Numbered Discourses 8.88

9. Mindfulness

A Proclamation of No Confidence

“Bhikkhus, the lay followers may, if they wish, make a proclamation of no confidence in a bhikkhu who has eight qualities. What eight? They try to prevent the lay people from getting material possessions. They try to harm lay people. They insult and abuse lay people. They divide lay people against each other. They criticize the Buddha, the teaching, and the Saṅgha. They’re seen at an inappropriate place for collecting alms. The lay followers may, if they wish, make a proclamation of no confidence in a bhikkhu who has these eight qualities.

The lay followers may, if they wish, make a proclamation of confidence in a bhikkhu who has eight qualities. What eight? They don’t try to prevent the lay people from getting material possessions. They don’t try to harm lay people. They don’t insult and abuse lay people. They don’t divide lay people against each other. They don’t criticize the Buddha, the teaching, and the Saṅgha. They’re not seen at an inappropriate place for collecting alms. The lay followers may, if they wish, make a proclamation of confidence in a bhikkhu who has these eight qualities.”