..續本文上一頁d put his hand on the dish at the other end. And that was it! With that the monks would bring them over and distribute them to be eaten.

　　About five monks were traveling with me at the time, but not one of us would touch that food. On almsround all we received was plain rice, so we sat with them and ate plain rice, none of us would dare eat the food from those dishes.

　　This went on for quite a few days, until I began to sense that the Abbot was disturbed by our behavior. One of his monks had probably gone to him and said, "Those visiting monks won”t eat any of the food. I don”t know what they”re up to."

　　I had to stay there for a few days more, so I went to the Abbot to explain.

　　I said, "Venerable Sir, may I have a moment please

　　 At this time I have some business which means I must call on your hospitality for some days, but in doing so I”m afraid there may be one or two things which you and your fellow monks find puzzling: namely, concerning our not eating the food which has been offered by the laypeople. I”d like to clarify this with you, sir. It”s really nothing, it”s just that I”ve learned to practice like this... that is, the receiving of the offerings, sir. When the lay people lay the food down and then the monks go and open the dishes, sort them out and then have them formally offered... this is wrong. It”s a dukkata offense. Specifically, to handle or touch food which hasn”t yet been formally offered into a monk”s hands, "ruins" that food. According to the Vinaya, any monk who eats that food incurs an offense.

　　"It”s simply this one point, sir. It”s not that I”m criticizing anybody, or that I”m trying to force you or your monks to stop practicing like this... not at all. I just wanted to let you know of my good intentions, because it will be necessary for me to stay here for a few more days.

　　He lifted his hands in añjali, [19] "Sadhu! Excellent! I”ve never yet seen a monk who keeps the minor rules in Saraburi. there aren”t any to be found these days. If there still are such monks they must live outside of Saraburi. May I commend you. I have no objections at all, that”s very good."

　　The next morning when we came back from almsround not one of the monks would go near those dishes. The laypeople themselves sorted them out and offered them, because they were afraid the monks wouldn”t eat. From that day onwards the monks and novices there seemed really on edge, so I tried to explain things to them, to put their minds at rest. I think they were afraid of us, they just went into their rooms and closed themselves in in silence.

　　For two or three days I tried to make them feel at ease because they were so ashamed, I really had nothing against them. I didn”t say things like "There”s not enough food," or "bring ”this” or ”that” food." Why not

　　 Because I had fasted before, sometimes for seven or eight days. Here I had plain rice, I knew I wouldn”t die. Where I got my strength from was the practice, from having studied and practiced accordingly.

　　I took the Buddha as my example. Wherever I went, whatever others did, I wouldn”t involve myself. I devoted myself solely to the practice, because I cared for myself, I cared for the practice.

　　Those who don”t keep the Vinaya or practice meditation and those who do practice can”t live together, they must go separate ways. I didn”t understand this myself in the past. As a teacher I taught others but I didn”t practice. This is really bad. When I looked deeply into it, my practice and my knowledge were as far apart as earth and sky.

　　Therefore, those who want to go and set up meditation centers in the forest... don”t do it. If you don”t yet really know, don”t bother trying, you”ll only make a mess of it. Some monks think that going to live in the forest they will find peace, b…

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