How and whom do they pay gratitude, if even? Are they graceful for what they get for support of their spiritual life?
Generously answered by Subhuti Bhikkhu on his blog:
How Do Monks Say Grace Before Eating?
Bhikkhu Subhuti 0 September 28, 2017 Interesting Things, Monk Life, Teaching
How Do Monks Say Grace Before Eating?
Do Theravāda monks say anything before they eat? Do they give thanks? Who do they say thanks to? Or is it something else?
Buddhist monks generally do a reflection and chant something before eating. In fact it is said that the monks incurs debt if they doe not reflect before eating. Actually, there are 4 reflections concerning the Four Requisites:
1. Robes
2. Food
3. Lodging
4. Medicine
If the monk does not reflect on these before use (for food and medicine) or at least once daily (for robes and lodging), then he incurs a debt for using the requisites without proper reflection.
So what is the reflection for food?
“Wisely reflecting, I use this almsfood
Not for fun, not for pleasure, not for fattening, not for beautification,
Only for the nourishment and maintenance of this body,
For keeping it healthy,
For helping with the Holy-life,
Thinking thus, “I shall destroy old feelings (of hunger)
And not produce new feelings (of overeating).
Thus there will be freedom from physical discomfort and living at ease.”
There is one more evening chant that is done at my monastery in Sri Lanka
Dependent upon and existing through causes and merely [a combination of
various] elements are both the almsfood and the one who partakes of it; mere
elements, not a being, lifeless, void [of a self/soul]. All of this alms-food is not
loathsome [yet], but having come into contact with this putrid body becomes
exceedingly loathsome.
It sounds a little bit lifeless doesn’t it? However, the goal of Buddhism is to see the to see the impermanent, and suffering nature of everything. We should see that there is no substance that can be called a self. We should go beyond concepts and see only the real ultimate realities. We do this to destroy the view of a self, and to remove craving. At its highest, we wish to have the natural enlightened-passionless personality that only partakes in the functional activities to keep ourselves alive, up and running. In the meantime, if that is the goal, we should point ourselves, and aim in that very same direction. If we do, The Buddha said that it is like the high mountain water that eventually flows into the great oceans.
Leaving all that “cold” stuff aside, we do have warm metta or loving-kindness energy as a central part of our teachings and practice. This is probably to keep us sane in the the process of enlightenment.
We often reflect on the donors who were kind enough to support us with our meal. Surely, this would fit into your view of the traditional “giving thanks.” Usually, we wish loving-kindness (mettā) in the 4 ways to the Four Requisite Donors and the Helpers of the monastery. We also wish loving-kindness to the devas (angelic beings who look after us).
“For our Four Requisite Donors (and helpers)
May you be free from danger
May you be free from Mental Anxiety
May you be free from Physical Pain
May you be happy and well.”
If a donor is present for a monastery meal, we will often give a talk on the cause and effects of making a meal for virtuous monks. I recently spoke to a donor of the Saṅgha meal about virtue, being attracted to monks who wish to follow the rules, and how that will affect him in this very life and in the future. If he becomes a monk he now wishes to become a monk that does not touch money. He never thought that not touching money was possible beforehand because he had never met a monk that followed the basic principle rules that we naturally associate with “monk”. Such monks who do not use money are rare among the hundreds of thousands of monks that live in Myanmar. He once tried to give me some money, but I refused it. He had never seen that before in his entire life. He wanted to know more about me. Now he is donating meals instead of money, and many meals too. The purity of the morality of the receiver can help bring greater fruits from the donation. That is why you intuitively know that giving to a sober human beggar who is disabled is better than giving to a drunk beggar or to a dog. You might not really know how to explain it, but you know. The morality by itself is important, but not as important as what one does with it.
Morality leads to concentration
Concentration leads to Wisdom
Wisdom leads to Enlightenment
When one reflects in this way while giving, it “gives” more power to the donor. It is called a donation that is rooted in Non-greed (generosity), Non-anger (loving-kindness) and Non-delusion (wisdom). The factor of wisdom should always be developed when making a donation. As the monks wish to aim and point ourselves towards the goal. You do too. When you give donations to monks, virtuous monks who wish to practice, you build associations and desires to be that way too. May you soon “eat” the fruits of your donations!
Scroll down near the end to see the reflections at this link here: https://www.ancient-buddhist-texts.net/Texts-and-Translations/Chanting-for-Meditators/00-Daily-1-Morning-Chants.htm
While going for alm, the comment was deleted but was generously send via email with the gift to share it for others elsewhere. Sadhu!
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This makes me tired. You do not understand the posts and cannot write properly.
Be well.
Bks
On Sep 28, 2017 7:19 AM, "Samana Johann" <anandajoti@gmail.com> wrote:
New comment on your post "How Do Monks Say Grace Before Eating?"
Author: Samana Johann (IP: 203.144.93.107, 203.144.93.107)
Email: samana.johann@sangham.net
URL: http://forum.sangham.net/
Comment:
Sadhu for sharing this word, Bhante. Okasa, that my person adds a little maybe useful. May Bhante correct possible mistakes within this Anumodana:
Maybe it would be worthy to add, that such as blessings, it's a different to give a teaching (anumodana) is actually a later appearence. Blessings will for the most reduce possible merits of the donor, if he takes such in return. In fact the blessing is a merit making by the monk, or a way to lighten his debts it not pure for now.
Originaly the Buddhas disciples didn't gave blessings. There was the situation that wanderers of another sect gave blessings to the donors which leaded them to prefer a giving to them and the Buddhas Bhikkhus had a hard to get alm food. After this was reported by the monks to the Buddha, the Buddha allowed them to give a blessing.
It's actually, especial as a alms begging monk not so easy to survive amoung the todays "other" sects, but it is possible, possible even without blessing. Once, after much patient and careful teachings here and there, donors, even less educated, become real joyful giver, would even reject any that seems to be a blessing, possible even turn to share their merits, dedicate them for the welfare of the receiver by giving him a blessing that he might find the higherst blessing with this paccaya (cause). Doners which turn from poor wishing or trading chance takers to rich Devas and real givers, how ever poor they outwardly may be. That's the only happiness a monk should enjoy when he receives, taking such greatness as a sample for his own goodness to be developed against the grain of the world.
May Bhante, how ever, never fall into the danger of being to proud and feel secure in having gained some good amount of virtue, it not the heart would. It's also a matter of upanissaya of individualls that designs a common appearence and there has to be developed certain understandings for it as well.
Anumodana!
(Either comments are no more wished, or there is a technical problem, if appearing two times, may there be pardon for the test.)
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This makes me tired. You do not understand the posts and cannot write properly.
Be well.
Bks
Of course it's an insult, but my person will continue to explain.
Once you receive the alms of Devas, Gods and talk with them, know them well, it's good to remember that this is the reason of upanissayapaccaya.
It's seldom.
When one leaves the house he is wise to reject alms of those running after you. It may break your heart and you may feel like a ungreatful selfish ignorant, deriving them of possibilities.
While the break this post, two Devas remind some people, blessed childs encouraging their grandmothers.
The first is blessed with here grandmother, children in Western counties will not easy find such. Intoduced by here devoted grandmother, the about 2 year old girl left here grandmothers guardiance already behind, not even able to falt here hand, palm on palm, she enjoys already the bliss of giving, doing merits totally alone.
The other deva, to scared, about the same age, called her busy grandmother "Ma! Ta!" ("Mommy, the grandfather!") The grandmother was so perplex that she needed to tell all around about the story.
As some others and their child had assamble, kneeing, waiting to receive a blessing, my person told them: "If elders return to us and remind us, it's a blessing and it's good to be very attentive of what younger, those not so gifted or lower seeming people have to tell."
In our ignorance and self-overesteemate we destroy not only our own merits very quick but even whole old traditions, families and cultures.
And you householder that you are gifted to hear this should remember that is not wise to seek just for support of defending what you acctually don't understand for now.
And also in this regard it was said .
Don't be an arrogant fool who thinks he knows already much and avoid what ever is selfsupporting, how ever pleasant and right it seems for you.
Don't forget: You are gifted if you are attentive of not so good spoken words, more then one who seeks for perfections outwardly.
Anumodana!
While the Buddha, Arahats, an those following them, might pardon all your childish thoughts and acts, like a father, Devas and Gods are not free of defilements and their goodness is limited.
It will be hard to walk the holly live in this would without being regarded by Devas and Gods, supported only by the trading men.
Don't be respectless and foolish, even if receiving the most annoying gift of those seeing your blindly running about destroying your own future with the skills you have been gifted.
You will be another slave of this world for a long long time, giving blessing on one side, and take food improper and without grace on the other hand. It's not sure that you are gifted in possessing certain skills, so the wise way is to sacrify them for those who are walking on the path and do not return. In this way you cut yourselt off of the possibility to be pulled back into the world.
It's not easy, but there are no rewards if not giving at first, to do not loose the path for you can not take your possession with you on this tiny way you do not know. Not always are there Gods and Devas guarding you and it's more often that Mara offers the oppotunity to help you carry things, since even he would like to know where all this untouchable are gone to.
Gifted are you householder, gifted young recluse to hear of what the Buddha spoke.
Who ever meets the Dhamma, meets the Buddha. Who ever meets the Buddha, meets the Dhamma. Be not well, Bhante
Subhuti but simply do well and take on the risk of simply faith. It's never a loose to left unsecure behind, for it's not sure and wastes previous time.
How gifted you are, even still a householder, to listen to this talk!