“Sattime, bhikkhave, dhammā upāsakassa vipattiyo saṁvattanti. Katame satta? Bhikkhudassanaṁ hāpeti, saddhammassavanaṁ pamajjati, adhisīle na sikkhati, appasādabahulo hoti, bhikkhūsu theresu ceva navesu ca majjhimesu ca upārambhacitto dhammaṁ suṇāti randhagavesī, ito bahiddhā dakkhiṇeyyaṁ gavesati, tattha ca pubbakāraṁ karoti. Ime kho, bhikkhave, satta dhammā upāsakassa vipattiyo saṁvattanti.
“Bhikkhus, there are these seven principles that lead to the |misfortune::adversity, downfall [vipatti]| of a lay follower. What seven? 1.) He delays seeing bhikkhus, 2.) he neglects listening to the true |Dhamma::teachings of the Buddha that point to the nature of reality, the ultimate truth [dhamma]|, 3.) he does not train in |higher virtue::higher conduct [adhisīla]|, 4.) he is |full of distrust::suspicious [appasādabahula]|, 5.) when listening to the Dhamma from senior bhikkhus, new bhikkhus, or those of middle standing, he listens |with a fault-finding mind::with a critical attitude [upārambhacitta]|, seeking to find faults, 6.) he seeks a person worthy of offerings outside [the Saṅgha], and 7.) he makes an initial offering there. These, bhikkhus, are the seven principles that lead to the misfortune of a lay follower.
Sattime, bhikkhave, dhammā upāsakassa sampadā saṁvattanti. Katame satta? Bhikkhudassanaṁ na hāpeti, saddhammassavanaṁ nappamajjati, adhisīle sikkhati, pasādabahulo hoti, bhikkhūsu theresu ceva navesu ca majjhimesu ca anupārambhacitto dhammaṁ suṇāti na randhagavesī, na ito bahiddhā dakkhiṇeyyaṁ gavesati, idha ca pubbakāraṁ karoti. Ime kho, bhikkhave, satta dhammā upāsakassa sampadā saṁvattantī”ti.
Bhikkhus, there are these seven principles that lead to |success::good fortune [sampadā]| for a lay follower. What seven? 1.) He does not delay seeing bhikkhus, 2.) he does not neglect listening to the true Dhamma, 3.) he trains in higher virtue, 4.) he is full of faith, 5.) when listening to the Dhamma from senior bhikkhus, new bhikkhus, or those of middle standing, he listens without a fault-finding mind, not seeking to find faults, 6.) he does not seek a person worthy of offerings outside [the Saṅgha], and 7.) he makes an initial offering here. These, bhikkhus, are the seven principles that lead to success for a lay follower.”
Idamavoca bhagavā. Idaṁ vatvāna sugato athāparaṁ etadavoca satthā:
The Blessed One said this. Having spoken thus, the Accomplished One further said this:
“Dassanaṁ bhāvitattānaṁ,
Yo hāpeti upāsako;
Savanañca ariyadhammānaṁ,
Adhisīle na sikkhati.
“The lay follower who delays,
seeing the |well-trained ones::awakened ones; lit. ones with developed self [bhāvitattā]|;
[who neglects] listening to the true Dhamma,
and does not train in higher virtue.
Appasādo ca bhikkhūsu,
bhiyyo bhiyyo pavaḍḍhati;
Upārambhakacitto ca,
saddhammaṁ sotumicchati.
His distrust in the bhikkhus,
grows more and more;
With a fault-finding mind,
he wishes to hear the true Dhamma.
Ito ca bahiddhā aññaṁ,
dakkhiṇeyyaṁ gavesati;
Tattheva ca pubbakāraṁ,
yo karoti upāsako.
Looking outside, he seeks another,
as worthy of offerings;
And there he makes his first offering,
such is that lay follower.
Ete kho parihāniye,
satta dhamme sudesite;
Upāsako sevamāno,
saddhammā parihāyati.
These seven well taught principles,
describe what lead to misfortune;
The lay follower who resorts to them,
declines from the true Dhamma.
Dassanaṁ bhāvitattānaṁ,
Yo na hāpeti upāsako;
Savanañca ariyadhammānaṁ,
Adhisīle ca sikkhati.
The lay follower who does not delay,
seeing the well-trained ones;
[who does not neglect] listening to the true Dhamma,
and trains in higher virtue.
Pasādo cassa bhikkhūsu,
bhiyyo bhiyyo pavaḍḍhati;
Anupārambhacitto ca,
saddhammaṁ sotumicchati.
His confidence in the bhikkhus,
grows more and more;
Without a fault-finding mind,
he wishes to hear the true Dhamma.
Na ito bahiddhā aññaṁ,
dakkhiṇeyyaṁ gavesati;
Idheva ca pubbakāraṁ,
yo karoti upāsako.
He does not look outside for another,
as worthy of offerings;
And here he makes his first offering,
such is that lay follower.
Ete kho aparihāniye,
Satta dhamme sudesite;
Upāsako sevamāno,
Saddhammā na parihāyatī”ti.
These seven well taught principles,
describe what lead to success;
The lay follower who practices in them,
does not decline from the true Dhamma.”