Reading guide
The ninefold genres, a third appearance
Sutta, geyya, veyyākaraṇa, gāthā, udāna, itivuttaka, jātaka, abbhutadhamma, and vedalla — the same nine-part classification of the teaching's literary forms first named at AN 5.73, and returned to at AN 5.79 (where vedalla specifically was flagged as declining).
Five modes of engagement, not five genres
This discourse doesn't repeat the nine-genre list itself as its main content; instead it names five distinct activities concerning that memorized material: not memorizing it, not explaining it in detail to others, not making others recite it, not rehearsing it oneself, and not mentally considering it.
Five separate failure points
Memorizing, teaching, prompting recitation in others, personal rehearsal, and reflection — five genuinely distinct modes of engagement, meaning the teaching's preservation can fail through the neglect of any single one, even if the others are maintained.
The mirrored positive
Memorizing, explaining in detail, making others recite, rehearsing, and mentally considering — the clean negation.
What comes next
AN 5.156 gives this trio's fullest treatment, including textual corruption, senior-mendicant laxity, and Saṅgha schism.
Key terms
The text
Causing the true teaching's decline
§1“Mendicants, these five things lead to the decline and disappearance of the true teaching. What five? It’s when the mendicants don’t memorize the teaching—statements, mixed prose & verse, discussions, verses, inspired exclamations, legends, stories of past lives, amazing stories, and elaborations. This is the first thing that leads to the decline and disappearance of the true teaching. Furthermore, the mendicants don’t explain the teaching in detail to others as they learned and memorized it. This is the second thing … Furthermore, the mendicants don’t make others recite the teaching in detail as they learned and memorized it. This is the third thing … Furthermore, the mendicants don’t rehearse the teaching in detail as they learned and memorized it. This is the fourth thing … Furthermore, the mendicants don’t think about and consider the teaching in their hearts, examining it with their minds as they learned and memorized it. This is the fifth thing that leads to the decline and disappearance of the true teaching. These five things lead to the decline and disappearance of the true teaching.
Sustaining the true teaching
§2These five things lead to the continuation, persistence, and enduring of the true teaching. What five? It’s when the mendicants memorize the teaching—statements, mixed prose & verse, discussions, verses, inspired exclamations, legends, stories of past lives, amazing stories, and elaborations. This is the first thing that leads to the continuation, persistence, and enduring of the true teaching. Furthermore, the mendicants explain the teaching in detail to others as they learned and memorized it. This is the second thing … Furthermore, the mendicants make others recite the teaching in detail as they learned and memorized it. This is the third thing … Furthermore, the mendicants rehearse the teaching in detail as they learned and memorized it. This is the fourth thing … Furthermore, the mendicants think about and consider the teaching in their hearts, examining it with their minds as they learned and memorized it. This is the fifth thing that leads to the continuation, persistence, and enduring of the true teaching. These five things lead to the continuation, persistence, and enduring of the true teaching.”
Self-check quiz
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