Four Things that Lead to the Decline and Disappearance of the Wholesome Teachings

There are, Monks, these four things that lead to the decline and disappearance of the wholesome Teachings.

What four?

(1) Here, the Monks learn discourses that have been badly acquired, with badly set down words and phrases. When the words and phrases are badly set down, the meaning is badly understood.

This is the first thing that leads to the decline and disappearance of the wholesome Teachings.

(2) Again, the Monks are difficult to correct and possess qualities that make them difficult to correct. They are impatient and do not accept instruction respectfully.

This is the second thing that leads to the decline and disappearance of the wholesome Teachings.

(3) Again, those Monks who are learned, heirs to the heritage, experts on The Teachings, experts on the discipline, experts on the outlines, do not respectfully teach the discourses to others. When they have passed away, the discourses are cut off at the root, left without anyone to preserve them.

This is the third thing that leads to the decline and disappearance of the wholesome Teachings.

(4) Again, the elder Monks are luxurious and complacent, leaders in backsliding, discarding the duty of solitude; they do not arouse energy for the attainment of the as-yet-unattained, for the achievement of the as-yet-unachieved, for the realization of the as-yet-unrealized. (Those in) the next generation follow their example. They, too, become luxurious and complacent, leaders in backsliding, discarding the duty of solitude; they, too do not arouse energy for the attainment of the as-yet-unattained, for the achievement of the as-yet unachieved, for the realization of the as-yet-unrealized.

This is the fourth thing that leads to the decline and disappearance of the wholesome Teachings.

These are the four things that lead to the decline and disappearance of the wholesome Teachings.

(Reference: AN 4.160)

In this Teaching from Gotama Buddha, he shares four (4) things that “lead to the decline and disappearance of the wholesome Teachings”.

They are just the opposite of what was shared in the previous Chapter of the four (4) things that “lead to the continuation, non-decline, and non-disappearance of the wholesome Teachings” shared by Gotama Buddha.

It would be wise for all of us to stay dedicated to practicing The Teachings that “lead to the continuation, non-decline, and non-disappearance of the wholesome Teachings” shared by Gotama Buddha and not “the four things that lead to the decline and disappearance of the wholesome Teachings”.

Through each individual doing their part to focus on learning, reflecting, and practicing these wholesome Teachings in the way described by The Buddha, your life and, thus, the world will become a better place for all of us to live peacefully and in harmony.

Even if others choose not to learn and practice these Teachings, an Enlightened mind can still reside peaceful, calm, serene, and content with joy unaffected by all that others choose to do in the world.

But, through each individual focusing on developing a foundation in these Teachings to improve their own life practice, their life and the entire world will become a better place to exist.