Saddhammapatirupaka Sutta
A Counterfeit of the True Dhamma
Thus I have heard...
On one occasion, the Buddha was staying near Savatthi, in Jeta's Grove, at Anathapindika's monastery.
At that time, Venerable Bhikkhu MahaKassapa went to the Buddha and, upon arrival,
having bowed down to him, sat to one side.
As he was sitting there, he asked the following of the Buddha:
"What is the cause, lord, what is the reason why...
before, there were fewer training rules and yet more monks established themselves in the final gnosis (knowledgeable understanding of spiritual mysteries), whereas now, there are more training rules and yet, fewer monks establish themselves in the final gnosis?"
The Buddha replied thusly:
"This is but the way it is, Kassapa.
When beings are debased and degenerating and the true Dhamma is disappearing,
there are more training rules and yet fewer monks establish themselves in the final gnosis.
There is no disappearance of the true Dhamma as long as a counterfeit of the true Dhamma has not arisen in the world; but there is a disappearance (doubt of authenticity) of the true Dhamma when a counterfeit of the true Dhamma has arisen in the world.
Just as there is no disappearance of gold as long as a counterfeit of gold has not arisen in the world; but there is the disappearance (doubt as to what is authentic and what is not) of gold when a counterfeit of gold has arisen in the world... in the same way there is no disappearance of the true Dhamma as long as a counterfeit of the true Dhamma has not arisen in the world; but there is the disappearance of the true Dhamma when a counterfeit of the true Dhamma has arisen in the world.
It is not an event of the earth property that makes the true Dhamma disappear...
such as a landside or avalanche.
It is not an event of the water property that makes the true Dhamma disappear...
such as a flood or tsunami.
It is not an event of the fire property that makes the true Dhamma disappear...
such as a wild-fire or forest-fire.
It is not an event of the wind property that makes the true Dhamma disappear...
such as a hurricane or typhoon.
It is worthless people, arising right here within the Sangha, who cause the true Dhamma to disappear.
The true Dhamma, however, does not disappear all at once...
such as the way a boat sinks into the depths.
There are five defiling qualities that contribute to the instability, the confusion,
and the disappearance of the true Dhamma.
Which five?
When monks, nuns, and lay followers behave in the following manner...
They live without respect or regard (deference) for the Teacher.
They live without respect or regard (deference) for the Dhamma.
They live without respect or regard (deference) for the Sangha.
They live without respect or regard (deference) for the Training.
They live without respect or regard (deference) for Meditative Concentration.
These are the five defiling qualities that contribute to the instability, the confusion,
and the disappearance of the true Dhamma.
There are five virtuous qualities that contribute to the stability, the non-confusion,
and the non-disappearance of the true Dhamma.
Which five?
When monks, nuns, and lay followers behave in the following manner...
They live with respect and regard (deference) for the Teacher.
They live with respect and regard (deference) for the Dhamma.
They live with respect and regard (deference) for the Sangha.
They live with respect and regard (deference) for the Training.
They live with respect and regard (deference) for Meditative Concentration.
These are the five virtuous qualities that contribute to the stability, the non- confusion,
and the non-disappearance of the true Dhamma."
It is not an event of the water property that makes the true Dhamma disappear...
such as a flood or tsunami.
It is not an event of the fire property that makes the true Dhamma disappear...
such as a wild-fire or forest-fire.
It is not an event of the wind property that makes the true Dhamma disappear...
such as a hurricane or typhoon.
It is worthless people, arising right here within the Sangha, who cause the true Dhamma to disappear.
The true Dhamma, however, does not disappear all at once...
such as the way a boat sinks into the depths.
There are five defiling qualities that contribute to the instability, the confusion,
and the disappearance of the true Dhamma.
Which five?
When monks, nuns, and lay followers behave in the following manner...
They live without respect or regard (deference) for the Teacher.
They live without respect or regard (deference) for the Dhamma.
They live without respect or regard (deference) for the Sangha.
They live without respect or regard (deference) for the Training.
They live without respect or regard (deference) for Meditative Concentration.
These are the five defiling qualities that contribute to the instability, the confusion,
and the disappearance of the true Dhamma.
There are five virtuous qualities that contribute to the stability, the non-confusion,
and the non-disappearance of the true Dhamma.
Which five?
When monks, nuns, and lay followers behave in the following manner...
They live with respect and regard (deference) for the Teacher.
They live with respect and regard (deference) for the Dhamma.
They live with respect and regard (deference) for the Sangha.
They live with respect and regard (deference) for the Training.
They live with respect and regard (deference) for Meditative Concentration.
These are the five virtuous qualities that contribute to the stability, the non- confusion,
and the non-disappearance of the true Dhamma."
