Path of Freedom [Vimuttimagga]

34 Vimuttimaggathe benefits of 'dwelling in a dewy place' (and undertakes thus:) "I avoidunpleasant places from today and observe (the austerity of) 'dwelling in adewy place'.What are the benefits of 'dwelling in a dewy place' ? One does not goto unpleasant places and abandons negligence and torpor. One goes whithersoeverone wills, like a forest-deer and is not attached to any particular place. 1This is an observance of good men. This observance is doubt-free.What is the observance? How does one fail? One avoids roofed placesand the shelter of trees. This is the observance of 'dwelling in a dewy place'.If one dwells in roofed places and under the shelter of trees, one fails in theobservance of 'dwelling in a dewy place'.'DWELLING AMONG THE GRAVES'How does one undertake to observe (the austerity of) 'dwelling amongthe graves' ? One who dwells in other places becomes careless and does notfear wrongdoing. One sees these faults and the merits of 'dwelling amongthe graves' (and undertakes thus:) "I avoid other places from today andobserve (the austerity of) 'dwelling among the graves' ".- This is the undertakingto observe.What are the merits of the observance of '(dwelling) among the graves' ?One understands the feeling of the time of death. One perceives that all isimpure. One acquires the homage of non-humans. One does not causeheedlessness to arise, overcomes passion and is much detached, One doesnot fear what common folk dread. One contemplates on the emptiness ofthe body and is able to reject the thought of permanence. This is an observanceof good men. This observance is doubt-free.Q. (What are the merits of 'dwelling among the graves'?). Whereshould one dwell? What is the observance? How does one fail?A. If in a place of graves there is always weeping and wailing and smokeand fire, one should consider, find out a calm place, and go to dwell there.If a bhikkhu dwells 'among the graves', he should not build a hut ormake a comfortable bed. He should sit with his back to the wind. He shouldnot sit facing the wind. He should not fall into deep sleep. He should noteat fish. He should not drink milk or buttermilk or eat sesamum or flesh ofanimals [406]. He should not dwell in a house or use a platter. When aperson taking his mat and robes leaves (the monastery) and goes to dwell'among the graves', he, as it were, flings all his belongings afar. At dawn,he takes mat and robes and returns to the monastery 2 and avoids other dwellingplaces.If he dwells in any other place, he breaks or fails in the observanceof 'dwelling among the graves'.1. Sn. 39: Migo araMamhi yathd abandhoyen* icchakarh gacchati gocardya.2, Sanghdrdma (transliteration).