On duties regarding lodgings

^Kd.18.7.1 Now at that time several monks were ^Vin.2.218 making robes in the open air. The group of six monks beat their lodgings to windward (of them) and in the open space;^[1] the monks were covered with dust. Those who were modest monks looked down upon, criticised, spread it about, saying: “How can this group of six monks beat their lodgings … so that monks are covered with dust?” Then these monks told this matter to the Lord. He said: “Is it true, as is said, monks, that the group of six monks beat their lodgings … covered with dust?”

“It is true, Lord.” Having rebuked them, having given reasoned talk, he addressed the monks, saying:

“Well then, monks, I will lay down an observance for monks in respect of lodgings that should be observed by monks in respect of lodgings.

^Kd.18.7.2 “In whatever dwelling-place he is staying, if that dwelling-place is soiled, he should, if he is able, clean it.^[2] When he is cleaning the dwelling-place, having first taken out the bowl and robes, he should lay them to one side. Having taken out ^BD.5.306 the piece of cloth for to sit upon and the sheet … the mattress and squatting mat, he should lay them to one side. Having lowered the couch, having taken it out carefully without rubbing it, without knocking it against the door or the posts, he should lay it to one side. Having lowered the chair, having taken it out carefully without rubbing it, without knocking it against the door or the posts he should lay it to one side. Having taken out the supports for the couch, he should lay them to one side. Having taken out the spittoon, he should lay it to one side. Having taken out the reclining board, he should lay it to one side. Having observed how the ground covering was laid down, having taken it out, he should lay it to one side. If there are cobwebs in the dwelling-place, he should first remove them from the (floor-) covering. He should wipe the corners of the window-holes. If a wall that was coloured red becomes stained, he should wipe it having moistened a rag, having wrung it out. If ground that was blacked becomes stained, he should wipe it having moistened a rag, having wrung it out. If the ground was not treated, he should sweep it; having sprinkled it all over with water, thinking: ‘Take care lest the dwelling-place is sullied with dust.’ Having looked for (any) rubbish, he should remove it to one side. He should not beat the lodgings near monks … near dwelling-places … near drinking-water … near water for washing, he should not beat the lodgings to windward in the open space, he should beat the lodgings to leeward.

^Kd.18.7.3 “Having dried the ground-covering to one side in the sun,^[3] having cleaned it, having shaken it, having brought it back, he should lay it down as it was laid down (before). Having dried the supports for the couch to one side in the sun, ^Vin.2.219 having wiped them, having brought them back, he should place them where they were (before). Having dried the couch to one side in the sun, having cleaned it, having beaten it, having lowered it, having brought it back carefully without rubbing it, without knocking it against the door or the posts, he should lay it down as it was laid down (before). Having dried the chair to one side in the sun, having cleaned it, having ^BD.5.307 shaken it, having lowered it, having brought it back carefully without rubbing it, without knocking it against the door or the posts, he should lay it down as it was laid down (before). Having dried the mattress and the squatting mat to one side in the sun, having cleaned them, having shaken them, having brought them back, he should lay them down as they were laid down (before). Having dried the piece of cloth to sit upon and the sheet to one side in the sun, having cleaned them, having shaken them, having brought them back, he should lay them down as they were laid down (before). Having dried the spittoon to one side in the sun, having wiped it, having brought it back, he should place it where it was (before). Having dried the reclining board to one side in the sun, having wiped it, having brought it back, he should place it where it was (before). The bowl and robe should be laid aside.^[4] When he is laying aside the bowl, having taken the bowl in one hand, having felt with the other hand under the couch or under the chair, the bowl should be laid aside; but the bowl should not be laid aside on the bare ground. When he is laying aside the robe, having taken the robe in one hand, having stroked the other along the bamboo for robes or the cord for robes, having got the edges away from him and the fold towards him, the robe should be laid aside.

^Kd.18.7.4 “If dusty winds^[5] blow from the east, the eastern windows should be closed. If dusty winds blow from the west … from the north … from the south, the south windows should be closed. If the weather is cool, the windows should be opened during the day, closed at night. If the weather is warm, the windows should be closed during the day, opened at night. If a cell is soiled, the cell should be swept. If a porch is soiled, the porch should be swept. If an attendance-hall … a fire-hall … a privy is soiled, the privy should be swept. If there is no drinking water, drinking water should be provided. If there is no water for washing, water for washing should be provided. If there is no water in the pitcher of water for rinsing, water should be poured into the pitcher of water for rinsing. If he is staying in a dwelling-place together with a ^BD.5.308 senior, he should not give a recitation^[6] without asking the senior (for permission), he should not give the interrogation,^[7] he should not study,^[8] he should not speak dhamma,^[9] he should not light a lamp, he should not extinguish a lamp, he should not open windows, he should not close windows. ^Vin.2.220 If he is pacing up and down in the same place for pacing up and down in with a senior, he should turn when the senior turns, but he should not touch the senior (even) with a corner of his outer cloak. This, monks, is the observance for monks in respect of lodgings that should be observed by monks in respect of lodgings.”