Pindapata

Mural depicting the Buddha on almsround, from the Ajanta Caves

A monk performing takuhatsu on the side of the street in Tokyo, 2013

Piṇḍapāta or piṇḍacāra is a Pali term used to refer to the Buddhist monastic practice of almsround to the laity to receive almsfood and other necessities.

In Japanese Buddhism, this practice is also known as Takuhatsu (托鉢).

Theravāda

Ṭhānissaro on piṇḍacāra receiving piṇḍapāta

In Theravāda Buddhism, the practice is referred to by the Pāli term piṇḍacāra (𑀧𑀺𑀡𑁆𑀟𑀘𑀸𑀭). Monks or nuns on piṇḍacāra go around town on foot with their almsbowl under their outer robe and make themselves available to the laity to receive almsfood (𑀧𑀺𑀡𑁆𑀟𑀧𑀸𑀢, piṇḍapāta).

Owing, however, to the precarity inherent in almost all aspects of Theravāda monastic life, there is no guarantee of collecting enough food for the day, if any at all. This precarity is particularly observable outside the Indosphere, or even within it in times of societal or systemic crisis.

Mahāyāna

A monk begging at Hantaji Temple in Matsuyama.

In the practice of takuhatsu, monks travel to various businesses and residences to chant sutras in Sino-Japanese (thus generating merit) in exchange for donations of food and money.

Monks generally wear traditional takuhatsu clothes reminiscent of medieval Japanese garb and wear the names of their monasteries on their satchels to confirm their identities. This system is used by Zen monks in training to beg for their food, and is generally done in groups of ten to fifteen. The group walks through a street in single-file, chanting Hō (法, dharma), and the faithful gather to fill their alms bowls. This is the monks' offering of the Dharma and their lives of guardians of the Dharma to the people. According to Zen tradition, the givers should be grateful.

See also

• Mendicant