Bhikkhu-aparihāniya-dhamma Sutta Conditions for No Decline among the Monks

Evam-me sutaṃ. Ekaṃ samayaṃ Bhagavā, Rājagahe viharati, Gijjhakūṭe Pabbate. Tatra kho Bhagavā bhikkhū āmantesi, "Satta vo bhikkhave aparihāniye dhamme desessāmi. Taṃ suṇātha sādhukaṃ manasikarotha bhāsissāmī" ti.

I have heard that on one occasion the Blessed One was staying in Rajagaha, on Vulture Peak Mountain. There he addressed the monks: "Monks, I will teach you the seven conditions that lead to no decline. Listen & pay close attention. I will speak."

"Evam-bhante" ti kho te bhikkhū Bhagavato paccassosuṃ.

"Yes, lord," the monks responded.

Bhagavā etad-avoca: "Katame ca bhikkhave satta aparihāniyā dhammā?

The Blessed One said: "And which seven are the conditions that lead to no decline?

"Yāvakīvañca bhikkave bhikkhū, abhiṇha-sannipātā bhavissanti sannipāta-bahulā, vuḍḍhiyeva bhikkhave bhikkhūnaṃ pāṭikaṅkhā no parihāni.

[1] "As long as the monks meet often, meet a great deal, their growth can be expected, not their decline.

"Yāvakīvañca bhikkave bhikkhū, samaggā sannipatissanti, samaggā vuṭṭhahissanti, samaggā saṅgha-karaṇīyāni karissanti, vuḍḍhiyeva bhikkhave bhikkhūnaṃ pāṭikaṅkhā no parihāni.

[2] "As long as the monks meet in harmony, adjourn from their meetings in harmony, and conduct Sangha business in harmony, their growth can be expected, not their decline.

"Yāvakīvañca bhikkave bhikkhū, apaññattaṃ na paññapessanti, paññattaṃ na samucchindissanti. Yathā-paññattesu sikkhāpadesu samādāya vattissanti, vuḍḍhiyeva bhikkhave bhikkhūnaṃ pāṭikaṅkhā no parihāni.

[3] "As long as the monks neither decree what has been undecreed nor repeal what has been decreed, but practice undertaking the training rules as they have been decreed, their growth can be expected, not their decline.

"Yāvakīvañca bhikkave bhikkhū, ye te bhikkhū therā rattaññū cira-pabbajitā, saṅgha-pitaro saṅgha-pariṇāyakā, te sakkarissanti garukarissanti mānessanti pūjessanti tesañca sotabbaṃ maññissanti, vuḍḍhiyeva bhikkhave bhikkhūnaṃ pāṭikaṅkhā no parihāni.

[4] "As long as the monks honor, respect, venerate, & do homage to the elder monks — those with seniority who have long been ordained, the fathers of the Sangha, leaders of the Sangha — regarding them as worth listening to, their growth can be expected, not their decline.

"Yāvakīvañca bhikkave bhikkhū, uppannāya taṇhāya ponobbhavikāya no vasaṃ gacchissanti, vuḍḍhiyeva bhikkhave bhikkhūnaṃ pāṭikaṅkhā no parihāni.

[5] "As long as the monks do not submit to the power of any arisen craving that leads to further becoming, their growth can be expected, not their decline.

"Yāvakīvañca bhikkave bhikkhū, āraññakesu senāsanesu sāpekkhā bhavissanti, vuḍḍhiyeva bhikkhave bhikkhūnaṃ pāṭikaṅkhā no parihāni.

[6] "As long as the monks see their own benefit in wilderness dwellings, their growth can be expected, not their decline.

"Yāvakīvañca bhikkave bhikkhū, paccattaññeva satiṃ upaṭṭhapessanti, 'Kinti anāgatā ca pesalā sabrahmacārī āgaccheyyuṃ. Āgatā ca pesalā sabrahmacārī phāsu vihareyyunti,' vuḍḍhiyeva bhikkhave bhikkhūnaṃ pāṭikaṅkhā no parihāni.

[7] "As long as the monks each keep firmly in mind: 'If there are any well-behaved fellow-followers of the holy life who have yet to come, may they come; and may the well-behaved fellow-followers of the holy life who have come live in comfort,' their growth can be expected, not their decline.

"Yāvakīvañca bhikkave ime satta aparihāniyā dhammā bhikkhūsu ṭhassanti, imesu ca sattasu aparihāniyesu dhammesu bhikkhū sandississanti, vuḍḍhiyeva bhikkhave bhikkhūnaṃ pāṭikaṅkhā no parihānī" ti.

"As long as the monks remain steadfast in these seven conditions, and as long as these seven conditions endure among the monks, the monks' growth can be expected, not their decline."

Idam-avoca Bhagavā. Attamanā te bhikkhū Bhagavato bhāsitaṃ, abhinandunti.

That is what the Blessed One said. Gratified, the monks delighted in the Blessed One's words.