四分戒本疏卷第一．第二．第三 3.85

3.85

Precept 42: Having previously accepted an invitation, visiting another family before or after the meal without notifying [another bhikṣu]. Promulgated because of three faults: First, ordinary householders in the village have many affairs, and doing a good deed is difficult; they suspend their family duties and focus on honouring the merit; having already accepted their invitation, if one goes off to another house and an unexpected mishap occurs, the resulting annoyance is not light. Second, since there is already a place to eat, one ought to quiet worldly entanglements and cultivate the Way; wandering about aimlessly hinders and neglects one's practice. Third, when invited together with the Saṅgha, entering the village causes the donor to see that the monks have not assembled, so the offering is not served in the end, detaining the community and preventing them from eating their fill, which annoys the community profoundly. Hence the Sage prohibited it. The specific conditions are five: 1. having previously accepted another's invitation—since if not accepted, the Buddha permitted entering the village without notifying; 2. before or after the meal; 3. not notifying; 4. going to a layperson's house—except for going to a monastery, or for reasons of illness, making robes, etc.; 5. an offense is committed upon entering the door. Below, the precept text itself is clarified. This precept was instituted because of Upananda, who prevented the Saṅgha from eating good fruit at mealtime; hence this precept was promulgated.