Soon afterwards the Buddha had the Sangha gathered and questioned the monks: “Is it true, monks, that the monk Seyyasaka goes on like this?” “It’s true, sir.” The Buddha rebuked him, “It’s not suitable for that foolish man, it’s not proper, it’s not worthy of a monastic, it’s not allowable, it’s not to be done. How can he be ignorant and incompetent, often committing offenses, and lacking in boundaries? How can he constantly and improperly socialize with householders? And how can it be that the monks regularly give him probation, send him back to the beginning, give him trial periods, and rehabilitate him? This will affect people’s confidence …” After rebuking him … the Buddha gave a teaching and addressed the monks: “Well then, the Sangha should do a legal procedure of demotion against the monk Seyyasaka, instructing him to live with formal support.

And this is how it should be done. First you should accuse the monk Seyyasaka. He should then be reminded of what he has done, before he’s charged with an offense. A competent and capable monk should then inform the Sangha: ‘Please, venerables, I ask the Sangha to listen. This monk Seyyasaka is ignorant and incompetent, often committing offenses, and lacking in boundaries. He’s constantly and improperly socializing with householders. In addition, the monks regularly give him probation, send him back to the beginning, give him the trial period, and rehabilitate him. If the Sangha is ready, it should do a legal procedure of demotion against the monk Seyyasaka, instructing him to live with formal support. This is the motion. Please, venerables, I ask the Sangha to listen. This monk Seyyasaka is ignorant and incompetent, often committing offenses, and lacking in boundaries. He’s constantly and improperly socializing with householders. In addition, the monks regularly give him probation, send him back to the beginning, give him the trial period, and rehabilitate him. The Sangha does a legal procedure of demotion against the monk Seyyasaka, instructing him to live with formal support. Any monk who approves of doing a legal procedure of demotion against the monk Seyyasaka, instructing him to live with formal support, should remain silent. Any monk who doesn’t approve should speak up.