[690] Might a legal issue concerning offenses (āpattādhikaraṇa) be settled by two means of settlement (samatha) — by settlement in the presence (sammukhāvinaya) and by acting upon acknowledgment (paṭiññātakaraṇa) — without recourse to one means of settlement, the covering over as with grass (tiṇavatthāraka)? It should be answered: it might. In what way? Here, bhikkhus, a bhikkhu has committed a light offense (lahukā āpatti). Bhikkhus, that bhikkhu should approach one bhikkhu, arrange his upper robe over one shoulder, squat down, raise his joined palms, and say to him: 'Friend, I have committed such-and-such an offense (āpatti); I confess it.' He should be asked by that bhikkhu: 'Do you see it?' 'Yes, I see it.' 'You should exercise restraint in the future.'
This, bhikkhus, is called a legal issue that has been settled. Settled by what? By settlement in the presence and by acting upon acknowledgment. And what therein belongs to settlement in the presence? The presence of the Dhamma, the presence of the Vinaya, the presence of the persons … And what therein is the presence of the persons? The one who confesses and the one to whom he confesses — both are present face to face: this therein is the presence of the persons. And what therein belongs to acting upon acknowledgment? Whatever is the performing, the doing, the undertaking, the entering upon, the consenting to, and the non-objecting to the act of acting upon acknowledgment: this therein belongs to acting upon acknowledgment. If, bhikkhus, when a legal issue has been settled thus, the receiver reopens it, for the reopening there is a pācittiya offense.
If he should obtain this, that is good. If he should not obtain it, bhikkhus, that bhikkhu should approach several bhikkhus, arrange his upper robe over one shoulder, bow at the feet of the senior bhikkhus, squat down, raise his joined palms, and say to them: 'Venerable sirs, I have committed such-and-such an offense; I confess it.' Those bhikkhus should be informed by a competent and capable bhikkhu: 'Let the venerables hear me. This bhikkhu named so-and-so remembers an offense, discloses it, makes it plain, and confesses it. If it is the right time for the venerables, I shall receive the offense of the bhikkhu named so-and-so.' He should be asked by him: 'Do you see it?' 'Yes, I see it.' 'You should exercise restraint in the future.'
This, bhikkhus, is called a legal issue that has been settled. Settled by what? By settlement in the presence and by acting upon acknowledgment. And what therein belongs to settlement in the presence? The presence of the Dhamma, the presence of the Vinaya, the presence of the persons … And what therein is the presence of the persons? The one who confesses and the one to whom he confesses — both are present face to face: this therein is the presence of the persons. And what therein belongs to acting upon acknowledgment? Whatever is the performing, the doing, the undertaking, the entering upon, the consenting to, and the non-objecting to the act of acting upon acknowledgment: this therein belongs to acting upon acknowledgment. If, bhikkhus, when a legal issue has been settled thus, the receiver reopens it, for the reopening there is a pācittiya offense.
If he should obtain this, that is good. If he should not obtain it, bhikkhus, that bhikkhu should approach the Saṅgha, arrange his upper robe over one shoulder, bow at the feet of the senior bhikkhus, squat down, raise his joined palms, and say: 'Venerable sirs, I have committed such-and-such an offense; I confess it.' The Saṅgha should be informed by a competent and capable bhikkhu: 'Venerable sirs, let the Saṅgha hear me. This bhikkhu named so-and-so remembers an offense, discloses it, makes it plain, and confesses it. If it is the right time for the Saṅgha, I shall receive the offense of the bhikkhu named so-and-so.' He should be asked by him: 'Do you see it?' 'Yes, I see it.' 'You should exercise restraint in the future.'
This, bhikkhus, is called a legal issue that has been settled. Settled by what? By settlement in the presence and by acting upon acknowledgment. And what therein belongs to settlement in the presence? The presence of the Saṅgha, the presence of the Dhamma, the presence of the Vinaya, the presence of the persons … If, bhikkhus, when a legal issue has been settled thus, the receiver reopens it, for the reopening there is a pācittiya offense. If one who gave his consent criticizes it, for the criticizing there is a pācittiya offense.
English translation from the Pali (Siam Raṭṭha edition) — under review, not for citation.