3.
The Discourse on Subject to Decline
96.
"I will teach you, monks, what is subject to decline and what is not subject to decline, and the six bases of overcoming.
Listen to that.
And how, monks, is one subject to decline?
Here, monks, for a monk, having seen a form with the eye, there arise evil unwholesome thoughts subject to mental fetters.
If that monk accepts them, does not abandon them, does not dispel them, does not put an end to them, does not bring them to obliteration, this should be known by that monk, monks -
'I am declining from wholesome mental states.'
For this was called decline by the Blessed One. Etc.
"Furthermore, monks, for a monk, having tasted a flavour with the tongue, there arise... etc. Furthermore, monks, for a monk, having cognised a mental object with the mind, there arise evil unwholesome thoughts subject to mental fetters. If that monk accepts them, does not abandon them, does not dispel them, does not put an end to them, does not bring them to obliteration, this should be known by that monk, monks - 'I am declining from wholesome mental states.' For this was called decline by the Blessed One. Thus, monks, one is subject to decline.
"And how, monks, is one not subject to decline? Here, monks, for a monk, having seen a form with the eye, there arise evil unwholesome thoughts subject to mental fetters. If that monk does not accept them, abandons them, dispels them, puts an end to them, brings them to obliteration, this should be known by that monk, monks - 'I am not declining from wholesome mental states.' For this was called non-decline by the Blessed One. Etc.
"Furthermore, monks, for a monk, having tasted a flavour with the tongue, there arise... etc. Furthermore, monks, for a monk, having cognised a mental object with the mind, there arise evil unwholesome thoughts subject to mental fetters. If that monk does not accept them, abandons them, dispels them, puts an end to them, brings them to obliteration, this should be known by that monk, monks - 'I am not declining from wholesome mental states.' For this was called non-decline by the Blessed One. Thus, monks, one is not subject to decline.
"And what, monks, are the six bases of overcoming? Here, monks, for a monk, having seen a form with the eye, there do not arise evil unwholesome thoughts subject to mental fetters. This should be known by that monk, monks - 'This sense base has been overcome.' For this was called a basis of overcoming by the Blessed One. Etc. Furthermore, monks, for a monk, having cognised a mental object with the mind, there do not arise evil unwholesome mental states, thoughts subject to mental fetters. This should be known by that monk, monks - 'This sense base has been overcome.' For this was called a basis of overcoming by the Blessed One. These are called, monks, the six bases of overcoming." The third.