Saddhammappatirūpakasutta

Saṁyutta Nikāya 16.13

Linked Discourses 16.13

1. Kassapavagga

1. Kassapa

Saddhammappatirūpakasutta

The Counterfeit of the True Teaching

Evaṁ me sutaṁ—

So I have heard.

ekaṁ samayaṁ bhagavā sāvatthiyaṁ viharati jetavane anāthapiṇḍikassa ārāme.

At one time the Buddha was staying near Sāvatthī in Jeta’s Grove, Anāthapiṇḍika’s monastery.

Atha kho āyasmā mahākassapo yena bhagavā tenupasaṅkami; upasaṅkamitvā bhagavantaṁ abhivādetvā ekamantaṁ nisīdi. Ekamantaṁ nisinno kho āyasmā mahākassapo bhagavantaṁ etadavoca:

Then Venerable Mahākassapa went up to the Buddha, bowed, sat down to one side, and said to him:

“ko nu kho, bhante, hetu ko paccayo, yena pubbe appatarāni ceva sikkhāpadāni ahesuṁ bahutarā ca bhikkhū aññāya saṇṭhahiṁsu?

“What is the cause, sir, what is the reason why there used to be fewer training rules but more enlightened mendicants?

Ko pana, bhante, hetu ko paccayo, yenetarahi bahutarāni ceva sikkhāpadāni appatarā ca bhikkhū aññāya saṇṭhahantī”ti?

And what is the cause, what is the reason why these days there are more training rules and fewer enlightened mendicants?”

“Evañcetaṁ, kassapa, hoti sattesu hāyamānesu saddhamme antaradhāyamāne, bahutarāni ceva sikkhāpadāni honti appatarā ca bhikkhū aññāya saṇṭhahanti.

“That’s how it is, Kassapa. When sentient beings are in decline and the true teaching is disappearing there are more training rules and fewer enlightened mendicants.

Na tāva, kassapa, saddhammassa antaradhānaṁ hoti yāva na saddhammappatirūpakaṁ loke uppajjati.

The true teaching doesn’t disappear as long as the counterfeit of the true teaching hasn’t appeared in the world.

Yato ca kho, kassapa, saddhammappatirūpakaṁ loke uppajjati, atha saddhammassa antaradhānaṁ hoti.

But when the counterfeit of the true teaching appears in the world then the true teaching disappears.

Seyyathāpi, kassapa, na tāva jātarūpassa antaradhānaṁ hoti yāva na jātarūpappatirūpakaṁ loke uppajjati.

It’s like native gold, which doesn’t disappear as long as counterfeit gold hasn’t appeared in the world.

Yato ca kho, kassapa, jātarūpappatirūpakaṁ loke uppajjati, atha kho jātarūpassa antaradhānaṁ hoti.

But when counterfeit gold appears in the world then native gold disappears.

Evameva kho, kassapa, na tāva saddhammassa antaradhānaṁ hoti yāva na saddhammappatirūpakaṁ loke uppajjati.

In the same way, the true teaching doesn’t disappear as long as the counterfeit of the true teaching hasn’t appeared in the world.

Yato ca kho, kassapa, saddhammappatirūpakaṁ loke uppajjati, atha saddhammassa antaradhānaṁ hoti.

But when the counterfeit of the true teaching appears in the world then the true teaching disappears.

Na kho, kassapa, pathavīdhātu saddhammaṁ antaradhāpeti, na āpodhātu saddhammaṁ antaradhāpeti, na tejodhātu saddhammaṁ antaradhāpeti, na vāyodhātu saddhammaṁ antaradhāpeti;

It’s not the elements of earth, water, fire, or air that make the true teaching disappear.

atha kho idheva te uppajjanti moghapurisā ye imaṁ saddhammaṁ antaradhāpenti.

Rather, it’s the futile people who appear right here that make the true teaching disappear.

Seyyathāpi, kassapa, nāvā ādikeneva opilavati;

The true teaching doesn’t disappear like a ship that sinks all at once.

na kho, kassapa, evaṁ saddhammassa antaradhānaṁ hoti.

Pañca khome, kassapa, okkamaniyā dhammā saddhammassa sammosāya antaradhānāya saṁvattanti.

There are five detrimental things that lead to the decline and disappearance of the true teaching.

Katame pañca?

What five?

Idha, kassapa, bhikkhū bhikkhuniyo upāsakā upāsikāyo satthari agāravā viharanti appatissā, dhamme agāravā viharanti appatissā, saṅghe agāravā viharanti appatissā, sikkhāya agāravā viharanti appatissā, samādhismiṁ agāravā viharanti appatissā—

It’s when the monks, nuns, laymen, and laywomen lack respect and reverence for the Teacher, the teaching, the Saṅgha, the training, and immersion.

ime kho, kassapa, pañca okkamaniyā dhammā saddhammassa sammosāya antaradhānāya saṁvattanti.

These five detrimental things lead to the decline and disappearance of the true teaching.

Pañca khome, kassapa, dhammā saddhammassa ṭhitiyā asammosāya anantaradhānāya saṁvattanti.

There are five things that lead to the continuation, persistence, and enduring of the true teaching.

Katame pañca?

What five?

Idha, kassapa, bhikkhū bhikkhuniyo upāsakā upāsikāyo satthari sagāravā viharanti sappatissā, dhamme sagāravā viharanti sappatissā, saṅghe sagāravā viharanti sappatissā, sikkhāya sagāravā viharanti sappatissā, samādhismiṁ sagāravā viharanti sappatissā—

It’s when the monks, nuns, laymen, and laywomen maintain respect and reverence for the Teacher, the teaching, the Saṅgha, the training, and immersion.

ime kho, kassapa, pañca dhammā saddhammassa ṭhitiyā asammosāya anantaradhānāya saṁvattantī”ti.

These five things lead to the continuation, persistence, and enduring of the true teaching.”

Terasamaṁ.

Kassapavaggo paṭhamo.

Tassuddānaṁ

Santuṭṭhañca anottappī,

candūpamaṁ kulūpakaṁ;

Jiṇṇaṁ tayo ca ovādā,

jhānābhiññā upassayaṁ;

Cīvaraṁ paraṁmaraṇaṁ,

saddhammappatirūpakanti.

Kassapasaṁyuttaṁ samattaṁ.

The Linked Discourses with Kassapa are complete.