四分律刪繁補闕行事鈔 3.266

3.266

Fourth, the protocol for taking seats and ordering the guests. After that senior monk has set up the two seats for the Buddha and the saṃgha, he then spreads his niṣīdāna about one chi away from the holy monk's seat, to express reverence. The Dharmaguptaka Vinaya states: When going to the eating place, they should not assemble and stay in a disordered confusion, but should sit according to seniority. Once the senior monk has sat down, he should watch the middle-ranking and junior monks, not allowing them to act improperly or fail to properly cover their bodies; if any do so, he snaps his fingers to awaken them, or sends someone to tell and inform them to sit properly in accordance with the Dharma. Once the middle-ranking monks have sat down, they watch the senior and junior monks, not allowing what is improper. Once the junior monks have sat down, they also mutually watch the senior and middle-ranking monks in the same way. The Mahāsāṃghika-vinaya states: 'Failing to properly cover one's body when sitting' refers to wearing thin, raw, or loose garments such that the body is exposed. If a mahalla does not sit upright, one tells him: 'Straighten your robes'; if he does not realize it, one tells him: 'Cover your form.' If a nun sits improperly, one must not speak to let her know, lest she feel shame; one should employ an expedient and send her to fetch something. If a courtesan deliberately does so, one should rise oneself and leave. The Dharmaguptaka Vinaya states: Having arrived at the home of the host, they inquire mutually about their age and seniority, and then sit. If it is feared that the proper time of day will pass, it is permitted for the senior [monk] and eight nuns to sit in sequence, and the rest sit accordingly. The monks must follow this standard. The Mahāsāṃghika-vinaya states: One warmly inquires of the host family, saying: 'How is the family? Is your livelihood good or not?' and so forth. The Dharmaguptaka Vinaya states: One should not intentionally go late to the meal so as to make the monks rise; they may also, upon seeing him arrive, not rise; if someone has not yet arrived, the neighboring seats leave an open space. The Mahāsāṃghika-vinaya states: If there is something laughable, the senior monk should say: 'How in the noble Vinaya can one bare the gums, show the teeth, and laugh