[1083] A bhikkhu (bhikkhu) who enters the arena of contest (saṅgāmāvacara), when approaching the Saṅgha, should approach the Saṅgha with a humble mind, with a mind like a dust-wiping cloth; he should be skilled regarding seats and skilled in sitting down; not encroaching upon the elder bhikkhus and not depriving the junior bhikkhus of a seat, he should sit down on a suitable seat; he should not be one who talks on miscellaneous topics, nor one who talks pointless talk (tiracchānakathā); he should either speak the Dhamma himself, or invite another to do so, or he should not despise the noble silence.
An investigator (anuvijjaka), a person approved by the Saṅgha who desires to investigate, should not ask about the preceptor, should not ask about the teacher, should not ask about a co-resident pupil, should not ask about a pupil, should not ask about one sharing the same preceptor, should not ask about one sharing the same teacher; he should not ask about birth, should not ask about name, should not ask about clan, should not ask about scriptural learning (āgama), should not ask about family locality, should not ask about native district. For what reason? There might be affection or aversion in that connection; and when there is affection or when there is aversion, he might go astray through desire, might go astray through hatred, might go astray through delusion, might go astray through fear.
An investigator, a person approved by the Saṅgha who desires to investigate, should give weight to the Saṅgha, not give weight to individuals; should give weight to the true Dhamma (saddhamma), not give weight to material gain; should be governed by what is right, not partial to the assembly; he should investigate at the proper time, not at the wrong time; he should investigate with what is true, not with what is untrue; he should investigate with gentle speech, not with harsh speech; he should investigate with what is connected with the goal, not with what is unconnected with the goal; he should investigate with a mind of loving-kindness, not with inner hatred; he should not be one who whispers in the ear; he should not look askance; he should not wink the eye; he should not raise the eyebrow; he should not toss up the head; he should not make gestures with the hand; he should not display hand-signs; he should be skilled regarding seats and skilled in sitting down; looking only a plough-yoke's length before him and keeping to the matter at hand, he should sit upon his own seat and should not rise from the seat; he should not interrupt (the proceedings); he should not follow a wrong course; he should not utter evasive speech; he should be unhurried, not rash; he should not be irascible; he should be patient with words; he should have a mind of loving-kindness, compassionate for welfare; he should be compassionate, striving for welfare; he should not be one of frivolous talk, but one who speaks within bounds; he should not be swayed by enmity, nor speak in anger. He should take stock of himself; he should take stock of the other; he should take stock of the accuser; he should take stock of the accused; he should take stock of one who accuses contrary to Dhamma; he should take stock of one accused contrary to Dhamma; he should take stock of one who accuses in accordance with Dhamma; he should take stock of one accused in accordance with Dhamma. Not omitting what has been said and not introducing what has not been said, having carefully learned the words and phrases that have entered into the case, and having questioned the other party in turn, he should deal with him according to his admission. One who trembles should be heartened; one who is timid should be reassured; one who is fierce should be restrained; one who is impure should be exposed; one who is upright should be treated with gentleness. He should not go astray through desire, should not go astray through hatred, should not go astray through delusion, should not go astray through fear; he should remain impartial both regarding dhammas and regarding persons. And an investigator who investigates in this way is one who carries out the Teacher's instruction, and he is dear to and agreeable to his discerning fellow practitioners of the holy life, respected and esteemed by them.
English translation from the Pali (Siam Raṭṭha edition) — under review, not for citation.