Great Emancipation Home Page   Next Section

The Discourse about the Great Emancipation

[The First Chapter for Recitation]

[7: Seven Further Things which Prevent Decline in the Community (29-35)]

I will teach you a further seven things which prevent decline, listen to it, apply your minds well, and I will speak.û

ßVery well, reverend Sir,û those monks replied to the Gracious One, and the Gracious One said this:

1. ßFor as long, monks, as the monks will develop the perception of impermanence, surely growth, monks, is to be expected for the monks, not decline. ⁰¹

2. For as long, monks, as the monks will develop the perception of non-self, surely growth, monks, is to be expected for the monks, not decline. ⁰²

3. For as long, monks, as the monks will develop the perception of the unattractive, surely growth, monks, is to be expected for the monks, not decline. ⁰³

4. For as long, monks, as the monks will develop the perception of danger, surely growth, monks, is to be expected for the monks, not decline. ⁰⁴

5. For as long, monks, as the monks will develop the perception of giving up, surely growth, monks, is to be expected for the monks, not decline. ⁰⁵

6. For as long, monks, as the monks will develop the perception of dispassion, surely growth, monks, is to be expected for the monks, not decline. ⁰⁶

7. For as long, monks, as the monks will develop the perception of cessation, surely growth, monks, is to be expected for the monks, not decline.

For as long, monks, as the monks will maintain these seven things which prevent decline, and the monks will agree with these seven things which prevent decline, surely growth, monks, is to be expected for the monks, not decline.