Thus have I heard. On one occasion the Blessed One was dwelling at Vesālī at the Sārandada Shrine. Then a number of Licchavis approached the Blessed One, paid homage to him, and sat down to one side. The Blessed One said this to them:
“I will teach you, Licchavis, seven principles of non-decline. Listen and attend closely. I will speak.”
“Yes, Bhante,” those Licchavis replied. The Blessed One said this:
“And what, Licchavis, are the seven principles of non-decline?
(1) “Licchavis, as long as the Vajjīs assemble often and hold frequent assemblies, only growth is to be expected for them, not decline.
(2) “As long as the Vajjīs assemble in harmony, adjourn in harmony, and conduct the affairs of the Vajjīs in harmony, only growth is to be expected for them, not decline.
(3) “As long as the Vajjīs do not decree anything that has not been decreed or abolish anything that has already been decreed but undertake and follow the ancient Vajjī principles as they have been decreed, only growth is to be expected for them, not decline.
(4) “As long as the Vajjīs honor, respect, esteem, and venerate the Vajjī elders and think they should be heeded, only growth is to be expected for them, not decline.
(5) “As long as the Vajjīs do not abduct women and girls from their families and force them to live with them, only growth is to be expected for them, not decline.
(6) “As long as the Vajjīs honor, respect, esteem, and venerate their traditional shrines, both those within [the city] and those outside, and do not neglect the righteous oblations as given and done to them in the past, only growth is to be expected for them, not decline.
(7) “As long as the Vajjīs provide righteous protection, shelter, and guard for arahants, [with the intention]: ‘How can those arahants who have not yet come here come to our realm, and how can those arahants who have already come dwell at ease here?’ only growth is to be expected for them, not decline.
“Licchavis, as long as these seven principles of non-decline continue among the Vajjīs, and the Vajjīs are seen [established] in them, only growth is to be expected for them, not decline.”
Thus have I heard. On one occasion the Blessed One was dwelling at Rājagaha on Mount Vulture Peak. Now on that occasion King Ajātasattu Vedehiputta of Magadha wished to wage war against the Vajjīs. He said thus: “As powerful and mighty as these Vajjīs are, I will annihilate them, destroy them, bring calamity and disaster upon them.”
Then King Ajātasattu addressed the chief minister of Magadha, the brahmin Vassakāra: “Come, brahmin, go to the Blessed One and in my name pay homage to him with your head at his feet. Inquire whether he is fit and healthy, agile and strong, and feeling at ease. Say: ‘Bhante, King Ajātasattu Vedehiputta of Magadha pays homage to the Blessed One with his head at your feet. He inquires whether you are fit and healthy, agile and strong, and feeling at ease.’ Then say thus: ‘Bhante, King Ajātasattu wishes to wage war against the Vajjīs. He says thus: “As powerful and mighty as these Vajjīs are, I will annihilate them, destroy them, bring calamity and disaster upon them.”’ Learn well how the Blessed One answers you and report it to me, for Tathāgatas do not speak falsely.”
“Yes, sir,” the brahmin Vassakāra replied. Then he rose from his seat and went to the Blessed One. He exchanged greetings with the Blessed One, and when they had exchanged greetings and cordial talk, he sat down to one side and said:
“Master Gotama, King Ajātasattu Vedehiputta of Magadha pays homage to the Blessed One with his head at your feet. He inquires whether you are fit and healthy, agile and strong, and feeling at ease. Master Gotama, King Ajātasattu wishes to wage war against the Vajjīs. He says thus: ‘As powerful and mighty as these Vajjīs are, I will annihilate them, destroy them, bring calamity and disaster upon them.’”
Now on that occasion the Venerable Ānanda was standing behind the Blessed One fanning him. The Blessed One then addressed the Venerable Ānanda:
(1) “Ānanda, have you heard whether the Vajjīs are assembling often and holding frequent assemblies?”
“I have heard, Bhante, that they do so.”
“Ānanda, as long as the Vajjīs assemble often and hold frequent assemblies, only growth is to be expected for them, not decline.
(2) “Have you heard, Ānanda, whether the Vajjīs are assembling in harmony, adjourning their meetings in harmony, and conducting the affairs of the Vajjīs in harmony?”
“I have heard, Bhante, that they do so.”
“Ānanda, as long as the Vajjīs assemble in harmony, adjourn in harmony, and conduct the affairs of the Vajjīs in harmony, only growth is to be expected for them, not decline.
(3) “Have you heard, Ānanda, whether the Vajjīs do not decree anything that has not been decreed and do not abolish anything that has already been decreed, but undertake and follow the ancient Vajjī principles as they have been decreed?”
“I have heard, Bhante, that they do so.”
“Ānanda, as long as the Vajjīs do not decree anything that has not been decreed or abolish anything that has already been decreed but undertake and follow the ancient Vajjī principles as they have been decreed, only growth is to be expected for them, not decline.
(4) “Have you heard, Ānanda, whether the Vajjīs honor, respect, esteem, and venerate the Vajjī elders and think they should be heeded?”
“I have heard, Bhante, that they do so.”
“Ānanda, as long as the Vajjīs honor, respect, esteem, and venerate the Vajjī elders and think they should be heeded, only growth is to be expected for them, not decline.
(5) “Have you heard, Ānanda, whether the Vajjīs do not abduct women and girls from their families and force them to live with them?”
“I have heard, Bhante, that they don’t.”
“Ānanda, as long as the Vajjīs do not abduct women and girls from their families and force them to live with them, only growth is to be expected for them, not decline.
(6) “Have you heard, Ānanda, whether the Vajjīs honor, respect, esteem, and venerate their traditional shrines, both those within [the city] and those outside, and do not neglect the righteous oblations as given and done to them in the past?”
“I have heard, Bhante, that they do so.”
“Ānanda, as long as the Vajjīs honor, respect, esteem, and venerate their traditional shrines, both those within [the city] and those outside, and do not neglect the righteous oblations as given and done to them in the past, only growth is to be expected for them, not decline.
(7) “Have you heard, Ānanda, whether the Vajjīs provide righteous protection, shelter, and guard for arahants, [with the intention]: ‘How can those arahants who have not yet come here come to our realm, and how can those arahants who have already come dwell at ease here?’”
“I have heard, Bhante, that they do so.”
“Ānanda, as long as the Vajjīs provide righteous protection, shelter, and guard for arahants, [with the intention]: ‘How can those arahants who have not yet come here come to our realm, and how can those arahants who have already come dwell at ease here?’ only growth is to be expected for them, not decline.”
Then the Blessed One addressed the brahmin Vassakāra, the chief minister of Magadha: “On one occasion, brahmin, I was dwelling at Vesālī at the Sārandada Shrine. There I taught the Vajjīs these seven principles of non-decline. As long as these seven principles of non-decline continue among the Vajjīs, and the Vajjīs are seen [established] in them, only growth is to be expected for them, not decline.”
When this was said, the brahmin Vassakāra said this to the Blessed One: “If, Master Gotama, the Vajjīs were to observe even one among these principles of non-decline, only growth would be expected for them, not decline. What can be said if they observe all seven? King Ajātasattu Vedehiputta of Magadha, Master Gotama, cannot take the Vajjīs by war, except through treachery or internal dissension. And now, Master Gotama, we must be going. We are busy and have much to do.”
“You may go, brahmin, at your own convenience.”
Then the brahmin Vassakāra, the chief minister of Magadha, having delighted and rejoiced in the Blessed One’s words, rose from his seat and left.
Thus have I heard. On one occasion the Blessed One was dwelling at Rājagaha on Mount Vulture Peak. There the Blessed One addressed the bhikkhus:
“Bhikkhus, I will teach you seven principles of non-decline.
Listen and attend closely. I will speak.”
“Yes, Bhante,” those bhikkhus replied. The Blessed One said this:
“And what, bhikkhus, are the seven principles of nondecline?
(1) “As long as the bhikkhus assemble often and hold frequent assemblies, only growth is to be expected for them, not decline.
(2) “As long as the bhikkhus assemble in harmony, adjourn in harmony, and conduct the affairs of the Saṅgha in harmony, only growth is to be expected for them, not decline.
(3) “As long as the bhikkhus do not decree anything that has not been decreed or abolish anything that has already been decreed, but undertake and follow the training rules as they have been decreed, only growth is to be expected for them, not decline.
(4) “As long as the bhikkhus honor, respect, esteem, and venerate those bhikkhus who are elders, of long standing, long gone forth, fathers and guides of the Saṅgha, and think they should be heeded, only growth is to be expected for them, not decline.
(5) “As long as the bhikkhus do not come under the control of arisen craving that leads to renewed existence, only growth is to be expected for them, not decline.
(6) “As long as the bhikkhus are intent on forest lodgings, only growth is to be expected for them, not decline.
(7) “As long as the bhikkhus each individually establish mindfulness [with the intention]: ‘How can well-behaved fellow monks who have not yet come here come, and how can well-behaved fellow monks who are already here dwell at ease?’ only growth is to be expected for them, not decline.
“Bhikkhus, as long as these seven principles of non-decline continue among the bhikkhus, and the bhikkhus are seen [established] in them, only growth is to be expected for them, not decline.”
“Bhikkhus, I will teach you seven principles of non-decline. Listen and attend closely. I will speak.”
“Yes, Bhante,” those bhikkhus replied. The Blessed One said this:
“And what, bhikkhus, are the seven principles of nondecline?
(1) “As long as the bhikkhus do not delight in work, do not take delight in work, are not devoted to delight in work, only growth is to be expected for them, not decline. (2) As long as the bhikkhus do not delight in talk ... (3) ... do not delight in sleep ... (4) ... do not delight in company ... (5) ... do not have evil desires and come under the control of evil desires ... (6) ... do not associate with bad friends, bad companions, bad comrades ... (7) ... do not come to a stop midway [in their development] on account of some minor achievement of distinction, only growth is to be expected for them, not decline.
“Bhikkhus, as long as these seven principles of non-decline continue among the bhikkhus, and the bhikkhus are seen [established] in them, only growth is to be expected for them, not decline.”
“Bhikkhus, I will teach you seven principles of non-decline. Listen and attend closely. I will speak.”
“Yes, Bhante,” those bhikkhus replied. The Blessed One said this:
“And what, bhikkhus, are the seven principles of nondecline?
(1) “As long as the bhikkhus are endowed with faith, only growth is to be expected for them, not decline. (2) As long as they have a sense of moral shame ... (3) ... have moral dread ... (4) ... are learned ... (5) ... are energetic ... (6) ... are mindful ... (7) ... are wise, only growth is to be expected for them, not decline.
“Bhikkhus, as long as these seven principles of non-decline continue among the bhikkhus, and the bhikkhus are seen [established] in them, only growth is to be expected for them, not decline.”
“Bhikkhus, I will teach you seven principles of non-decline. Listen and attend closely. I will speak.”
“Yes, Bhante,” those bhikkhus replied. The Blessed One said this:
“And what, bhikkhus, are the seven principles of nondecline? (1) As long as the bhikkhus develop the enlightenment factor of mindfulness, only growth is to be expected for them, not decline. (2) As long as they develop the enlightenment factor of discrimination of phenomena ... (3) ... the enlightenment factor of energy ... (4) ... the enlightenment factor of rapture ... (5) ... the enlightenment factor of tranquility ... (6) ... the enlightenment factor of concentration ... (7) ... the enlightenment factor of equanimity, only growth is to be expected for them, not decline.
“Bhikkhus, as long as these seven principles of non-decline continue among the bhikkhus, and the bhikkhus are seen [established] in them, only growth is to be expected for them, not decline.”
“Bhikkhus, I will teach you seven principles of non-decline. Listen and attend closely. I will speak.”
“Yes, Bhante,” those bhikkhus replied. The Blessed One said this:
“And what, bhikkhus, are the seven principles of non-decline?
(1) As long as the bhikkhus develop the perception of impermanence, only growth is to be expected for them, not decline. (2) As long as they develop the perception of non-self ... (3) ... the perception of unattractiveness ... (4) ... the perception of danger ... (5) ... the perception of abandoning ... (6) ... the perception of dispassion ... (7) ... the perception of cessation, only growth is to be expected for them, not decline.
“Bhikkhus, as long as these seven principles of non-decline continue among the bhikkhus, and the bhikkhus are seen [established] in them, only growth is to be expected for them, not decline.”
“Bhikkhus, these seven qualities lead to the decline of a bhikkhu who is a trainee. What seven? Delight in work, delight in talk, delight in sleep, delight in company, not guarding the doors of the sense faculties, lack of moderation in eating; and when there are matters pertaining to the Saṅgha that are [to be dealt with] in the Saṅgha, the bhikkhu who is a trainee does not reflect thus: ‘There are in the Saṅgha elders of long standing, long gone forth, responsible, who will take responsibility for that [work].’ He himself undertakes them. These seven qualities lead to the decline of a bhikkhu who is a trainee.
“Bhikkhus, these seven qualities lead to the non-decline of a bhikkhu who is a trainee. What seven? Not taking delight in work, not taking delight in talk, not taking delight in sleep, not taking delight in company, guarding the doors of the sense faculties, moderation in eating; and when there are matters pertaining to the Saṅgha that are [to be dealt with] in the Saṅgha, the bhikkhu who is a trainee reflects thus: ‘There are in the Saṅgha elders of long standing, long gone forth, responsible, who will take responsibility for that [work].’ He does not himself undertake them. These seven qualities lead to the nondecline of a bhikkhu who is a trainee.”
“Bhikkhus, these seven things lead to the decline of a lay follower. What seven? (1) He stops seeing bhikkhus; (2) he neglects listening to the good Dhamma; (3) he does not train in the higher virtuous behavior; (4) he is full of suspicion toward bhikkhus, whether they be elders, newly ordained, or of middle standing; (5) he listens to the Dhamma with a mind bent on criticism, seeking to find faults with it; (6) he seeks a person worthy of offerings among outsiders; (7) he first does [meritorious] deeds there. These seven things lead to the decline of a lay follower.
“Bhikkhus, these seven things lead to the non-decline of a lay follower. What seven? (1) He does not stop seeing bhikkhus; (2) he does not neglect listening to the good Dhamma; (3) he trains in the higher virtuous behavior; (4) he is full of confidence in bhikkhus, whether they be elders, newly ordained, or of middle standing; (5) he listens to the Dhamma with a mind that is not bent on criticism, not seeking to find faults with it; (6) he does not seek a person worthy of offerings among outsiders; (7) he first does [meritorious] deeds here. These seven things lead to the non-decline of a lay follower.”
The lay follower who stops seeing
[bhikkhus] who have developed themselves,
[who stops] hearing the noble ones’ teachings,
and does not train in the higher virtue;
whose suspicion toward the bhikkhus
is ever on the increase;
who wants to listen to the good Dhamma
with a mind bent on criticism;
the lay follower who seeks
one worthy of offerings among outsiders
and first undertakes to do
meritorious deeds toward them:
these seven well-taught principles
describe what leads to decline.
A lay follower who resorts to them
falls away from the good Dhamma.
The lay follower who does not stop seeing
[bhikkhus] who have developed themselves,
who listens to the noble ones’ teachings,
and trains in the higher virtue;
whose confidence in the bhikkhus
is ever on the increase;
who wants to listen to the good Dhamma
with a mind not bent on criticism;
the lay follower who seeks none
worthy of offerings among outsiders;
but who here first undertakes
to do meritorious deeds:
these seven well-taught principles
describe what leads to non-decline.
A lay follower who resorts to them
does not fall away from the good Dhamma.
“Bhikkhus, there are these seven failures of a lay follower. What seven? ... [as in 7:29] ... Bhikkhus, there are these seven successes of a lay follower. What seven? ... [as in 7:29] ... These are the seven successes of a lay follower.”
“Bhikkhus, there are these seven ruins for a lay follower. What seven? ... [as in 7:29] ... Bhikkhus, there are these seven victories for a lay follower. What seven? ... [as in 7:29] ... These are the seven victories for a lay follower.”
[The verses are identical with those in 7:29.]