Then the Blessed One, having stayed at Rājagaha as long as he liked, set out on a wandering tour toward Bārāṇasī, and traveling by stages, arrived at Bārāṇasī.

There at Bārāṇasī, he stayed in the Deer Park at Isipatana.

Now at that time in Bārāṇasī, Suppiya the male lay follower and Suppiyā the female lay follower were both those with conviction, donors, helpers, supporters of the Saṅgha.

Then Suppiyā the female lay follower, going to the monastery, from dwelling to dwelling, from courtyard to courtyard, asked the monks, “Venerable sirs, who is sick? What can I bring for whom?”

Now on that occasion a certain monk had drunk a purgative.

Then the monk said to Suppiyā the female lay follower, “Sister, I have drunk a purgative. I need some meat broth.”

(Saying,) “Very well, master, it will be brought,” she went home and commanded a servant, “I say, go and find some butchered meat.”

Responding, “As you say, lady,” to Suppiyā the female lay follower, the man, wandering all over the area of Bārāṇasī, didn’t see any butchered meat.

Then he went to Suppiyā the female lay follower and, on arrival, said to her, “Lady, there is no butchered[1] meat. Today is a non-killing day[2].

Then the thought occurred to Suppiyā the female lay follower, “If that sick monk doesn’t get the meat broth, his illness will get much worse, or his death will come about. It wouldn’t be proper for me, having promised it, to not have it sent.”

Taking a knife and cutting out some flesh from her thigh, she gave it to a female slave, (saying,) “Hey, having prepared this meat — in that dwelling over there, there’s a sick monk — give it to him.

“And if anybody asks about me, inform them that I’m sick,” covering her thigh with her upper robe and going into an inner room, she lay down on a bed.

Then Suppiya the male lay follower, coming home, asked the female slave, “Where’s Suppiyā?”

“She’s lying down in the inner room, master.”

Then Suppiya the male lay follower went to Suppiyā the female lay follower, and, on arrival, said to her, “Why are you lying down?”

“I’m sick.”

“What is your illness?”

So she told him what had happened.

Then Suppiya the male lay follower, (thinking,) “How amazing! How astounding! that Suppiyā is so faithful and confident, in that she can sacrifice even her own flesh! Could there be anything else she wouldn’t give?” thrilled and exultant, went to the Blessed One and, on arrival, having bowed down to the Blessed One, sat to one side.

As he was sitting there, he said to the Blessed One, “Lord, may the Blessed One acquiesce to my meal tomorrow, together with the Saṅgha of monks.”

The Blessed One acquiesced with silence.

Then Suppiya the lay follower, understanding the Blessed One’s acquiescence, got up from his seat, bowed down to the Blessed One, circumambulated him, keeping him to his right, and left.

As the night was ending, Suppiya the lay follower, having ordered exquisite staple and non-staple food prepared, had the time announced to the Blessed One: “It’s time, Lord. The meal is ready.”

Then, early in the morning, having adjusted his under robe and, carrying his bowl and robes — the Blessed One went to the residence of Suppiya the lay follower and, on arrival, sat down on a seat laid out, along with the Saṅgha of monks.

Then Suppiya the lay follower went to the Blessed One and, on arrival, having bowed down to him, stood to one side.

As he was standing there, the Blessed One said to him, “Where is Suppiyā?”

“She’s sick, O Blessed One.”

“In that case, let her come.”

“She’s unable to, O Blessed One.”

“In that case, taking hold of her, lead her (here).”

So Suppiya the male lay follower, taking hold of Suppiyā the female lay follower, led her (there).

From seeing the Blessed One, the wound, so large, became regrown, with good skin and hair [i.e., not looking like a scar.]

Then Suppiya the male lay follower and Suppiyā the female lay follower, (thinking,) “How amazing! How astounding! — the great power & great might of the Tathāgata! — in that from seeing the Blessed One, the wound, so large, became healed, with good skin and hair,” thrilled and exultant, with their own hands, served and satisfied the Saṅgha of monks headed by the Blessed One with exquisite staple and non-staple food. Then, when the Blessed One had finished his meal and withdrawn his hand from his bowl, they sat to one side.

Then the Blessed One, having instructed, urged, roused, and encouraged them with a Dhamma talk, got up from his seat and left.

Then the Blessed One, with regard to this cause, to this incident, had the monks assembled and asked them: “Monks, who asked Suppiyā the female lay follower for meat?”

When that was said, the monk said to the Blessed One, “Lord, I asked her for meat.”

“Was it brought, monk?”

“It was brought, O Blessed One.”

“Did you consume it, monk?”

“I consumed it, O Blessed One.”

“Did you relfect on it (as to what it was), monk?”

“I didn’t reflect on it, O Blessed One.”

The Buddha, the Blessed One, rebuked him, “Worthless man, how can you eat meat without relfecting on it (as to what it is)? Worthless man, you have consumed human flesh. Worthless man, this neither inspires faith in the faithless ...”

Having rebuked him and given a Dhamma talk, he addressed the monks: “Monks, there are people — faithful and confident — who offer even their own flesh.

“Monks, one should not consume human flesh. Whoever should do so: a thullaccaya offense.

“And one should not consume meat without having relfected on it (as to what it is). Whoever should do so: an offense of wrong doing.” [BMC]