This discourse was taught by the Blessed One, taught by the Arahant, the fully enlightened Supreme Buddha. This is as I heard:
“One thing, monks, when arising in the world, arises for the downfall of many people, for the unhappiness of many people, for the downfall and unhappiness of many people, for the loss, downfall, and suffering of gods and humans. What is that one thing?
It is the disunity in the community of monks. When the community of monks is divided, there are arguments with one another, there is abuse of one another, there are quarrels between one another, and abandoning of one another. In this situation, those who are displeased with the path become displeased all the more, while some of those who are pleased change their minds.”
This is the meaning of what the Blessed One said. So, with regard to this, it was said:
One who divides the community of monks commits an evil deed by which he will fall into hell and will suffer for an entire eon.
Delighting in splitting the Sangha, enveloped in evil, he declines the supreme security from bondage, Nibbāna. Having divided a unified community of monks, he suffers in hell for an eon.
This, too, is the meaning of what was said by the Blessed One. This is exactly as I heard.
