Luang Por Liem: The Ways of the Peaceful - Wat Pah Nanachat

What the Buddha called “the announcements” state the points
of conduct that are the duties of a monk. The announcements can
be divided into two parts:
The first one is what the Buddha called the nissaya (the things
to depend on), and the second one is what the Buddha called the
akaraniyakicca (the things that shouldn’t be done). The nissayas
point out a way of leading one’s life that is simple and easy. There
are four nissayas:
For sustaining our lives as a member of the Sangha, we rely
on wandering for almsfood in villages. It is up to others how
much they support us. We do our duty of going on almsround in a
manner in which we don’t demand or ask for anything. This is in
accordance with the tasks and duties of a samana, somebody who
inclines towards peace. This is what the Buddha mentioned about
“the dependence of going on almsround”.
Then there is the “dependence on wearing pamsukula cloth” 12 .
This is meant to give rise to a feeling of dispassion in us, since
pamsukula cloth is used to wrap up something loathsome and
disgusting like a corpse. Our body is in many ways loathsome and
disgusting and shows signs that are not desirable. If what we use
to cover our body gets in touch with such a dirty thing, it becomes
just as disgusting as the body itself. This is “the dependence of
pamsukula cloth”.
For our dwelling place, the Buddha wanted us to resort to
tranquil and secluded locations. That means to live in a situation
12 discarded cloth, rags, or specifically cloth that is taken from a corpse before
the cremation.
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