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Linked Discourses 47.23 – Saṁyutta Nikāya 47.23
3. Ethics and Duration – 3. Sīlaṭṭhitivagga
SN 47.23 Decline – Parihānasutta
At one time the venerables Ānanda and Bhadda were staying near Pāṭaliputta, in the Chicken Monastery.
Ekaṁ samayaṁ āyasmā ca ānando āyasmā ca bhaddo pāṭaliputte viharanti kukkuṭārāme.
Then in the late afternoon, Venerable Bhadda came out of retreat, went to Venerable Ānanda, and exchanged greetings with him.
Atha kho āyasmā bhaddo sāyanhasamayaṁ paṭisallānā vuṭṭhito yenāyasmā ānando tenupasaṅkami; upasaṅkamitvā āyasmatā ānandena saddhiṁ sammodi.
When the greetings and polite conversation were over, he sat down to one side and said to Ānanda:
Sammodanīyaṁ kathaṁ sāraṇīyaṁ vītisāretvā ekamantaṁ nisīdi. Ekamantaṁ nisinno kho āyasmā bhaddo āyasmantaṁ ānandaṁ etadavoca:
“What’s the cause, Reverend Ānanda, what’s the reason why the true teaching declines?
“ko nu kho, āvuso ānanda, hetu, ko paccayo yena saddhammaparihānaṁ hoti?
And what’s the cause, what’s the reason why the true teaching doesn’t decline?”
Ko nu kho, āvuso ānanda, hetu, ko paccayo yena saddhammaaparihānaṁ hotī”ti?
“Good, good, Reverend Bhadda!
“Sādhu sādhu, āvuso bhadda.
Your approach and articulation are excellent, and it’s a good question.
Bhaddako kho te, āvuso bhadda, ummaṅgo, bhaddakaṁ paṭibhānaṁ, kalyāṇī paripucchā.
For you asked:
Evañhi tvaṁ, āvuso bhadda, pucchasi:
‘What’s the cause, what’s the reason why the true teaching declines?
‘ko nu kho, āvuso ānanda, hetu, ko paccayo yena saddhammaparihānaṁ hoti?
And what’s the cause, what’s the reason why the true teaching doesn’t decline?’”
Ko panāvuso ānanda, hetu, ko paccayo yena saddhammaaparihānaṁ hotī’”ti?
“Yes, reverend.”
“Evamāvuso”ti.
“It’s because of not developing and cultivating the four kinds of mindfulness meditation that the true teaching declines.
“Catunnaṁ kho, āvuso, satipaṭṭhānānaṁ abhāvitattā abahulīkatattā saddhammaparihānaṁ hoti.
It’s because of developing and cultivating the four kinds of mindfulness meditation that the true teaching doesn’t decline.
Catunnañca kho, āvuso, satipaṭṭhānānaṁ bhāvitattā bahulīkatattā saddhammaaparihānaṁ hoti.
What four?
Katamesaṁ catunnaṁ?
It’s when a bhikkhu meditates by observing an aspect of the body—keen, aware, and mindful, rid of desire and aversion for the world.
Idhāvuso, bhikkhu kāye kāyānupassī viharati ātāpī sampajāno satimā, vineyya loke abhijjhādomanassaṁ;
They meditate observing an aspect of feelings …
vedanāsu …pe…
mind …
citte …pe…
principles—keen, aware, and mindful, rid of desire and aversion for the world.
dhammesu dhammānupassī viharati ātāpī sampajāno satimā, vineyya loke abhijjhādomanassaṁ.
It’s because of not developing and cultivating these four kinds of mindfulness meditation that the true teaching declines.
Imesaṁ kho, āvuso, catunnaṁ satipaṭṭhānānaṁ abhāvitattā abahulīkatattā saddhammaparihānaṁ hoti.
And it’s because of developing and cultivating these four kinds of mindfulness meditation that the true teaching doesn’t decline.”
Imesañca kho, āvuso, catunnaṁ satipaṭṭhānānaṁ bhāvitattā bahulīkatattā saddhammaaparihānaṁ hotī”ti.