[711] At that time the Buddha, the Blessed One, was dwelling at Sāvatthī, in Jeta's Grove, the park of Anāthapiṇḍika. Now at that time the group-of-six bhikkhus were quarrelling with the well-behaved bhikkhus.
The well-behaved bhikkhus spoke thus: "Friends, these group-of-six bhikkhus are shameless ones (alajjī); it is not possible to quarrel with them."
The group-of-six bhikkhus spoke thus: "Friends, why do you disgrace us with the charge of shamelessness?"
"But where, friends, did you hear it?"
"We stood eavesdropping on the venerable ones."
Those bhikkhus who were of few wishes … criticized, complained, and spread it about, saying: "How can the group-of-six bhikkhus stand eavesdropping on bhikkhus who have taken to quarrelling, taken to strife, and fallen into dispute?" …
"Is it true, bhikkhus, as is said, that you stood eavesdropping on bhikkhus who had taken to quarrelling, taken to strife, and fallen into dispute?"
"It is true, Blessed One."
The Buddha, the Blessed One, rebuked them: "How can you, foolish men, stand eavesdropping on bhikkhus who have taken to quarrelling, taken to strife, and fallen into dispute? This, foolish men, is not for the arousing of confidence in those without confidence, nor for the increase of confidence in those already confident …
"And thus, bhikkhus, you should recite this training rule: Whatever bhikkhu, when bhikkhus have taken to quarrelling, taken to strife, and fallen into dispute, should stand eavesdropping, thinking, 'I will hear what they say' — making just this the motive and no other — commits an offence of expiation (pācittiya)."
English translation from the Pali (Siam Raṭṭha edition) — under review, not for citation.