Nisajjakho bhagav bhikkh mantesi: Satta vo, bhikkhave, aparihniye dhamme desessmi, tam sun tha, sdhukam

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.
Evam, bhanteti kho te bhikkh bhagavato paccassosum. Bhagav etadavoca:
Yes, sir, replied those monks to the Blessed One. This is what the Blessed One said:
Yvakvaca, bhikkhave, bhikkh abhin ham sannipt sanniptabahul bhavissanti, vuddhiyeva, bhikkhave, bhikkhnam
pt ikakh, no parihni. (1)
Monks, as long as monks continue to meet together frequently and regularly, then they can be
expected to prosper, not to decline.
Yvakvaca, bhikkhave, bhikkh samagg sannipatissanti, samagg vut t hahissanti, samagg sa
ghakaran yni karissanti,
vuddhiyeva, bhikkhave, bhikkhnam pt ikakh, no parihni. (2)
As long as monks continue to sit down together in concord, to get up together in concord, and to
conduct the business of the community in concord, then they can be expected to prosper, not to decline.
Yvakvaca, bhikkhave, bhikkh apaattam na paapessanti, paattam na samucchindissanti, yathpaattesu
sikkhpadesu samdya vattissanti, vuddhiyeva, bhikkhave, bhikkhnam pt ikakh, no parihni. (3)
As long as monks continue not to make pronouncements that have not been agreed, not to
revoke 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 sa ghapitaro sa gha parin yak, te sakkarissanti
garum karissanti mnessanti pjessanti, tesaca sotabbam maissanti, vuddhiyeva, bhikkhave, bhikkhnam pt ikakh, no
parihni. (4)
As long as monks continue to respect, honour, revere, and worship those monks who
are 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 tan hya ponobbhavikya na vasam gacchissanti, vuddhiyeva, bhikkhave,
bhikkhnam pt ikakh, 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, bhikkhnam
pt ikakh, no parihni. (6)
As long as monks continue to have regard for
living in the forest, then they can be expected to prosper, not to decline.
Yvakvaca, bhikkhave, bhikkh paccattaeva satim upat t hpaessanti: kinti angat ca pesal sabrahmacr gaccheyyum,
gat ca pesal sabrahmacr phsu vihareyyunti. Vuddhiyeva, bhikkhave, bhikkhnam pt ikakh, 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 t hassanti, imesu ca sattasu aparihniyesu dhammesu
bhikkh sandississanti, vuddhiyeva, bhikkhave, bhikkhnam pt ikakh, 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, tam sun tha, sdhukam manasikarotha, bhsissmti. Evam,
bhanteti kho te bhikkh bhagavato paccassosum. 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, bhikkhnam pt ikakh, 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, bhikkhnam pt ikakh, 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,

bhikkhnam pt ikakh, 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 sagan ikrm bhavissanti na sagan ikarat na sagan ikrmatamanuyutt,
vuddhiyeva, bhikkhave, bhikkhnam pt ikakh, 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 ppiknam icchnam vasam gat, vuddhiyeva, bhikkhave,
bhikkhnam pt ikakh, 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 ppasampava k, vuddhiyeva, bhikkhave,
bhikkhnam pt ikakh, no parihni. (6)
As long as monks do not have bad friends, bad companions, bad associates, then they can be
expected to prosper, not to decline.
Yvakvaca, bhikkhave, bhikkh na oramattakena visesdhigamena antarvosnam pajjissanti, vuddhiyeva, bhikkhave,
bhikkhnam pt ikakh, no parihni. (7)
As long as monks do not give up halfway with some inferior achievement, then they can be expected
to 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
upat t hitassat bhavissanti paavanto bhavissanti, vuddhiyeva, bhikkhave, bhikkhnam pt ikakh, 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 satisambojjhagam bhvessanti pe dhammavicayasambojjhagam bhvessanti
vriyasambojjhagam bhvessanti ptisambojjhagam bhvessanti passaddhisambojjhagam bhvessanti samdhisambojjhagam bhvessanti upekkhsambojjhagam bhvessanti, vuddhiyeva, bhikkhave, bhikkhnam pt ikakh, 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, the
constituent 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 aniccasaam bhvessanti pe anattasaam bhvessanti asubhasaam
bhvessanti dnavasaam bhvessanti pahnasaam bhvessanti virgasaam bhvessanti nirodhasaam
bhvessanti, vuddhiyeva, bhikkhave, bhikkhnam pt ikakh, 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, tam sun tha, sdhukam manasikarotha, bhsissmti. Evam, bhanteti
kho te bhikkh bhagavato paccassosum. 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 mettam kyakammam paccupat t hpessanti sabrahmacrsu vi ceva raho ca, vuddhiyeva,
bhikkhave, bhikkhnam pt ikakh, no parihni. (1)
Monks, as long as monks continue to show friendliness to their companions in the spiritual life in
their acts of body, both in their presence and in private, then they can be expected to prosper, not to decline.
Yvakvaca, bhikkhave, bhikkh mettam vackammam paccupat t hpessanti pe mettam manokammam paccupat t h-
pessanti sabrahmacrsu vi ceva raho ca, vuddhiyeva, bhikkhave, bhikkhnam pt ikakh, no parihni. (23.)
As long as monks continue to show friendliness to their companions in the spiritual life in
their 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 appat ivibhattabhog bhavissanti slavantehi sabrahmacrhi sdhran abhog, vuddhiyeva, bhikkhave, bhikkhnam
pt ikakh, 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 akhan d ni acchiddni asabalni akammsni bhujissni vipasatthni
aparmat t hni sam
dhisamvattanikni tathrpesu slesu slasmaagat viharissanti sabrahmacrhi vi ceva raho ca,
vuddhiyeva, bhikkhave, bhikkhnam pt ikakh, 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 yyam dit t hi ariy niyynik, niyyti takkarassa samm dukkhakkhayya, tathrpya
dit t hiy dit tsmaagat
viharissanti sabrahmacrhi vi ceva raho ca, vuddhiyeva, bhikkhave, bhikkhnam pt ikakh,
hi
no parihni. (6)
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 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 t hassanti, imesu ca chasu aparihniyesu dhammesu
bhikkh sandississanti, vuddhiyeva, bhikkhave, bhikkhnam pt ikakh, 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 76-81
Chapter 2
Aham khopannanda, etarahi jin n ovuddho mahallako addhagato vayoanuppatto.
I am an old and aged man, nanda, an elder who has done his time and reached old age.
stiko me vayo vattati. Seyyathpi, nanda,jajjarasakat amvet hamissakenaypeti; evameva kho, nanda,vet hamissakenam
ae tathgatassa kyo ypeti.
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.
Yasmim, nanda, samaye tathgato sabbanimittnam amanasikr ekaccnam vedannam nirodh animittam cetosamdhim
upasampajja viharati, phsutaro, nanda, tasmim samaye tathgatassa kyo hoti
The 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 attasaran anaasaran , dhammadp dhammasaran anaasaran .
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 attasaran o anaasaran o, dhammadpo dhammasaran o anaasaran o?
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 abhijjhdomanassam.
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 abhijjhdomanassam.
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.
Evam kho, nanda, bhikkhu attadpo viharati attasaran o anaasaran o, dhammadpo dhammasaran o anaasaran o.
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 attasaran anaasaran , dhammadp dhammasaran
anaasaran , 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

Atha kho bhagav bhikkh mantesi:

handa dni, bhikkhave,mantaymi vo, vayadhamm sakhr, appamdena sampdetha.
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!
Paripakko vayo mayham,
parittam mama jvitam;
Pahya vo gamissmi,
katam me saran amattano.
I am mature in age, my life is over; I must leave you behind and go, acting as my own refuge.
Appamatt satmanto,
susl hotha bhikkhavo;
Susamhitasakapp,
sacittamanurakkhatha.
Be attentive, monks! Be mindful and of good conduct. With your thoughts well focused, keep your minds protected.
Yo imasmim dhammavinaye,
appamatto vihassati;
Pahya jtisamsram,
dukkhassantam karissatti.
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 120-121
Y pana t devat vtarg, t sat sampajn adhivsenti: aniccsakhr, tam kutettha labbhti
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 140
Katham mayam, bhante, mtugme pat ipajjmti? Adassanam,nandti. Dassane,bhagav, sati katham pat ipajjitabbanti? Anlpo,nandti. lapantena pana, bhante, katham pat ipajjitabbanti? Sati,nanda, upat t hpetabbti.
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
alam, nanda, m soci m paridevi, nanu etam, nanda, maypat ikaccevaakkhtam:
sabbeheva piyehi manpehi nnbhvovinbhvo aathbhvo; tam kutettha, nanda, labbh. Yam tam jtambhtam sak
hatam palokadhammam, tam vata tathgatasspi sarramm palujjti netam t hnamvijjati.
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 vo mam accayena satth.
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
Atha kho bhagav bhikkh mantesi:
handa dni, bhikkhave,mantaymi vo, vayadhamm sakhr appamdena sampdethti.
Ayam tathgatassa pacchim vc.
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 words
D II 156
Parinibbute bhagavati saha parinibbn sakko devnamindo imamgtham abhsi:
Anicc vata sakhr,
uppdavayadhammino;
Uppajjitv nirujjhanti,
tesam vpasamo sukhoti
And 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 157
Parinibbute bhagavati saha parinibbn yasm anuruddho im gthyoabhsi:
Nhu asssapassso,
t hitacittassatdino;
Anejo santimrabbha,
yam klamakar muni.
Asallnena cittena,
vedanam ajjhavsayi;
Pajjotasseva nibbnam,
vimokkho cetaso ahti.
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)
Ye pana te bhikkh vtarg, tesat sampajn adhivsenti: anicc sakhr, tam kutettha labbhti.
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 158
Atha kho yasm anuruddho bhikkh mantesi:
alam, vuso, msocittha m paridevittha. Nanu etam, vuso, bhagavat pat ikaccevaakkhtam:
sabbeheva piyehi manpehi nnbhvo vinbhvoaathbhvo. Tam kutettha, vuso, labbh.
Yam tam jtam bhtamsakhatam palokadhammam, tam vata m palujjti, netam t h namvijjati.
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.
D II 158