Buddha: His Life, his Doctrine, his Order c10.t1.16

c10.t1.16

enumeration of transgressions, which bring with them “defeat and expulsion from the Order,” the leader turns himself to the brethren present with the thrice repeated question: “Here now I ask the venerable: Are you free from these transgressions? And for the second time I ask: Are you free? For the third time I ask: Are you free?” And if all are silent*— “Free are the venerable from these, therefore they are silent; so I take it.”