BUDDHIST MONASTIC CODE I

Buddhist Monastic Code 1one likes, but may cover the roof with only three layers of roofing material. Arelevant point from the Canon is the passage at Cv.VIII.3.3 stating that if at a laterdate the roof begins to leak, the resident bhikkhu — if he can — should re-roof ithimself or arrange for someone else to do it for him. If he can do neither, though,there is no offense.The reasons for this rule. The origin story suggests that the Buddha imposed thethree-layer limit in order to prevent the dwelling from collapsing under the weight oftoo much roofing material, but the non-offense clauses show clearly that the rule isaimed at preventing bhikkhus from abusing the generosity of the person sponsoringthe building work. In either case, the Commentary's interpretation has its logic, inthat an overloaded roof would be more burdensome to the dwelling and to thesponsor than an overloaded window or door frame would be.A supplementary regulation arising from the origin story is that one should notperform any building operations, including supervising, where crops are growing.The offenses here are as follows: a pācittiya for each piece of roofing beyond theallowable three layers, and a dukkaṭa for doing or directing the work while standingwhere crops are growing. These offenses apply regardless of whether one is doingthe work oneself or having it done. They also apply whether one is building a newdwelling or having an old one repaired.Perception as to whether one has exceeded the allowable number of layers is not afactor here (see Pc 4).Non-offenses. According to the Vibhaṅga, these regulations do not apply to "anabode in a cave, a grass hut, (a dwelling) for the use of another, (a dwelling built)by means of one's own resources, or anything other than a dwelling." The Subcommentaryargues from the wording of the rule — its reference to "a largedwelling" — that the regulations also do not apply to small dwellings built to thestandard measurement specified under Sg 6: i.e., no larger than 3 by 1.75 meters.Summary: When a bhikkhu is building or repairing a large dwelling for his own use,using resources donated by another, he may not reinforce the window or doorframes with more than three layers of roofing material or plaster. To exceed this is apācittiya offense.20. Should any bhikkhu knowingly pour water containing livingbeings — or have it poured — on grass or on clay, it is to beconfessed.This is an offense with four factors.Object: water containing living creatures. The K/Commentary's contribution to thenext factor shows that this includes things like mosquito larvae, but not beings sosmall they cannot be seen.282