AN 1.118-128 - AN 1.118-128
Translated by Bhikkhu Candana
Source: https://www.mindreleased.com/s/Book-1_Anguttara-Nikya-A-New-Translation.pdf#page=68
License: Candana — free distribution, unaltered contents
Copyright © Bhikkhu Candana, 2020, 2026. Free distribution only; do not alter the contents. The original book, including its complete permission notice, accompanies this text.

118. “Bhikkhus, I do not know of a single thing that is more damaging to This Beautiful and Good Dhamma, leading to its rapid degeneration and hastening its inevitable disappearance, than living with the yearning for many things, as a result of which distortions of The Teachings arise, creating confusion and uncertainty in the minds of people.

“Therefore, Bhikkhus, because of living with yearning and desire for many things, This Beautiful and Good Dhamma will degenerate and disappear.”

119. “But, Bhikkhus, I do not know of a single thing that is more protective of This Beautiful and Good Dhamma, promoting its healthy continuity, non-degeneration and its non-disappearance, than living with the fewness of desires, as a result of which the essence of The Teachings is kept alive and undeterred, where there is no confusion or uncertainty in the hearts and minds of people about The Dhamma, as they attain Its highest Fruits.

“Therefore, Bhikkhus, because of living with fewness of desires, This Beautiful and Good Dhamma will continue to thrive, and those who taste Its Fruits will continue to flourish.”

120. “Bhikkhus, I do not know of a single thing that is more damaging to this Beautiful and Good Dhamma, leading to its rapid degeneration while hastening its inevitable disappearance, than living with discontentment in the heart, as a result of which distortions of the Teachings arise, creating confusion and uncertainty in the minds of people.

“Therefore, Bhikkhus, because of living with discontent, This Beautiful and Good Dhamma will degenerate and disappear.”

121. “But, Bhikkhus, I do not know of a single thing that is more protective of This Beautiful and Good Dhamma, promoting its healthy continuity, non-degeneration and its non-disappearance, than living with contentment in the heart, as a result of which the essence of The Teachings is kept alive and undeterred, where there is no confusion or uncertainty in the hearts and minds of people about The Dhamma, and beings attain Its highest Fruits.

“Therefore, Bhikkhus, because of living with contentment, This Beautiful and Good Dhamma will continue to thrive, and those who taste Its Fruits will continue to flourish.”

122. “Bhikkhus, I do not know of a single thing that is more harmful to This Beautiful and Good Dhamma, leading to its rapid degeneration and hastening its inevitable disappearance, than living with unwise and wrong attention, as a result of which distortions of The Teachings arise, creating confusion and uncertainty in the hearts and minds of people.

“Therefore, Bhikkhus, because of living with unwise and wrong attention, This Beautiful and Good Dhamma will degenerate and disappear.”

123. “But, Bhikkhus, I do not know of a single thing that is more supportive of This Beautiful and Good Dhamma, promoting its healthy continuity, non-degeneration and its non-disappearance, than living with wise radical attention, as a result of which the essence of The Teachings is kept alive and undeterred, where there is no confusion or uncertainty in the hearts and minds of people about The Dhamma, and beings attain Its highest Fruits.

“Therefore, Bhikkhus, because of living with wise radical attention, This Beautiful and Good Dhamma will continue to thrive, and those who taste Its Fruits will continue to flourish.”

124. “Bhikkhus, I do not know of a single thing that is more damaging to This Beautiful and Good Dhamma, leading to its rapid degeneration and hastening its inevitable disappearance, than living without full awareness, as a result of which distortions of The Teachings arise, creating confusion and uncertainty in the minds of people.

“Therefore, Bhikkhus, because of living without full awareness, This Beautiful and Good Dhamma will degenerate and disappear.”

125. “But, Bhikkhus, I do not know of a single thing that is more protective of This Beautiful and Good Dhamma, promoting its healthy continuity, non-degeneration and its non-disappearance, than living with full awareness, as a result of which the essence of The Teachings is kept alive and undeterred, where there is no confusion or uncertainty in the hearts and minds of people about The Dhamma, and beings attain Its highest Fruits.

“Therefore, Bhikkhus, because of living with full awareness, This Beautiful and Good Dhamma will continue to thrive, and those who taste Its Fruits will continue to flourish.”

126. “Bhikkhus, I do not know of a single thing that is more damaging to This Beautiful and Good Dhamma, leading to its rapid degeneration and inevitable disappearance, than associating with and having bad friends in one’s life, as a result of which distortions of The Teachings arise, creating confusion and uncertainty in the hearts and minds of people.

“Therefore, Bhikkhus, because of associating with and having bad friends in one’s life, This Beautiful and Good Dhamma will degenerate and disappear.”

127. “But, Bhikkhus, I do not know of a single thing that is more protective of This Beautiful and Good Dhamma, promoting its healthy continuity, non-degeneration and its non-disappearance, than associating with and having genuinely good spiritual friends in one’s life, as a result of which the essence of The Teachings is kept alive and undeterred, where there is no confusion or uncertainty in the hearts and minds of people about The Dhamma, and beings will continue to attain Its highest Fruits.

“Therefore, Bhikkhus, because of associating with and having genuinely good spiritual friends in one’s life, This Beautiful and Good Dhamma will continue to thrive, and those who taste Its Fruits will continue to flourish.”

128. “Bhikkhus, I do not know of a single thing that is more harmful to This Beautiful and Good Dhamma, leading to its rapid demise while hastening its inevitable disappearance, than having the desire for and the pursuit of bad and damaging habits, as a result of which distortions of The Teachings arise, creating confusion and uncertainty in the hearts and minds of people.

“Therefore, Bhikkhus, because of having the desire for and the pursuit of bad and damaging habits, This Beautiful and Good Dhamma will degenerate and disappear.”
