limb, or peace of mind. Whether it be fierce animals, such as
wild dogs, snakes, elephants and tigers, or pestilent diseases, or
simply pugnacious individuals, societies all over the world pos-
sess appropriate corrective measures, or medicines, to effectively
subdue and protect themselves against these threats. A dhutanga
monk whose mind displays pugnacious tendencies in its desire
for food, or any other unwholesome qualities deemed distasteful,
needs to have effective measures for correcting these threaten-
ing tendencies. Thus, he will always possess the kind of admira-
ble self-restraint which is a blessing for him and a pleasing sight
for those with whom he associates. Eating only one meal per day
is an excellent way to restrain unwieldly mental states.
Eating all food directly from the alms bowl without using any
other utensils is a practice eminently suited to the lifestyle of a
dhutanga monk who strives to be satisfied with little while wan-
dering from place to place. Using just his alms bowl means there’s
no need to be loaded down with a lot of cumbersome accesso-
ries as he travels from one location to another, practicing the
ascetic way of life. At the same time, it is an expedient practice
for monks wishing to unburden themselves of mental clutter; for
each extra item they carry and look after, is just one more con-
cern that weighs on their minds. For this reason, dhutanga monks
should pay special attention to the practice of eating exclusively
from the alms bowl. In truth, it gives rise to many unique benefits.
Mixing all types of food together in the bowl is a way of reminding
a monk to be attentive to the food he eats, and to investigate its
true nature using mindfulness and wisdom to gain a clear insight
into the truth about food.
Ãcariya Mun said that, for him, eating from the bowl was
jacob rumans
(Jacob Rumans)
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