[404] Then the Venerable Upāli approached the Blessed One; having approached and paid homage to the Blessed One, he sat down at one side. Seated at one side, the Venerable Upāli said this to the Blessed One: "Venerable sir, it is said 'dissension in the Saṅgha (saṅgharāji), dissension in the Saṅgha.' To what extent, venerable sir, is there dissension in the Saṅgha but not schism in the Saṅgha (saṅghabheda)? And to what extent is there both dissension in the Saṅgha and schism in the Saṅgha?"
"Upāli, on one side there is one bhikkhu, on one side there are two, and a fourth proclaims and has voting tickets (salākā) taken, saying: 'This is the Dhamma, this is the Vinaya, this is the Teacher's instruction; take this, approve this.' In this way too, Upāli, there is dissension in the Saṅgha but not schism in the Saṅgha.
"Upāli, on one side there are two, on one side two, and a fifth proclaims and has voting tickets taken, saying: 'This is the Dhamma, this is the Vinaya, this is the Teacher's instruction; take this, approve this.' In this way too, Upāli, there is dissension in the Saṅgha but not schism in the Saṅgha.
"Upāli, on one side there are two, on one side three, and a sixth proclaims and has voting tickets taken, saying: 'This is the Dhamma, this is the Vinaya, this is the Teacher's instruction; take this, approve this.' In this way too, Upāli, there is dissension in the Saṅgha but not schism in the Saṅgha.
"Upāli, on one side there are three, on one side three, and a seventh proclaims and has voting tickets taken, saying: 'This is the Dhamma, this is the Vinaya, this is the Teacher's instruction; take this, approve this.' In this way too, Upāli, there is dissension in the Saṅgha but not schism in the Saṅgha.
"Upāli, on one side there are three, on one side four, and an eighth proclaims and has voting tickets taken, saying: 'This is the Dhamma, this is the Vinaya, this is the Teacher's instruction; take this, approve this.' In this way too, Upāli, there is dissension in the Saṅgha but not schism in the Saṅgha.
"Upāli, on one side there are four, on one side four, and a ninth proclaims and has voting tickets taken, saying: 'This is the Dhamma, this is the Vinaya, this is the Teacher's instruction; take this, approve this.' In this way, Upāli, there is both dissension in the Saṅgha and schism in the Saṅgha.
"When there are nine, Upāli, or more than nine, there is both dissension in the Saṅgha and schism in the Saṅgha.
"Upāli, a bhikkhunī does not split the Saṅgha, though she may strive for a schism. A sikkhamānā does not split the Saṅgha; a sāmaṇera does not split the Saṅgha; a sāmaṇerī does not split the Saṅgha; a male lay follower (upāsaka) does not split the Saṅgha; a female lay follower (upāsikā) does not split the Saṅgha, though she may strive for a schism.
"It is a bhikkhu, Upāli, of regular standing (pakatatta), belonging to the same communion, staying within the same boundary (sīmā), who splits the Saṅgha."
English translation from the Pali (Siam Raṭṭha edition) — under review, not for citation.