[499] 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, when a bhikkhu wishes to take up an issue on his own initiative (attādāna), an undertaking possessed of how many factors should he take up?"
"Upāli, a bhikkhu who wishes to take up an issue on his own initiative should take up an undertaking possessed of five factors. Upāli, a bhikkhu who wishes to take up an issue on his own initiative should reflect thus: 'This issue that I wish to take up on my own initiative — is it the right time to take up this issue, or not?' If, Upāli, the bhikkhu, reflecting, knows thus: 'It is the wrong time to take up this issue, not the right time,' then, Upāli, that issue should not be taken up. But if, Upāli, the bhikkhu, reflecting, knows thus: 'It is the right time to take up this issue, not the wrong time,' then, Upāli, that bhikkhu should reflect further: 'This issue that I wish to take up on my own initiative — is this issue factual (bhūta), or not?' If, Upāli, the bhikkhu, reflecting, knows thus: 'This issue is not factual, not factual at all,' then, Upāli, that issue should not be taken up. But if, Upāli, the bhikkhu, reflecting, knows thus: 'This issue is factual, not unfactual,' then, Upāli, that bhikkhu should reflect further: 'This issue that I wish to take up on my own initiative — is this issue connected with benefit (atthasaṃhita), or not?' If, Upāli, the bhikkhu, reflecting, knows thus: 'This issue is not connected with benefit, not connected with benefit at all,' then, Upāli, that issue should not be taken up. But if, Upāli, the bhikkhu, reflecting, knows thus: 'This issue is connected with benefit, not unconnected with benefit,' then, Upāli, that bhikkhu should reflect further: 'In taking up this issue on my own initiative, shall I gain bhikkhus who are acquaintances and intimates as my side in accordance with the Dhamma and in accordance with the Vinaya, or not?' If, Upāli, the bhikkhu, reflecting, knows thus: 'In taking up this issue on my own initiative, I shall not gain bhikkhus who are acquaintances and intimates as my side in accordance with the Dhamma and in accordance with the Vinaya,' then, Upāli, that issue should not be taken up. But if, Upāli, the bhikkhu, reflecting, knows thus: 'In taking up this issue on my own initiative, I shall gain bhikkhus who are acquaintances and intimates as my side in accordance with the Dhamma and in accordance with the Vinaya,' then, Upāli, that bhikkhu should reflect further: 'When I take up this issue on my own initiative, will there arise for the Saṅgha, on that account, quarrelling, strife, contention, dispute, schism in the Saṅgha (saṅghabheda), rift in the Saṅgha (saṅgharāji), separation in the Saṅgha (saṅghavavatthāna), differentiation in the Saṅgha (saṅghanānākaraṇa), or not?' If, Upāli, the bhikkhu, reflecting, knows thus: 'When I take up this issue on my own initiative, there will arise for the Saṅgha, on that account, quarrelling, strife, contention, dispute, schism in the Saṅgha, rift in the Saṅgha, separation in the Saṅgha, differentiation in the Saṅgha,' then, Upāli, that issue should not be taken up. But if, Upāli, the bhikkhu, reflecting, knows thus: 'When I take up this issue on my own initiative, there will not arise for the Saṅgha, on that account, quarrelling, strife, contention, dispute, schism in the Saṅgha, rift in the Saṅgha, separation in the Saṅgha, differentiation in the Saṅgha,' then, Upāli, that issue should be taken up. An issue taken up on one's own initiative that is possessed of five factors thus, Upāli, will not cause regret even afterwards."
English translation from the Pali (Siam Raṭṭha edition) — under review, not for citation.