[1187] "Venerable sir, when a bhikkhu wishes to take up a legal issue himself (attādāna), possessed of how many factors should the issue be taken up?"
"Upāli, when a bhikkhu wishes to take up a legal issue himself, the issue he takes up should be possessed of five factors. Which five?
"Upāli, a bhikkhu who wishes to take up a legal issue himself should reflect thus: 'I wish to take up this issue. Is it the right time to take up this issue, or is it 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: 'I wish to take up this issue. Is this issue founded on fact, or is it not?' If, Upāli, the bhikkhu, reflecting, knows thus: 'This issue is not founded on fact, it is not factual,' then, Upāli, that issue should not be taken up.
"But if, Upāli, the bhikkhu, reflecting, knows thus: 'This issue is founded on fact, it is not unfactual,' then, Upāli, that bhikkhu should reflect further: 'I wish to take up this issue. Is this issue connected with benefit, or is it not?' If, Upāli, the bhikkhu, reflecting, knows thus: 'This issue is not connected with benefit, it is not beneficial,' then, Upāli, that issue should not be taken up.
"But if, Upāli, the bhikkhu, reflecting, knows thus: 'This issue is connected with benefit, it is not unbeneficial,' then, Upāli, that bhikkhu should reflect further: 'In taking up this issue, shall I gain bhikkhus who are acquaintances and companions to take my side in accordance with the Dhamma and in accordance with the Vinaya, or shall I not?' If, Upāli, the bhikkhu, reflecting, knows thus: 'In taking up this issue, I shall not gain bhikkhus who are acquaintances and companions to take 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, I shall gain bhikkhus who are acquaintances and companions to take 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, will there arise for the Saṅgha on that account quarreling, strife, contention, dispute, schism in the Saṅgha, rifts in the Saṅgha, separation in the Saṅgha, division in the Saṅgha, or will there not?' If, Upāli, the bhikkhu, reflecting, knows thus: 'When I take up this issue, there will arise for the Saṅgha on that account quarreling, strife, contention, dispute, schism in the Saṅgha, rifts in the Saṅgha, separation in the Saṅgha, division 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, there will not arise for the Saṅgha on that account quarreling, strife, contention, dispute, schism in the Saṅgha, rifts in the Saṅgha, separation in the Saṅgha, division in the Saṅgha,' then, Upāli, that issue should be taken up.
"An issue possessed of five factors thus, Upāli, when taken up, will occasion no remorse even afterwards."
English translation from the Pali (Siam Raṭṭha edition) — under review, not for citation.