[851] At that time the Buddha, the Blessed One, was dwelling at Kosambī in the Ghositārāma. Now at that time a milk drink had been prepared for the Saṅgha by a certain brahmin. The bhikkhus drank the milk making a slurping sound. A certain bhikkhu who had formerly been an actor said this: "I suppose this whole Saṅgha has been cooled down!"
Those bhikkhus who were of few wishes … criticized, complained, and spread it about, saying: "How can a bhikkhu make a joke referring to the Saṅgha?" …
"Is it true, bhikkhu, as they say, that you made a joke referring to the Saṅgha?"
"It is true, Blessed One."
The Buddha, the Blessed One, rebuked him: "Foolish man, how can you make a joke referring to the Saṅgha? This, foolish man, is not conducive to the confidence of those without confidence, nor to the increase of those already confident …" Having rebuked him and given a talk on the Dhamma, he addressed the bhikkhus: "Bhikkhus, a joke is not to be made referring to the Buddha, the Dhamma, or the Saṅgha. Whoever should do so commits an offense of wrong-doing (dukkaṭa)."
Then the Blessed One, having rebuked that bhikkhu in many ways for his being difficult to support …, said: "And thus, bhikkhus, you should recite this training rule (sikkhāpada): 'I will not eat making a slurping sound' — this is a training to be observed."
One should not eat making a slurping sound. Whoever, out of disrespect, eats making a slurping sound commits an offense of wrong-doing.
There is no offense (anāpatti): if it is unintentional; if one is unmindful; if one does not know; if one is ill; in emergencies; if one is insane; if one is the first offender.
English translation from the Pali (Siam Raṭṭha edition) — under review, not for citation.