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B01010408vattakkhandhakaṃ (conduct sutra)

English

reported this matter to the other monks. The monks reported this matter to the Blessed One. Then the Blessed One, on this occasion, on this account, having given a Dhamma talk, addressed the monks: 368. "Therefore, O monks, I shall lay down the proper practice for forest-dwelling monks, how forest-dwelling monks should properly practice. By a forest-dwelling monk, O monks, at the proper time... Having risen early, putting the bowl into the bag, hanging it on the shoulder, placing the robe on the shoulder, putting on the sandals, putting away the wooden utensils, the clay utensils, closing the doors and windows, one should descend from the dwelling— thinking, 'Now I will enter the village.' Taking off the sandals, placing them low, dusting them off, putting them into the bag, hanging it on the shoulder, covering the three circles, donning the lower robe evenly, fastening the waistband, making it secure, donning the outer robes, untying the knot, washing, taking the bowl, one should enter the village calmly, without haste. Well-covered, one should go into the inner houses… …not with a swagger, one should go into the inner houses. Not with the head covered, one should go into the inner houses. Not squatting, one should go into the inner houses. Entering a dwelling, one should observe: 'By this way I will enter, by this way I will exit.' One should not enter too hastily. One should not exit too hastily. One should not stand too far away. One should not stand too close. One should not stand too long. One should not turn back too quickly. Standing, one should observe: 'Are they willing to give alms, or not willing to give alms?' If they put down their work, or rise from their seat, or touch the ladle, or touch the vessel, or set it down— one should stand, thinking, 'They are willing to give.' When alms are being given, raising the outer robe with the left hand, extending the bowl with the right hand, receiving the bowl with both hands, one should receive the alms. And one should not look at the face of the alms-giver. One should observe: 'Are they willing to give sauce, or not willing to give sauce?' If they touch the ladle, or touch the vessel, or set it down— one should stand, thinking, 'They are willing to give.' When alms have been given, covering the bowl with the outer robe, one should turn back calmly, without haste. Well-covered, one should go into the inner houses… …not squatting, one should go into the inner houses. Exiting the village, having put the bowl into the bag, having hung it on the shoulder, having folded the robe, having placed it on the head, having put on the sandals, one should go. “By a forest-dwelling monk, monks, drinking water should be provided, eating water should be provided, fire should be provided, the fire-stick and kindling should be provided, the broom-stick should be provided, the constellations should be learned— either all or some, one should be skilled in directions. This, monks, is the duty of forest-dwelling monks, how forest-dwelling monks should properly conduct themselves.” 8. Discourse on the Duties Regarding Lodgings 369. Now at that time, many monks were doing robe-work in the open air. The group of six monks swept their lodgings in the courtyard against the wind. They covered the monks with dust. Those monks who were of few desires… they complained, grumbled, and criticized— “How can these group of six monks sweep their lodgings in the courtyard against the wind! They covered the monks with dust!” Then those monks reported this matter to the Blessed One… “Is it true, monks, that the group of six monks swept their lodgings in the courtyard against the wind, and covered the monks with dust?” “It is true, Blessed One”… having rebuked… having given a Dhamma talk, he addressed the monks— 370. “Therefore, monks, I shall lay down the duties regarding lodgings for monks, how monks should properly conduct themselves in their lodgings. In whichever dwelling one resides, if that dwelling is dirty, if one is able, it should be cleaned. When cleaning the dwelling, first the bowl and robe should be taken out and put aside; the sitting mat should be taken out and put aside; the cushion should be taken out and put aside; the bed should be lowered carefully, without striking, without scraping the door frame, taken out and put aside. should be put down; The stool, having been lowered, carefully, without striking, without hitting the door frame, should be taken out and put aside; The bed legs should be taken out and put aside; The spittoon should be taken out and put aside; The backrest plank should be taken out and put aside; The floor mat, having been noted as it was laid, should be taken out and put aside. If there is a ceiling in the dwelling, the ceiling should first be taken down, the corners of the windows should be wiped. If a wall plastered with red ochre is dusty, a cloth should be wetted, squeezed, and wiped. If a black-colored floor is dusty, a cloth should be wetted, squeezed, and wiped. If the floor is unplastered, it should be sprinkled with water again and again and swept – so that the dwelling is not filled with dust. The rubbish should be collected and thrown aside. The lodging should not be shaken out near monks. The lodging should not be shaken out near the dwelling. The lodging should not be shaken out near drinking water. The lodging should not be shaken out near food. The lodging should not be shaken out in the courtyard against the wind. The lodging should be shaken out downwind. The floor mat, having been aired aside, cleaned, shaken out, should be brought back and laid as it was laid. The bed legs, having been aired aside, wiped, should be brought back and placed in their proper place. The bed, having been aired aside, cleaned, shaken out, having been lowered, carefully, without striking, without hitting the door frame, should be brought back and laid as it was laid. The stool, having been aired aside, cleaned, shaken out, having been lowered, carefully, without striking, without hitting the door frame, should be brought back and laid as it was laid. The cushion, having been aired aside, cleaned, shaken out, should be brought back and laid as it was laid. to be spread out. The sitting mat and covering should be taken to one side, cleaned, shaken out, and brought back to be spread out as arranged. The spittoon should be taken to one side, wiped, and brought back to be placed in its proper place. The backrest board should be taken to one side, wiped, and brought back to be placed in its proper place. The bowl and robe should be put away. When putting away the bowl, one should take the bowl with one hand and touch the underside of the couch or stool with the other hand, then the bowl should be put away. The bowl should not be placed on the bare ground. When putting away the robe, one should take the robe with one hand and wipe the robe-pole or robe-line with the other hand, then fold the robe with the far end over the near end, and the robe should be put away. If dusty winds blow from the east, the eastern windows should be closed. If dusty winds blow from the west, the western windows should be closed. If dusty winds blow from the north, the northern windows should be closed. If dusty winds blow from the south, the southern windows should be closed. If it is the cold season, the windows should be opened by day, and closed by night. If it is the hot season, the windows should be closed by day, and opened by night. If the cloister is dirty, the cloister should be swept. If the storeroom is dirty, the storeroom should be swept. If the service hall is dirty, the service hall should be swept. If the fire hall is dirty, the fire hall should be swept. If the toilet is dirty, the toilet should be swept. If there is no drinking water, drinking water should be provided. If there is no water for use, water for use should be provided. If there is no water in the rinsing pot, water should be poured into the rinsing pot. If one lives in the same dwelling with an elder, one should not give a lesson without asking the elder, nor question should be given, no chanting should be done, no Dhamma should be taught, no lamp should be lit, no lamp should be extinguished, no windows should be opened, no windows should be closed. If one walks on the same walking path with an elder, one should turn aside where the elder is, and the elder should not be brushed by the corner of one's outer robe. This, monks, is the dwelling-place duty for monks, how monks should properly conduct themselves in a dwelling-place.” 9. Discourse on the Bathhouse Duty 371. Now at that time, the group of six monks, being prevented by the elder monks in the bathhouse, out of disrespect, piled up a lot of wood, set it on fire, closed the door, and sat at the door. The monks, overcome by heat, unable to get to the door, fainted and fell down. Those monks who were of few desires… they complained, grumbled, and criticized, “How can the group of six monks, being prevented by the elder monks in the bathhouse, out of disrespect, pile up a lot of wood, set it on fire, close the door, and sit at the door! The monks, overcome by heat, unable to get to the door, fainted and fell down!” Then those monks reported this matter to the Blessed One… “Is it true, monks, that the group of six monks, being prevented by the elder monks in the bathhouse, out of disrespect, piled up a lot of wood, set it on fire, closed the door, and sat at the door; and the monks, overcome by heat, unable to get to the door, fainted and fell down?” “It is true, Blessed One.”… Having rebuked them… Having given a Dhamma talk, he addressed the monks: “Monks, when prevented by an elder monk in the bathhouse, one should not, out of disrespect, pile up a lot of wood and set it on fire. Whoever does so, there is an offense of wrong-doing. Monks, one should not close the door and sit at the door. Whoever does so,