When the Buddha had stayed at Kīṭāgiri for as long as he liked, he set out wandering toward Āḷavī. When he eventually arrived, he stayed at Aggāḷava Shrine. At that time the monks of Āḷavī put monks in charge of building work such as this: the mere filling of gaps, the mere plastering of walls, the mere hanging of doors, the mere making of door jambs, the mere making of windows, the mere application of white coloring, the mere application of black coloring, the mere treatment with red ocher, the mere covering with a roof, the mere fastening of a roof, the mere fixing of cornices, the mere repair of what was defective or broken, and the mere plastering of floors; and they put monks in charge of building work for twenty years, for thirty years, and for life; and they put monks in charge of building work for life on finished dwellings. The monks of few desires complained and criticized them, “How can the monks at Āḷavī put monks in charge of such kinds of work?” They told the Buddha. … “Is it true, monks, that they do this?” “It’s true, sir.” … After rebuking them … the Buddha gave a teaching and addressed the monks: “You shouldn’t put monks in charge of building work such as this: the mere filling of gaps, the mere plastering of walls, the mere hanging of doors, the mere making of door jambs, the mere making of windows, the mere application of white coloring, the mere application of black coloring, the mere treatment with red ocher, the mere covering with a roof, the mere fastening of a roof, the mere fixing of cornices, the mere repair of what is defective or broken, or the mere plastering of floors; and you shouldn’t put monks in charge of building work for twenty years, for thirty years, or for life, or put monks in charge of building work for life on finished dwellings. If you do, you commit an offense of wrong conduct. I allow you to put monks in charge of building work that isn’t yet started or that’s partially complete. For a small dwelling, you should inspect the work and then put a monk in charge of the building work for five or six years. For a small stilt house, you should inspect the work and then put a monk in charge of the building work for seven or eight years. For a large dwelling or stilt house, you should inspect the work and then put a monk in charge of the building work for ten or twelve years.”

On one occasion the monks put one person in charge of the building work on all the dwellings. “You shouldn’t put one person in charge of the building work on all the dwellings. If you do, you commit an offense of wrong conduct.” On one occasion the monks put one person in charge of the building work on two dwellings. “You shouldn’t put one person in charge of the building work on two dwellings. If you do, you commit an offense of wrong conduct.” On one occasion the monks who had taken on building work had someone else stay in that dwelling. “When you have taken on building work, you shouldn’t have someone else stay in that dwelling. If you do, you commit an offense of wrong conduct.”