7.29. Thối Ðọa

“Sattime, bhikkhave, dhammā upāsakassa parihānāya saṁvattanti.

Katame satta?

Bhikkhudassanaṁ hāpeti,

saddhammassavanaṁ pamajjati,

adhisīle na sikkhati,

appasādabahulo hoti,

bhikkhūsu theresu ceva navesu ca majjhimesu ca upārambhacitto dhammaṁ suṇāti randhagavesī,

ito bahiddhā dakkhiṇeyyaṁ gavesati,

tattha ca pubbakāraṁ karoti.

Ime kho, bhikkhave, satta dhammā upāsakassa parihānāya saṁvattanti.

Sattime, bhikkhave, dhammā upāsakassa aparihānāya saṁvattanti.

Katame satta?

Bhikkhudassanaṁ na hāpeti,

saddhammassavanaṁ nappamajjati,

adhisīle sikkhati,

pasādabahulo hoti,

bhikkhūsu theresu ceva navesu ca majjhimesu ca anupārambhacitto dhammaṁ suṇāti na randhagavesī,

na ito bahiddhā dakkhiṇeyyaṁ gavesati,

idha ca pubbakāraṁ karoti.

Ime kho, bhikkhave, satta dhammā upāsakassa aparihānāya saṁvattantī”ti.

Idamavoca bhagavā.

Idaṁ vatvāna sugato athāparaṁ etadavoca satthā:

“Dassanaṁ bhāvitattānaṁ,

Yo hāpeti upāsako;

Savanañca ariyadhammānaṁ,

Adhisīle na sikkhati.

Appasādo ca bhikkhūsu,

bhiyyo bhiyyo pavaḍḍhati;

Upārambhakacitto ca,

saddhammaṁ sotumicchati.

Ito ca bahiddhā aññaṁ,

dakkhiṇeyyaṁ gavesati;

Tattheva ca pubbakāraṁ,

yo karoti upāsako.

Ete kho parihāniye,

satta dhamme sudesite;

Upāsako sevamāno,

saddhammā parihāyati.

Dassanaṁ bhāvitattānaṁ,

Yo na hāpeti upāsako;

Savanañca ariyadhammānaṁ,

Adhisīle ca sikkhati.

Pasādo cassa bhikkhūsu,

bhiyyo bhiyyo pavaḍḍhati;

Anupārambhacitto ca,

saddhammaṁ sotumicchati.

Na ito bahiddhā aññaṁ,

dakkhiṇeyyaṁ gavesati;

Idheva ca pubbakāraṁ,

yo karoti upāsako.

Ete kho aparihāniye,

Satta dhamme sudesite;

Upāsako sevamāno,

Saddhammā na parihāyatī”ti.

Navamaṁ.

“These seven things lead to the decline of a lay follower.

What seven?

They miss out on seeing the mendicants.

They neglect listening to the true teaching.

They don’t train in higher ethical conduct.

They’re very suspicious about mendicants, whether senior, junior, or middle.

They listen to the teaching with a hostile, fault-finding mind.

They seek outside of the Buddhist community for those worthy of religious donations.

And they serve them first.

These seven things lead to the decline of a lay follower.

These seven things don’t lead to the decline of a lay follower.

What seven?

They don’t miss out on seeing the mendicants.

They don’t neglect listening to the true teaching.

They train in higher ethical conduct.

They’re very confident about mendicants, whether senior, junior, or middle.

They don’t listen to the teaching with a hostile, fault-finding mind.

They don’t seek outside of the Buddhist community for those worthy of religious donations.

And they serve the Buddhist community first.

These seven things don’t lead to the decline of a lay follower.”

That is what the Buddha said.

Then the Holy One, the Teacher, went on to say:

“A lay follower misses out on seeing

those who are evolved

and listening to the teachings of the Noble One.

They don’t train in higher ethical conduct,

and their suspicion about mendicants

just grows and grows.

They want to listen to the true teaching

with a fault-finding mind.

They seek outside the Buddhist community

for someone else worthy of religious donations,

and that lay follower

serves them first.

These seven principles leading to decline

have been well taught.

A lay follower who practices them

falls away from the true teaching.

A lay follower doesn’t miss out on seeing

those who are evolved

and listening to the teachings of the Noble One.

They train in higher ethical conduct,

and their confidence in mendicants

just grows and grows.

They want to listen to the true teaching

without a fault-finding mind.

They don’t seek outside the Buddhist community

for someone else worthy of religious donations,

and that lay follower

serves the Buddhist community first.

These seven principles that prevent decline

have been well taught.

A lay follower who practices them

doesn’t fall away from the true teaching.”