The Chapter on the Vajji Seven
AN 7.21 At Sārandada Sārandadasutta
SO I HAVE HEARD. At one time the Buddha was staying near Vesālī, at the Sārandada Tree-shrine. Then several Licchavis went up to the Buddha, bowed, sat down to one side, and the Buddha said to these Licchavis:
"Licchavis, I will teach you these seven principles that prevent decline. Listen and apply your mind well, I will speak."
"Yes, sir," they replied. The Buddha said this:
"And what are the seven principles that prevent decline? As long as the Vajjis meet frequently and have many meetings, they can expect growth, not decline.
As long as the Vajjis meet in harmony, leave in harmony, and carry on their business in harmony, they can expect growth, not decline.
As long as the Vajjis don't make new decrees or abolish existing decrees, but undertake and follow the ancient Vajjian traditions as they have been decreed, they can expect growth, not decline.
As long as the Vajjis honor, respect, esteem, and venerate Vajjian elders, and think them worth listening to, they can expect growth, not decline.
As long as the Vajjis don't forcibly abduct the women or girls of the clans and make them live with them, they can expect growth, not decline.
As long as the Vajjis honor, respect, esteem, and venerate the Vajjian shrines, whether inner or outer, not neglecting the proper spirit-offerings that were given and made in the past, they can expect growth, not decline.
As long as the Vajjis organize proper protection, shelter, and security for perfected ones, so that more perfected ones might come to the realm and those already here may live in comfort, they can expect growth, not decline.
As long as these seven principles that prevent decline last among the Vajjis, and as long as the Vajjis are seen following them, they can expect growth, not decline."
AN 7.22 With Vassakāra Vassakārasutta
SO I HAVE HEARD. At one time the Buddha was staying near Rājagaha, on the Vulture's Peak Mountain.
Now at that time King Ajātasattu of Magadha, son of the princess of Videha, wanted to invade the Vajjis. He declared: "I shall wipe out these Vajjis, so mighty and powerful! I shall destroy them, and lay ruin and devastation upon them!"
And then King Ajātasattu addressed Vassakāra the brahmin minister of Magadha, "Please, brahmin, go to the Buddha, and in my name bow with your head to his feet. Ask him if he is healthy and well, nimble, strong, and living comfortably. And then say: 'Sir, King Ajātasattu of Magadha, son of the princess of Videha, wants to invade the Vajjis. He has declared: "I shall wipe out these Vajjis, so mighty and powerful! I shall destroy them, and lay ruin and devastation upon them!"' Remember well how the Buddha answers and tell it to me. For Realized Ones say nothing that is not so."
"Yes, sir," Vassakāra replied. He went to the Buddha and exchanged greetings with him. When the greetings and polite conversation were over, he sat down to one side and said to the Buddha:
"Mister Gotama, King Ajātasattu bows with his head to your feet. He asks if you are healthy and well, nimble, strong, and living comfortably. King Ajātasattu wants to invade the Vajjis. He has declared: 'I shall wipe out these Vajjis, so mighty and powerful! I shall destroy them, and lay ruin and devastation upon them!'"
Now at that time Venerable Ānanda was standing behind the Buddha fanning him. Then the Buddha said to him: "Ānanda, have you heard that the Vajjis meet frequently and have many meetings?"
"I have heard that, sir."
"As long as the Vajjis meet frequently and have many meetings, they can expect growth, not decline.
Ānanda, have you heard that the Vajjis meet in harmony, leave in harmony, and carry on their business in harmony?"
"I have heard that, sir."
"As long as the Vajjis meet in harmony, leave in harmony, and carry on their business in harmony, they can expect growth, not decline.
Ānanda, have you heard that the Vajjis don't make new decrees or abolish existing decrees, but proceed having undertaken the ancient Vajjian principles as they have been decreed?"
"I have heard that, sir."
"As long as the Vajjis don't make new decrees or abolish existing decrees, but proceed having undertaken the ancient Vajjian traditions as they have been decreed, they can expect growth, not decline.
Ānanda, have you heard that the Vajjis honor, respect, esteem, and venerate Vajjian elders, and think them worth listening to?"
"I have heard that, sir."
"As long as the Vajjis honor, respect, esteem, and venerate Vajjian elders, and think them worth listening to, they can expect growth, not decline.
Ānanda, have you heard that the Vajjis don't forcibly abduct the women or girls of the clans and make them live with them?"
"I have heard that, sir."
"As long as the Vajjis don't forcibly abduct the women or girls of the clans and make them live with them, they can expect growth, not decline.
Ānanda, have you heard that the Vajjis honor, respect, esteem, and venerate the Vajjian shrines, whether inner or outer, not neglecting the proper spirit-offerings that were given and made in the past?"
"I have heard that, sir."
"As long as the Vajjis honor, respect, esteem, and venerate the Vajjian shrines, whether inner or outer, not neglecting the proper spirit-offerings that were given and made in the past, they can expect growth, not decline.
Ānanda, have you heard that the Vajjis organize proper protection, shelter, and security for perfected ones, so that more perfected ones might come to the realm and those already here may live in comfort?"
"I have heard that, sir."
"As long as the Vajjis organize proper protection, shelter, and security for perfected ones, so that more perfected ones might come to the realm and those already here may live in comfort, they can expect growth, not decline."
Then the Buddha said to Vassakāra:
"Brahmin, this one time I was staying near Vesālī at the Sārandada woodland shrine. There I taught the Vajjis these principles that prevent decline. As long as these seven principles that prevent decline last among the Vajjis, and as long as the Vajjis are seen following them, they can expect growth, not decline."
When the Buddha had spoken, Vassakāra said to him: "Mister Gotama, if the Vajjis follow even a single one of these principles they can expect growth, not decline. How much more so all seven! King Ajātasattu cannot defeat the Vajjis in war, unless by bribery or by sowing dissension. Well, now, Mister Gotama, I must go. I have many duties, and much to do."
"Please, brahmin, go at your convenience." Then Vassakāra the brahmin, having approved and agreed with what the Buddha said, got up from his seat and left.
AN 7.23 Non-Decline for Mendicants (1st) Paṭhamasattakasutta
SO I HAVE HEARD. At one time the Buddha was staying near Rājagaha, on the Vulture's Peak Mountain. There the Buddha addressed the mendicants:
"Mendicants, I will teach you these seven principles that prevent decline. Listen and apply your mind well, I will speak."
"Yes, sir," they replied. The Buddha said this:
"What are the seven principles that prevent decline? As long as the mendicants meet frequently and have many meetings, they can expect growth, not decline.
As long as the mendicants meet in harmony, leave in harmony, and carry on their business in harmony, they can expect growth, not decline.
As long as the mendicants don't make new decrees or abolish existing decrees, but undertake and follow the training rules as they have been decreed, they can expect growth, not decline.
As long as the mendicants honor, respect, esteem, and venerate the senior mendicants---of long standing, long gone forth, fathers and leaders of the Saṅgha---and think them worth listening to, they can expect growth, not decline.
As long as the mendicants don't fall under the sway of arisen craving for future lives, they can expect growth, not decline.
As long as the mendicants take care to live in wilderness lodgings, they can expect growth, not decline.
As long as the mendicants individually establish mindfulness, so that more good-hearted spiritual companions might come, and those that have already come may live comfortably, they can expect growth, not decline.
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."
AN 7.24 Non-Decline for Mendicants (2nd) Dutiyasattakasutta
"Mendicants, I will teach you seven principles that prevent decline. Listen and apply your mind well ... And what are the seven principles that prevent decline?
As long as the mendicants don't relish work, loving it and liking to relish it, they can expect growth, not decline.
As long as they don't enjoy talk ... sleep ... company ... they don't have corrupt wishes, falling under the sway of corrupt wishes ... 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.
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."
AN 7.25 Non-Decline for Mendicants (3rd) Tatiyasattakasutta
"Mendicants, I will teach you seven principles that prevent decline. Listen and apply your mind well ... And what are the seven principles that prevent decline? As long as the mendicants are faithful ... conscientious ... prudent ... learned ... energetic ... mindful ... wise, they can expect growth, not decline.
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."
AN 7.26 Awakening Factors Bojjhaṅgasutta
"Mendicants, I will teach you seven principles that prevent decline. Listen and apply your mind well ... And what are the seven principles that prevent decline? As long as the mendicants develop the awakening factor of mindfulness ... investigation of principles ... energy ... rapture ... tranquility ... immersion ... equanimity, they can expect growth, not decline.
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."
AN 7.27 Perceptions Saññāsutta
"Mendicants, I will teach you seven principles that prevent decline. Listen and apply your mind well ... And what are the seven principles that prevent decline? As long as the mendicants develop the perception of impermanence ...
not-self ... ugliness ... drawbacks ... giving up ... fading away ... cessation, they can expect growth, not decline. 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."
AN 7.28 Non-decline for a Mendicant Trainee Paṭhamaparihānisutta
SO I HAVE HEARD. At one time the Buddha was staying near Sāvatthī in Jeta's Grove, Anāthapiṇḍika's monastery. There the Buddha addressed the mendicants:
"These seven things lead to the decline of a mendicant trainee. What seven? They relish work, talk, sleep, and company. They don't guard the sense doors and they eat too much. And when there is Saṅgha business to be carried out, they don't reflect: 'There are senior mendicants in the Saṅgha of long standing, long gone forth, responsible. They'll be known for taking care of this.' So they try to do it themselves. These seven things lead to the decline of a mendicant trainee.
These seven things don't lead to the decline of a mendicant trainee. What seven? They don't relish work, talk, sleep, and company. They guard the sense doors and don't eat too much. And when there is Saṅgha business to be carried out, they reflect: 'There are senior mendicants in the Saṅgha of long standing, long gone forth, responsible. They'll be known for taking care of this.' So they don't try to do it themselves. These seven things don't lead to the decline of a mendicant trainee."
AN 7.29 Non-decline for a Lay Follower Dutiyaparihānisutta
"These seven things lead to the decline of a lay follower. What seven? They miss out on seeing the mendicants. They neglect listening to the true teaching. They don't train in higher ethical conduct. They're very suspicious about mendicants, whether senior, junior, or middle. They listen to the teaching with a hostile, fault-finding mind. They seek outside of the Buddhist community for those worthy of religious donations. And they serve them first. These seven things lead to the decline of a lay follower.
These seven things don't lead to the decline of a lay follower. What seven? They don't miss out on seeing the mendicants. They don't neglect listening to the true teaching. They train in higher ethical conduct. They're very confident about mendicants, whether senior, junior, or middle. They don't listen to the teaching with a hostile, fault-finding mind. They don't seek outside of the Buddhist community for those worthy of religious donations. And they serve the Buddhist community first. These seven things don't lead to the decline of a lay follower."
That is what the Buddha said. Then the Holy One, the Teacher, went on to say:
"A lay follower misses out on seeing
those who are evolved
and listening to the teachings of the Noble One.
They don't train in higher ethical conduct,and their suspicion about mendicants
just grows and grows.
They want to listen to the true teaching
with a fault-finding mind.They seek outside the Buddhist community
for someone else worthy of religious donations,
and that lay follower
serves them first.These seven principles leading to decline
have been well taught.
A lay follower who practices them
falls away from the true teaching.A lay follower doesn't miss out on seeing
those who are evolved
and listening to the teachings of the Noble One.
They train in higher ethical conduct,and their confidence in mendicants
just grows and grows.
They want to listen to the true teaching
without a fault-finding mind.They don't seek outside the Buddhist community
for someone else worthy of religious donations,
and that lay follower
serves the Buddhist community first.These seven principles that prevent decline
have been well taught.
A lay follower who practices them
doesn't fall away from the true teaching."
AN 7.30 Failures for a Lay Follower Vipattisutta
"Mendicants, there are these seven failures for a lay follower ...
There are these seven accomplishments for a lay follower ..."
AN 7.31 Downfalls for a Lay Follower Parābhavasutta
"Mendicants, there are these seven downfalls for a lay follower ... There are these seven successes for a lay follower. What seven?
They don't miss out on seeing the mendicants.
They don't neglect listening to the true teaching.
They train in higher ethical conduct.
They're very confident about mendicants, whether senior, junior, or middle.
They don't listen to the teaching with a hostile, fault-finding mind.
They don't seek outside of the Buddhist community for those worthy of religious donations.
And they serve the Buddhist community first.
These are the seven successes for a lay follower.
A lay follower misses out on seeing
those who are evolved
and listening to the teachings of the Noble One.
They don't train in higher ethical conduct,and their suspicion about mendicants
just grows and grows.
They want to listen to the true teaching
with a fault-finding mind.They seek outside the Buddhist community
for someone else worthy of religious donations,
and that lay follower
serves them first.These seven principles leading to decline
have been well taught.
A lay follower who practices these
falls away from the true teaching.A lay follower doesn't miss out on seeing
those who are evolved
and listening to the teachings of the Noble One.
They train in higher ethical conduct,and their confidence in mendicants
just grows and grows.
They want to listen to the true teaching
without a fault-finding mind.They don't seek outside the Buddhist community
for someone else worthy of religious donations,
and that lay follower
serves the Buddhist community first.These seven principles that prevent decline
have been well taught.
A lay follower who practices them
doesn't fall away from the true teaching."