Saṃyutta Nikāya
5. Mahā-Vagga
47. Sati-Paṭṭhāna Saṃyutta
3. Sīla-ṭ-Ṭhiti Vagga
The Book of the Kindred Sayings
5. The Great Chapter
47. Kindred Sayings on the Stations of Mindfulness
3. Habit and Permanence
Sutta 23
Parihāna Suttaṃ
Decay
Translated by F. L. Woodward
Copyright The Pali Text Society
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Once the venerable Ānanda and the venerable Bhadda
were staying at Pāṭaliputra
in Cock's Pleasaunce.
Then the venerable Bhadda,
rising from his solitude at eventide,
went to visit the venerable Ānanda,
and on coming to him
greeted him courteously and,
after the exchange of greetings and courtesies,
sat down at one side.
So seated
the venerable Bhadda said this
to the venerable Ānanda:
"Pray, friend Ānanda, what is the condition,
what is the cause,
why, when the Tathāgata has finally passed away,
the good Norm decays?
What again, friend Ānanda, is the condition,
what the cause,
why, when the Tathāgata has finally passed away,
the good Norm does not decay?"
"Well said!
Well said, friend Bhadda!
Welcome is your penetration.
Welcome is your ready wit.
You ask this, do you not?
'Pray, friend Ānanda, what is the condition,
what is the cause,
why, when the Tathāgata has finally passed away,
the good Norm decays?
What again, friend Ānanda, is the condition,
what the cause,
why, when the Tathāgata has finally passed away,
the good Norm does not decay?'"
"I do, friend."
"Well, friend, it is owing to not cultivating,
not making much of
four stations of mindfulness.
That, friend, is the reason
why the good Norm decays.
Again, it is owing to cultivating
and making much of
four stations of mindfulness
that the good Norm does not decay.
What are the four?
Herein, friend, a monk abides in body contemplating body
(as transient),
ardent,
composed
and mindful,
having restrained the dejection in the world
arising from coveting.
He dwells as regards feelings contemplating feelings
(as transient),
ardent,
composed
and mindful,
having restrained the dejection in the world
arising from coveting.
He dwells as regards mind contemplating mind
(as transient),
ardent,
composed
and mindful,
having restrained the dejection in the world
arising from coveting.
He dwells as regards mind-states contemplating mind-states
(as transient),
ardent,
composed
and mindful,
having restrained the dejection in the world
arising from coveting.
"It is owing to not cultivating,
not making much of
these four stations of mindfulness
that is the reason
why the good Norm decays.
Again, it is owing to cultivating
and making much of
these four stations of mindfulness
that the good Norm does not decay.
