Protesting an act that is not the rule, etc.

^Kd.2.16.4 Now at that time the group of six monks carried out a (formal) act that was not legally valid in the midst of an Order. They told this matter to the Lord. He said: “Monks, a (formal) act that is not legally valid should not be carried out in the midst of the Order. Whoever should (so) carry one out, there is an offence of wrong-doing.” Even so, they carried out a (formal) act that was not legally valid. They told this matter ^Vin.1.115 to the Lord. He said: “I allow you, monks, to protest^[1] when a (formal) act that is not legally valid is being carried out.”

^Kd.2.16.5 Now at that time well-behaved monks protested when a (formal) act that was not legally valid was being carried out by the group of six monks. The group of six monks took offence, they took umbrage, they threatened them with harm. They told this matter to the Lord. He said: “I allow you, monks, merely to express an opinion.” They expressed an opinion to these themselves. The group of six monks took offence, they took umbrage, they threatened them with harm. They told this matter to the Lord. He said: “I allow you, monks, when there are four or five, to protest, when there are two or three to express an opinion, when there is one, to determine: ‘I do not approve of this’.”

^{Kd.2.16.6 BD.4.152} Now at that time the group of six monks, when the Pātimokkha was being recited in the midst of the Order, intentionally did not hear. They told this matter to the Lord. He said: “Monks, a reciter of the Pātimokkha should not intentionally not be heard. Whoever should not hear, there is an offence of wrong-doing.”