四分戒本疏卷第一．第二．第三 3.75

3.75

Precept 37: Eating at an Improper Time. Generally, when eating has no regular time and is frequent, it brings about harm. Matters must be strictly regulated and fixed by rule. Therefore, from early dawn at the yin hour until midday, the occasion conforms to the Dharma and is called the proper time. Beyond this, it is not appropriate: it fosters greed, obstructs the path, incurs the reproach of the world, does not accord with the Dharma, and produces extensive entanglements of guilt; hence it is called the improper time. Thus the Piluo Sanmei Jing says: "At early dawn, the devas eat; at midday is the eating that accords with the Dharma; when the sun is to the west, animals eat; at dusk, ghosts and spirits eat." Monastics should accord with the Buddha's Dharma, and therefore it was instituted. Sharing the two kinds of eating with the devas and the Dharma is called the proper time. The Sarvāstivāda-vinaya-vibhāṣā states: "For four reasons the Buddha instituted eating before midday. First, from sunrise until midday, the light becomes increasingly bright, which is called the proper time; eating is permitted without fault. From after midday until the later part of the night, the light gradually dims; hence it is called the improper time, and eating is not permitted. Second, from dawn to midday is the time when food is prepared; begging then does not cause distress, and thus one is permitted to eat. From after midday until the later part of the night, householders hold banquets and amuse themselves; begging then would cause distress, and thus it was instituted that it is not permitted. Third, from dawn to midday, householders are engaged in business, and lustful desires have not arisen; begging then does not bring slander, and thus begging for food is permitted. From midday onward, business ceases, and they indulge in lustful laughter; entering villages to beg for food would mostly bring censure and slander, subjecting one to various insults and humiliations, and thus eating is not permitted. Fourth, from dawn to midday is the proper time for begging; to sustain the body and life, begging for food is permitted. From midday onward, one should quieten conditions, cultivate the path, sit upright, chant, and practice dhyāna; it is not a time for moving about. For this reason the Sage instituted that entering [villages] to beg is not permitted." There are four conditions for the offense: first, an improper time; second, the perception of an improper time; third, timely food; fourth, eating it, incurring an offense with each swallow. Below, the text of the precept is properly explained. This precept arose because Nanda, Upananda, and Kālodāyin committed transgressions; hence this precept was instituted.