Aṇguttara Nikāya
Sattaka Nipāta
III: Vajjī Vaggo
The Book of the Gradual Sayings
The Book of the Sevens
Chapter III: The Vajjians
Sutta 27
Upāsaka Aparihānīya Suttaṃ
Decline
Translated from the Pali by E.M. Hare.
Copyright The Pali Text Society
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[1] THUS have I heard:
Once the Exalted One was dwelling near Sāvatthī,
at Jeta Grove, in Anāthapiṇḍika's Park;
and there he addressed the monks, saying:
"Monks."
'Yes, lord,' they replied;
and the Exalted One said:
"Monks, these seven things lead to a lay-disciple's decline.
What seven?
He fails to see the monks;
■
neglects to hear Saddhamma;
■
trains not in more-virtue;
■
puts little trust in elder,
novice
or mid-term monk;
■
with critical mind,
seeking faults,
hears Dhamma;
■
seeks a gift-worthy outside the Order
■
and there first serves.
Verily, monks, these seven things
lead to a lay-disciple's decline.
§
"Monks, these seven things lead to a lay-disciple's growth, not decline.
What seven?
He does not fail to see the monks;
■
he does not neglect to hear Saddhamma;
■
he trains in more-virtue;
■
he puts trust in elder,
novice
or mid-term monk;
■
not with critical mind,
seeking faults,
he hears Dhamma;
■
he seeks a gift-worthy inside the Order
■
and there first serves.
Verily, monks, these seven things
lead to a lay-disciple's growth, not decline.
Who fails to see the man in whom the self
Is made-become,[1] nor Ariyan Dhamma hears,'
Nor in more-virtue[2] trains, whose trust in monks
Groweth not more and more, who fain would list
With carping mind to Saddhamma, who seeks
Outside some gift-worthy and even there
As lay-disciple his first service doing:
[16] These seven well taught things that cause decline
Who practises in Saddhamma declines.
Whoso ne'er fails to see self-cultured[3] men,
Hears Ariyan Dhamma, in more-virtue trains,
Whose trust in monks grows ever more and more,
Who lists not to Saddhamma carpingly,
Nor seeks outside one gift-worthy, but those
Within as lay-disciple firstly serves:
These seven taught things that never cause declir
Who follows in Saddhamma ne'er declines.'
[1] Bhāvitattānaṃ: whose attan is bhāvita, cf. Dhp. 106.
[2] Adhisīla. Comy, pañcasīla-dasasīla-saṃkhāte uttamasīle.
[3] Lit. 'who have the self made-to-become.'
