{"collection":"Samyutta Nikaya","full_text_available":true,"graph_url":"https://unchartedknowledge.5gfusion.net/v2/api/page/suttacentral_sn47.23/graph","html_url":"https://unchartedknowledge.5gfusion.net/v2/page/suttacentral_sn47.23","id":"suttacentral_sn47.23","license":"CC0","rights_basis":"suttacentral_bilara_data_cc0","source":"suttacentral","source_url":"https://suttacentral.net/sn47.23/en/sujato","summary":null,"tags":["Early Buddhist Texts","Samyutta Nikaya"],"text":"At one time the venerables \u0100nanda and Bhadda were staying near P\u0101\u1e6daliputta, in the Chicken Monastery. Then in the late afternoon, Venerable Bhadda came out of retreat, went to Venerable \u0100nanda, and exchanged greetings with him. When the greetings and polite conversation were over, he sat down to one side and said to \u0100nanda: \u201cWhat\u2019s the cause, Reverend \u0100nanda, what\u2019s the reason why the true teaching declines? And what\u2019s the cause, what\u2019s the reason why the true teaching doesn\u2019t decline?\u201d \u201cGood, good, Reverend Bhadda! Your approach and eloquence are excellent, and it\u2019s a good question. For you asked: \u2018What\u2019s the cause, what\u2019s the reason why the true teaching declines? And what\u2019s the cause, what\u2019s the reason why the true teaching doesn\u2019t decline?\u2019\u201d \u201cYes, reverend.\u201d \u201cIt\u2019s because of not developing and cultivating the four kinds of mindfulness meditation that the true teaching declines. It\u2019s because of developing and cultivating the four kinds of mindfulness meditation that the true teaching doesn\u2019t decline. What four? It\u2019s when a mendicant meditates by observing an aspect of the body\u2014keen, aware, and mindful, rid of covetousness and displeasure for the world. They meditate observing an aspect of feelings \u2026 mind \u2026 principles\u2014keen, aware, and mindful, rid of covetousness and displeasure for the world. It\u2019s because of not developing and cultivating these four kinds of mindfulness meditation that the true teaching declines. And it\u2019s because of developing and cultivating these four kinds of mindfulness meditation that the true teaching doesn\u2019t decline.\u201d","title":"Decline","tradition":"Samyutta Nikaya","translated_text":null,"word_count":244}