Numbered Discourses 7.29

3. The Vajji Seven

Non-decline for a Lay Follower

“These seven things lead to the decline of a lay follower. What seven? They miss out on seeing the bhikkhus. They neglect listening to the true teaching. They don’t train in higher ethical conduct. They’re very suspicious about bhikkhus, 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 bhikkhus. They don’t neglect listening to the true teaching. They train in higher ethical conduct. They’re very confident about bhikkhus, 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 bhikkhus 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 bhikkhus 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.”