“It may happen that newly-arrived monks see signs and indications of resident monks: beds and benches that are made up, water for drinking and water for washing that are ready for use, yards that are well swept. As a consequence, they’re unsure whether or not there are resident monks there. Then—

If they do the observance-day ceremony without investigating, there’s an offense of wrong conduct. If they investigate, but don’t see anyone, and then do the observance-day ceremony, there’s no offense. If they investigate, and they see someone, and then do the observance-day ceremony together, there’s no offense. If they investigate, and they see someone, but then do the observance-day ceremony separately, there’s an offense of wrong conduct. If they investigate, and they see someone, but think, ‘May they get lost! May they disappear! We are better off without them,’ and then do the observance-day ceremony aiming at schism, there’s a serious offense.

It may happen that newly-arrived monks hear signs and indications of resident monks: the sound of the feet of someone doing walking meditation, the sound of recitation, the sound of coughing, the sound of sneezing. As a consequence, they’re unsure whether or not there are resident monks there. Then—If they do the observance-day ceremony without investigating, there’s an offense of wrong conduct. If they investigate, but don’t see anyone, and then do the observance-day ceremony, there’s no offense. If they investigate, and they see someone, and then do the observance-day ceremony together, there’s no offense. If they investigate, and they see someone, but then do the observance-day ceremony separately, there’s an offense of wrong conduct. If they investigate, and they see someone, but think, ‘May they get lost! May they disappear! We are better off without them,’ and then do the observance-day ceremony aiming at schism, there’s a serious offense.