Nisajjakhobhagavbhikkhmantesi: Satta vo, bhikkhave, aparihniye dhamme desessmi, ta sutha, sdhuka manasikarotha, bhsissmti.When he was seated he addressed the monks: Monks, I shall teach you seven principles for avoiding decline. Listen. Pay careful attention to what I shall say.

Eva, bhanteti kho te bhikkh bhagavato paccassosu. Bhagav etadavoca: Yes, sir, replied those monks to the Blessed One. This is what the Blessed One said:

Yvakvaca, bhikkhave, bhikkh abhiha sannipt sanniptabahul bhavissanti, vuddhiyeva, bhikkhave, bhikkhna pikakh, no parihni. (1)Monks, as long as monks continue to meet together frequently and regularly, then they can beexpected to prosper, not to decline.

Yvakvaca, bhikkhave, bhikkh samagg sannipatissanti, samagg vuhahissanti, samagg saghakarayni karissanti, vuddhiyeva, bhikkhave, bhikkhna pikakh, no parihni. (2)As long as monks continue to sit down together in concord, to get up together in concord, and toconduct the business of the community in concord, then they can be expected to prosper, not to decline.

Yvakvaca, bhikkhave, bhikkh apaatta na paapessanti, paatta na samucchindissanti, yathpaattesu sikkhpadesu samdya vattissanti, vuddhiyeva, bhikkhave, bhikkhna pikakh, no parihni. (3)As long as monks continue not to make pronouncements that have not been agreed, not torevoke pronouncements that have been agreed, but to proceed in accordance with the precepts that are agreed pronouncements, then they can be expected to prosper, not to decline.

Yvakvaca, bhikkhave, bhikkh ye te bhikkh ther ratta cirapabbajit saghapitaro saghapariyak, te sakkarissanti garu karissanti mnessanti pjessanti, tesaca sotabba maissanti, vuddhiyeva, bhikkhave, bhikkhna pikakh, no parihni. (4)As long as monks continue to respect, honour, revere, and worship those monks whoare elders, possess the pearls of wisdom, went forth into the religious life long ago, are the fathers and leaders of the community, and to listen to what they say, then they can be expected to prosper, not to decline.

Yvakvaca, bhikkhave, bhikkh uppannya tahya ponobbhavikya na vasa gacchissanti, vuddhiyeva, bhikkhave, bhikkhna pikakh, no parihni. (5)As long as monks are not overcome by the kind of craving that leads to rebirth when that arises, then they can be expected to prosper, not to decline.

Yvakvaca, bhikkhave, bhikkh raakesu sensanesu spekkh bhavissanti, vuddhiyeva, bhikkhave, bhikkhna pikakh, no parihni. (6)As long as monks continue to have regard forliving in the forest, then they can be expected to prosper, not to decline.

Yvakvaca, bhikkhave, bhikkh paccattaeva sati upahapessanti: kinti angat ca pesal sabrahmacr gaccheyyu, gat ca pesal sabrahmacr phsu vihareyyunti. Vuddhiyeva, bhikkhave, bhikkhna pikakh, no parihni. (7)As long as monks individually continue to establish mindfulness, such that well-behaved companions in the spiritual life who have not come are encouraged to come, and those that have come live easily, then they can be expected to prosper, not to decline. Yvakvaca, bhikkhave, ime satta aparihniy dhamm bhikkhsu hassanti, imesu ca sattasu aparihniyesu dhammesu bhikkh sandississanti, vuddhiyeva, bhikkhave, bhikkhna pikakh, no parihni.Monks, as long as these seven principles remain established among monks, as long as they abide by them, then they can be expected to prosper, not to decline.

Aparepi vo, bhikkhave, satta aparihniye dhamme desessmi, ta sutha, sdhuka manasikarotha, bhsissmti. Eva, bhanteti kho te bhikkh bhagavato paccassosu. Bhagav etadavoca: Monks, I shall teach you seven further principles for avoiding decline. Listen. Pay careful attention to what I shall say. Yes, sir, replied those monks to the Blessed One. This is what the Blessed One said:

Yvakvaca, bhikkhave, bhikkh na kammrm bhavissanti na kammarat na kammrmatamanuyutt, vuddhiyeva, bhikkhave, bhikkhna pikakh, no parihni. (1)Monks, as long as monks do not become attracted to doing things, enamoured of doing things,preoccupied with the pleasure of doing things, then they can be expected to prosper, not to decline.

Yvakvaca, bhikkhave, bhikkh na bhassrm bhavissanti na bhassarat na bhassrmatamanuyutt, vuddhiyeva, bhikkhave, bhikkhna pikakh, no parihni. (2)As long as monks do not become attracted to conversation, enamoured of conversation, preoccupied with the pleasure of conversation, then they can be expected to prosper, not to decline.

Yvakvaca, bhikkhave, bhikkh na niddrm bhavissanti na niddrat na niddrmatamanuyutt, vuddhiyeva, bhikkhave, bhikkhna pikakh, no parihni. (3)As long as monks do not become attracted to sleep, enamoured of sleep, preoccupied with the pleasure of sleep, then they can be expected to prosper, not to decline.

Yvakvaca, bhikkhave, bhikkh na sagaikrm bhavissanti na sagaikarat na sagaikrmatamanuyutt, vuddhiyeva, bhikkhave, bhikkhna pikakh, no parihni. (4)As long as monks do not become attracted to company, enamoured of company, preoccupied with the pleasure of company, then they can be expected to prosper, not to decline.

Yvakvaca, bhikkhave, bhikkh na ppicch bhavissanti na ppikna icchna vasa gat, vuddhiyeva, bhikkhave, bhikkhna pikakh, no parihni. (5)As long as monks do not have harmful desires, are not overcome by harmful desires, then they can be expected to prosper, not to decline.

Yvakvaca, bhikkhave, bhikkh na ppamitt bhavissanti na ppasahy na ppasampavak, vuddhiyeva, bhikkhave, bhikkhna pikakh, no parihni. (6)As long as monks do not have bad friends, bad companions, bad associates, then they can beexpected to prosper, not to decline.

Yvakvaca, bhikkhave, bhikkh na oramattakena visesdhigamena antarvosna pajjissanti, vuddhiyeva, bhikkhave, bhikkhna pikakh, no parihni. (7)As long as monks do not give up halfway with some inferior achievement, then they can be expectedto prosper, not to decline.

Aparepi vo, bhikkhave, satta aparihniye dhamme desessmi pe . Yvakvaca, bhikkhave, bhikkh saddh bhavissanti pe hiriman bhavissanti ottapp bhavissanti bahussut bhavissanti raddhavriy bhavissanti upahitassat bhavissanti paavanto bhavissanti, vuddhiyeva, bhikkhave, bhikkhna pikakh, no parihni. Monks, as long as monks continue to have faith, self-respect, and conscience, to be learned, to put forth energy, to maintain mindfulness, to be wise, then they can be expected to prosper, not to decline. Monks, as long as these seven principles remain established among monks, as long as they abide by them, then they can be expected to prosper, not to decline.

Yvakvaca, bhikkhave, bhikkhu satisambojjhaga bhvessanti pe dhammavicayasambojjhaga bhvessanti vriyasambojjhaga bhvessanti ptisambojjhaga bhvessanti passaddhisambojjhaga bhvessanti samdhisambojjhaga bhvessanti upekkhsambojjhaga bhvessanti, vuddhiyeva, bhikkhave, bhikkhna pikakh, no parihni.Monks, as long as monks continue to cultivate the constituent of awakening that is mindfulness, the constituent of awakening that is investigation of qualities, theconstituent of awakening that is energy, the constituent of awakening that is joy, the constituent of awakening that is tranquillity, the constituent of awakening that is concentration, the constituent of awakening that is equanimity, then they can be expected to prosper, not to decline.

Yvakvaca, bhikkhave, bhikkh aniccasaa bhvessanti pe anattasaa bhvessanti asubhasaa bhvessanti dnavasaa bhvessanti pahnasaa bhvessanti virgasaa bhvessanti nirodhasaa bhvessanti, vuddhiyeva, bhikkhave, bhikkhna pikakh, no parihni.Monks, as long as monks continue to cultivate the notion of impermanence, the notion of not-self, the notion of ugliness, the notion of danger, the notion of abandoning, the notion of dispassion, the notion of cessation, then they can be expected to prosper, not to decline.

Cha vo, bhikkhave, aparihniye dhamme desessmi, ta sutha, sdhuka manasikarotha, bhsissmti. Eva, bhanteti kho te bhikkh bhagavato paccassosu. Bhagav etadavoca: Monks, I shall teach you six further principles for avoiding decline. Listen. Pay careful attention to what I shall say. Yes, sir, replied those monks to the Blessed One. This is what the Blessed One said:

Yvakvaca, bhikkhave, bhikkh metta kyakamma paccupahpessanti sabrahmacrsu vi ceva raho ca, vuddhiyeva, bhikkhave, bhikkhna pikakh, no parihni. (1)Monks, as long as monks continue to show friendliness to their companions in the spiritual life intheir acts of body, both in their presence and in private, then they can be expected to prosper, not to decline.

Yvakvaca, bhikkhave, bhikkh metta vackamma paccupahpessanti pe metta manokamma paccupahpessanti sabrahmacrsu vi ceva raho ca, vuddhiyeva, bhikkhave, bhikkhna pikakh, no parihni. (23.)As long as monks continue to show friendliness to their companions in the spiritual life intheir acts of speech, both in their presence and in private, then they can be expected to prosper, not to decline.

Yvakvaca, bhikkhave, bhikkh, ye te lbh dhammik dhammaladdh antamaso pattapariypannamattampi tathrpehi lbhehi appaivibhattabhog bhavissanti slavantehi sabrahmacrhi sdhraabhog, vuddhiyeva, bhikkhave, bhikkhna pikakh, no parihni. (4)As long as monks continue to use their rightful possessions, rightfully obtained, impartially,right down to the portion of food contained in an alms bowl, and to share those in common with their virtuous companions in the spiritual life, then they can be expected to prosper, not to decline.

Yvakvaca, bhikkhave, bhikkh yni tni slni akhani acchiddni asabalni akammsni bhujissni vipasatthni aparmahni samdhisavattanikni tathrpesu slesu slasmaagat viharissanti sabrahmacrhi vi ceva raho ca, vuddhiyeva, bhikkhave, bhikkhna pikakh, no parihni. (5)As long as monks continue to live, both in the presence of their companions in the spiritual life and in private, committed to the same ways of good conductways of conduct of the kind that are unbroken, without defect, unblemished, without flaw, clear, praised by the discerning,untarnished, conducive to concentrationthen they can be expected to prosper, not to decline.

Yvakvaca, bhikkhave, bhikkh yya dihi ariy niyynik, niyyti takkarassa samm dukkhakkhayya, tathrpya dihiy dihismaagat viharissanti sabrahmacrhi vi ceva raho ca, vuddhiyeva, bhikkhave, bhikkhna pikakh, no parihni. (6)As long as monks continue to live, both in the presence of their companions in the spiritual life andin private, committed to the same visionthe kind of vision that is noble, to do with release, which brings with it the release of the complete destruction of sufferingthen they can be expected to prosper, not to decline.

Yvakvaca, bhikkhave, ime cha aparihniy dhamm bhikkhsu hassanti, imesu ca chasu aparihniyesu dhammesu bhikkh sandississanti, vuddhiyeva, bhikkhave, bhikkhna pikakh, no parihnti.Monks, as long as these six principles remain established among monks, as long as they abide by them, then they can be expected to prosper, not to decline.D II 76-81Chapter 2Ahakhopannanda,etarahijiovuddhomahallakoaddhagatovayoanuppatto.I am an old and aged man, nanda, an elder who has done his time and reached old age.

stikomevayovattati.Seyyathpi,nanda,jajjarasakaavehamissakenaypeti;evamevakho,nanda,vehamissakenamaetathgatassakyoypeti.I have turned eighty, and just as a worn-out cart is kept going with the help of repairs,* so it seems is the Tathgatas body kept going with repairs.

Yasmi, nanda, samaye tathgato sabbanimittna amanasikr ekaccna vedanna nirodh animitta cetosamdhi upasampajja viharati, phsutaro, nanda, tasmi samaye tathgatassa kyo hotiThe only time that the Tathgata can make his body comfortable is when he lives having attained a state of mental concentration without sensation, and specific feelings cease through not paying attention to any sensations.

Tasmtihnanda, attadp viharatha attasara anaasara, dhammadp dhammasara anaasara. So, nanda, you should live with yourselves as your island of refuge and not someone else, with the Truth as your island of refuge* and not something else.

Kathacnanda, bhikkhu attadpo viharati attasarao anaasarao, dhammadpo dhammasarao anaasarao?And how does one live with oneself as ones island of refuge, with the Truth as ones island of refuge? Idhnanda, bhikkhu kye kynupass viharati atp sampajno satim, vineyya loke abhijjhdomanassa. A monk should live mindfully, with full awareness. This is my instruction to you. How does a monk live mindfully? In this case a monk lives watching the body as body; he is determined, fully aware, mindful, overcoming his longing for and discontent with the world.

Vedansu pe citte pe dhammesu dhammnupass viharati tp sampajno satim, vineyya loke abhijjhdomanassa. He lives watching feelings as feelings . . . mind as mind . . . qualities as qualities; he is determined, fully aware, mindful, overcoming his longing for and discontent with the world. It is in this way that a monk lives mindfully.

Eva kho, nanda, bhikkhu attadpo viharati attasarao anaasarao, dhammadpo dhammasarao anaasarao. This is how one lives with oneself as ones island of refuge, with the Truth as ones island of refuge.

Ye hi keci, nanda, etarahi v mama v accayena attadp viharissanti attasara anaasara, dhammadp dhammasara anaasara, tamatagge me te, nanda, bhikkh bhavissanti ye keci sikkhkmti.Whoever of my monks, either now or after I have gone, live with themselves as their island of refuge and not someone else, with the Truth as their island of refuge and not something else,they will be guides in the darkness,* whoever are desirous of training.D II 100-101

Athakhobhagavbhikkhmantesi: handadni,bhikkhave,mantaymivo,vayadhammsakhr,appamdenasampdetha. Then the Blessed One said to the monks: Well, monks, now I take my leave of you:* it is of the nature of things to decay, but if you are attentive you will succeed!

Paripakkovayomayha,parittamamajvita;Pahyavogamissmi,katamesaraamattano.I am mature in age, my life is over; I must leave you behind and go, acting as my own refuge.

Appamattsatmanto,suslhothabhikkhavo;Susamhitasakapp,sacittamanurakkhatha.Be attentive, monks! Be mindful and of good conduct. With your thoughts well focused, keep your minds protected.

Yoimasmidhammavinaye,appamattovihassati;Pahyajtisasra,dukkhassantakarissatti.He who lives without neglecting this practice and discipline Will give up wandering from birth to birth and bring suffering to an end.D II 120-121Ypanatdevatvtarg,tsatsampajnadhivsenti: aniccsakhr,takutetthalabbhti But those gods who are without greed are mindful and fully aware; they accept that conditioning forces are impermanent, so how else could it be?D II 140Kathamaya,bhante,mtugmepaipajjmti? Adassana,nandti. Dassane,bhagav,satikathapaipajjitabbanti? Anlpo,nandti. lapantenapana,bhante,kathapaipajjitabbanti? Sati,nanda,upahpetabbti. Sir, how shall we conduct ourselves with regard to women? By not looking, nanda. But when we look, sir, how shall we conduct ourselves? By not talking, nanda. But when we talk, sir, how shall we conduct ourselves? Mindfulness must be established, nanda.D II 141 ala,nanda,msocimparidevi,nanueta,nanda,maypaikaccevaakkhta: sabbehevapiyehimanpehinnbhvovinbhvoaathbhvo;takutettha,nanda,labbh.Yatajtabhtasakhatapalokadhamma, tavatatathgatasspisarrampalujjtinetahnavijjati.Enough, nanda! Do not grieve and lament. Have I not warned about this before: we must lose and be deprived of and separated from everything pleasant and dear? So how else could it be? That something that is born, come into being, conditioned, and of a nature to decay should not decaythis cannot happen. D II 144

Yo vo nanda may dhammo ca vinayo ca desito paatto, so vomamaccayenasatth.That Dhamma and Vinaya, Ananda, which was taught and pointed out by me to you, that should be the master after my passing.D II 154

Athakhobhagavbhikkhmantesi: handadni,bhikkhave,mantaymivo,vayadhammsakhrappamdenasampdethti. Ayatathgatassapacchimvc.Then the Blessed One addressed the monks: Well, monks, now I take my leave of you: it is of the nature of things to decay, but if you are attentive you will succeed!These were the Tathgatas last wordsD II 156

Parinibbutebhagavatisahaparinibbnsakkodevnamindoimagthaabhsi:Aniccvatasakhr,uppdavayadhammino;Uppajjitvnirujjhanti,tesavpasamosukhotiAnd when the Blessed One attained nal peace, with his nal nibbana, Sakka, chief of the gods, uttered this verse: Impermanent are conditioned things! It is their nature to arise and fall.Having arisen, they cease. Their stilling is happy.D II 157Parinibbutebhagavatisahaparinibbnyasmanuruddhoimgthyoabhsi:Nhuasssapassso,hitacittassatdino;Anejosantimrabbha,yaklamakarmuni.Asallnenacittena,vedanaajjhavsayi;Pajjotassevanibbna,vimokkhocetasoahti.Then the venerable Anuruddha spoke to the monks: Enough, sirs! Do not grieve and lament. Has not the Blessed One warned you about this before: we must lose and be deprived of and separated from everything pleasant and dear? So how else could it be? That something that is born, come into being, conditioned, and of a nature to decay should not decaythis cannot happen. Sirs, the gods disapprove.D II 157 (also SN 6.15)Yepanatebhikkhvtarg,tesatsampajnadhivsenti: aniccsakhr,takutetthalabbhti.But the monks who were without greed remained mindful and fully aware, accepting that conditioning forces are impermanent, so how else could it be?D II 158Athakhoyasmanuruddhobhikkhmantesi: ala,vuso,msocitthamparidevittha.Nanueta,vuso,bhagavatpaikaccevaakkhta: sabbehevapiyehimanpehinnbhvovinbhvoaathbhvo.Takutettha,vuso,labbh. Yatajtabhtasakhatapalokadhamma,tavatampalujjti,netahnavijjati.Then the venerable Anuruddha spoke to the monks: Enough, sirs! Do not grieve and lament. Has not the Blessed One warned you about this before: we must lose and be deprived of and separatedfrom everything pleasant and dear? So how else could it be? That something that is born, come into being, conditioned, and of a nature to decay should not decaythis cannot happen. D II 158