004.01. When the night was waning, a certain deity, with a resplendent light illuminated the whole of Jeta's grove, approached The Blessed One, worshipped, stood on a side and said:

Venerable sir, these seven things conduce to the non-decrease of the bhikkhu. What seven?

Revering the Teacher, the Teaching, the Community of bhikkhus, the training, concentration, diligence and friendly welcome. Venerable sir, these seven things conduce to the non-decrease of the bhikkhu. Having said it, that deity waited for the approval of the Teacher. Then that deity knowing the Teacher approves my words, worshipped The Blessed One, circumambulated and vanished from there .

At the end of that night The Blessed One addressed the bhikkhus:

Bhikkhus, last night, when the night was waning, a certain deity, with a resplendent light illuminated the whole of Jeta's grove, approached me, worshipped, stood on a side and said:

Venerable sir, these seven things conduce to the non-decrease of the bhikkhu. What seven?

Revering the Teacher, the Teaching, the Community of bhikkhus, the training, concentration, diligence and friendly welcome. Venerable sir, these seven things conduce to the non-decrease of the bhikkhu. Having said it, that deity waited for my approval. Then that deity knowing that I approve her words, worshipped me, circumambulated and vanished from there

The bhikkhu revering the Teacher, Teaching, Community of bhikkhus,

Concentration, dispelling, revering the training much,

Diligence and the friendly welcome

Could not decrease, he is close upon extinction.

004.02. Bhikkhus, last night, when the night was waning,a certain deity, with a resplendent light illuminated the whole of Jeta's grove, approached me, worshipped, stood on a side and said:

Venerable sir, these seven things conduce to the non-decrease of the bhikkhu. What seven?

Revering the Teacher, the Teaching, the Community of bhikkhus, the training, concentration, shame and remorse Venerable sir, these seven things conduce to the non-decrease of the bhikkhu. Having said it, that deity waited for my approval. Then that deity knowing that I approve her words, worshipped me, circumambulated and vanished from there

The bhikkhu revering the Teacher, Teaching, Community of bhikkhus,

Concentration, dispelling, revering the training much,

Endowed with shame and remorse and mindfulness

Could not decrease, he is close upon extinction.

004.03. Bhikkhus, last night, when the night was waning, a certain deity, with a resplendent light illuminated the whole of Jeta's grove, approached me, worshipped, stood on a side and said:

Venerable sir, these seven things conduce to the non-decrease of the bhikkhu. What seven?

Revering the Teacher, the Teaching, the Community of bhikkhus, the training, concentration, gentleness and spiritual companions Venerable sir, these seven things conduce to the non-decrease of the bhikkhu. Having said it, that deity waited for my approval. Then that deity knowing that I approve her words, worshipped me, circumambulated and vanished from there

The bhikkhu revering the Teacher, Teaching, Community of bhikkhus,

Concentration, dispelling, revering the training much,

A gentle spiritual friend, mindful and full of respect

Could not decrease, he is close upon extinction.

004.04. Bhikkhus, last night, when the night was waning, a certain deity, with a resplendent light illuminated the whole of Jeta's grove, approached me, worshipped, stood on a side and said:

Venerable sir, these seven things conduce to the non-decrease of the bhikkhu. What seven?

Revering the Teacher, the Teaching, the Community of bhikkhus, the training, concentration, gentleness and spiritual companions Venerable sir, these seven things conduce to the non-decrease of the bhikkhu. Having said it, that deity waited for my approval. Then that deity knowing that I approve her words, worshipped me, circumambulated and vanished from there

When this was said, venerable Sàriputta said thus to The Blessed One:Venerable sir, of this short exposition of The Blessed One, I know the detailed meaning thus: Here, the bhikkhu himself reveres the Teacher, praises revering the Teacher, incites those other bhikkhus who do not revere the Teacher to do it and he praises the bhikkhus who revere the Teacher, at the right time, truthfully. Here, the bhikkhu himself reveres the Teaching,.reñhe Community,.re. the training, .re.concentration, .re. gentleness, .re. and spiritual companionship praises revering spiritual companionship, incites those other bhikkhus who do not revere spiritual companionship to do it and he praises the bhikkhus who revere apiritual companionship, at the right time, truthfully. I know the detailed meaning of this short exposition given by The Blessed One thus: Good! Sàriputta, know the detailed meaning of this short exposition thus. Here, the bhikkhu himself reveres the Teacher, praises revering the Teacher, incites those other bhikkhus who do not revere the Teacher to do it and he praises the bhikkhus who revere the Teacher, at the right time, truthfully. Here, the bhikkhu himself reveres the Teaching,.reñhe Community,.re. the training, .re.concentration, .re. gentleness, .re. and spiritual companionship praises revering spiritual companionship, incites those other bhikkhus who do not revere spiritual companionship to do it and he praises the bhikkhus who revere spiritual companionship, at the right time, truthfully. This is the detailed meaning of the short exposition given by me.

004.05. Bhikkhus, a friend endowed with seven things should be associated. What seven? Gives something difficult to give, does something difficult to do, pardons somebody difficult to pardon, hidden good qualities he discloses, hidden bad qualities he further hides, does not let down one in difficulty, does not belittle even a small gift. A friend endowed with these seven should be associated.

A friend gives something difficult to give and does something difficult to do.

Hidden good qualities are disclosed and hidden evil are further hidden

Does not let down a friend in difficulty and does not belittle even a small gift.

If these qualities are seen in someone, he should be associated as a friend.

004.06. Bhikkhus, a friend endowed with seven things should be associated, even when repelled should be followed after What seven?

Is loveable and agreeable, is reverential, developed, does what he says, says something deep and does not get involved unsuitably. Bhikkhus, a friend endowed with these seven things should be associated, even when repelled should be followed after .

Amiability, reverence, development, not going beyond his words,

And saying something deep, does not get involved,

If these qualities are evident in a person, he should be associated as a friend,

For one's own good, that friendship should not be destroyed.

004.07. Bhikkhus, the bhikkhu endowed with seven things soon abides by himself realizing the four analytical knowledges. What seven?

Bhikkhus, the bhikkhu knows as it really is, here my mind is sticky; when the mind is internally concentrated knows as it really is, here my mind is concentrated. When the mind is externally distracted knows as it really is, here my mind is externally distracted. Knowing feelings arise to him, with his knowledge they persist and with his knowledge they fade. Knowing perceptions arise to him, with his knowledge they persist and with his knowledge they fade. Knowing thoughts arise to him, with his knowledge they persist and with his knowledge they fade. Unexalted or exalted signs taken up in suitable and unsuitable things, as impure and pure counterparts are wisely considered borne in mind and penetratingly seen Bhikkhus, the bhikkhu endowed with these seven things soon abides by himself realizing the four analytical knowledges.

004.08. Bhikkhus, Sàriputta endowed with seven things abides by himself realizing the four analytical knowledges. What seven?

Here, bhikkhus, Sàriputta knows as it really is, here my mind is sticky; when the mind is internally concentrated knows as it really is, here my mind is concentrated. When the mind is externally distracted knows as it really is, here my mind is externally distracted. Knowing feelings arise to him, with his knowledge they persist and with his knowledge they fade. Knowing perceptions arise to him, with his knowledge they persist and with his knowledge they fade. Knowing thoughts arise to him, with his knowledge they persist and with his knowledge they fade. Unexalted or exalted signs taken up in suitable and unsuitable things, as impure and pure counterparts are wisely considered borne in mind and penetratingly seen Bhikkhus, Sàriputta endowed with these seven things abides by himself realizing the four analytical knowledges.

004.09. Bhikkhus, the bhikkhu endowed with seven things wields power over the mind, his mind does not wield power over him; what seven?

Here, the bhikkhu is clever in concentration, clever in attainments of concentration, clever in enduring in concentration, clever in rising from concentrations, is clever in seeing the benefits of concentration, is clever in pasture for concentrations, is clever in throwing out in concentrations. Bhikkhus, the bhikkhu endowed with these seven things wields power over the mind, the mind does not wield power over him.

004.10. Bhikkhus, Sàriputta endowed with seven things wields power over the mind, his mind does not wield power over him What seven?

Here, bhikkhus Sàriputta is clever in concentration, clever in attainments of concentration, clever in enduring in concentration, clever in rising from concentrations, is clever in seeing the benefits of concentration, is clever in pasture for concentrations, is clever in throwing out in concentrations. Bhikkhus, Sàriputta endowed with these seven things wields power over the mind, the mind does not wield power over him.

004.11. Venerable Sàriputta putting on robes in the morning, taking bowl and robes entered Sàvatthi for alms. Then it occured to venerable Sàriputta, it is too early to go the alms round, what if I go to the monastery of the wandering acetics. Venerable Sàriputta entered the monastery of the wandering ascetics, exchanged friendly greetings with the wandering ascetics of other sects and sat on a side. To the wandering ascetics of other sects assembled there, this conversation arose. ßFriends, whoever leads the holy life pure and complete for twelve years, is the bhikkhu of distinction, without any doubts.

Then venerable Sàriputta neither pleased nor showing displeasure for the words of the wandering ascetics of other sects, got up from his seat and went away, thinking I will know the meaning of these words from The Blessed One.

Venerable Sàriputta wandering for alms in Sàvatthi and after the meal, returning from the alms round approachd The Blessed One, worshipped sat on side and said to The Blessed One:

Here, venerable sir, I put on robes in the morning, and taking bowl and robes entered Sàvatthi for alms. Then it occured to me, it is too early to go for the alms round, what if I go to the monastery of the wandering acetics. Venerable sir, I entered the monastery of the wandering ascetics, exchanged friendly greetings with the wandering ascetics of other sects and sat on a side. To the wandering ascetics of other sects assembled there, this conversation arose. ßFriends, whoever leads the holy life pure and complete for twelve years, is the bhikkhu of distinction, without any doubts.

Venerable sir, I was not pleased, not showing displeasure for the words of the wandering ascetics of other sects, I got up from my seat and went away, thinking I will know the meaning of these words from The Blessed One. Venerable sir, is it possible to appoint a bhikkhu of distinction in this dispensation, merely counting the number of rains that he has spent?

Sàriputta, it is not possible to appoint a bhikkhu of distinction in this dispensation, merely by counting the number of rains that he has spent. Sàriputta, I have by myself realized and declare these seven attributes to appoint a bhikkhu of distinct.

What seven? Here, Sàriputta, the bhikkhu has keen interest in observing the precepts, and has not lost the love for future observing of the precepts. The bhikkhu has keen interest in attending to the Teaching, has not lost the love for future attention to the Teaching. The bhikkhu has keen interest in training desires, and has not lost the love for future training of desires. The bhikkhu has keen interest for seclusion, and has not lost the love for future seclusions. The bhikkhu has keen interest for arousing effort, and has not lost the love for future arousing of effort. The bhikkhu has keen interest in careful discriminating mindfulness and has not lost the love for future careful discriminating mindfulness. The bhikkhu has a keen interest to penetrate to right view, and has not lost the love for future penetration to right vãew. Sàriputta, the bhikkhu endowed with these seven attributes leading the holy life complete and pure for twelve years is a bhikkhu of distinction without any doubts. .re. for twenty four years is a bhikkhu of distinction without any doubts.re.for thirty six years is a bhikkhu of distinction without any doubts.re.for forty eight years is a bhikkhu of distinction without any doubts.

004.12. I heard thus. At one time The Blessed One was living in Gosita's monastery in Kosambi. Venerable ânanda putting on robes in the morning, taking bowl and robes entered Sàvatthi for alms. Then it occured to venerable ânanda, it is too early to go the alms round, what if I go to the monastery of the wandering acetics. Venerable ânanda entered the monastery of the wandering ascetics, exchanged friendly greetings with the wandering ascetics of other sects and sat on a side. To the wandering ascetics of other sects assembled there, this conversation arose. ßFriends, whoever leads the holy life pure and complete for twelve years, is the bhikkhu of distinction, without any doubts.

Then venerable ânanda neither pleased nor showing displeasure for the words of the wandering ascetics of other sects, got up from his seat and went away, thinking I will know the meaning of these words from The Blessed One.

Venerable ânanda wandering for alms in Sàvatthi and after the meal, returning from the alms round approached The Blessed One, worshipped sat on side and said to The Blessed One:

Here, venerable sir, I put on robes in the morning, and taking bowl and robes entered Sàvatthi for alms. Then it occured to me, it is too early to go for the alms round, what if I go to the monastery of the wandering acetics. Venerable sir, I entered the monastery of the wandering ascetics, exchanged friendly greetings with the wandering ascetics of other sects and sat on a side. To the wandering ascetics of other sects assembled there, this conversation arose. ßFriends, whoever leads the holy life pure and complete for twelve years, is the bhikkhu of distinction, without any doubts.

Venerable sir, I was not pleased, not showing displeasure for the words of the wandering ascetics of other sects, I got up from my seat and went away, thinking I will know the meaning of these words from The Blessed One. Venerable sir, is it possible to appoint a bhikkhu of distinction in this dispensation, merely counting the number of rains that he has spent?

ânanda, it is not possible to appoint a bhikkhu of distinction in this dispensation, merely by counting the number of rains that he has spent. ânanda, I have by myself realized and declare these seven attributes to appoint a bhikkhu of distinct.

What seven? Here, ânanda, the bhikkhu has keen interest in observing the precepts, and has not lost the love for future observing of the precepts. The bhikkhu has keen interest in attending to the Teaching, has not lost the love for future attention to the Teaching. The bhikkhu has keen interest in training desires, and has not lost the love for future training of desires. The bhikkhu has keen interest for seclusion, and has not lost the love for future seclusions. The bhikkhu has keen interest for arousing effort, and has not lost the love for future arousing of effort. The bhikkhu has keen interest in careful discriminating mindfulness and has not lost the love for future careful discriminating mindfulness. The bhikkhu has a keen interest to penetrate to right view, and has not lost the love for future penetration to right vãew. ânanda, the bhikkhu endowed with these seven attributes leading the holy life complete and pure for twelve years is a bhikkhu of distinction without any doubts. .re. for twenty four years is a bhikkhu of distinction without any doubts.re.for thirty six years is a bhikkhu of distinction without any doubts.re.for forty eight years is a bhikkhu of distinction without any doubts.