大比丘三千威儀 2.42

2.42

The duty-distributor (karmadāna) should observe twenty-five virtues in the hall at mealtime: 1. Having laid out the empty low tables, he should personally walk all around to check below whether all are everywhere clean. 2. He must not lay out the empty low tables beforehand. 3. The sthaviras already have their due portion of food. 4. In all distributions, they should reach down to the śrāmaṇeras, or to the white-robed [laymen] who receive them. 5. If the three masters are present among them, he must not add extra food [for himself]. 6. In making portions, the senior and junior ranks should be treated equally. 7. In distributing food, he should personally use both hands to make it even. 8. When wishing to distribute soup, he should swirl the ladle three times before pouring. 9. He should make the broth and solids properly balanced. 10. He must not take soup straight from the caldron and put it into people's bowls; he must first transfer it into [serving] vessels. 11. Over whatever is distributed, he must not speak or laugh. 12. He must not shout loudly from afar, saying: 'Bring such-and-such!' 13. If anyone in the assembly cannot eat the soup, he should fetch whatever is suitable and give it to him. 14. If there is an incompatibility or displeasure among the assembly, he must not immediately scold or revile them while seated. 15. In urgent cases, he should be mindful of caring for the sick. 16. If someone brings items at mealtime, he should immediately distribute them completely and must not say they should be saved for another day. 17. He should urgently add soup first. 18. He should urgently add food to replenish it completely. 19. He must not stop halfway, squat down, and stare at the saṅgha. 20. He must not walk far away from the saṅgha and abandon them to leave. 21. When all have eaten, he should personally look to see what has not been fully provided, and check the amount to add more. 22. He must not stand, shouting loudly at people to inspect and remove the eating utensils. 23. In covering and storing [utensils], he must not let them make noise, nor throw them down onto the ground. 24. He should instruct people to prepare brooms, washing water, and hand towels in advance. 25. He should stand and wait until the saṅgha has finished the dakṣiṇā, and should personally announce its conclusion before leaving.