“If a brother is found to be stubborn or disobedient or proud, if he grumbles or in any way despises the holy rule and defies the orders of his seniors, he should be warned twice privately by the seniors in accord with out Lord’s injunction (Matt 18:15-16). If he does not amend, he must be rebuked publicly in the presence of everyone. But if even then he does not reform, let him be excommunicated, provided that he understand the nature of this punishment. If however he lacks understanding, let him undergo corporal punishment.”
The Rule goes on to discuss the rules for excommunication for several chapters. The abbot was supposed to do everything in his power to save the brother, and excommunication was a last resort to save the rest of the community from the influence of the wayward monk. Corporal punishment was also practiced in the Rule.
In all punishment, the abbot was to “exercise the utmost care and concern for wayward brothers, because it is not the healthy who need a physician, but the sick.”