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and went to where the bhikkhus Assaji and Punabbasu were, and having approached, they spoke to the bhikkhus Assaji and Punabbasu thus: "Friends, the Blessed One is coming, with a large community of bhikkhus, with about five hundred bhikkhus, and Sāriputta and Moggallāna. Friends, prepare lodgings for the Blessed One, and for the community of bhikkhus, and for Sāriputta and Moggallāna." "Friends, there are no Sangha lodgings. Everything has been distributed by us. Welcome, friends, to the Blessed One. In whichever dwelling the Blessed One wishes, in that dwelling he will stay. Evil- Sariputta and Moggallana desire, they are subject to evil desires. "We will not assign them a lodging." "But did you, friends, divide the Sangha's lodging?" "Yes, friend." Those monks who were of few desires... they complained, grumbled, and criticized: "How can these monks, Assaji and Punabbasu, divide the Sangha's lodging!" Then those monks reported this matter to the Blessed One... "Is it true, monks...?" "It is true, Blessed One." The Buddha, the Blessed One, rebuked them... "How can these foolish men, monks, divide the Sangha's lodging? This, monks, is not for the faith of the unfaithful... Having rebuked them... and given a Dhamma talk, he addressed the monks: "Monks, these five things are not to be divided, not by the Sangha, nor by a group, nor by an individual. Even if divided, they remain undivided. Whoever divides them, incurs an offense of grave fault. Which five? The park, the park-site – this is the first undividable thing, not to be divided, not by the Sangha, nor by a group, nor by an individual. Even if divided, it remains undivided. Whoever divides it, incurs an offense of grave fault. The monastery, the monastery-site – this is the second undividable thing, not to be divided, not by the Sangha, nor by a group, nor by an individual. Even if divided, it remains undivided. Whoever divides it, incurs an offense of grave fault. A couch, a chair, a cushion, a pillow – this is the third undividable thing, not to be divided, not by the Sangha, nor by a group, nor by an individual. Even if divided, it remains undivided. Whoever divides it, incurs an offense of grave fault. A copper pot, a copper bowl, a copper water-strainer, a copper cauldron, an adze, an axe, a hatchet, a spade, a pickaxe – this is the fourth undividable thing, not to be divided, not by the Sangha, nor by a group, nor by an individual. Even if divided, it remains undivided. Whoever divides it, incurs an offense of grave of grave offense. “Creepers, bamboo, muñja grass, pabbaja grass, ordinary grass, clay, wooden articles, clay articles – these five are not to be divided, not to be distributed, by the Sangha, or by a group, or by an individual. Even if divided, they are undivided. Whoever divides them incurs a grave offense. These, monks, are the five things not to be divided, not to be distributed, by the Sangha, or by a group, or by an individual. Even if divided, they are undivided. Whoever divides them incurs a grave offense.” The Story of Giving New Work 323. Then the Blessed One, having stayed at Kīṭāgiri as long as he wished, set out on a journey towards Āḷavī. Journeying by stages, he arrived at Āḷavī. There the Blessed One stayed at Āḷavī, at the Aggāḷava Shrine. Now at that time, the monks of Āḷavī were giving new work of this kind: they would give new work for merely placing a bowl; they would give new work for merely plastering a wall; they would give new work for merely installing a door; they would give new work for merely making a bolt; they would give new work for merely making a window; they would give new work for merely whitewashing; they would give new work for merely blackening; they would give new work for merely applying red ochre; they would give new work for merely roofing; they would give new work for merely binding; they would give new work for merely placing a bundle; they would give new work for merely repairing broken parts; they would give new work for merely furnishing; they would give new work for twenty years; they would give new work for thirty years; they would give new work for life; they would give new work for a monastery that was finished and merely needed fumigation. Those monks who were of few desires… complained, grumbled, and criticized: “How can the monks of Āḷavī give new work of this kind – new work for merely placing a bowl…” they will give; even for merely plastering a wall... even for merely fixing a door... even for merely making a bolt... even for merely making a window... even for merely whitewashing... even for merely blackwashing... even for merely applying red ochre... even for merely roofing... even for merely tying... even for merely storing goods... even for merely repairing minor damage... even for merely furnishing... even for twenty years... even for thirty years... even for a lifetime... even for a monastery completed in a short time, they will give new work! They reported this matter to the Blessed One... "Is it true, monks...?" "It is true, Blessed One." Having rebuked... Having given a discourse on Dhamma, he addressed the monks: "Monks, new work should not be given for merely placing a lump of food; New work should not be given for merely plastering a wall. New work should not be given for merely fixing a door. New work should not be given for merely making a bolt. New work should not be given for merely making a window. New work should not be given for merely whitewashing. New work should not be given for merely blackwashing. New work should not be given for merely applying red ochre. New work should not be given for merely roofing. New work should not be given for merely tying. New work should not be given for merely storing goods. New work should not be given for merely repairing minor damage. New work should not be given for merely furnishing. New work should not be given for twenty years. New work should not be given for thirty years. New work should not be given for a lifetime. New work should not be given for a monastery completed in a short time. Whoever gives it, commits an offense of wrong-doing. I allow, monks, to give new work that is undone or unfinished, to give new work for five or six years, after inspecting the work in small monasteries, to give new work for seven or eight years, after inspecting the work in half-gabled monasteries, ma having looked at the work in a dilapidated monastery or palace, to give new work for ten or twelve years. Now at that time, monks gave new work in all monasteries. They reported this matter to the Blessed One. “Monks, new work should not be given in all monasteries. Whoever gives it, commits an offense of wrong-doing.” Now at that time, monks gave two to one person. They reported this matter to the Blessed One. “Monks, two should not be given to one. Whoever gives it, commits an offense of wrong-doing.” Now at that time, monks, having taken new work, let another dwell. They reported this matter to the Blessed One. “Monks, having taken new work, another should not be allowed to dwell. Whoever allows it, commits an offense of wrong-doing.” Now at that time, monks, having taken new work, withheld it from the Sangha. They reported this matter to the Blessed One. “Monks, having taken new work, it should not be withheld from the Sangha. Whoever withholds it, commits an offense of wrong-doing. I allow, monks, to take one excellent lodging.” Now at that time, monks gave new work to one standing outside the boundary. They reported this matter to the Blessed One. “Monks, new work should not be given to one standing outside the boundary. Whoever gives it, commits an offense of wrong-doing.” Now at that time, monks, having taken new work, withheld it all the time. They reported this matter to the Blessed One. “Monks, having taken new work, it should not be withheld all the time. Whoever withholds it, commits an offense of wrong-doing. I allow, monks, to withhold it for three months during the rainy season, but not during the fair season.” Now at that time, monks, having taken new work, also departed, also wandered away, also died; novices also claimed it; those who had renounced the training also claimed it; those who had fallen into a final offense also claimed it; the insane also claimed it; the deranged also claimed it; those afflicted by pain also claimed it. they acknowledge; those suspended for not seeing an offense acknowledge; those suspended for not making amends for an offense acknowledge; those suspended for not renouncing a wrong view acknowledge; eunuchs acknowledge; those who have stolen the robes acknowledge; those who have gone over to other sects acknowledge; animals acknowledge; matricides acknowledge; parricides acknowledge; slayers of Arahants acknowledge; defilers of bhikkhunis acknowledge; schismatics acknowledge; those who have drawn blood from a Buddha acknowledge; hermaphrodites acknowledge. They reported this matter to the Blessed One. “Here, bhikkhus, a bhikkhu takes on new construction work and then departs – it should be given to another, lest the Sangha suffer loss. “Here, bhikkhus, a bhikkhu takes on new construction work and then wanders away… …or dies, a novice acknowledges, one who has renounced the training acknowledges, one who has committed a grave offense acknowledges, one who is insane acknowledges, one who is deranged acknowledges, one who is afflicted by pain acknowledges, one suspended for not seeing an offense acknowledges, one suspended for not making amends for an offense acknowledges, one suspended for not renouncing a wrong view acknowledges, a eunuch acknowledges, one who has stolen the robes acknowledges, one who has gone over to other sects acknowledges, an animal acknowledges, a matricide acknowledges, a parricide acknowledges, a slayer of an Arahant acknowledges, a defiler of a bhikkhuni acknowledges, a schismatic acknowledges,