[621] Then the Venerable Mahākassapa informed the Saṅgha: "Let the Saṅgha listen to me, friends. There are training rules (sikkhāpada) of ours that concern the laity, and even laypeople know: 'This is allowable for you ascetics, sons of the Sakyan; this is not allowable for you.' If we abolish the lesser and minor training rules, there will be those who say: 'The training rules were laid down by the ascetic Gotama for his disciples only for as long as the smoke lasted (dhūmakālikaṃ). So long as their Teacher stood, so long did they train in the training rules; but since their Teacher has attained final Nibbāna (parinibbuto), now they do not train in the training rules.' If it seems fitting to the Saṅgha, the Saṅgha should not lay down what has not been laid down, should not abolish what has been laid down, but should undertake and conduct itself according to the training rules as they have been laid down. This is the motion (ñatti).
"Let the Saṅgha listen to me, friends. There are training rules of ours that concern the laity, and even laypeople know: 'This is allowable for you ascetics, sons of the Sakyan; this is not allowable for you.' If we abolish the lesser and minor training rules, there will be those who say: 'The training rules were laid down by the ascetic Gotama for his disciples only for as long as the smoke lasted. So long as their Teacher stood, so long did they train in the training rules; but since their Teacher has attained final Nibbāna, now they do not train in the training rules.' The Saṅgha does not lay down what has not been laid down, does not abolish what has been laid down; it undertakes and conducts itself according to the training rules as they have been laid down. Any venerable one to whom the not laying down of what has not been laid down, the not abolishing of what has been laid down, and the undertaking of and conducting oneself according to the training rules as laid down is agreeable, let him be silent; anyone to whom it is not agreeable, let him speak.
"The Saṅgha does not lay down what has not been laid down, does not abolish what has been laid down; it undertakes and conducts itself according to the training rules as they have been laid down. It is agreeable to the Saṅgha; therefore it is silent. Thus I hold it."
English translation from the Pali (Siam Raṭṭha edition) — under review, not for citation.