SN 12-21 The Group of Connected Discourses Beginning With Causation – Nidānavaggasaṁyutta > SN 16 Connected Discourses with Kassapa – Kassapasaṁyutta > SN 16.13 The Counterfeit of the True Teaching

Linked Discourses 16.13 – Saṁyutta Nikāya 16.13

1. Kassapa – 1. Kassapavagga

SN 16.13 The Counterfeit of the True Teaching – Saddhammappatirūpakasutta

So I have heard.

Evaṁ me sutaṁ—

At one time the Buddha was staying near Sāvatthī in Jeta’s Grove, Anāthapiṇḍika’s monastery.

ekaṁ samayaṁ bhagavā sāvatthiyaṁ viharati jetavane anāthapiṇḍikassa ārāme.

Then Venerable Mahākassapa went up to the Buddha, bowed, sat down to one side, and said to him:

Atha kho āyasmā mahākassapo yena bhagavā tenupasaṅkami; upasaṅkamitvā bhagavantaṁ abhivādetvā ekamantaṁ nisīdi. Ekamantaṁ nisinno kho āyasmā mahākassapo bhagavantaṁ etadavoca:

“What is the cause, sir, what is the reason why there used to be fewer training rules but more enlightened bhikkhū?

“ko nu kho, bhante, hetu ko paccayo, yena pubbe appatarāni ceva sikkhāpadāni ahesuṁ bahutarā ca bhikkhū aññāya saṇṭhahiṁsu?

And what is the cause, what is the reason why these days there are more training rules and fewer enlightened bhikkhū?”

Ko pana, bhante, hetu ko paccayo, yenetarahi bahutarāni ceva sikkhāpadāni appatarā ca bhikkhū aññāya saṇṭhahantī”ti?

“That’s how it is, Kassapa. When sentient beings are in decline and the true teaching is disappearing there are more training rules and fewer enlightened bhikkhū.

“Evañcetaṁ, kassapa, hoti sattesu hāyamānesu saddhamme antaradhāyamāne, bahutarāni ceva sikkhāpadāni honti appatarā ca bhikkhū aññāya saṇṭhahanti.

The true teaching doesn’t disappear as long the counterfeit of the true teaching hasn’t appeared in the world.

Na tāva, kassapa, saddhammassa antaradhānaṁ hoti yāva na saddhammappatirūpakaṁ loke uppajjati.

But when the counterfeit of the true teaching appears in the world then the true teaching disappears.

Yato ca kho, kassapa, saddhammappatirūpakaṁ loke uppajjati, atha saddhammassa antaradhānaṁ hoti.

It’s like true gold, which doesn’t disappear as long as counterfeit gold hasn’t appeared in the world.

Seyyathāpi, kassapa, na tāva jātarūpassa antaradhānaṁ hoti yāva na jātarūpappatirūpakaṁ loke uppajjati.

But when counterfeit gold appears in the world then real gold disappears.

Yato ca kho, kassapa, jātarūpappatirūpakaṁ loke uppajjati, atha kho jātarūpassa antaradhānaṁ hoti.

In the same way, the true teaching doesn’t disappear as long the counterfeit of the true teaching hasn’t appeared in the world.

Evameva kho, kassapa, na tāva saddhammassa antaradhānaṁ hoti yāva na saddhammappatirūpakaṁ loke uppajjati.

But when the counterfeit of the true teaching appears in the world then the true teaching disappears.

Yato ca kho, kassapa, saddhammappatirūpakaṁ loke uppajjati, atha saddhammassa antaradhānaṁ hoti.

It’s not the elements of earth, water, fire, or air that make the true teaching disappear.

Na kho, kassapa, pathavīdhātu saddhammaṁ antaradhāpeti, na āpodhātu saddhammaṁ antaradhāpeti, na tejodhātu saddhammaṁ antaradhāpeti, na vāyodhātu saddhammaṁ antaradhāpeti;

Rather, it’s the foolish people who appear right here that make the true teaching disappear.

atha kho idheva te uppajjanti moghapurisā ye imaṁ saddhammaṁ antaradhāpenti.

The true teaching doesn’t disappear like a ship that sinks all at once.

Seyyathāpi, kassapa, nāvā ādikeneva opilavati;

na kho, kassapa, evaṁ saddhammassa antaradhānaṁ hoti.

There are five detrimental things that lead to the decline and disappearance of the true teaching.

Pañca khome, kassapa, okkamaniyā dhammā saddhammassa sammosāya antaradhānāya saṁvattanti.

What five?

Katame pañca?

It’s when the monks, nuns, laymen, and laywomen lack respect and reverence for the Teacher, the teaching, the Saṅgha, the training, and samādhi.

Idha, kassapa, bhikkhū bhikkhuniyo upāsakā upāsikāyo satthari agāravā viharanti appatissā, dhamme agāravā viharanti appatissā, saṅghe agāravā viharanti appatissā, sikkhāya agāravā viharanti appatissā, samādhismiṁ agāravā viharanti appatissā—

These five detrimental things lead to the decline and disappearance of the true teaching.

ime kho, kassapa, pañca okkamaniyā dhammā saddhammassa sammosāya antaradhānāya saṁvattanti.

There are five things that lead to the continuation, persistence, and enduring of the true teaching.

Pañca khome, kassapa, dhammā saddhammassa ṭhitiyā asammosāya anantaradhānāya saṁvattanti.

What five?

Katame pañca?

It’s when the monks, nuns, laymen, and laywomen maintain respect and reverence for the Teacher, the teaching, the Saṅgha, the training, and samādhi.

Idha, kassapa, bhikkhū bhikkhuniyo upāsakā upāsikāyo satthari sagāravā viharanti sappatissā, dhamme sagāravā viharanti sappatissā, saṅghe sagāravā viharanti sappatissā, sikkhāya sagāravā viharanti sappatissā, samādhismiṁ sagāravā viharanti sappatissā—

These five things lead to the continuation, persistence, and enduring of the true teaching.”

ime kho, kassapa, pañca dhammā saddhammassa ṭhitiyā asammosāya anantaradhānāya saṁvattantī”ti.

Terasamaṁ.

Kassapavaggo paṭhamo.

Tassuddānaṁ

Santuṭṭhañca anottappī,

candūpamaṁ kulūpakaṁ;

Jiṇṇaṁ tayo ca ovādā,

jhānābhiññā upassayaṁ;

Cīvaraṁ paraṁmaraṇaṁ,

The Linked Discourses with Kassapa are complete.

saddhammappatirūpakanti.