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Ninth Khandhaka. Chapter 2

2.

1. At that time the Bhikkhus of "K"amp 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

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pronounced expulsion against a number of Bhikkhus; a single Bhikkhu pronounced expulsion against a Sa"m"gha; two Bhikkhus pronounced expulsion against a single one.... against two.... against a number of Bhikkhus.... against a Sa"m"gha; a number of Bhikkhus pronounced expulsion against a single one.... against two.... against another number.... against a Sa"m"gha; a Sa"m"gha pronounced expulsion against another Sa"m"gha 1

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

These Bhikkhus told this thing to the Blessed One.

'Is it true, as they say, O Bhikkhus, that the Bhikkhus of "K"amp perform official acts in the following ways, it is unbecoming, indecent, unworthy of Sama"n"as, 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

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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 ( 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

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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 Sa"m"gha'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.
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