A legal issue: there are four kinds of legal issues: legal issues arising from disputes, legal issues arising from accusations, legal issues arising from offenses, legal issues arising from business. Reopens: if he reopens it, saying, “The legal procedure hasn’t been done;” “It’s been done badly;” “It should be done again;” “It hasn’t been settled;” “It’s been badly settled;” “It should be settled again,” he commits an offense entailing confession.

Permutations If it is a legitimate legal procedure, and he perceives it as such, and he reopens it, he commits an offense entailing confession. If it is a legitimate legal procedure, but he is unsure of it, and he reopens it, he commits an offense of wrong conduct. If it is a legitimate legal procedure, but he perceives it as illegitimate, and he reopens it, there is no offense. If it is an illegitimate legal procedure, but he perceives it as legitimate, he commits an offense of wrong conduct. If it is an illegitimate legal procedure, but he is unsure of it, he commits an offense of wrong conduct. If it is an illegitimate legal procedure, and he perceives it as such, there is no offense.

Non-offenses There is no offense: if he reopens it because he knows that the legal procedure was illegitimate, done by an incomplete assembly, or done against one who did not deserve it; if he is insane; if he is the first offender. The training rule on reopening a settled legal issue, the third, is finished.

Theravāda Collection on Monastic Law The Great Analysis The chapter on offenses entailing confession The subchapter on containing living beings Concealing a grave offense

Origin story