Mahavagga - Ninth Khandhaka: Chapter 2

1. At that time the Bhikkhus of Kampâ 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
p. 262
pronounced expulsion against a number of Bhikkhus; a single Bhikkhu pronounced
expulsion against a Samgha; two Bhikkhus pronounced expulsion against a single
one . . . . against two . . . . against a number of Bhikkhus . . . . against a
Samgha; a number of Bhikkhus pronounced expulsion against a single one . . . .
against two . . . . against another number . . . . against a Samgha; a Samgha
pronounced expulsion against another Samgha 1
2. Those Bhikkhus who were moderate, were annoyed, murmured, and became angry:
'How can the Bhikkhus of Kampâ perform official acts in the following ways:
perform unlawful acts before an incomplete congregation (&c., down to:) how can
a Samgha pronounce expulsion against another Samgha?'
These Bhikkhus told this thing to the Blessed One.
'Is it true, as they say, O Bhikkhus, that the Bhikkhus of Kampâ 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
Samanas, 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
p. 263
unlawfully by an incomplete congregation, it is no real act 1 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 Samgha pronounces expulsion against another Samgha,--this is no
real act and ought not to be performed.
4. 'There are, O Bhikkhus, four kinds of official acts (which a Samgha 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
p. 264
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 1."'



Footnotes
262:1 The cases of a Samgha's expelling a single Bhikkhu, or two Bhikkhus, or a
number of Bhikkhus, are omitted, because such proceedings are lawful.
263:1 I.e. it is null and void.
264:1 A similar injunction is found at the close of chapter 1I, 14.