Mahavagga, Khandaka 9, Chapter 2

1. At that time the Bhikkhus of Campā performed official acts in the following ways: they performed unlawful acts before an incomplete congregation; they performed unlawful acts before a complete congregation; they performed lawful acts before an incomplete congregation; they performed seemingly lawful acts before an incomplete congregation; they performed seemingly lawful acts before a complete congregation; a single Bhikkhu pronounced expulsion against a single one; a single Bhikkhu pronounced expulsion against two; a single Bhikkhu pronounced expulsion against a number of Bhikkhus; a single Bhikkhu pronounced expulsion against a Saṃgha; two Bhikkhus pronounced expulsion against a single one . . . . against two . . . . against a number of Bhikkhus . . . . against a Saṃgha; a number of Bhikkhus pronounced expulsion against a single one . . . . against two . . . . against another number . . . . against a Saṃgha; a Saṃgha pronounced expulsion against another Saṃgha^[1]

2. Those Bhikkhus who were moderate, were annoyed, murmured, and became angry: 'How can the Bhikkhus of Campā perform official acts in the following ways: perform unlawful acts before an incomplete congregation (&c., down to:) how can a Saṃgha pronounce expulsion against another Saṃgha?'

These Bhikkhus told this thing to the Blessed One.

'Is it true, as they say, O Bhikkhus, that the Bhikkhus of Campā perform official acts in the following ways, &c.?'

'It is true, Lord.'

Then the blessed Buddha rebuked those Bhikkhus: 'It is improper, O Bhikkhus, what these foolish persons are doing; it is unbecoming, indecent, unworthy of Samaṇas, unallowable, and to be avoided. How can these foolish persons, O Bhikkhus, perform official acts in the following ways, &c. This will not do, O Bhikkhus, for converting the unconverted.' Having thus rebuked them and delivered a religious discourse, he thus addressed the Bhikkhus:

3. 'If an official act, O Bhikkhus, is performed unlawfully by an incomplete congregation, it is no real act^[2] and ought not to be performed. An official act performed unlawfully by a complete congregation is no real act and ought not to be performed (&c., as in § 1, down to:). A seemingly lawful act performed before a complete congregation is no real act and ought not to be performed. In case a single Bhikkhu pronounces expulsion against a single one,—this is no real act and ought not to be performed (&c., down to:). In case a Saṃgha pronounces expulsion against another Saṃgha,—this is no real act and ought not to be performed.

4. 'There are, O Bhikkhus, four kinds of official acts (which a Saṃgha can perform); an unlawful act performed by an incomplete congregation, an unlawful act performed by a complete congregation, a lawful act performed by an incomplete congregation, and a lawful act performed by a complete congregation.

'If, O Bhikkhus, an act is unlawful and performed by an incomplete congregation—such an act, O Bhikkhus, is objectionable and invalid on account of its unlawfulness and of the incompleteness (of the congregation). Such an act, O Bhikkhus, ought not to be performed, nor is such an act allowed by me.

'If, O Bhikkhus, an act is unlawful and performed by a complete congregation—such an act, O Bhikkhus, is objectionable and invalid on account of its unlawfulness. Such an act, &c.

'If, O Bhikkhus, an act is lawful and performed by an incomplete congregation—such an act, O Bhikkhus, is objectionable and invalid on account of the incompleteness (of the congregation). Such an act, &c.

'If, O Bhikkhus, an act is lawful and performed by a complete congregation—such an act, O Bhikkhus, is unobjectionable and valid on account of its lawfulness and of the completeness (of the congregation). Such an act, O Bhikkhus, ought to be performed, and such an act is allowed by me.

'Therefore, O Bhikkhus, you ought to train yourselves thus: "Lawful acts which are performed by complete congregations—such acts will we perform^[3]."'

Footnotes and references:

[1]:

The cases of a Saṃgha's expelling a single Bhikkhu, or two Bhikkhus, or a number of Bhikkhus, are omitted, because such proceedings are lawful.

[2]:

I.e. it is null and void.

[3]:

A similar injunction is found at the close of chapter 1I, 14.