ལས་བརྒྱ་ཐམ་པ་པ 37.23

37.23

so I have sequestered him from view. I sequestered him on account of egregious, intransigent, destructive views, which will be cause for strife, reproof, conflict, and contention in the saṅgha.’ Assuming such, he must not make careless accusations. He must not recall things so carelessly. If he makes a careless accusation, it will be an infraction.”

The Blessed One instructed them further, “Also, if the poṣadha purification ceremony still does not ameliorate the strife, reproof, conflict, and contention, it should be mentioned to the Blessed One as the occasion arises.”

Then 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 said to them, “Monks, I have instructed you not to remain in strife, reproof, conflict, and contention. Is it true that the poṣadha purification ceremony still has not ameliorated the strife, reproof, conflict, and contention?”

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

“Monks, do not engage in strife, reproof, conflict, and contention. Monks, if you remain in strife, reproof, conflict, and contention, then whether you perform the poṣadha purification ceremony, the lifting of restrictions ceremony,²⁴³ an act whose second member is a motion, or an act whose fourth member is a motion, all those acts would be interdicted, and they must be ratified.

“Why? Because, monks, you remain apart from the others, and they remain apart from you as well. Monks, there are two types of remaining apart: one who remains apart of his own accord, and one who lives separately by consensus of the saṅgha.

“Monks, what does it mean then to remain apart of one’s own accord? In this case, monks, to remain apart of one’s own accord means to knowingly claim that a position that does not accord with the Dharma is a position that does accord with the Dharma.