The discipline of the Well Gone One

Bhikkhus, so long as the Well Gone One abides in the world, or the Well Gone One's discipline is present it is for the welfare and pleasantness of many, for the compassion and pleasantness of gods and men. Bhikkhus, who is the Well Gone One?

Here, bhikkhus, the Thus Gone One is born in the world, worthy, rightfully enlightened, endowed with knowledge and conduct, Well Gone, knower of the worlds, the incomparable trainer of those to be trained, teacher of gods and men, enlightened and blessed. Bhikkhus, that is the Well Gone One.

Bhikkhus, what is the discipline of the Well Gone One?

He preaches the Teaching good at the beginning, middle and end, explaining the complete and pure holy life. Bhikkhus, this is the discipline of the Well Gone One.

Bhikkhus, so long as the Well Gone One abides in the world, or the Well Gone One's discipline is present it is for the welfare and pleasantness of many, for the compassion and pleasantness of gods and men.

Bhikkhus, these four things conduce to the confusion and disappearance of the good Teaching. What four?

Here, bhikkhus, the bhikkhus learn the discourses grasped wrongly, on account of misplaced words and letters. On account of the misplaced words and letters the meaning too is miscarried.

Bhikkhus, this is the first thing that conduces to the confusion and disappearance of the good Teaching.

Again, bhikkhus, the bhikkhus become unruly endowed with stubborn ways, not patient, and not good at grasping instructions.

Bhikkhus, this is the second thing that conduces to the confusion and disappearance of the good Teaching.

Again, bhikkhus, the learned bhikkhus to whom the Canon had been handed down, they who bear the Teaching and the Discipline with the headings, do not recite the discourses completely to others. At their demise the roots cut, the Teaching would be without refuge. Bhikkhus, this is the third thing that conduces to the confusion and disappearance of the good Teaching.

Again, bhikkhus, the elder bhikkhus, live in abundance given to lethargy, not giving the first place to seclusion, and not making effort to attain the not yet attained and for the realization of the not yet realized. Bhikkhus, this is the fourth thing that conduces to the confusion and disappearance of the good Teaching.

Bhikkhus, these four things conduce to the confusion and disappearance of the good Teaching.

Bhikkhus, these four things conduce to the non-confusion and non-disappearance of the good Teaching. What four?

Here, bhikkhus, the bhikkhus learn the discourses rightly grasped, the words and letters correctly placed. On account of the correctly placed words and letters the meaning too is rightly carried.

Bhikkhus, this is the first thing that conduces to the non-confusion and non-disappearance of the good Teaching.

Again, bhikkhus, the bhikkhus become ruly endowed with suave ways, patient, and good at grasping instructions.

Bhikkhus, this is the second thing that conduces to the non-confusion and non-disappearance of the good Teaching.

Again, bhikkhus, the learned bhikkhus to whom the Canon had been handed down, they who bear the Teaching and the Discipline with the headings, recite the discourses completely to others. At their demise the roots not cut, the Teaching would be with refuge. Bhikkhus, this is the third thing that conduces to the non-confusion and non-disappearance of the good Teaching.

Again, bhikkhus, the elder bhikkhus, do not live in abundance given to lethargy, they give the first place to seclusion, and make effort to attain the not yet attained and for the realization of the not yet realized. Bhikkhus, this is the fourth thing that conduces to the non-confusion and non-disappearance of the good Teaching.

Bhikkhus, these four things conduce to the non-confusion and non-disappearance of the good Teaching.