四分律比丘含注戒本 3.440

3.440

佛在舍衛國。時，諸比丘於十八事諍不息，遂至僧中斷，不了。以事白佛，佛言：「應與多覓罪相。法、非法語同一處，應差比丘令行舍羅。行有三種：一者，顯露；二者，覆藏；三者，耳語。若上座標首智人、和尚、闍梨住如法地，應顯露行舍羅；若住非法地者，作下二法行之；若非法語人多，彼應作亂起去故。」此律本云「求覓罪相」，意亦同之。

The Buddha was in the country of Śrāvastī. At that time, the bhikṣus disputed incessantly over eighteen matters, until it was brought before the Saṃgha for judgment, but could not be settled. They reported the matter to the Buddha, and the Buddha said, “One should grant it by searching out the marks of guilt among the majority. Where the speakers of the Dharma and speakers of the non-Dharma are in the same place, one should assign a bhikṣu to distribute voting sticks (śalākā). There are three ways of distribution: first, openly; second, covertly; third, whispering into the ear. If the elders at the head of the assembly, the wise persons, the upādhyāyas, and ācāryas abide on the side of the Dharma, one should distribute voting sticks openly. If they abide on the side of non-Dharma, one should distribute them using the latter two methods, because if those who speak non-Dharma are numerous, they might cause disorder and leave.” In this Vinaya text it says ‘seeking out the marks of guilt’; the intention is also the same.