1At one time the Buddha was staying near Kimbilā in the Freshwater Mangrove Wood. Then Venerable Kimbila went up to the Buddha, bowed, sat down to one side, and said to him:

“What is the cause, sir, what is the reason why the true teaching does not last long after the final extinguishment of the Realized One?”

“Kimbila, it’s when the monks, nuns, laymen, and laywomen lack respect and reverence for the Teacher, the teaching, the Saṅgha, the training, and each other after the final extinguishment of the Realized One. This is the cause, this is the reason why the true teaching does not last long after the final extinguishment of the Realized One.”

2“What is the cause, sir, what is the reason why the true teaching does last long after the final extinguishment of the Realized One?”

“Kimbila, it’s when the monks, nuns, laymen, and laywomen maintain respect and reverence for the Teacher, the teaching, the Saṅgha, the training, and each other after the final extinguishment of the Realized One. This is the cause, this is the reason why the true teaching does last long after the final extinguishment of the Realized One.”

1Ekaṁ samayaṁ bhagavā kimilāyaṁ viharati veḷuvane. Atha kho āyasmā kimilo yena bhagavā tenupasaṅkami; upasaṅkamitvā bhagavantaṁ abhivādetvā ekamantaṁ nisīdi. Ekamantaṁ nisinno kho āyasmā kimilo bhagavantaṁ etadavoca: 

"ko nu kho, bhante, hetu ko paccayo, yena tathāgate parinibbute saddhammo na ciraṭṭhitiko hotī"ti?

"Idha, kimila, tathāgate parinibbute bhikkhū bhikkhuniyo upāsakā upāsikāyo satthari agāravā viharanti appatissā, dhamme agāravā viharanti appatissā, saṅghe agāravā viharanti appatissā, sikkhāya agāravā viharanti appatissā, aññamaññaṁ agāravā viharanti appatissā. Ayaṁ kho, kimila, hetu ayaṁ paccayo, yena tathāgate parinibbute saddhammo na ciraṭṭhitiko hotī"ti.

2"Ko pana, bhante, hetu ko paccayo, yena tathāgate parinibbute saddhammo ciraṭṭhitiko hotī"ti?

"Idha, kimila, tathāgate parinibbute bhikkhū bhikkhuniyo upāsakā upāsikāyo satthari sagāravā viharanti sappatissā, dhamme sagāravā viharanti sappatissā, saṅghe sagāravā viharanti sappatissā, sikkhāya sagāravā viharanti sappatissā, aññamaññaṁ sagāravā viharanti sappatissā. Ayaṁ kho, kimila, hetu ayaṁ paccayo, yena tathāgate parinibbute saddhammo ciraṭṭhitiko hotī"ti.

Paṭhamaṁ.