Numbered Discourses 1.98–139

The Chapter on Negligence

“Taking into account interior factors, bhikkhus, I do not see a single one that is so very harmful as negligence. Negligence is very harmful.”

“Taking into account interior factors, bhikkhus, I do not see a single one that is so very beneficial as diligence. Diligence is very beneficial.”

“Taking into account interior factors, bhikkhus, I do not see a single one that is so very harmful as laziness. Laziness is very harmful.”

“Taking into account interior factors, bhikkhus, I do not see a single one that is so very beneficial as arousing energy. Arousing energy is very beneficial.”

“Taking into account interior factors, bhikkhus, I do not see a single one that is so very harmful as having many wishes … having few wishes … lack of contentment … contentment … irrational application of mind … rational application of mind … lack of focused awareness … focused awareness …”

“Taking into account exterior factors, bhikkhus, I do not see a single one that is so very harmful as bad friends. Bad friends are very harmful.”

“Taking into account exterior factors, bhikkhus, I do not see a single one that is so very beneficial as good friends. Good friends are very beneficial.”

“Taking into account interior factors, bhikkhus, I do not see a single one that is so very harmful as pursuing bad habits and not good habits. Pursuing bad habits and not good habits is very harmful.”

“Taking into account interior factors, bhikkhus, I do not see a single one that is so very beneficial as pursuing good habits and not bad habits. Pursuing good habits and not bad habits is very beneficial.”

“Bhikkhus, I do not see a single thing that leads to the decline and disappearance of the true teaching like negligence. Negligence leads to the decline and disappearance of the true teaching.”

“Bhikkhus, I do not see a single thing that leads to the continuation, persistence, and enduring of the true teaching like diligence. Diligence leads to the continuation, persistence, and enduring of the true teaching.”

“Bhikkhus, I do not see a single thing that leads to the decline and disappearance of the true teaching like laziness. Laziness leads to the decline and disappearance of the true teaching.”

“Bhikkhus, I do not see a single thing that leads to the continuation, persistence, and enduring of the true teaching like arousing energy. Arousing energy leads to the continuation, persistence, and enduring of the true teaching.”

“Bhikkhus, I do not see a single thing that leads to the decline and disappearance of the true teaching like having many wishes … having few wishes … lack of contentment … contentment … irrational application of mind … rational application of mind … lack of focused awareness … focused awareness … bad friends … good friends … pursuing bad habits and not good habits. Pursuing bad habits and not good habits leads to the decline and disappearance of the true teaching.”

“Bhikkhus, I do not see a single thing that leads to the continuation, persistence, and enduring of the true teaching like pursuing good habits and not bad habits. Pursuing good habits and not bad habits leads to the continuation, persistence, and enduring of the true teaching”

“Bhikkhus, those bhikkhus who explain what is not the teaching as the teaching are acting for the hurt and unhappiness of the people, for the harm, hurt, and suffering of gods and humans. They make much bad karma and make the true teaching disappear.”

“Bhikkhus, those bhikkhus who explain what is the teaching as not the teaching are acting for the hurt and unhappiness of the people, for the harm, hurt, and suffering of gods and humans. They make much bad karma and make the true teaching disappear.”

“Those bhikkhus who explain what is not found in the monastic law as found in the monastic law … what is found in the the monastic law as not found in the monastic law … what was not spoken and stated by the Realized One as spoken and stated by the Realized One … what was spoken and stated by the Realized One as not spoken and stated by the Realized One … what was not practiced by the Realized One as practiced by the Realized One … what was practiced by the Realized One as not practiced by the Realized One … what was not prescribed by the Realized One as prescribed by the Realized One … what was prescribed by the Realized One as not prescribed by the Realized One are acting for the hurt and unhappiness of the people, for the harm, hurt, and suffering of gods and humans. They make much bad karma and make the true teaching disappear.”