[693] Among the bhikkhus of the one side, the Saṅgha should be informed by a competent and capable bhikkhu:
"Venerable sirs, let the Saṅgha listen to me. While we have been quarrelling, wrangling, and fallen into dispute, much has been perpetrated that is unbefitting an ascetic, in what has been spoken and attempted. If we deal with one another for these offences (āpatti), that legal issue (adhikaraṇa) might conduce to harshness, to ferocity, to schism. If it seems fitting to the Saṅgha, I would confess in the midst of the Saṅgha, by the covering over as with grass (tiṇavatthāraka), both whatever offence belongs to these venerable ones and whatever offence is my own, for the sake of these venerable ones and for my own sake — excepting a grave fault (thullavajja), excepting what is connected with laypeople. This is the motion (ñatti).
"Venerable sirs, let the Saṅgha listen to me. While we have been quarrelling, wrangling, and fallen into dispute, much has been perpetrated that is unbefitting an ascetic, in what has been spoken and attempted. If we deal with one another for these offences, that legal issue might conduce to harshness, to ferocity, to schism. I confess in the midst of the Saṅgha, by the covering over as with grass, both whatever offence belongs to these venerable ones and whatever offence is my own, for the sake of these venerable ones and for my own sake — excepting a grave fault, excepting what is connected with laypeople. Whichever venerable one approves of the confession of these offences of ours in the midst of the Saṅgha by the covering over as with grass — excepting a grave fault, excepting what is connected with laypeople — he should remain silent; whichever one does not approve, he should speak.
"These offences of ours have been confessed in the midst of the Saṅgha by the covering over as with grass, excepting a grave fault, excepting what is connected with laypeople. It is approved by the Saṅgha; therefore it is silent. Thus I hold it."
Then, of the others … "Thus I hold it."
Bhikkhus, this is called a legal issue that has been settled. Settled by what? By resolution in the presence (sammukhāvinaya) and by the covering over as with grass. And what therein pertains to resolution in the presence? Presence of the Saṅgha, presence of the Dhamma, presence of the Vinaya, presence of the persons. And what therein is presence of the Saṅgha? As many bhikkhus as are entitled to the formal act (kamma) have come; the consent (chanda) of those entitled to give consent has been conveyed; those present do not protest — this therein is presence of the Saṅgha. And what therein is presence of the Dhamma, presence of the Vinaya? The Dhamma, the Vinaya, and the Teacher's instruction by which that legal issue is settled — this therein is presence of the Dhamma, presence of the Vinaya. And what therein is presence of the persons? The one who confesses and the one to whom he confesses are both present — this therein is presence of the persons. And what therein pertains to the covering over as with grass? Whatever is the performing, the doing, the undertaking, the engaging in, the consenting to, the not protesting against the formal act of covering over as with grass — this therein pertains to the covering over as with grass. If, bhikkhus, a legal issue thus settled is reopened by the one who accepted [the confession], the reopening is a pācittiya offence; if one who gave consent criticizes it, the criticizing is a pācittiya offence.
English translation from the Pali (Siam Raṭṭha edition) — under review, not for citation.