འདལ་བ་གཞ 3.7

3.7

If I know of or see an offense, I will properly make amends for that offense in accord with the Vinaya.’

“He should repeat this a second and a third time. The saṅgha, down to the newest member, should lift restrictions in the same way, after which the monks who direct the lifting of restrictions should lift restrictions. If there are two monks who direct the lifting of restrictions, they should lift restrictions to one another. If there is only one, he should lift restrictions in front of another monk. Nuns, nun postulants, male novices, and female novices should be made to lift restrictions after that.

“After that, the monk who directs the lifting of restrictions should sit⁵⁷ in front of the most senior and say:

“ ‘The saṅgha has lifted restrictions.’

“Then everyone should say:

“ ‘The restrictions have been properly lifted. The restrictions have been perfectly lifted.’

“If this is said, then all is well. If they do not say this, they will be guilty of a breach.

“After that, the monk who directs the lifting of restrictions should take a needle (a blade is also acceptable), sit in front of the senior monk, and say:⁵⁸

“ ‘Honorable ones, let this small thing be admitted in the lifting of restrictions on the saṅgha who have settled for the rains.’

“All should say:

“ ‘It is well admitted, perfectly admitted.’

“Then all of the goods that have been received, no matter how small, should be distributed in their entirety among the saṅgha.”⁵⁹

Categorizing Proper and Improper

The venerable Upāli asked the Blessed Buddha, “Honorable One, how many acts of lifting restrictions are there?”

“Upāli, there are four: they are liftings of restrictions without a quorum done improperly, those with a quorum done improperly, those without a quorum done properly, and those with a quorum done properly. Upāli, among these, there is one act of lifting restrictions that is proper and with a quorum—that is the lifting of restrictions with a quorum done properly.”