四分律刪繁補闕行事鈔 2.219

2.219

Fourth, forming a saṃgha at the eating place. The *Samantapāsādikā* states: "It requires specifically inviting four persons who receive [the food] together to form a saṃgha; if one bhikṣu at the seat turns his bowl upside down and does not eat, waiting until the other three finish eating, and then this last person eats, there is no transgression." The *Dharmaguptaka Vinaya* states: "If there are two or three persons, they may eat as they please; if there are four or more, they should divide into two groups and alternate in entering to eat." The *Sarvāstivāda-vinaya-vibhāṣā* states: "If there are three bhikṣu[s] and one who is deranged; three bhikṣu[s] and one who has been permanently expelled; or three bhikṣu[s] inside the sīmā and one outside the sīmā—since the deranged and the expelled two do not count toward the saṃgha's number, even though there are four, they do not form a [proper] saṃgha. Those in a different sīmā do not make up the count together and do not form a separate saṃgha. Therefore, one must know that they are qualified bhikṣus." The *Sarvāstivāda-vinaya-vibhāṣā* states: "Whether eating the saṃgha's food or a dānapati's food, if each takes his own portion of food, even if four or more persons eat in a separate place or eat together in one place, they do not transgress [the precept against eating in] a separate saṃgha. If four persons each beg for food separately and eat in one place, there is also no separate saṃgha. Where the Vinaya lays down an offense, it is based on soliciting together from a single household and the four persons receiving the food at the same time. If they necessarily receive their portions separately at different times, it is permitted, because each is eating his own food." Furthermore, there are four permutations: First, the host providing the food is one; if all gather, there is no fault. Second, the food is one, but the places are two; although the locations are different, because the flavor of the food is identical, there is no transgression; if there are still other bhikṣus within the sīmā, both groups commit a transgression. Third, the food is distinct, but the place is one: for example, while the saṃgha has not yet eaten the saṃgha's food, or there is food from a dānapati, another dānapati specifically invites four persons to sit alongside within the saṃgha and receive food without sharing it with the saṃgha—they commit an offense with every swallow; if those four persons first take a mouthful of food from the saṃgha and afterward receive additions, there is no transgression (this refers to being in the open air, where they must be within arm's reach; if under a shelter, they need not touch). Fourth refers to food being distinct and the places being distinct: the two assemblies must mutually invite one person and mutually send one portion of food; otherwise, both commit a pāyattika.