1So I have heard. At one time the Buddha was staying near Sāvatthī in Jeta’s Grove, Anāthapiṇḍika’s monastery. Then Venerable Mahākassapa 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 there used to be fewer training rules but more enlightened mendicants? And what is the cause, what is the reason why these days there are more training rules and fewer enlightened mendicants?”

“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 mendicants. The true teaching doesn’t disappear as long the counterfeit of the true teaching hasn’t appeared in the world. But when the counterfeit of the true teaching appears in the world then the true teaching disappears.

2It’s like true gold, which doesn’t disappear as long as counterfeit gold hasn’t appeared in the world. But when counterfeit gold appears in the world then real gold disappears.

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

3It’s not the elements of earth, water, fire, or air that make the true teaching disappear. Rather, it’s the foolish people who appear right here that make the true teaching disappear. The true teaching doesn’t disappear like a ship that sinks all at once.

4There are five detrimental things that lead to the decline and disappearance of the true teaching. What five? It’s when the monks, nuns, laymen, and laywomen lack respect and reverence for the Teacher, the teaching, the Saṅgha, the training, and immersion. These five detrimental things lead to the decline and disappearance of the true teaching.

5There are five things that lead to the continuation, persistence, and enduring of the true teaching. What five? It’s when the monks, nuns, laymen, and laywomen maintain respect and reverence for the Teacher, the teaching, the Saṅgha, the training, and immersion. These five things lead to the continuation, persistence, and enduring of the true teaching.”

1Evaṁ me sutaṁ — ekaṁ samayaṁ bhagavā sāvatthiyaṁ vihārati jetavane anāthapiṇḍikassa ārāme. Atha kho āyasmā mahākassapo yena bhagavā tenupasaṅkami; upasaṅkamitvā bhagavantaṁ abhivādetvā ekamantaṁ nisīdi. Ekamantaṁ nisinno kho āyasmā mahākassapo bhagavantaṁ etadavoca:

"ko nu kho, bhante, hetu ko paccayo, yena pubbe appatarāni ceva sikkhāpadāni ahesuṁ bahutarā ca bhikkhū aññāya saṇṭhahiṁsu? Ko pana, bhante, hetu ko paccayo, yenetarahi bahutarāni ceva sikkhāpadāni appatarā ca bhikkhū aññāya saṇṭhahantī"ti?

"Evañcetaṁ, kassapa, hoti sattesu hāyamānesu saddhamme antaradhāyamāne, bahutarāni ceva sikkhāpadāni honti appatarā ca bhikkhū aññāya saṇṭhahanti. Na tāva, kassapa, saddhammassa antaradhānaṁ hoti yāva na saddhammappatirūpakaṁ loke uppajjati. Yato ca kho, kassapa, saddhammappatirūpakaṁ loke uppajjati, atha saddhammassa antaradhānaṁ hoti.

2Seyyathāpi, kassapa, na tāva jātarūpassa antaradhānaṁ hoti yāva na jātarūpappatirūpakaṁ loke uppajjati. Yato ca kho, kassapa, jātarūpappatirūpakaṁ loke uppajjati, atha kho jātarūpassa antaradhānaṁ hoti.

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

3Na kho, kassapa, pathavīdhātu saddhammaṁ antaradhāpeti, na āpodhātu saddhammaṁ antaradhāpeti, na tejodhātu saddhammaṁ antaradhāpeti, na vāyodhātu saddhammaṁ antaradhāpeti; atha kho idheva te uppajjanti moghapurisā ye imaṁ saddhammaṁ antaradhāpenti. Seyyathāpi, kassapa, nāvā ādikeneva opilavati; na kho, kassapa, evaṁ saddhammassa antaradhānaṁ hoti.

4Pañca khome, kassapa, okkamaniyā dhammā saddhammassa sammosāya antaradhānāya saṁvattanti. Katame pañca? Idha, kassapa, bhikkhū bhikkhuniyo upāsakā upāsikāyo satthari agāravā vihāranti appatissā, dhamme agāravā vihāranti appatissā, saṅghe agāravā vihāranti appatissā, sikkhāya agāravā vihāranti appatissā, samādhismiṁ agāravā vihāranti appatissā – ime kho, kassapa, pañca okkamaniyā dhammā saddhammassa sammosāya antaradhānāya saṁvattanti.

5Pañca khome, kassapa, dhammā saddhammassa ṭhitiyā asammosāya anantaradhānāya saṁvattanti. Katame pañca? Idha, kassapa, bhikkhū bhikkhuniyo upāsakā upāsikāyo satthari sagāravā vihāranti sappatissā, dhamme sagāravā vihāranti sappatissā, saṅghe sagāravā vihāranti sappatissā, sikkhāya sagāravā vihāranti sappatissā, samādhismiṁ sagāravā vihāranti sappatissā – ime kho, kassapa, pañca dhammā saddhammassa ṭhitiyā asammosāya anantaradhānāya saṁvattantī"ti.

Terasamaṁ.

Kassapavaggo paṭhamo.

6Santuṭṭhañca anottappī,
candūpamaṁ kulūpakaṁ;
Jiṇṇaṁ tayo ca ovādā,
jhānābhiññā upassayaṁ;
Cīvaraṁ paraṁmaraṇaṁ,
saddhammappatirūpakanti.

Kassapasaṁyuttaṁ samattaṁ.