Non-Decline for Mendicants (2nd)Dutiyasattakasutta

“Mendicants, I will teach you seven principles that prevent decline.“Satta vo, bhikkhave, aparihāniye dhamme desessāmi. Listen and apply your mind well …Taṁ suṇātha, sādhukaṁ manasi karotha …pe… And what are the seven principles that prevent decline?katame ca, bhikkhave, satta aparihāniyā dhammā?

As long as the mendicants don’t relish work, loving it and liking to relish it, they can expect growth, not decline.Yāvakīvañca, bhikkhave, bhikkhū na kammārāmā bhavissanti, na kammaratā, na kammārāmataṁ anuyuttā; vuddhiyeva, bhikkhave, bhikkhūnaṁ pāṭikaṅkhā, no parihāni.

As long as they don’t enjoy talk …Yāvakīvañca, bhikkhave, bhikkhū na bhassārāmā bhavissanti …pe… sleep …na niddārāmā bhavissanti … company …na saṅgaṇikārāmā bhavissanti … they don’t have corrupt wishes, falling under the sway of corrupt wishes …na pāpicchā bhavissanti na pāpikānaṁ icchānaṁ vasaṁ gatā … they don’t have bad friends, companions, and associates …na pāpamittā bhavissanti na pāpasahāyā na pāpasampavaṅkā … they don’t stop half-way after achieving some trifling distinction, they can expect growth, not decline.na oramattakena visesādhigamena antarāvosānaṁ āpajjissanti; vuddhiyeva, bhikkhave, bhikkhūnaṁ pāṭikaṅkhā, no parihāni.

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