fast food in Buddhism

One porridge, one meal, one drink and one peck should not be gluttonous/%B3% Be% B7% B2% D2% BB% C3% Ce/blog/item/6f7e5BD75ad26725688bd4.html

It has been a long time and a vast space from India to China. It has changed, but a small bowl is always filled with the protection of ten parties and the introspection of monks, constantly reminding monks of every era in a porridge, a meal and a peck.

Diet is one of the important elements for a living thing to maintain its color and body. The average person is busy every day, and the minimum goal is to get enough food and clothing. If you can eat enough and wear warm clothes, you'd better eat well and wear a position. For monks who become monks, the first thing to do is to settle down, but the Buddha taught monks to regard food as "medicine", only to cure hunger, nourish the body and nourish wisdom, and not to be greedy.

In primitive Buddhism, monks begged for food for a living, and there were many regulations about "food" in the law collection, which were formulated by the Buddha according to the situation at that time. After Buddhism was introduced into China, the source, form and content of China monks' food took on a new look in order to adapt to people's customs.

Farming and Zen lead a life of self-cultivation

During the Buddha's life, monks dressed in cassock, holding bowls, begging for food everywhere, and only in the rainy season do they return to their homes or a fixed place to settle down in summer, and at this time, they no longer go out to ask for bowls. For monks, "begging for food" has far-reaching significance-on the one hand, it is to surrender arrogance, not greedy for delicious food, have no choice, and concentrate on monasticism; On the other hand, by begging for food, he contacted the lay people and gave them the opportunity to give a blessing and talk. Therefore, begging for food is the life of monks, and digging up soil and planting fruits and vegetables will hurt people's lives, which is forbidden by primitive Buddhism.

When Buddhism was first introduced to China, the Saman in China still adhered to the teachings of the Buddha. Later, the monks gradually gave up begging for food. The earliest record is that Daoheng pointed out in the Interpretation of Arguments in the first year of Yi Xi, Emperor of the Eastern Jin Dynasty (45 AD) that the Saman "cultivated Tian Pu and lived with the farmers", which shows that the monks had started farming at that time.

Why can't monks in China live a life of begging? This has something to do with the people's feelings in China and the development of monks in China.

In China's culture, "begging" is a despicable act, not to mention that in the big society where labor is generally valued, monks begging for food is regarded as "not working or producing", and it is difficult to gain the recognition and respect of the public; Secondly, the number of monks is increasing and expanding, and the temple is located in a remote place, so it is difficult to rely on begging for food. In this case, since the Southern and Northern Dynasties, the royal nobles have provided for monks by giving and giving up fields, and no longer give food directly; On the other hand, monks must also organize their own production methods in order to be self-sufficient.

By the time of the Tang Dynasty, Master Mazu created the jungle, and Zen Master Baizhang made a clear rule, which officially opened a new life style of the Sangha in China. Monks began to live a self-cultivation and Zen life of "farming by day and Zen by night", and Zen Master Baizhang's high morals and bright festivals of "not doing anything for a day, not eating for a day" became an example for future monks to follow, and practice in their work became an unshakable belief for monks.

The root of the vegetable is fragrant, and the Buddhist mind is long.

Compared with the diet of primitive Buddhism, the most prominent thing in China Buddhism is "vegetarianism". In the Buddha's time, monks accepted whatever the lay man offered, so the Buddha did not forbid monks to eat meat, except elephant meat, horse meat, dragon meat and human flesh, and other meats were acceptable as long as they were not killed, unheard of and killed for me (three clean meats) (see the law of four points).

In Mahayana Buddhism, it is forbidden to eat meat. The Bharatiya Sutra of the Brahma pointed out that "you should not eat the meat of all living beings, and eating meat will lead to infinite sin"; In the Nirvana Sutra, it is also said that "a carnivore is a great kind species". To abstain from killing vegetarians with kindness is a manifestation of compassion for all beings and compassion for Mahayana.

The vegetarian diet of monks in China is also closely related to Liang Wudi, who believes in Mahayana Buddhism. In 511 AD, Liang Wudi summoned the Samanas to swear to cut off wine and meat forever, and made a public announcement by decree, and offenders were severely punished. Thanks to the emperor's promotion, the China monasteries cultivated their own food and the vast manors provided vegetarian sources. This religious group reform has achieved great results, and even today, the Buddhist monks in China still insist on vegetarian diet.

In the past, the economy of monasteries was generally poor, and monks were thrifty, and there were a lot of pickled sauces. They fasted every day, except for lunch, most of them ate porridge, accompanied by aged pickled vegetables. Nowadays, thanks to the economic growth in Taiwan Province, the diet of monks has also changed, such as the rapid increase of vegetarian population, the establishment of vegetarian restaurants and the diversification of vegetarian products. In recent years, the wind of returning to nature has been blowing, and light raw food and vegetarian food have naturally become the darling of the new era. From a health point of view, it has gradually separated from religious vegetarian food.

Two-hour attendance and five views on food

"Attendance" is also a unique ritual system in the jungle of China, which occupies an important position in the life of the Sangha. Attendance at breakfast and lunch is two of the five lessons for monks.

When the cloud board sounded, the masses filed into the Wuguantang, sat down in sequence, and asked questions. After that, Wei Na began to speak, and the masses sang "offering sacrifices" to all the buddhas of the 1th Party and the 3rd Party. When faced with the food to satisfy hunger and maintain health, the monks reminded themselves once again that they should not forget to seek Buddha's way and descend to all beings, and should follow the sages. Early fasting sings, "porridge has ten advantages, which is beneficial to pedestrians, and the results are endless. After all, it is always fun. "Wu Zhai sang" Three Virtues and Six Flavors, for Buddhists and Monks ... If you eat, you should be willing to all beings, eat Zen, and be full of dharma joy.

Then, after Master Weina called the monk and postscript, the public began to use fasting. Bowls and plates are mostly used in the jungle, and bowls are used in a few monasteries. The bowls and plates have a certain position, and they are not allowed to be placed arbitrarily. Tim Tonga dishes are served by the hall, and they are not allowed to make any noise or move arbitrarily. There must be five views in eating (first, how much work is counted, and where it comes from; Second, I feel my virtue, and I am completely lacking in confession; Third, prevent the heart from leaving, and greed is the case; Fourth, the good medicine for business is to cure the disease; Five, in order to become a career, only by this food. ) and study hard, or hold the name of Buddha or participate in "who is eating?" In the end, the public sang "... the so-called givers will get their benefits ... Be willing to all sentient beings, do everything, and have all kinds of Buddhist laws", and feel grateful, trust and support, and return to all sentient beings in a satisfactory way.

The whole attendance is a quiet eating process, and the abbot and monk will announce something to the public at this time, which is called "table attendance". On the first, fifteenth or special festivals of each month, people will be served with food, or some lay monks will give alms and add food.

China Buddhist temples usually set up a small food table on the right outside the main hall to show sympathy for the hungry and needy. It is based on the allusions of "the ghosts and gods in the wilderness" and "the ghost mother in Luo Cha" in Buddhist scriptures. When people go to church, a monk is responsible for eating, and seven grains of rice or noodles made from nails are given to all beings through meditation and the blessing of the people. May they be full together and get rid of greed.

Simple jungle fasting symbolizes lofty wisdom and broad feelings.

It's hard to provide medicine stones in the afternoon.

Buddhist monks eat once a day and don't eat after noon. Before the middle Tang Dynasty, China monks strictly held the afternoon, and gradually, like begging for food, they were abandoned after the evolution and adaptation of time and space. Because of the vast geographical area between the north and the south of China, coupled with the monks' self-cultivation and heavy labor, the monks finally gave up the traditional Buddhist system, and the temple officially provided dinner, which was called "medicinal stone". All medicinal stones ate porridge, also known as "late porridge".

During the seventh day of Zen in the Zen Hall, there are activities all day, and meditation and running incense alternately work hard, which is very exhausting. Therefore, we have meals four or five times a day. Besides breakfast porridge and lunch, we have lunch porridge (dim sum porridge) in the afternoon and a meal at eight o'clock in the evening, which is also porridge or steamed bread, which is called "putting ginseng".

In addition, there are wandering monks who go out to seek dharma. Because they are in the middle of nowhere, there is no guarantee of time and food, and they are not restricted by not eating at noon. They can eat food whenever they get it. However, when they go to the meditation hall to sign up for the bill, they must follow the crowd. The Baizhang rules are attached to the rules of attending classes, which stipulate for the monk Yun Shui: "Arrive as soon as noon." Arrive late, and porridge will follow the crowd; When the time has passed, make up for it; Arrive one night late and have lunch the next day.

Since China monks can't strictly observe the no-eating-after-noon rule, what kind of mentality should they use to use medicine stones? "A Brief Introduction to the Laws and Regulations of Shami" written by master lianchi in the Ming Dynasty mentioned that "you must also know that you are guilty of violating the Buddhist system, being ashamed, thinking about the sufferings of hungry ghosts, and often giving alms, not eating too much, not eating delicious food, and not being satisfied with eating", which shows that monks should be wary, ashamed and compassionate when using stones.

China monks had to cook by themselves, so the deacon who was in charge of the monks' diet appeared, and the following deacon was recorded in the Baizhang Rules:

First, the altar: taking charge of all the offerings for the public to fast porridge.

second, rice head: responsible for cooking porridge and rice.

third, the wardrobe: performing hard labor in the fasting hall.

fourth, the fire head: responsible for cooking the rice pot.

5. Shuitou: responsible for the water in the tea room and the tanks of each hall in Daliao, and always keep the overflow clean.

6. Vegetable head: responsible for cooking.

7. Barrel head: responsible for cleaning the vegetable barrels and rice barrels in Zhaitang.

eight, grinding head: responsible for grinding rice and wheat and making tofu.

There are still charcoal heads, tea heads and pot heads, and the temples are set up according to time and place, which are not uniform.

There are strict kitchen regulations and warehouse regulations in the jungle of China Temple, indicating the duties and knowledge of each deacon. For example, "When you earn an inch of rice, you should know the difficulties of coming and going ... you should pay more attention to reconciling all the people, be sour and salty, be fragrant and soft, cook carefully, don't neglect your health, take care of your support ... When you have porridge and rice for three times, you should not make mistakes once ..." As a guide for monks. Therefore, in ancient times, many great ancestors came from Daliao (kitchen). For example, Zen master Xuefeng worked as a rice head, and Zen master Lu Yang worked as a ceremonial seat ... "Don't say that besides deacons, there is no camp. You should know that transporting water and firewood is nothing more than Buddhism; Pouring rice for cooking is just the right thing to ask. "Although China monks no longer go out to beg for food, they support each other among deacons, especially the deacons in Daliao, nourishing their bodies and wisdom, and opening up another best altar city for their achievements in Taoism.