僧羯磨 1.183

1.183

"May the venerable saṃgha listen! Today, on such a month, such a day, and such a time, the saṃgha will assemble at such a place to recite the precepts." (After this announcement is made and the time for reciting the precepts arrives, junior bhikṣus go beforehand to sweep and sprinkle the hall for reciting the precepts, spread seats, prepare pure water jars, foot-washing jars, light lamps, and prepare tallies (śalākā). If junior bhikṣus do not know how, the senior elder should teach them; if the senior elder does not teach them, it is a duṣkṛta; if one does not follow the senior elder's instruction, it is a duṣkṛta. Putting them away is also like this. At that time, laypeople asked the bhikṣus: "When reciting the precepts, how many people are there?" Because they did not know, the bhikṣus were ashamed. The Buddha said: "I permit counting." Even though they counted, they still forgot. The Buddha said: "You must prepare tallies." The tallies should be made of copper, iron, bamboo, wood, and the like; they should not be made of precious materials. If one fears they will be scattered or lost, a cylinder-box should be made to contain them, and the cylinder-box should also not be made of precious materials. When the saṃgha gathers, those sitting adjacent should check on one another to know whether [everyone] has come or not. A motion (ñatti) should first be made, and then the precepts recited. The formal procedures such as the motion are fully set forth in the Prātimokṣa Sūtra.)