Aṅguttara Nikāya
Sattaka Nipāta
VIII. Vinaya Vagga

The Book of the Sevens

Chapter VIII: The Discipline

Sutta 80

Adhikaraṇa-Samatha Suttaṃ

The Settlement of Disputes

[97]

THUS have I heard:

Once the Exalted One was dwelling near Sāvatthī, at Jeta Grove,
in Anāthapiṇḍika's Park;
and there he addressed the monks, saying:

"Monks."

'Yes, lord,' they replied;
and the Exalted One said:

"Monks, there are these seven ways¹ for settling disputes,
for composing and calming disputes,
which arise from time to time.

What seven?

The rule of settling, face to face, may be used;

■

the rule of appeal to conscience² may be used;

■

the rule for those who have been clear-minded may be used;

■

the rule for confession may be used;

■

the rule for the majority vote of the chapter may be used;

■

the rule for a specific offence may be used;

■

and the rule for covering, as with grass, may be used.

Monks, these are the seven ways for settling disputes,
for composing and calming disputes,
which arise from time to time.'³

¹ Dhammā; cf. D. iii, 254 (where dhammā is omitted); A. i, 99; for instances of each see M. ii, 247-50 (F. Dial. ii, 141); Vin. Texts, iii, pp. 1-65.

² Sati, or introspection.