English
‘‘I shall teach you, bhikkhus, seven conditions of non-decline. Listen to that, pay careful attention; I shall speak.’’ ‘‘Yes, venerable sir,’’ those bhikkhus replied to the Blessed One. The Blessed One said this: ‘‘What, bhikkhus, are the seven conditions of non-decline? As long as, bhikkhus, the bhikkhus will hold frequent assemblies, will be assiduous in assembly; growth, bhikkhus, is to be expected for the bhikkhus, not decline. ‘‘As long as, bhikkhus, the bhikkhus will assemble in unity, will rise in unity, will perform the duties of the Sangha in unity; growth, bhikkhus, is to be expected for the bhikkhus, not decline. ‘‘As long as, bhikkhus, the bhikkhus will not enact what has not been enacted, will not abolish what has been enacted, will undertake and practice in accordance with the training rules as they have been enacted; growth, bhikkhus, is to be expected for the bhikkhus, not decline. ‘‘As long as, bhikkhus, the bhikkhus will honor, respect, esteem, and revere those bhikkhus who are elders, long-experienced, long-ordained, fathers of the Sangha, leaders of the Sangha, and will consider what they say to be worth listening to— Growth indeed, O monks, is to be expected for the monks, not decline. As long as, O monks, the monks do not fall under the sway of craving for renewed existence that has arisen; growth indeed, O monks, is to be expected for the monks, not decline. As long as, O monks, the monks are devoted to forest dwellings; growth indeed, O monks, is to be expected for the monks, not decline. As long as, O monks, the monks establish mindfulness within themselves: 'How might future good-hearted fellow practitioners come, and good-hearted fellow practitioners who have come dwell at ease?'; growth indeed, O monks, is to be expected for the monks, not decline. As long as, O monks, these seven conditions for non-decline remain among the monks, and in these seven conditions for non-decline the monks are seen; growth indeed, O monks, is to be expected for the monks, not decline. The Third. 4. The Second Discourse on Seven. "I will teach you, O monks, seven conditions for non-decline. Listen to that, attend carefully... And what, O monks, are the seven conditions for non-decline? As long as, O monks, the monks are not fond of activity, not delighting in activity, not devoted to fondness for activity; growth indeed, O monks, is to be expected for the monks, not decline. As long as, O monks, the monks are not fond of talk; (as long as, O monks, the monks) are not fond of sleep; (as long as, O monks, the monks) are not fond of company; (as long as, O monks, the monks) are not evil-willed, not fallen under the sway of evil wishes; (as long as, O monks, the monks) are not evil companions, not evil friends, not evil associates; (as long as, O monks, the monks) do not come to a halt in the middle of the path with a small attainment of distinction; growth indeed, O monks, is to be expected for the monks, not decline. As long as, O monks, these seven conditions for non-decline remain among the monks, and in these seven conditions for non-decline in these qualities, monks will be seen; growth alone, monks, is to be expected for the monks, not decline.” The Fourth. 5. The Third Seven Discourse 25. “Seven qualities of non-decline, monks, I will teach to you. Listen to that, attend carefully… …And what, monks, are the seven qualities of non-decline? As long as, monks, the monks are endowed with faith; growth alone, monks, is to be expected for the monks, not decline. “As long as, monks, the monks are endowed with shame; …As long as they are endowed with fear of wrongdoing; …As long as they are learned; …As long as they are energetic; …As long as they are mindful; …As long as they are wise; growth alone, monks, is to be expected for the monks, not decline. “As long as, monks, these seven qualities of non-decline remain among the monks, and in these seven qualities of non-decline, monks will be seen; growth alone, monks, is to be expected for the monks, not decline.” The Fifth. 6. The Factors of Awakening Discourse 26. “Seven qualities of non-decline, monks, I will teach to you. Listen to that, attend carefully… …And what, monks, are the seven qualities of non-decline? As long as, monks, the monks develop the mindfulness factor of awakening; growth alone, monks, is to be expected for the monks, not decline. “As long as, monks, the monks develop the investigation-of-states factor of awakening; …As long as they develop the energy factor of awakening; …As long as they develop the rapture factor of awakening; …As long as they develop the tranquility factor of awakening; …As long as they develop the concentration factor of awakening; …As long as they develop the equanimity factor of awakening; growth alone, monks, is to be expected for the monks, not decline. “As long as, monks, these seven qualities of non-decline remain among the monks, and in these seven qualities of non-decline in these principles the monks are seen; growth, O monks, is to be expected for the monks, not decline. The Sixth. 7. The Discourse on Perceptions 27. "Seven principles of non-decline, O monks, I will teach you. Listen to that, attend carefully... And what, O monks, are the seven principles of non-decline? As long as, O monks, the monks cultivate the perception of impermanence; growth, O monks, is to be expected for the monks, not decline. "As long as, O monks, the monks cultivate the perception of non-self... ...cultivate the perception of unattractiveness... ...cultivate the perception of danger... ...cultivate the perception of abandoning... ...cultivate the perception of dispassion... ...cultivate the perception of cessation; growth, O monks, is to be expected for the monks, not decline. "As long as, O monks, these seven principles of non-decline remain among the monks, and in these seven principles of non-decline, the monks are seen; growth, O monks, is to be expected for the monks, not decline." The Seventh. 8. The First Discourse on Decline 28. Thus have I heard – at one time the Blessed One was dwelling in Sāvatthī, in Jeta's Grove, Anāthapiṇḍika's monastery. There, indeed, the Blessed One addressed the monks – "These seven principles, O monks, lead to the decline of a trainee monk. Which seven? Delight in activity, delight in talk, delight in sleep, delight in company, unguarded doors of the senses, immoderation in food, and there are, indeed, duties of the Saṅgha in the Saṅgha; there a trainee monk reflects thus – 'There are, indeed, elders in the Saṅgha, long-experienced, long-ordained, bearers of burdens, they will know about that,' and he himself avoids engaging in them. These, O monks, are the seven principles that lead to the decline of a trainee monk. "Monks, these seven things lead to the non-decline of a trainee monk. Which seven? Not delighting in work, not delighting in talk, not delighting in sleep, not delighting in company, guarding the doors of the senses, moderation in food, and there are duties to be done by the Saṅgha; there, the trainee monk reflects thus: 'There are elders in the Saṅgha, long-experienced, long-ordained, burden-bearers, they will know what to do,' and he himself does not engage in them." "Monks, these seven things lead to the non-decline of a trainee monk." The Eighth. 9. The Second Discourse on Decline "Monks, these seven things lead to the decline of a lay follower. Which seven? He neglects seeing monks, he neglects listening to the true Dhamma, he does not train in higher virtue, he is full of little faith, he listens to the Dhamma with a fault-finding mind towards monks— elders, new, and middle— seeking for flaws, he seeks for worthy recipients outside of this (teaching), and there he performs his prior good deeds." "Monks, these seven things lead to the decline of a lay follower." "Monks, these seven things lead to the non-decline of a lay follower. Which seven? He does not neglect seeing monks, he does not neglect listening to the true Dhamma, he trains in higher virtue, he is full of much faith, he listens to the Dhamma with a non-fault-finding mind towards monks— elders, new, and middle— not seeking for flaws, he does not seek for worthy recipients outside of this (teaching), and here he performs his prior good deeds." "Monks, these seven things lead to the non-decline of a lay follower." This is what the Blessed One said. Having said this, the Fortunate One, the Teacher, said further: "The lay follower who neglects seeing those with developed selves, and listening to noble Dhamma, and does not train in higher virtue. And little faith towards monks grows more and more; And with a fault-finding mind, he wishes to hear the true Dhamma." And here, outside, another worthy of offerings he seeks; And there, indeed, a prior offering the lay follower makes. These, indeed, are the seven states of decline, well taught; A lay follower, practicing them, declines from the true Dhamma. The sight of those with developed selves, the lay follower does not neglect; And the hearing of the noble Dhamma, and trains in higher virtue. And his faith in the bhikkhus grows more and more; And with a mind free from fault-finding, he desires to hear the true Dhamma. Not here, outside, another worthy of offerings he seeks; But here, indeed, a prior offering the lay follower makes. These, indeed, are the seven states of non-decline, well taught; A lay follower, practicing them, does not decline from the true Dhamma. the ninth; 10. Discourse on Misfortune There are these seven misfortunes for a lay follower, bhikkhus… (as before) … There are these seven accomplishments for a lay follower, bhikkhus… (as before) …. The tenth. 11. Discourse on Ruin There are these seven ruins for a lay follower, bhikkhus… (as before) … There are these seven growths for a lay follower. Which seven?