8.
The Discourse on Decline
158.
There the Venerable Sāriputta addressed the monks:
"Friends, monks!"
"Friend," those monks assented to the Venerable Sāriputta.
The Venerable Sāriputta said this -
"Whoever indeed, friends, whether monk or nun, regards four qualities within oneself, the conclusion should be reached here - 'I am declining from wholesome mental states.' This is called decline by the Blessed One. Which four? An abundance of lust, an abundance of hate, an abundance of delusion, and his eye of wisdom does not tread in the profound matters of what is possible and impossible. Whoever indeed, friends, whether monk or nun, regards these four qualities within oneself, the conclusion should be reached here - 'I am declining from wholesome mental states.' This is decline, declared by the Blessed One.
"Whoever indeed, friends, whether monk or nun, regards four qualities within oneself, the conclusion should be reached here - 'I am not declining from wholesome mental states.' This is non-decline, declared by the Blessed One. Which four? Diminution of lust, diminution of hate, diminution of delusion, and his eye of wisdom penetrates the profound matters of the possible and impossible. Whoever indeed, friends, whether monk or nun, regards these four qualities within oneself, the conclusion should be reached here - 'I am not declining from wholesome mental states.' This is non-decline, declared by the Blessed One." The eighth.