Monks’ Suspension 11: Agreeing to schism

Origin story

At one time the Buddha, the Master, was staying at Rājagaha in the Bamboo Grove, the Squirrel Sanctuary. At that time Devadatta was pursuing schism in the Sangha, a break in transmission. The monks were saying, “Devadatta does not speak in accordance with the teaching and the training. How can he pursue schism in the Sangha?”

Then Kokālika, Kaṭamodakatissaka, Khaṇḍadeviyā-putta, and Samuddadatta said to those monks: “Venerables, do not say so. Devadatta does speak 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 agree to this.”

The monks of few desires … complained and criticised them: “How can these monks support Devadatta’s pursuit of schism in the Sangha?”

They informed the Master … and he questioned them: “Is it true, monks, that some monks support Devadatta’s pursuit of schism in the Sangha?”

“It’s true, Master.”

The Buddha, the Master, rebuked them: “… Monks, how can these foolish men support Devadatta’s pursuit of schism in the Sangha? This will not give rise to confidence in those without it … And, monks, this training rule should be recited thus:

Final ruling

“That monk may have one, two, or three monks who agree with him and support him, and they may say, ‘Venerables, do not admonish 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 agree to this.’ The monks should say to those monks: ‘Venerables, do not say so. This monk does not speak in accordance with the teaching and the training. Do not consent to schism in the Sangha. Stay with the Sangha, for a united Sangha—in concord, in harmony, having a joint recitation—lives in comfort.’ If those monks continue as before, they should be admonished up to three times to make them stop. If they stop, good. If not, they incur an offence entailing suspension.”

Definitions

That: that monk who is pursuing a schism in the Sangha.

May have monks: may have other monks.

Who agree with him: they have the same view, the same belief, the same persuasion as he does.

Who support him: they take his side and are part of his group.

One, two, or three: There is one, or two, or three. They may say, “Venerables, do not admonish 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 agree to this.”

Those monks: those monks who agree with him.

The monks:

Other monks, those who see it or hear about it. They should say: “Venerables, do not say so. This monk does not speak in accordance with the teaching and the training. Do not consent to schism in the Sangha. Stay with the Sangha, for a united Sangha—in concord, in harmony, having a joint recitation—lives in comfort.” And they should say this a second and a third time. If they stop, good. If they do not stop, they commit an offence of bad conduct. If those who hear about it do not say anything, they commit an offence of bad conduct.

Those monks, even if they have to be dragged into the middle of the Sangha, should be to spoken to thus: “Venerables, do not say so. This monk does not speak in accordance with the teaching and the training. Do not consent to schism in the Sangha. Stay with the Sangha, for a united Sangha—in concord, in harmony, having a joint recitation—lives in comfort.” And they should say this a second and a third time. If they stop, good. If they do not stop, they commit an offence of bad conduct.

They should be admonished:

“And, monks, they should be admonished in this way. An experienced and competent monk should inform the Sangha:

‘Bhante, let the Sangha listen to me. Monks so-and-so and so-and-so agree with and support monk so-and-so who is pursuing schism in the Sangha. They are not stopping that action. If it seems appropriate to the Sangha, the Sangha should admonish them to make them stop. This is the motion.

‘Bhante, let the Sangha listen to me. Monks so-and-so and so-and-so agree with and support monk so-and-so who is pursuing schism in the Sangha. They are not stopping that action. The Sangha admonishes them to make them stop. Any monk who agrees to admonishing them to make them stop should remain silent. Any monk who does not agree should say so.

‘For a second time … For a third time I speak on this matter: Bhante, let the Sangha listen to me. Monks so-and-so and so-and-so agree with and support monk so-and-so who is pursuing schism in the Sangha. They are not stopping that action. The Sangha admonishes them to make them stop. Any monk who agrees to admonishing them to make them stop should remain silent. Any monk who does not agree should say so.

‘These monks have been admonished by the Sangha to make them stop that action. The Sangha approves and is therefore silent. I will remember it thus.’”

After the motion, they commit an offence of bad conduct. After two proclamations, they commit a serious offence. When the proclamation is finished, they commit an offence entailing suspension. For one who commits the offence entailing suspension, the offence of bad conduct and the serious offence are annulled. Two or three can be admonished together, but not more than that.

They incur an offence entailing suspension: … This is the name and designation of this class of offence. Therefore, too, it is said that they incur an offence entailing suspension.

Permutations

If it is a legitimate act of the Sangha, and they perceive it as legitimate, but they do not stop, they commit an offence entailing suspension.

If it is a legitimate act of the Sangha, but they have doubts about it, and they do not stop, they commit an offence entailing suspension.

If it is a legitimate act of the Sangha, but they perceive it as illegitimate, and they do not stop, they commit an offence entailing suspension.

If it is an illegitimate act of the Sangha, but they perceive it as legitimate, they commit an offence of bad conduct.

If it is an illegitimate act of the Sangha, but they have doubts about it, they commit an offence of bad conduct.

If it is an illegitimate act of the Sangha, and they perceive it as illegitimate, they commit an offence of bad conduct.

Non-offences

There is no offence: if they are not admonished; if they stop; if they are insane; if they are deranged; if they are overwhelmed by pain; if they are the first offenders.

The eleventh training rule on agreeing to schism is finished.