The Buddha teaches on decline, presenting a eightfold teaching for disciples on the path.

AN 8.79 Decline

“Aṭṭhime, bhikkhave, dhammā sekhassa bhikkhuno parihānāya saṁvattanti. Katame aṭṭha? Kammārāmatā, bhassārāmatā, niddārāmatā, saṅgaṇikārāmatā, indriyesu aguttadvāratā, bhojane amattaññutā, saṁsaggārāmatā, papañcārāmatā ime kho, bhikkhave, aṭṭha dhammā sekhassa bhikkhuno parihānāya saṁvattanti.

Aṭṭhime, bhikkhave, dhammā sekhassa bhikkhuno aparihānāya saṁvattanti. Katame aṭṭha? Na kammārāmatā, na bhassārāmatā, na niddārāmatā, na saṅgaṇikārāmatā, indriyesu guttadvāratā, bhojane mattaññutā, asaṁsaggārāmatā, nippapañcārāmatā ime kho, bhikkhave, aṭṭha dhammā sekhassa bhikkhuno aparihānāya saṁvattantī”ti.

Navamaṁ.

Reference Translation by Bhikkhu Sujato (CC0).

“Aṭṭhime, bhikkhave, dhammā sekhassa bhikkhuno parihānāya saṁvattanti.

“These eight things lead to the decline of a mendicant trainee.

Katame aṭṭha?

What eight?

Kammārāmatā, bhassārāmatā, niddārāmatā, saṅgaṇikārāmatā, indriyesu aguttadvāratā, bhojane amattaññutā, saṁsaggārāmatā, papañcārāmatā

They relish work, talk, sleep, and company. They don’t guard the sense doors and they eat too much. They relish closeness and proliferation.

ime kho, bhikkhave, aṭṭha dhammā sekhassa bhikkhuno parihānāya saṁvattanti.

These eight things lead to the decline of a mendicant trainee.

Aṭṭhime, bhikkhave, dhammā sekhassa bhikkhuno aparihānāya saṁvattanti.

These eight things don’t lead to the decline of a mendicant trainee.

Katame aṭṭha?

What eight?

Na kammārāmatā, na bhassārāmatā, na niddārāmatā, na saṅgaṇikārāmatā, indriyesu guttadvāratā, bhojane mattaññutā, asaṁsaggārāmatā, nippapañcārāmatā

They don’t relish work, talk, sleep and company. They guard the sense doors, and they don’t eat too much. They don’t relish closeness and proliferation.

ime kho, bhikkhave, aṭṭha dhammā sekhassa bhikkhuno aparihānāya saṁvattantī”ti.

These eight things don’t lead to the decline of a mendicant trainee.”

Navamaṁ.

Qualities:

Wisdom

Wisdom

Lived understanding and sound judgment that steers the mind away from suffering, distinct from mere accumulation of facts.

Also known as: (of a person) wise, astute, intelligent, learned, skilled, firm, stable, steadfast, an experiential understanding of the four noble truths
Pāli: paññā, medhā, dhīra, paṇḍita, asammūḷha
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Last updated on July 27, 2026