四分戒本疏卷第一．第二．第三 2.30

2.30

"Now I ask the venerable sirs: Are you pure in this? (To be spoken three times.) The venerable sirs are pure in this, because of their silence. Thus do I hold this matter." This refers to asking whether one is pure regarding this section. Because the assembly is silent, it is known that they are pure. If someone actually has an offense and does not answer upon being asked three times, because it is a single matter, he only incurs one offense. If there is actually no offense, because of their silence, the legal act of the assembly is accomplished.