English
He does not neglect the sight of bhikkhus, he is not negligent in hearing the true Dhamma, he trains in higher virtue, he is abundant in faith, he hears the Dhamma from bhikkhus—elders, new, and middle—with a mind free from fault-finding, not seeking for flaws, he does not seek for another worthy of offerings outside of this, and here he makes a prior offering. These, bhikkhus, are the seven growths for a lay follower. The sight of those with developed selves, the lay follower neglects; And the hearing of the noble Dhamma, and trains not in higher virtue. And lack of faith in the bhikkhus grows more and more; And with a fault-finding mind, he desires 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 confidence in monks grows more and more; And with an uncritical mind, he wishes to hear the true Dhamma. He does not seek another worthy of offerings outside of this; And the lay follower who performs service right here. These indeed are the seven non-declining qualities, well-taught; A lay follower practicing them does not decline from the true Dhamma. The Third Chapter on the Seven Vajjis. Its Summary – Sāranda and Vassakāra, three sevens, monks; Bodhi-perception, and two declines, misfortune, and downfall.