40b: The Last Days 2, In Vajji – 1482
7. Monastics, so long as the monastics cultivate equanimity (
upekkhā
), a
factor of Awakening, they are bound to progress spiritually; there is no
reason for their decline.
Monastics, so long as these seven factors of non-decline remain with the
monastics, and so long as the monastics live by them, they are bound to progress
spiritually; there is no reason for their decline.”
In these seven factors of Awakening which should be cultivated by
monastics for progress, the Buddha teaches insight development pertaining
to the paths and fruitions both at the mundane and supermundane levels.
The Fifth Set of Seven Factors of Non-Decline
The Buddha then continued with the further seven factors of non-decline thus:
1. Monastics, so long as the monastics cultivate the perception of
impermanence (
anicca
), they are bound to progress spiritually; there is
no reason for their decline.
2. Monastics, so long as the monastics cultivate the perception of non-self
(
anatta
), they are bound to progress spiritually; there is no reason for
their decline.
3. Monastics, so long as the monastics cultivate the perception of the
foulness or impurity of the body (
asubha
), they are bound to progress
spiritually; there is no reason for their decline.
4. Monastics, so long as the monastics cultivate the perception of the
danegrs in the aggregates (
ādīnava
), they are bound to progress
spiritually; there is no reason for their decline.
5. Monastics, so long as the monastics cultivate the perception of
abandoning (
pahāna
), they are bound to progress spiritually; there is no
reason for their decline.
6. Monastics, so long as the monastics cultivate the perception of
detachment from passion (
virāga
), they are bound to progress
spiritually; there is no
[1000]
reason for their decline.
7. Monastics, so long as the monastics cultivate the perception of cessation
(
nirodha
), they are bound to progress spiritually; there is no reason for
their decline.