Aṅguttara Nikāya
Pañcaka Nipāta
XXI. Kimbila-Vagga

The Book of the Fives

Chapter XXI: Kimbila

Sutta 201

Kimbila Suttaṃ

Kimbila

[180]

THUS have I heard:

Once,¹ when the Exalted One was staying in the Bamboo Grove² near Kimbila,
the venerable Kimbila visited him and,
after saluting,
sat down at one side.

So seated, he spoke thus to the Exalted One:

'Lord, what is the cause,
what is the reason,
whereby, when the Exalted One has passed away completely,
Saddhamma does not become long-lasting?

'Suppose, Kimbila, after the Tathāgata has passed away completely,
the monks and the nuns,
the lay disciples both men and women,
live without³ reverence,
without heed [181] for the Teacher;
without reverence, without heed for Dhamma
without reverence, without heed for the Order.
without reverence, without heed for the training;
without reverence, without heed for one another -
this is the cause,
this is the reason,
whereby, when the Tathāgata has passed away completely,
Saddhamma does not become long-lasting.'

'And what, lord, is the cause,
the reason,
whereby, after the Tathāgata has passed away,
Saddhamma becomes long-lasting?'

'Suppose, Kimbila, monks, nuns
and lay-disciples
revere and give heed to the Teacher,
revere and give heed to the Dhamma,
revere and give heed to the Order,
revere and give heed to the training;
revere and give heed to one another -
this is the cause,
the reason,
whereby, when the Tathāgata has passed away,
Saddhamma becomes long-lasting.'

¹ Cf. A. iv, 84, where this sutta recurs of 'seven'; also K.S. ii, 152; V, 151.

² Comy. observes that he was a 'chetty's' (seṭṭhi, banker) son in that city. S.e. and Comy. read Nicelu-vane for our Veḷu-vane, explaining: Mucalinda-; see UdA. 100. Cf. Vin. T. ii, 309; M. i, 205, etc.