Did the Buddha Observe the Precept of Not Eating After Midday?

Some people attempt to bind the Buddha with precepts, demanding that He observe the precept of not eating after noon, thus refraining from making offerings to the Buddha not only in the evening but also in the afternoon. Why do these people treat the Buddhas and Bodhisattvas in this manner? Because ordinary beings do not understand the state of the Buddhas and Bodhisattvas, nor do they grasp the essential meaning of the precepts. They regard the Buddhas and Bodhisattvas as ordinary beings like themselves, and moreover, as human ordinary beings. Therefore, they assume that the Buddhas and Bodhisattvas should observe the precept of not eating after noon, just like human beings.

When the Buddha established this precept in His time, it was to help practitioners attain mental clarity, free from the disturbance of food, enabling them to practice continuously and diligently without experiencing scatteredness and dullness that could hinder their cultivation. However, this precept does not apply to the Buddha and the great Bodhisattvas. Even when Buddhas and Bodhisattvas manifest in the human world in human form, they should not be confined by this precept because, firstly, the Buddha does not need to cultivate, and secondly, the Buddha possesses immeasurable virtuous practices and can transform and resolve food. He may choose not to eat or to eat immeasurably, neither of which affects His body or mind. Yet, during His time in the human world, the Buddha also refrained from eating after noon. This was to set an example for sentient beings. However, when in the presence of heavenly beings (devas), the Buddha was not bound by the precept of not eating after noon and accepted various offerings from the devas at any time and place.

When the Buddhas and Bodhisattvas are not in the human world, residing in their respective Buddha lands, the division between day and night is not based on sunlight. Moreover, a single minute in other Buddha lands may equate to several days in the human Saha world. How then should human concepts of morning and evening correspond to the time in other Buddha lands? In the heavenly realms above the Trayastrimsa Heaven in the Desire Realm, there is no sun; natural light manifests without the need for sunlight. Therefore, above the Trayastrimsa Heaven, there is no darkness, no night. Other Buddha lands also have no darkness or night; in the Buddha's world, there is no concept of night at all. The human precept of not eating after noon becomes utterly meaningless when transposed to another time and space. Hence, when making offerings to the Buddha, there is no need to consider human concepts of day, night, or other time divisions.

Furthermore, the Buddhas and Bodhisattvas possess immeasurable wisdom to discern whether to eat, how much to eat, and when to eat. How could the wisdom of ordinary beings presume to speculate upon or restrict the actions of the Buddhas and Bodhisattvas? Therefore, offerings to the Buddha are not subject to time restrictions. Within the Buddha's state, there is no time; there is no distinction between early or late. The Buddha accepts offerings to accumulate merit for sentient beings; He Himself needs nothing. The Buddha is also not constrained by precepts. With His immeasurable wisdom and virtuous capabilities, He long ago transcended the need for any precepts to bind Him. Human beings should not demand that heavenly beings, divine beings, or the Buddhas and Bodhisattvas conform to human habits and customs.

The human mind is confined within the scope of human life and cannot comprehend the states of beings and Buddhas and Bodhisattvas that transcend the human realm. We who study the Buddha should strive to break through the narrow thoughts, states, and various habits of humanity. Humans walk on two legs; devas fly through the air. We should not use the rules of human walking to regulate the behavior of devas who can fly, much less use the rules of human ordinary beings to restrict or regulate the mind and actions of the Buddhas and Bodhisattvas. Compared to the Buddhas and Bodhisattvas, humans are like infants, unable to understand or imagine the mind and state of the Buddhas and Bodhisattvas. This is why various misunderstandings and incomprehensions arise. We should strive to expand our minds and broaden our vision, endeavoring to break free from the narrow, unreasonable, and immature thoughts of ordinary beings, and strive to approach the thought realms and codes of conduct of higher forms of life.