3.
The Discourse on Decline
389.
On one occasion the Venerable Ānanda and the Venerable Bhadda were dwelling at Pāṭaliputta in the Cock's Park.
Then the Venerable Bhadda, in the evening, having emerged from seclusion, approached the Venerable Ānanda;
having approached, he exchanged friendly greetings with the Venerable Ānanda.
Having concluded the pleasant and memorable talk, he sat down to one side.
Seated to one side, the Venerable Bhadda said this to the Venerable Ānanda -
"What now, friend Ānanda, is the cause, what is the condition whereby there is decline of the Good Teaching?
What now, friend Ānanda, is the cause, what is the condition whereby there is non-decline of the Good Teaching?"
"Good, good, friend Bhadda! Good indeed is your penetration, friend Bhadda, good is your discernment, excellent is your inquiry. For thus indeed you ask, friend Bhadda - 'What now, friend Ānanda, is the cause, what is the condition whereby there is decline of the Good Teaching? But what, friend Ānanda, is the cause, what is the condition whereby there is non-decline of the Good Teaching?'" "Yes, friend." "Because of undevelopment and lack of cultivation of the four establishments of mindfulness, friend, there is decline of the Good Teaching. But because of having developed and cultivated the four establishments of mindfulness, friend, there is non-decline of the Good Teaching."
"Which four? Here, friend, a monk dwells observing the body in the body, ardent, fully aware, mindful, having removed covetousness and displeasure regarding the world; in feelings... etc. In mind... etc. He dwells observing mental phenomena in mental phenomena, ardent, fully aware, mindful, having removed covetousness and displeasure regarding the world. Because of undevelopment and lack of cultivation of these four establishments of mindfulness, friend, there is decline of the Good Teaching. But because of having developed and cultivated these four establishments of mindfulness, friend, there is non-decline of the Good Teaching." The third.