Mahâ-Parinibbâna-Suttanta: The Book of the Great Decease

[1. 'Ponobhavikâ' punabbhava-dâyikâ. (S. V. fol. tû.) 2. 'Pakkattam yeva satim upatthâpessantî' ti attano abbhantare satim upatthâpessanti. (S. V. fol. tû.)] p. 7 --so long may the brethren be expected, not to decline, but to prosper. So long as these seven conditions shall continue to exist among the brethren, so long as they are well-instructed in these conditions, so long may the brethren be expected not to decline, but to prosper.' 7. 'Other seven conditions of welfare will I teach you, O brethren. Listen well, and attend, and I will speak.' And on their expressing their assent, he spake as follows: 'So long as the brethren shall not engage in, or be fond of, or be connected with business--so long as the brethren shall not be in the habit of or be fond of, or be partakers in idle talk--so long as the brethren shall not be addicted to, or be fond of, or indulge in slothfulness--so long as the brethren shall not frequent, or be fond of, or indulge in society--so long as the brethren shall neither have, nor fall under the influence of, sinful desires--so long as the brethren shall not become the friends, companions, or intimates of sinners--so long as the brethren shall not come to a stop on their way [to Nirvâna[1]] because they [1. 'Oramattakenâ' ti avaramattakena appamattakena. 'Antarâ' ti arahattam appatvâ 'va etth' antare. 'Vosânan' ti .... osakkanam idam vuttam hoti. Yâva sîla-pârisuddhi-mattena vâ vipassanâ-mattena vâ sotâpanna-bhâva-mattena vâ sakadâgami-bhâva-mattena vâ anâgâmi-bhâva-mattena vâ 'vosânam' na 'âpaggissanti' nâma 'vuddhi yeva bhikkhûnam pâtikamkhâ no parihâni.' S. V.(fol. tri). This is an interesting analogue to Philippians iii. 13: 'I count not myself to have apprehended: but this one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind, and reaching forth unto those things which are before, I press toward the mark,' &c. See also below, Chap. V, § 68.]