ལས་བརྒྱ་ཐམ་པ་པ 37.21

37.21

and sounded the gong, and the entire saṅgha assembled.

When the Kauśāmbī monk accused him, the Vaiśālī monk replied, “There was water inside.”

“Do you think I can bathe and rinse with that little water?” retorted the other.

They took action to sequester the monk for his shameless denial. The Vaiśālī monks interdicted²⁴¹ that action, and performed a separate poṣadha purification ceremony of their own. This was cause for further strife, reproof, conflict, and contention, so in strife, reproof, conflict, and contention they remained.

The Blessed One sent for the sequestered monk, the disciples of the sequestered monk, and the disciples of the disciples of the sequestered monk, and asked them, “Monks, is it true you are engaged in strife, reproof, conflict, and contention?”

“Yes, Blessed One, it’s true,” they replied.

The Blessed One admonished them, “Monks, do not remain in strife, reproof, conflict, and contention. Monks, know that if you remain in strife, reproof, conflict, and contention, virtues will decrease, and thereby not increase. Monks, know that if you do not remain in strife, reproof, conflict, and contention, virtues will increase, and thereby not decrease.

“Furthermore, monks, a sequestered monk must do the following: If a sequestered monk is a wicked, powerful holder of sūtra, vinaya, and mātṛkā, with many adherents and attendants, and his many other monk friends are likewise nothing but wicked, powerful holders of sūtra, vinaya, and mātṛkā, with many adherents and attendants, he may think, ‘They carelessly accuse me and remember things carelessly.