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Aṅguttara Nikāya - The Numerical Discourses

7: The Book of the Sevens

III. The Vajji Seven — AN 7.24: Non-Decline for Mendicants (2nd)

1“Mendicants, I will teach you seven principles that prevent decline. Listen and pay close attention … And what are the seven principles that prevent decline?


2As long as the mendicants don’t relish work, loving it and liking to relish it, they can expect growth, not decline.

3As long as they don’t enjoy talk … sleep … company … they don’t have wicked desires, falling under the sway of wicked desires … they don’t have bad friends, companions, and associates … they don’t stop half-way after achieving some insignificant distinction, they can expect growth, not decline.

4As long as these seven principles that prevent decline last among the mendicants, and as long as the mendicants are seen following them, they can expect growth, not decline.”

1"Satta vo, bhikkhave, aparihāniye dhamme desessāmi. Taṁ suṇātha, sādhukaṁ manasi karotha … pe … katame ca, bhikkhave, satta aparihāniyā dhammā?


2Yāvakīvañca, bhikkhave, bhikkhū na kammārāmā bhavissanti, na kammaratā, na kammārāmataṁ anuyuttā; vuddhiyeva, bhikkhave, bhikkhūnaṁ pāṭikaṅkhā, no parihāni.

3Yāvakīvañca, bhikkhave, bhikkhū na bhassārāmā bhavissanti … pe … na niddārāmā bhavissanti … na saṅgaṇikārāmā bhavissanti … na pāpicchā bhavissanti na pāpikānaṁ icchānaṁ vasaṁ gatā … na pāpamittā bhavissanti na pāpasahāyā na pāpasampavaṅkā … na oramattakena visesādhigamena antarāvosānaṁ āpajjissanti; vuddhiyeva, bhikkhave, bhikkhūnaṁ pāṭikaṅkhā, no parihāni.

4Yāvakīvañca, bhikkhave, ime satta aparihāniyā dhammā bhikkhūsu ṭhassanti, imesu ca sattasu aparihāniyesu dhammesu bhikkhū sandississanti; vuddhiyeva, bhikkhave, bhikkhūnaṁ pāṭikaṅkhā, no parihānī"ti.

Catutthaṁ.