Bhojane Mattaññutā
— Moderation in food —
[bhojana mattā+aññū+tā]

Literally, Bhojane Mattaññutā means 'knowing the [right] amount in food'. This formula consists of the instructions given by the Buddha regarding the proper way to eat. It is almost always accompanied by Indriyesu Guttadvāratā and Jāgariyaṃ Anuyoga.


Note: info·bubbles on all words


Occurences in the Sutta Pitaka
DN MN SN AN KN Total
of the actual formula 1 6 6 5 0 18
of the string "bhojane mattaññ" 14 19 14 20 1 68


Bhikkhu paṭisaṅkhā yoniso āhāraṃ āhāreti neva davāya na madāya na maṇḍanāya na vibhūsanāya, yāvadeva imassa kāyassa ṭhitiyā yāpanāya vihiṃs·ūparatiyā brahmacariy·ānuggahāya iti purāṇa·ñca vedanaṃ paṭihaṅkhāmi, nava·ñca vedanaṃ na uppādessāmi, yātrā ca me bhavissati anavajjatā ca phāsu·vihāro cā.

A bhikkhu takes food with proper consideration: not for fun not for indulgence not for beautification nor attractiveness, but just enough for the sustenance and maintenance of this kāya, for the cessation of vihiṃsa, for the support of the brahmacariya: 'thus I will put an end to the previous vedanās,{1} without arousing new vedanās,{2} and there will be for me subsistence, blamelessness and dwelling at ease.

Bhikkhu paṭisaṅkhā yoniso āhāraṃ āhāreti:

A bhikkhu takes food with proper consideration:
neva davāya na madāya

not for fun not for indulgence
na maṇḍanāya na vibhūsanāya,

not for beautification nor attractiveness,
yāvadeva imassa kāyassa ṭhitiyā yāpanāya

but just enough for the sustenance and maintenance of this kāya,
vihiṃs·ūparatiyā brahmacariy·ānuggahāya:

for the cessation of vihiṃsa, for the support of the brahmacariya:
'iti purāṇa·ñca vedanaṃ paṭihaṅkhāmi,

'thus I will put an end to the previous vedanās,{1}
nava·ñca vedanaṃ na uppādessāmi,

without arousing new vedanās,{2}
yātrā ca me bhavissati

and there will be for me subsistence,
anavajjatā ca phāsu·vihāro cā' ti.

blamelessness and dwelling at ease'.



Bodhi leaf

Notes


1. previous vedanās: generally interpreted as due to hunger, but the statement may also be understood in various other ways.


2. new vedanās: generally interpreted as due to overeating, but it is useful to remember the statement in its original form, to keep in touch with its subtler precise meaning and other possible ways to understand it. For example, the expression could be understood in the sense that by filling the stomach (as ordinary people are generally used to), one feels hungry again after a few hours, whereas by keeping to a moderate amount, hunger does not arise so soon.