Overview
Within the 13 strict Ascetic Practices (Dhutaṅga) outlined in the Theravāda commentarial tradition, exactly five are engineered exclusively to target the defilement of gluttony and attachment to taste. By undertaking these five voluntary rules, a monk breaks his reliance on luxury meals, simplifies his lifestyle, and guards his meditation time.
The List
- Piṇḍapātik’aṅga - The Alms-round Wearer’s Practice: Consuming only food gathered directly inside one’s bowl during the daily walk, completely refusing formal house invitations from lay supporters.
- Sapadānacārik’aṅga - The House-to-house Walker’s Practice: Walking sequentially down a street house by house without skipping any family based on their poverty or wealth, avoiding favoritism.
- Ekāsanik’aṅga - The One-session Eater’s Practice: Consuming food only at a single sitting per day. Once the monk rises from his seat, his meal is legally finished for the day.
- Pattapiṇḍik’aṅga - The Bowl-eater’s Practice: Mixing all savory, sweet, liquid, and solid food components together directly inside the alms bowl, refusing plates or multi-course presentations to destroy attachment to culinary optics.
- Khalupacchābhattik’aṅga - The Later-food Refuser’s Practice: Declining any secondary helpings or additional food items brought forward once the monk has formally signaled that his meal has commenced.
Textual References
- Commentary: Visuddhimagga (Chapter II) – Outlines the rules, the structural boundaries, and the precise methods for maintaining these five nutritional austerities.