Piṇḍapāta

The word Piṇḍapāta is a combination of two words Piṇḍa and pāta. Piṇḍa means lump of food and pāta means bowl. So, Piṇḍapāta means literally placing lump of food in a bowl.

In Theravada Buddhism, nuns and monks go on a daily almsround to collect food. This is often perceived as giving the laypeople the opportunity to make merit puñña.Money cannot be accepted by a Theravadan Buddhist monk or nun.

Since the time of the Buddha, lay people have been supporting monks this way with food, robes, shelter and medicine. In return, monks provide guidance to the laity on Buddhist teachings, thus forging a close, respectful, and symbiotic relationship between the two communities this was the practice in India for a longtime.

The word Piṇḍapāta is a combination of two words Piṇḍa and pāta. Piṇḍa means lump of food and pāta means bowl. So, Piṇḍapāta means literally placing lump of food in a bowl.

In Theravada Buddhism, nuns and monks go on a daily almsround to collect food. This is often perceived as giving the laypeople the opportunity to make merit puñña.Money cannot be accepted by a Theravadan Buddhist monk or nun.

Since the time of the Buddha, lay people have been supporting monks this way with food, robes, shelter and medicine. In return, monks provide guidance to the laity on Buddhist teachings, thus forging a close, respectful, and symbiotic relationship between the two communities this was the practice in India for a longtime.

WHAT TYPE OF FOOD CAN I BRING?

You can bring any Vegetarian food segregated into dry and wet food. (Dry) means roti, rice, bottled water, juice, packed foods like biscuits and namkeen packets, uncut fruits, etc and (wet) food like dal, curry, gravy vegetable, curd, etc. if wet foods or sweet items like kheer or ice cream want to be offered, it would be well advised that they be packed into a small plastic packet or a box like an ice cream box and offered into the bowl, so that all foods stay segregated till consumption. Money is not accepted by a Theravadan Buddhist monk or nun (so please refrain from offering the same, monetory donations can be made to the Dhammārāma centre.

WHAT IS THE BEST FOOD TO BRING?

Food from your heart.