“Well then, I’ll lay down the proper conduct for departing monks.

Before a monk departs, he should put the wooden and ceramic goods in order, close the door and the windows, and inform someone. If there are no monks, he should inform a novice monk; if there are no novice monks, he should inform a monastery worker; if there are no monastery workers, he should inform a lay follower. If there are no monks, novice monks, monastery workers, or lay followers, he should place the bed on four rocks. He should then stack the beds and benches on top of one another, with the other furniture piled on top, and put away the wooden and ceramic goods. He should close the door and the windows, and then depart.

If rain enters the dwelling, he should cover it if he’s able, or he should make an effort to have it covered. If this works out, all is well. If not, he should place the bed on four rocks in a dry spot. He should then stack the beds and benches on top of one another, with the other furniture piled on top, and put away the wooden and ceramic goods. He should close the door and the windows, and then depart. If the whole dwelling is getting wet, he should carry the furniture to the village if he’s able, or he should make an effort to have it carried to the village. If this works out, all is well. If not, he should place the bed on four rocks outside. He should then stack the beds and benches on top of one another, with the other furniture piled on top, and he should put away the wooden and ceramic goods. He should cover it all with grass and leaves and then depart, thinking, ‘Hopefully the requisites will be okay.’ This is the proper conduct for departing monks.”

4. Discussion of the proper conduct in connection with the expression of appreciation At that time there were monks who did not express their appreciation in the dining hall. People complained and criticized them, “How can the Sakyan monastics not express their appreciation in the dining hall?” The monks heard the complaints of those people and they told the Buddha. The Buddha gave a teaching and addressed the monks: “You should express your appreciation in the dining hall.” The monks thought, “Who should give the expression of appreciation?” They told the Buddha. He gave a teaching and addressed the monks: “The most senior monk should give the expression of appreciation in the dining hall.”