Vinaya — Regras dos Monges (Bhikkhu Vibhaṅga) — Siding with a schismatic

1Origin story
At one time the Buddha was staying at Rājagaha in the Bamboo Grove, the squirrel sanctuary. At that time Devadatta was pursuing schism in the Sangha, a break in authority. The monks were saying, “Devadatta speaks contrary to the Teaching and the training. How can he pursue schism in the Sangha?”

2But Kokālika, Kaṭamodakatissaka, Khaṇḍadeviyāputta, and Samuddadatta said to those monks, “No, venerables, Devadatta speaks in accordance with the Teaching and the training. And he speaks with our consent and approval. He knows about us and speaks for us, and we approve of this.”

3The monks of few desires complained and criticized them, “How can these monks support Devadatta’s pursuit of schism in the Sangha?”

4They rebuked those monks in many ways and then told the Buddha. Soon afterwards he had the Sangha gathered and questioned the monks: “Is it true, monks, that there are monks who support this?”

5“It’s true, sir.”

6The Buddha rebuked them … “Monks, how can those foolish men support this? This will affect people’s confidence …” … “And, monks, this training rule should be recited like this:

7Final ruling
‘That monk may have one, two, or three monks who side with him and support him, and they may say, “Venerables, don’t correct this monk. He speaks in accordance with the Teaching and the training. And he speaks with our consent and approval. He knows about us and speaks for us, and we approve of this.” The monks should correct those monks like this: “No, venerables, this monk speaks contrary to the Teaching and the training. And don’t consent to schism in the Sangha. Stay with the Sangha, for a united Sangha—in concord, in harmony, having a joint recitation—is at ease.” If those monks continue as before, the monks should press them up to three times to make them stop. If they then stop, all is well. If they do not stop, they commit an offense entailing suspension.’”

8Definitions
That:

9that monk who is pursuing schism in the Sangha.

10May have monks:

11may have other monks.

12Who side with him:

13they have the same view, the same belief, the same persuasion as he does.

14Who support him:

15they praise him and take his side.

16One, two, or three:

17there is one, or two, or three. They may say, “Venerables, don’t correct this monk. He speaks in accordance with the Teaching and the training. And he speaks with our consent and approval. He knows about us and speaks for us, and we approve of this.”

18Those monks:

19those monks who side with him.

20The monks:

21other monks who see it or hear about it. They should correct them like this:

22“No, venerables, this monk speaks contrary to the Teaching and the training. And don’t consent to schism in the Sangha. Stay with the Sangha, for a united Sangha—in concord, in harmony, having a joint recitation—is at ease.”

23And they should correct them a second and a third time. If they stop, all is well. If they do not stop, they commit an offense of wrong conduct. If those who hear about it do not say anything, they commit an offense of wrong conduct.

24Those monks, even if they have to be pulled into the Sangha, should be corrected like this:

25“No, venerables, this monk speaks contrary to the Teaching and the training. And don’t consent to schism in the Sangha. Stay with the Sangha, for a united Sangha—in concord, in harmony, having a joint recitation—is at ease.”

26They should correct them a second and a third time. If they stop, all is well. If they do not stop, they commit an offense of wrong conduct.

27Should press them:

28“And, monks, they should be pressed like this. A competent and capable monk should inform the Sangha:

29‘Please, venerables, I ask the Sangha to listen. Monks so-and-so and so-and-so are siding with and supporting monk so-and-so who is pursuing schism in the Sangha. And they keep on doing it. If the Sangha is ready, it should press monks so-and-so and so-and-so to make them stop. This is the motion.

30Please, venerables, I ask the Sangha to listen. Monks so-and-so and so-and-so are siding with and supporting monk so-and-so who is pursuing schism in the Sangha. And they keep on doing it. The Sangha presses monks so-and-so and so-and-so to make them stop. Any monk who approves of pressing monks so-and-so and so-and-so to make them stop should remain silent. Any monk who doesn’t approve should speak up.

31For the second time, I speak on this matter. … For the third time, I speak on this matter. Please, venerables, I ask the Sangha to listen. Monks so-and-so and so-and-so are siding with and supporting monk so-and-so who is pursuing schism in the Sangha. And they keep on doing it. The Sangha presses monks so-and-so and so-and-so to make them stop. Any monk who approves of pressing monks so-and-so and so-and-so to make them stop should remain silent. Any monk who doesn’t approve should speak up.

32The Sangha has pressed monks so-and-so and so-and-so to make them stop. The Sangha approves and is therefore silent. I will remember it thus.’”

33After the motion, they commit an offense of wrong conduct. After each of the first two announcements, they commit a serious offense. When the last announcement is finished, they commit an offense entailing suspension. For those who commit the offense entailing suspension, the offense of wrong conduct and the serious offenses are annulled. Two or three may be pressed together, but not more than that.

34They commit an offense entailing suspension:

35… Therefore, too, it is called an offense entailing suspension.

36Permutations
If it is a legitimate legal procedure, and they perceive it as such, and they do not stop, they commit an offense entailing suspension.

37If it is a legitimate legal procedure, but they are unsure of it, and they do not stop, they commit an offense entailing suspension.

38If it is a legitimate legal procedure, but they perceive it as illegitimate, and they do not stop, they commit an offense entailing suspension.

39If it is an illegitimate legal procedure, but they perceive it as legitimate, they commit an offense of wrong conduct.

40If it is an illegitimate legal procedure, but they are unsure of it, they commit an offense of wrong conduct.

41If it is an illegitimate legal procedure, and they perceive it as such, they commit an offense of wrong conduct.

42Non-offenses
There is no offense: if they have not been pressed; if they stop; if they are insane; if they are deranged; if they are overwhelmed by pain; if they are the first offenders.

43The training rule on siding with a schismatic, the eleventh, is finished.