha.

These are cultural rules and norms that have been adopted over the years by a certain collection of people, but not everyone. And, for those who crave and desire for everyone to conform to this same way of thinking, when interacting with people who do not make decisions in the same way as them, their mind becomes discontent with anger, frustration, irritation, annoyance, dislike, etc. towards others when they think those individuals are not doing what is wanted and expected, with the mind labeling that individual as rude, impolite, or disrespectful.

When in reality, the person who is becoming angered due to everyone not following the cultural rules is just their mind adopting and conforming to what is wanted and expected by a certain collection of people, where their mind is craving permanence while living in an impermanent world. And, the person who is not conforming to the cultural rules is just making a different choice, as not everyone will make decisions in the exact same way, that is impossible.

It is not cultural rules and norms that will lead to the peaceful and joyful mental state of Enlightenment nor a peaceful and joyful world of people.

Instead, it is The Teachings of The Buddha, when investigated, reflected upon for independent verification, and practiced that will purify the mind to awaken to the peace and joy of the Enlightened mental state.

When an individual mixes cultural rules and norms into their daily decision making without realizing it is impossible for everyone to follow certain rules, thus, allowing the mind to crave permanence, that individual is sabotaging their ability to experience peace and joy - permanently.

Is it truly rude and disrespectful to eat food without others also having food or, would it be rude and disrespectful for an individual to expect that others cannot eat their freshly cooked food, allowing it to become cold, until every single person has food?

Is it truly rude and disrespectful to not work long hours or, would it be rude and disrespectful to have the expectation that everyone should prioritize their work above all other activities?

Is it truly rude and disrespectful to not show up on time or, would it be rude and disrespectful to have the expectation that someone should push themselves towards unwise and unsafe decisions to arrive to a specific place on time regardless of all other activities or the ability to travel safely?

Is it truly rude and disrespectful to not contact family and friends on a regular basis meeting the expectation of others for regular contact or, would it be rude and disrespectful to think that an individual needs to contact you based on your pre-prescribed personal expectations?

Is it truly rude and disrespectful to not bring a gift when you visit someone’s home or, would it be rude and disrespectful to think that it is required of someone to bring you a gift when they are visiting your home?

Is it truly rude and disrespectful to ask someone’s income, age, or relationship status or, would it be rude and disrespectful to expect everyone to only ask you questions that you deem appropriate?

The Buddha taught it would be unwise to teach anything that was not taught by him as being taught by him. The Buddha did not teach cultural rules, norms, and protocols, he taught The Natural Laws of Existence. He encouraged individuals to not change his Teachings, avoiding the watering down of what it takes to experience Enlightenment.

A Buddha applies significant determination, dedication, and diligence towards the attainment of Enlightenment over multiple years. They then, spend the remaining time of their life, significant effort, sharing their independently discovered Teachings with countless people to make clear, what is The Path to Enlightenment and what The Path to Enlightenment is not. Effectively, they illuminate The Path to Enlightenment for everyone interested in progressing towards the transformation of the mind and their life, resulting in the highest degree of peace and joy one could ever experience - Enlightenment.

When asked during his life what would be the best way to respect him, The Buddha replied, “to practice The Teachings”.

If an individual would like to respect The Buddha, and also experience the peace and joyful mental state he experienced and taught others how to attain, practicing his Teachings, not cultural rules, norms, or protocols is what will produce that result.

This would be the very best way to respect and honor the significant effort and fortitude The Buddha applied to attain Enlightenment and then shared those Teachings with countless others.

Practicing The Teachings of The Buddha do not include cultural rules and norms, in fact, those will oftentimes take the mind in the opposite direction of Enlightenment, as an individual will see the world through the lens of black and white, right and wrong, failing to navigate the gray areas of life based on the unique variables of each individual situation. Thus, an individual can make unwise decisions that lead to unwholesome results (i.e. unwholesome Kamma) in their life.

By the time one gets to Enlightenment, they will only be experiencing wholesome results (i.e. wholesome Kamma), there are no unwholesome results (i.e. unwholesome Kamma). But, an individual could experience unwholesome results (i.e. unwholesome Kamma) by practicing cultural rules and norms, completely unaware that what they are choosing is acceptable and deemed appropriate only by a limited number of people.

The Teachings of The Buddha are guiding you to understand The Natural Laws of Existence which are universal, independent of any cultural protocols, thus, always producing 100% wholesome results (i.e. wholesome Kamma).

The mind is incapable of cultivating the needed wisdom to experience the complete peace and joy of the Enlightened mental state as long as it is holding on (i.e. clinging) to cultural rules, norms, and protocols which are not universal. Therefore, the mind will still struggle in the world and experience unwholesome results (i.e. unwholesome Kamma) in certain situations to include discontent feelings such as, sadness, anger, frustration, irritation, annoyance, guilt, shame, fears, boredom, loneliness, shyness, jealousy, resentment, stress, anxiety, etc.

The Buddha taught not to cling to rules or vows for a reason, because the mind is unable to be free, to experience complete peace and freedom from strong feelings, the Enlightened mental state.

If you cause harm to others, harm will be returned to you, this is unwholesome Kamma (i.e. unwholesome results) based on The Natural Laws of Existence.

You cannot cause others to become discontent but, you can cause them harm.

Causing harm would be to cause harm to their physical body, material possessions, or reputation. If you cause harm to a beings physical body, material possessions, or reputation, you will experience harm coming back to you.

Are you causing harm by choosing to eat your newly arrived food even though others do not have food?

Are you causing harm by choosing to work a balanced number of hours having time for other priorities in your life?

Are you causing harm by choosing to prioritize safety over arriving on time?

Are you causing harm by choosing to contact family or friends when it works best based on your life’s needs?

Are you causing harm by choosing to arrive to visit someone’s house without a gift?

Are you causing harm by choosing to ask someone questions not typically asked?

Are you causing harm by choosing to sit comfortably, even if that includes having your feet point in a certain direction towards a statue or another person?

Are you causing harm by choosing to practice The Teachings of The Buddha by lying down to meditate in a Temple?

If you answered “no” to these questions, you are able to see “true reality” of The Natural Laws of Existence, which are universal, not allowing the mind to cling to cultural rules, norms, or protocols that will oftentimes produce unwholesome results (i.e. unwholesome Kamma).

Seeing this truth, you are able to walk closer towards peace and joy by not allowing the mind to continue to hold on to its conditioning while conforming to what only a limited number of people consider to be proper etiquette.

What one group of people considers to be appropriate could be deemed inappropriate by others, thus, one’s struggles continue.

But, when you practice The Natural Laws of Existence, which is what was taught by The Buddha and is universal, there are no struggles and you can navigate the world peacefully and with nothing but joy in the mind.

Words to Be Undertook as Taught Not to Be Abolished

As long as the Monks do not give instruction on anything that has not been taught or abolish anything that has already been taught, but undertake and practice the training guidelines as they have been taught, only growth is to be predicted for them, not decline.

(Reference: DN 16)