Where do monks eat?

[Mkoll]

Where do monks eat once they have gathered alms from the village or town? Do they take their bowls outside of town to eat? Do they walk back to the monastery to eat? Do they eat at someone's house in the village? How and why do practices differ?

I would appreciate any answers, especially answers from Venerable Ones.



Metta

[fabianfred]

Monks leaving a temple to go on alms-round return to the temple. Some eat together in a dining hall and also share their food and also get a share of food which has been brought into the temple by lay followers. Usually the monks and novices sit in a line of seniority and the food is placed upon trays/plates and passed from one to another starting with the most senior, down the line and then the last novice hand it back to the lay person doing the offering. Nuns or lay followers in White who are keeping the eight precepts then follow on and finally the ordinary lays get to take a share. the monks give a chant then all begin to eat.
Some temples the monks and novices eat from their alms bowls.
If a monk is living away from a temple, travelling or on tudong, he will retire to his klod where he is sleeping and eat there, or find a quiet spot away from people to sit and eat.
If invited to a house they will eat there....but this is usually for the midday meal.

[mohsinj677]

This post is so great and nice

If a monk is living away from a temple, travelling or on tudong, he will retire to his klod where he is sleeping and eat there, or find a quiet spot away from people to sit and eat.
If invited to a house they will eat there....but this is usually for the midday meal

[gavesako]

In the West, if monks go to collect almsfood in the towns and villages then they usually just find a quiet spot in a park, cemetery, church (when it rains) and eat there whatever they have received in the bowl. Here you can read some stories:

http://www.blisteredfeet-blissfulmind.c ... -west.html
http://www.blisteredfeet-blissfulmind.c ... citto.html