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4. Chapter on Deities 1. The Trainee 31. “These six, monks, qualities lead to the decline of a trainee monk. Which six? Delight in work, delight in talk, delight in sleep, delight in company, unguarded doors of the senses, and immoderation in food. These, monks, are the six qualities that lead to the decline of a trainee monk. These six, monks, qualities lead to the non-decline of a trainee monk. Which six? No delight in work, no delight in talk, no delight in sleep, no delight in company, guarded doors of the senses, and moderation in food. These, monks, are the six qualities that lead to the non-decline of a trainee monk.” The First. 2. The First Non-Decline 32. Then a certain deity, when the night was far advanced, with radiant beauty, illuminating the entire Jeta's Grove, approached the Blessed One. Having approached and paid homage to the Blessed One, she stood to one side. Standing to one side, that deity said this to the Blessed One: “These six, venerable sir, qualities lead to the non-decline of a monk. Which six? Reverence for the Teacher, reverence for the Dhamma, reverence for the Sangha, reverence for the training, reverence for diligence, and reverence for hospitality. These, venerable sir, are the six qualities that lead to the non-decline of a monk.” Thus spoke that deity. The Teacher approved. Then that deity, thinking, “The Teacher approves of me,” paid homage to the Blessed One, circumambulated him, and vanished right there. Then, when that night had passed, the Blessed One addressed the monks: “This night, monks, a certain deity, when the night was far advanced, with radiant beauty, illuminating the entire Jeta's Grove, approached me. Having approached and paid homage to me, she stood to one side. Standing to one side, monks, that deity said this to me: ‘These six, venerable sir... These six qualities, lead to a monk's non-decline. Which six? Reverence for the Teacher, reverence for the Dhamma, reverence for the Saṅgha, reverence for training, reverence for diligence, reverence for hospitality— these six qualities, venerable sir, lead to a monk's non-decline. This is what that deity said, monks. Having said this, having bowed to me, having circumambulated me clockwise, she vanished right there. Reverent for the Teacher, reverent for the Dhamma, and deeply reverent for the Saṅgha; A monk reverent for diligence, reverent for hospitality; Is incapable of decline, he is close to Nibbāna. The second. 3. The Second Discourse on Non-Decline 33. This night, monks, a certain deity, when the night was far advanced, with radiant beauty, illuminating the entire Jeta Grove, approached me. Having approached me, having bowed to me, she stood to one side. Standing to one side, monks, that deity said this to me: ‘These six qualities, venerable sir, lead to a monk's non-decline. Which six? Reverence for the Teacher, reverence for the Dhamma, reverence for the Saṅgha, reverence for training, reverence for shame, reverence for dread of wrongdoing— these six qualities, venerable sir, lead to a monk's non-decline.’ This is what that deity said, monks. Having said this, having bowed to me, having circumambulated me clockwise, she vanished right there. Reverent for the Teacher, reverent for the Dhamma, and deeply reverent for the Saṅgha; Endowed with shame and dread of wrongdoing, respectful and reverent; Is incapable of decline, he is close to Nibbāna. The third. 4. The Discourse on Mahāmoggallāna 34. At one time the Blessed One was staying at Sāvatthī, in Jeta Grove, Anāthapiṇḍika's monastery. Then, as Venerable Mahāmoggallāna was in seclusion, retreating, this thought arose in his mind: "Which deities have this knowledge: 'Stream-enterers are not subject to falling into lower realms, they are fixed, bound for full awakening'?" Then Now at that time, a monk named Tissa, having recently passed away, was reborn in a certain Brahma-world. There they knew him thus: "Tissa the Brahma is mighty, of great power." Then indeed, the venerable Mahāmoggallāna, just as a strong man might extend a flexed arm or flex an extended arm, having vanished from Jetavana, appeared in that Brahma-world. Tissa the Brahma saw the venerable Mahāmoggallāna coming from afar. Having seen the venerable Mahāmoggallāna, he said this: "Come, friend Moggallāna; welcome, friend Moggallāna; it has been a long time, friend Moggallāna, since you made this journey, that is, to come here. Sit down, friend Moggallāna, this seat is prepared." The venerable Mahāmoggallāna sat down on the prepared seat. Tissa the Brahma, having saluted the venerable Mahāmoggallāna, sat down to one side. To Tissa the Brahma, sitting to one side, the venerable Mahāmoggallāna said this: "Which of the devas, Tissa, have this knowledge: 'Stream-enterers are not subject to falling, are assured, destined for full enlightenment'?" "The devas of the Four Great Kings, friend Moggallāna, have this knowledge: 'Stream-enterers are not subject to falling, are assured, destined for full enlightenment'." "Do all of the devas of the Four Great Kings, Tissa, have this knowledge: 'Stream-enterers are not subject to falling, are assured, destined for full enlightenment'?" "No, friend Moggallāna, not all of the devas of the Four Great Kings have this knowledge: 'Stream-enterers are not subject to falling, are assured, destined for full enlightenment'. Those devas, friend Moggallāna, of the Four Great Kings, who are not endowed with unwavering faith in the Buddha, not endowed with unwavering faith in the Dhamma, not endowed with unwavering faith in the Saṅgha, [and not endowed] with the virtues dear to the noble ones..." not endowed with these, those devas do not have this knowledge: 'Stream-enterers are not subject to falling, they are assured, bound for enlightenment.' But those, dear Moggallāna, devas of the Four Great Kings, who are endowed with unwavering faith in the Buddha, endowed with unwavering faith in the Dhamma, endowed with unwavering faith in the Saṅgha, and endowed with the virtues dear to the noble ones, they have this knowledge: 'Stream-enterers are not subject to falling, they are assured, bound for enlightenment.'" "Is it only, Tissa, the devas of the Four Great Kings who have this knowledge: 'Stream-enterers are not subject to falling, they are assured, bound for enlightenment'? Or do the devas of Tāvatiṃsa, and the devas of Yāma, and the devas of Tusita, and the devas of Nimmānaratī, and the devas of Paranimmitavasavattī also have this knowledge: 'Stream-enterers are not subject to falling, they are assured, bound for enlightenment'?" "Indeed, dear Moggallāna, the devas of Paranimmitavasavattī also have this knowledge: 'Stream-enterers are not subject to falling, they are assured, bound for enlightenment.'" "Do all, Tissa, the devas of Paranimmitavasavattī have this knowledge: 'Stream-enterers are not subject to falling, they are assured, bound for enlightenment'?" "No, dear Moggallāna, not all the devas of Paranimmitavasavattī have this knowledge: 'Stream-enterers are not subject to falling, they are assured, bound for enlightenment.' But those, dear Moggallāna, devas of Paranimmitavasavattī, who are not endowed with unwavering faith in the Buddha, not endowed with unwavering faith in the Dhamma, not endowed with unwavering faith in the Saṅgha, and not endowed with the virtues dear to the noble ones, those devas do not have this knowledge: 'Stream-enterers are not subject to falling, they are assured, bound for enlightenment.' But those, dear Moggallāna, devas of Paranimmitavasavattī, who are endowed with unwavering faith in the Buddha, endowed with unwavering faith in the Dhamma, endowed with unwavering faith in the Saṅgha..." endowed with faith, endowed with the noble virtues. To them this knowledge arises: ‘Stream-enterers are those who are not subject to falling into states of woe, who are assured, whose destination is full enlightenment.’” Then the Venerable Mahāmoggallāna, having approved and rejoiced in the words of Tissa the Brahmā, just as a strong man might extend his bent arm, or bend his extended arm, even so, he vanished from the Brahmā world and appeared in Jetavana. Fourth. 5. Discourse on the Factors of Knowledge 35. “There are these six factors of knowledge, monks. Which six? The perception of impermanence, the perception of suffering in impermanence, the perception of non-self in suffering, the perception of abandoning, the perception of dispassion, the perception of cessation. These, monks, are the six factors of knowledge.” Fifth. 6. Discourse on the Roots of Contention 36. “There are these six roots of contention, monks. Which six? Here, monks, a monk is angry and resentful. That monk, monks, who is angry and resentful, lives without respect for the Teacher, without deference, lives without respect for the Dhamma, without deference, lives without respect for the Saṅgha, without deference, and is not a complete fulfiller of the training. That monk, monks, who lives without respect for the Teacher, without deference, without respect for the Dhamma, without deference, without respect for the Saṅgha, without deference, and is not a complete fulfiller of the training, he generates contention in the Saṅgha, a contention that is for the harm of many people, for the unhappiness of many people, for the disadvantage, for the harm, for the suffering of many people, of devas and humans. If you, monks, should observe such a root of contention within yourselves or externally, then, monks, you should strive for the abandoning of that evil root of contention. If you, monks, should not observe such a root of contention within yourselves or externally, then, monks, you should strive for the non-arising of that evil root of contention in the future. for its non-arising. Thus is the abandoning of that evil root of contention. Thus is the non-arising in the future of that evil root of contention. Furthermore, bhikkhus,