出家人用饭前有三念，首先用调羹吃三口汤，每一口作一念观想： 

Left-home people make three recollections before taking their meal. They begin the meal by drinking three spoonfuls of soup, making one recollection with each spoonful.

第一念是“愿断一切恶”。断恶，包括吃饭时不生分别心，不去分别这个有味道，那个没有味道。有什么便吃什么，不要拣饮择食，或者打其它妄想。不要想：“这个地方真不好，吃饭时又不准讲话，很不自由，像坐牢。我来拜佛，还有这么多规矩，真没趣！”

The first recollection is, "I vow to cut off all evil." This includes not discriminating whether the food is good or not. Just eat whatever food is served. Don't be picky or indulge in idle thoughts as you eat. Don't think, "This place is not nice at all. We're not allowed to talk when we eat, and there's no freedom. It's like being in jail. I only came to bow to the Buddha, and there are so many rules to follow. It's no fun at all!"

要是这样想，吃下去也不容易消化。不要总是找人家不对，“常瞅人不对，是自己苦未了。”为什么你不好好地回光返照，反求诸己？

If you have such thoughts, you won't be able to digest your food. Don't always look at other people's faults. "If you always see the faults of others, then you haven't put an end to your own suffering." Why don't you reflect upon and examine yourself?

第二念是“愿修一切善”。要发愿改过一切习气毛病。修道就是诸恶莫作，众善奉行。

The second recollection is, "I vow to cultivate all good." We should vow to correct all bad habits and faults. Cultivating the Way is nothing more than "doing no evil and practicing all good."

第三念是“誓度一切众生”。愿一切众生都能离苦得乐，了生脱死。

The third recollection is, "I vow to save all living beings." We vow to help all living beings leave suffering, attain bliss, and end birth and death.

吃饭时又应存五观：

During the meal, we should also make the five contemplations: