When the monks had expelled the nun Mettiyā, the monks Mettiya and Bhūmajaka said to them, “Don’t expel the nun Mettiyā; she hasn’t done anything wrong. She was urged on by us. We were angry and displeased, and trying to make Dabba give up the monastic life.” “But did you groundlessly charge Venerable Dabba with failure in morality?” “Yes.” The monks of few desires … complained and criticized them, “How could the monks Mettiya and Bhūmajaka groundlessly charge Venerable Dabba with failure in morality?” They then told the Buddha. … “Is it true, monks, that you did this?” “It’s true, sir.” … After rebuking them … he gave a teaching and addressed the monks:

“Well then, because of his great clarity of memory, grant resolution through recollection to Dabba the Mallian. And it should be granted like this. Dabba should approach the Sangha, arrange his upper robe over one shoulder, pay respect at the feet of the senior monks, squat on his heels, raise his joined palms, and say: ‘Venerables, these monks Mettiya and Bhūmajaka are groundlessly charging me with failure in morality. Because of my great clarity of memory, I ask the Sangha for resolution through recollection. Venerables, these monks Mettiya and Bhūmajaka are groundlessly charging me with failure in morality. Because of my great clarity of memory, for the second time, I ask the Sangha for resolution through recollection. Venerables, these monks Mettiya and Bhūmajaka are groundlessly charging me with failure in morality. Because of my great clarity of memory, for the third time, I ask the Sangha for resolution through recollection.’ A competent and capable monk should then inform the Sangha: