Seven Principles to Prosper and Not Decline

Brāhmin! If the Vajjians keep these seven principles, as long as these principles remain in force, the Vajjians may be predicted to prosper and not decline.

(The followings are the seven principles that The Tathāgata said to Venerable Ānanda in the presence of Vassakāra Brāhmin.)

(1) Ānanda! The Vajjians hold regular and frequent assemblies.

(2) Ānanda! The Vajjians meet in harmony, break up in harmony, and carry on their business in harmony.

(3) Ānanda! The Vajjians do not authorize what has not been authorized already, and do not abolish what has been authorized, but proceed according to what has been authorized by their ancient tradition.

(4) Ānanda! The Vajjians honor, respect, revere, and salute the elders among them, and consider them worth listening to.

(5) Ānanda! The Vajjians do not forcibly abduct others’ wives and daughters and compel them to live with them.

(6) Ānanda! The Vajjians honor, respect, revere, and salute the Vajjians shrines at home and abroad, not withdrawing the proper support made and given before.

(7) Ānanda! The Vajjians make proper provision for the safety of Arahants, so that such Arahants may come in the future to live there, and those already there may reside in comfort.

Ānanda, so long as they keep these principles, the Vajjians may be predicted to prosper and not decline.

(Reference: DN 16)

In this Teaching from Gotama Buddha, he shares Teachings that will help a community of people live in harmony experiencing prosperity.

He suggested that they (1) hold regular and frequent meetings, (2) greet each other, conduct their affairs, and leave in harmony and peacefulness, (3) follow the rules that have been established for their community based on their ancient tradition without alteration, (4) respect their elders gaining insight and knowledge through listening to them, (5) do not forcibly abduct others’ wives and daughters and compel them to live with them practicing the refraining from taking what is not given and sexual misconduct, (6) honor and respect their shrines maintain proper support for their upkeep, and (7) accommodate Enlightened beings to ensure their safety and comfort of those who already reside there and to attract future Enlightened beings to reside in their community.

Through sharing this guidance, The Buddha is offering Teachings that will help the community of the Vajjians understand how to maintain the prosperity of their community.

During the lifetime of The Buddha, The Vajjians were a group of clans who settled in a land area that we might refer to as a “country” using today’s terms. They were considered as being prosperous and a well developed group of people who lived in harmony with one another. The Buddha provided this Teaching to help them continue their prosperity long into the future.