sutta » an » an7 » Aṅguttara Nikāya 7.24

Dutiyasattakasutta

Non-Decline for Mendicants (2nd)

“Satta vo, bhikkhave, aparihāniye dhamme desessāmi.
“Mendicants, I will teach you seven principles that prevent decline.

Taṁ suṇātha, sādhukaṁ manasi karotha …pe…
Listen and apply your mind well …

katame ca, bhikkhave, satta aparihāniyā dhammā?
And what are the seven principles that prevent decline?

Yāvakīvañca, bhikkhave, bhikkhū na kammārāmā bhavissanti, na kammaratā, na kammārāmataṁ anuyuttā; vuddhiyeva, bhikkhave, bhikkhūnaṁ pāṭikaṅkhā, no parihāni.
As long as the mendicants don’t relish work, loving it and liking to relish it, they can expect growth, not decline.

Yāvakīvañca, bhikkhave, bhikkhū na bhassārāmā bhavissanti …pe…
As long as they don’t enjoy talk …

na niddārāmā bhavissanti …
sleep …

na saṅgaṇikārāmā bhavissanti …
company …

na pāpicchā bhavissanti na pāpikānaṁ icchānaṁ vasaṁ gatā …
they don’t have corrupt wishes, falling under the sway of corrupt wishes …

na pāpamittā bhavissanti na pāpasahāyā na pāpasampavaṅkā …
they don’t have bad friends, companions, and associates …

na oramattakena visesādhigamena antarāvosānaṁ āpajjissanti; vuddhiyeva, bhikkhave, bhikkhūnaṁ pāṭikaṅkhā, no parihāni.
they don’t stop half-way after achieving some insignificant distinction, they can expect growth, not decline.

Yāvakīvañca, bhikkhave, ime satta aparihāniyā dhammā bhikkhūsu ṭhassanti, imesu ca sattasu aparihāniyesu dhammesu bhikkhū sandississanti; vuddhiyeva, bhikkhave, bhikkhūnaṁ pāṭikaṅkhā, no parihānī”ti.
As long as these seven principles that prevent decline last among the mendicants, and as long as the mendicants are seen following them, they can expect growth, not decline.”

Catutthaṁ.