Vinaya — Regras dos Monges (Bhikkhu Vibhaṅga) — Leaving without giving consent

1Origin story
At one time when the Buddha was staying at Sāvatthī in Anāthapiṇḍika’s Monastery, the Sangha had gathered on some business. The monks from the group of six were busy making robes and so they gave their consent to one among them.

2When the Sangha was ready to do the legal procedure for which it had gathered, it put forward a motion. That monk from the group of six thought, “This is just how they do legal procedures against us one by one, but against who will you do this one?” and without giving his consent, he got up from his seat and left.

3The monks of few desires complained and criticized him, “When the Sangha is in the middle of a discussion, how could that monk get up from his seat and leave without giving his consent?” … “Is it true, monk, that you did this?”

4“It’s true, sir.”

5The Buddha rebuked him … “Foolish man, how could you do this? This will affect people’s confidence …” … “And, monks, this training rule should be recited like this:

6Final ruling
‘When the Sangha is in the middle of a discussion, if a monk gets up from his seat and leaves without first giving his consent, he commits an offense entailing confession.’”

7Definitions
A:

8whoever …

9Monk:

10… The monk who has been given the full ordination by a unanimous Sangha through a legal procedure consisting of one motion and three announcements that is irreversible and fit to stand—this sort of monk is meant in this case.

11When the Sangha is in the middle of a discussion:

12when the topic has been announced but the discussion has not yet been concluded, or when the motion has been put forward, or when the announcement is still under way.

13Gets up from his seat and leaves without first giving his consent:

14if he leaves, thinking, “How may this legal procedure be disturbed?” or “How may this legal procedure be done by an incomplete assembly?” or “How may this legal procedure not be done?” then he commits an offense of wrong conduct. If he is in the process of going beyond arm’s reach of the gathering, he commits an offense of wrong conduct. When he has gone beyond arm’s reach, he commits an offense entailing confession.

15Permutations
If it is a legitimate legal procedure, and he perceives it as such, and he gets up from his seat and leaves without first giving his consent, he commits an offense entailing confession. If it is a legitimate legal procedure, but he is unsure of it, and he gets up from his seat and leaves without first giving his consent, he commits an offense of wrong conduct. If it is a legitimate legal procedure, but he perceives it as illegitimate, and he gets up from his seat and leaves without first giving his consent, there is no offense.

16If it is an illegitimate legal procedure, but he perceives it as legitimate, he commits an offense of wrong conduct. If it is an illegitimate legal procedure, but he is unsure of it, he commits an offense of wrong conduct. If it is an illegitimate legal procedure, and he perceives it as such, there is no offense.

17Non-offenses
There is no offense: if he leaves because he thinks there will be quarrels or disputes in the Sangha; if he leaves because he thinks there will be a fracture or schism in the Sangha; if he leaves because he thinks the legal procedure will be illegitimate, done by an incomplete assembly, or done against one who does not deserve it; if he leaves because he is sick; if he leaves because he has to take care of someone who is sick; if he leaves because he needs to relieve himself; if he leaves with the intention to return, and not because he wants to invalidate the legal procedure; if he is insane; if he is the first offender.

18The training rule on leaving without giving consent, the tenth, is finished.