[284] Now at that time the Blessed One spoke talk on the Vinaya (vinayakathā) to the bhikkhus in many ways: he spoke in praise of the Vinaya, spoke in praise of the mastery of the Vinaya, and, singling him out again and again, spoke in praise of the Venerable Upāli. The bhikkhus thought: "The Blessed One speaks talk on the Vinaya to the bhikkhus in many ways: he speaks in praise of the Vinaya, speaks in praise of the mastery of the Vinaya, and, singling him out again and again, speaks in praise of the Venerable Upāli. Come, friends, let us learn the Vinaya in the presence of the Venerable Upāli."
And those many bhikkhus—elders, newly ordained, and those of middle standing—learned the Vinaya in the presence of the Venerable Upāli. The Venerable Upāli recited while standing, out of respect for the elder bhikkhus; the elder bhikkhus, too, had it recited to them while standing, out of respect for the Dhamma. Thereby both the elder bhikkhus grew weary, and the Venerable Upāli as well. They reported this matter to the Blessed One.
"Bhikkhus, I allow a newly ordained bhikkhu, when reciting, to sit on a seat of equal height or on a higher one, out of respect for the Dhamma; and I allow an elder bhikkhu, when having it recited to him, to sit on a seat of equal height or on a lower one, out of respect for the Dhamma."
English translation from the Pali (Siam Raṭṭha edition) — under review, not for citation.