156(6)Decline of the Good Dhamma(3)
"Bhikkhus,there are these five things that lead to the decline and disappearance of the good Dhamma.
What five?
As at4:160.See too 2:20.
(1)"Here,the bhikkhus learn discourses that have been badly acquired,with badly set down words and phrases.
When the words and phrases are badly set down,the meaning is badly interpreted.
This is the first thing that leads to the decline and disappearance of the good Dhamma.
(2)"Again,the bhikkhus are difficult to correct and possess qualities that make them difficult to correct.They are impatient and do not accept instruction respectfully.
This is the second thing that leads to the decline and disappearance of the good Dhamma.[179]
(3)"Again,those bhikkhus who are learned,heirs to the heritage,experts on the Dhamma,experts on the discipline,experts on the outlines,do not respectfully teach the discourses to others.
When they have passed away,the discourses are cutoff at the root,left without anyone to preserve them.
This is the third thing that leads to the decline and disappearance of the good Dhamma.
(4)"Again,the elder bhikkhus are luxurious and lax,leaders in backsliding,discarding the duty of solitude;they do not arouse energy for the attainment of the as-yet-unattained,for the achievement of the-as-yet-unachieved,for the realization of the as-yet-unrealized.
[Those in]the next generation follow their example.
(5)"Again,there is a schism in the Sangha,
Then those without confidence do not gain confidence,while some of those with confidence change their minds.
As at 5:54 S5.
This is the fifth thing thatleads to the decline and disappearance of the good Dhamma."
These are the five things that lead to the decline and disappearance of the good Dhamma.
"There are,bhikkhus,these five[other]things that lead to the continuation,non-decline,and non-disappearance of the good Dhamma.
What five?
(1)"Here,the bhikkhus learn discourses that have been well acquired,with well set-down words and phrases.
When the words and phrases are well set down,the meaning is well interpreted.
This is the first thing that leads to the continuation,non-decline,and non-disappearance of the good Dhamma.[180]
(2)"Again,the bhikkhus are easy to correct and possess qualities that make them easy to correct.They are patient and accept instruction respectfully.
This is the second thing thatleads to the continuation,non-decline,and non-disappearanceof the good Dhamma.
(3)"Again,those bhikkhus who are learned,experts on the Dhamma,experts on the discipline,experts on the outlines,respectfully teach the discourses to others.
When they have passed away,the discourses are not cut off at the root,for there are those who preserve them.
This is the third thing that leads to the continuation,non-decline,and non-disappearance of the good Dhamma.
(4)"Again,the elder bhikkhus are not luxurious and lax,but discard backsliding and take the lead in solitude;
they arouse energy for the attainment of the as-yet-unattained,forthe achievement of the as-yet-unachieved,for the realizationof the as-yet-unrealized.
[Those in]the next generation follow their example.
They,too,do not become luxurious and lax,but discard backsliding and take the lead in solitude;they,too,
arouse energy for the attainment of the as-yet-unattained,for the achievement of the as-yet-unachieved,for the realizationof the as-yet-unrealized.
This is the fourth thing that leads to the continuation,non-decline,and non-disappearance of the good Dhamma.
(5)"Again,the Sangha is dwelling at ease—in concord,har-moniously,without disputes,with a single recitation.
When the Sangha is in concord,there are no mutual insults,no mutual reviling,no mutual disparagement,and no mutual rejection.
Then those without confidence gain confidence and those with confidence increase [in their confidence].
This is the fifth thing that leads to the continuation,non-decline,and non-disappearance of the good Dhamma.
"These,bhikkhus,are the five things that lead to the continuation,non-decline,and non-disappearance of the good Dhamma."[181]