(Mv.I.57.1) [121] Now at that time the novices kept being disrespectful and undeferential toward the monks — living disharmoniously with them. The monks criticized and complained and spread it about,

“How can the novices keep being disrespectful and undeferential toward the monks — living disharmoniously with them?”

They reported the matter to the Blessed One.

“Monks, I allow a punishment to be imposed on a novice endowed with five qualities:

“He strives for the monks’ loss,
“he strives for the monks’ harm,
“he strives for the monks’ non-dwelling,
“he insults and reviles monks,
“he causes monks to split from monks.

“I allow a punishment to be imposed on a novice endowed with these five qualities.”

(Mv.I.57.2) Then the thought occurred to the monks, “What punishment should be done?”

They reported the matter to the Blessed One.

“Monks, I allow a prohibition (placing something off limits) to be made.”

Now at that time the monks made the entire monastery of the Saṅgha off limits. The novices, not getting to enter the monastery, left, disrobed, or went over to another religion. They reported the matter to the Blessed One.

“The entire monastery of the Saṅgha is not to be made off limits. Whoever should make it off limits: an offense of wrong doing. [2]

“I allow wherever he (normally) lives, wherever he (normally) returns to, to be made off limits.”

(Mv.I.57.3) Now at that time the monks made a prohibition regarding food to be taken by the mouth. People making conjey drinks, or meals for the Saṅgha said to the novices, “Come, venerable sirs, drink conjey. Come, venerable sirs, eat a meal.”

The novices said, “Friends, we can’t. The monks have made a prohibition.”

People criticized and complained and spread it about,

“How can the venerable ones make a prohibition regarding food to be taken by the mouth for the novices?”

They reported the matter to the Blessed One.

“Monks, a prohibition is not to be made regarding food to be taken by the mouth.

“Whoever should make (such a prohibition): an offense of wrong doing.”[3]

The Case of Punishment is finished.