Numbered Discourses 5.90

9. Senior Bhikkhus

A Trainee (2nd)

“These five things lead to the decline of a bhikkhu trainee. What five?

Firstly, a bhikkhu trainee has many duties and responsibilities, and is competent in many tasks. They neglect retreat, and are not committed to internal serenity of heart. This is the first thing that leads to the decline of a bhikkhu trainee.

Furthermore, a bhikkhu trainee spends their day doing trivial work. They neglect retreat, and are not committed to internal serenity of heart. This is the second thing that leads to the decline of a bhikkhu trainee.

Furthermore, a bhikkhu trainee mixes closely with laypeople and renunciates, socializing inappropriately like a layperson. They neglect retreat, and are not committed to internal serenity of heart. This is the third thing that leads to the decline of a bhikkhu trainee.

Furthermore, a bhikkhu trainee enters the town at the wrong time, and returns too late in the day. They neglect retreat, and are not committed to internal serenity of heart. This is the fourth thing that leads to the decline of a bhikkhu trainee.

Furthermore, a bhikkhu trainee doesn’t get to take part in talk about self-effacement that helps open the heart, when they want, without trouble or difficulty. That is, talk about fewness of wishes, contentment, seclusion, aloofness, arousing energy, ethics, samādhi, wisdom, freedom, and the knowledge and vision of freedom. They neglect retreat, and are not committed to internal serenity of heart. This is the fifth thing that leads to the decline of a bhikkhu trainee.

These five things lead to the decline of a bhikkhu trainee.

These five things don’t lead to the decline of a bhikkhu trainee. What five?

Firstly, a bhikkhu trainee doesn’t have many duties and responsibilities, even though they are competent in many tasks. They don’t neglect retreat, and are committed to internal serenity of heart. This is the first thing that doesn’t lead to the decline of a bhikkhu trainee.

Furthermore, a bhikkhu trainee doesn’t spend their day doing trivial work. They don’t neglect retreat, and are committed to internal serenity of heart. This is the second thing that doesn’t lead to the decline of a bhikkhu trainee.

Furthermore, a bhikkhu trainee doesn’t mix closely with laypeople and renunciates, socializing inappropriately like a layperson. They don’t neglect retreat, and are committed to internal serenity of heart. This is the third thing that doesn’t lead to the decline of a bhikkhu trainee.

Furthermore, a bhikkhu trainee doesn’t enter the village too early or return too late in the day. They don’t neglect retreat, and are committed to internal serenity of heart. This is the fourth thing that doesn’t lead to the decline of a bhikkhu trainee.

Furthermore, a bhikkhu trainee gets to take part in talk about self-effacement that helps open the heart, when they want, without trouble or difficulty. That is, talk about fewness of wishes, contentment, seclusion, aloofness, arousing energy, ethics, samādhi, wisdom, freedom, and the knowledge and vision of freedom. They don’t neglect retreat, and are committed to internal serenity of heart. This is the fifth thing that doesn't lead to the decline of a bhikkhu trainee.

These five things don’t lead to the decline of a bhikkhu trainee.”