[415] Bhikkhus, an incoming (āgantuka) bhikkhu, thinking, "I shall now enter the monastery," should take off his sandals, hold them low, beat them, and take them in hand; he should lower his umbrella, uncover his head, place the robe from his head upon his shoulder, and enter the monastery properly, without hurrying. While entering the monastery he should observe: "Where do the resident (āvāsika) bhikkhus retire?" Wherever the resident bhikkhus retire — whether at the attendance hall, at a pavilion, or at the foot of a tree — he should go there, put down his bowl to one side, put down his robe to one side, take a suitable seat, and sit down. He should ask about the drinking water and ask about the water for use: "Which is the drinking water? Which is the water for use?" If he has need of drinking water, he should take drinking water and drink. If he has need of water for use, he should take water for use and wash his feet. When washing his feet, he should pour the water with one hand and wash his feet with the other hand; he should not wash his feet with the same hand with which the water is poured. Having asked for the cloth for wiping sandals, he should wipe his sandals. When wiping his sandals, he should wipe them first with a dry cloth and afterwards with a moist one. Having washed the sandal-wiping cloth and wrung it out, he should spread it out to one side.
If the resident bhikkhu is senior, he should be paid homage; if he is junior, he should be made to pay homage. He should ask about the lodging: "Which lodging falls to me?" He should ask whether it is occupied or unoccupied. He should ask about the alms-resort (gocara); he should ask about what is not a resort. He should ask about the families designated as trainees (sekkhasammata); he should ask about the place for defecation; he should ask about the place for urination; he should ask about the drinking water; he should ask about the water for use; he should ask about the walking staff; he should ask about the agreed conventions of the Saṅgha: "At what time should one enter? At what time should one depart?"
If the dwelling is unoccupied, he should knock on the door, wait a moment, lift the latch, open the door, and, standing outside, look within. If the dwelling is dirty, or a bed is stacked upon a bed, or a bench is stacked upon a bench, and the lodging is heaped over on top with dust, then, if he is able, he should clean it. When cleaning the dwelling, he should first take out the ground covering and put it to one side; he should take out the bed supports and put them to one side; he should take out the mattress and pillow and put them to one side; he should take out the sitting cloth and coverlet and put them to one side. Having lowered the bed, he should take it out carefully, without scraping it and without knocking it against the door frame, and put it to one side. Having lowered the bench, he should take it out carefully, without scraping it and without knocking it against the door frame, and put it to one side. He should take out the spittoon and put it to one side; he should take out the leaning board and put it to one side. If there are cobwebs in the dwelling, they should first be removed from the ceiling; the areas of the corners around the window openings should be wiped. If a wall finished with red ochre has become stained, he should moisten a cloth, wring it out, and wipe it. If a floor finished with black coloring has become stained, he should moisten a cloth, wring it out, and wipe it. If the floor is unfinished, he should sprinkle it with water and sweep it, thinking, "Let not the dwelling be soiled with dust." He should collect the rubbish and discard it to one side.
Having sunned the ground covering, cleaned it, and beaten it, he should bring it back and lay it out as it was laid before. Having sunned the bed supports and wiped them, he should bring them back and set them in their proper place. Having sunned the bed, cleaned it, and beaten it, he should lower it, and carefully, without scraping it and without knocking it against the door frame, bring it back and set it in its proper place. Having sunned the bench, cleaned it, and beaten it, he should lower it, and carefully, without scraping it and without knocking it against the door frame, bring it back and set it in its proper place. Having sunned the mattress and pillow, cleaned them, and beaten them, he should bring them back and lay them out in their proper place. Having sunned the sitting cloth and coverlet, cleaned them, and beaten them, he should bring them back and lay them out in their proper place. Having sunned the spittoon and wiped it, he should bring it back and set it in its proper place. Having sunned the leaning board and wiped it, he should bring it back and set it in its proper place.
The bowl and robe should be put away. When putting away the bowl, he should take the bowl with one hand, feel under the bed or under the bench with the other hand, and put the bowl away; and the bowl should not be put down on bare ground. When putting away the robe, he should take the robe with one hand, wipe the robe rail or the robe cord with the other hand, and put the robe away with the edges on the far side and the fold toward himself.
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 cell precinct is dirty, the cell precinct should be swept. If the porch is dirty, the porch should be swept. If the attendance hall is dirty, the attendance hall should be swept. If the fire hall is dirty, the fire hall should be swept. If the privy is dirty, the privy should be swept. If there is no drinking water, drinking water should be set out. If there is no water for use, water for use should be set out. If there is no water in the rinsing pot, water should be poured into the rinsing pot.
Bhikkhus, this is the duty of incoming bhikkhus, according to which incoming bhikkhus should conduct themselves properly.
English translation from the Pali (Siam Raṭṭha edition) — under review, not for citation.