Allowance for preliminary duties

^Kd.2.20.1 Now at that time the Observance-hall in a certain residence came to be soiled. Incoming monks looked down upon, criticised, spread it about, saying: “How can these monks not sweep the Observance-hall?” They told this matter to the Lord. He said: “I allow you, monks, to sweep the Observance-hall.”

^Kd.2.20.2 Then it occurred to monks: “Now, by whom should an Observance-hall be swept?” They told this matter to the Lord. He said: “I allow you, monks, to enjoin a newly ordained monk through a monk who is an elder.” Newly ordained monks, (although) enjoined by an elder, did not sweep. They told this matter to the Lord. He said: “Monks, one who is not ill should not not sweep when enjoined by an elder. Whoever should not sweep, there is an offence of wrong-doing.”

---

^Kd.2.20.3 Now at that time a seat was not prepared in an Observance-hall. Monks sat on the ground. Their limbs and robes became covered with dust. They told this matter to the Lord. He said: “I allow you, monks, to prepare a seat in the Observance-hall.” Then it occurred to monks: “Now, by whom should a seat in the Observance-hall be prepared?” They told this matter to the Lord. He said: “I allow you, monks, to enjoin a newly ordained monk through a monk who is an elder.” Newly ordained monks, (although) enjoined by an elder, did not prepare (a seat). They told this matter to the Lord. He said: “Monks, one who is not ill should ^BD.4.156 not not prepare (a seat) when enjoined by an elder. Whoever should not prepare (a seat), there is an offence of wrong doing.”

---

^Kd.2.20.4 Now at that time there came to be no light in an Observance-hall. Monks trod on (one another’s) bodies and robes in the dark. They told this matter to the Lord. He said: “I allow you, monks, to make a light^[1] in an Observance-hall.” Then it occurred to monks: “Now, by whom is the light to be made in an Observance-hall?” They told this matter to the Lord. He said: “I allow you, monks, to enjoin a newly ordained monk through a monk who is an elder.” Newly ordained monks, (although) enjoined by an elder, did not light a lamp.^[2] They told this matter to the Lord. He said: “Monks, one who is not ill should not not light a lamp when enjoined by an elder. Whoever should not light a lamp, there is an offence of wrong-doing.”

^Kd.2.20.5 At that time in a certain residence resident monks neither set out drinking water nor did they set out water for washing. Incoming monks looked down upon, criticised, spread it about, saying: “How can these resident monks neither set out drinking water nor set out water for washing?” They told this matter to the Lord. He said: “I allow you, monks, ^Vin.1.119 to set out drinking water and water for washing.”

^Kd.2.20.6 Then it occurred to monks: “Now, by whom should drinking water and water for washing be set out?” They told this matter to the Lord. He said: “I allow you, monks, to enjoin a newly ordained monk through a monk who is an elder.” Newly ordained monks, (although) enjoined by an elder, did not set out (the water). They told this matter to the Lord. He said: “Monks, one who is not ill should not not set out (water) when enjoined by an elder. Whoever should not set it out, there is an offence of wrong-doing.”

Footnotes and references:

[1]:

padīpaṃ kātuṃ.

[2]:

padīpeti, to light up, to light a lamp.