Reading guide
A related but distinct question from SN 47.22
Confirmed by direct reading, this discourse's own question uses “saddhammaparihāna” (“decline of the true teaching”), distinct Pāli vocabulary from SN 47.22's own “ciraṭṭhiti” (“long lasting”), and does not repeat SN 47.22's own explicit framing “after the Realized One's own final quenching” — a more general question about decline itself, not specifically tied to the post-parinibbāna period.
The identical answer, reported honestly as a repetition
Despite the distinct question, Ānanda's own answer is confirmed by direct comparison to be worded identically to SN 47.22's own answer, substituting only “decline” for “doesn't last long” — confirming this project's own honest-reporting convention: a genuine repetition is reported as such, not artificially varied to appear more distinct than it is.
Key terms
The text
§1 — Bhadda's own questionAt one time the venerables Ānanda and Bhadda were staying near Pāṭaliputta, in the Chicken Monastery. Then in the late afternoon, Venerable Bhadda came out of retreat, went to Venerable Ānanda, and exchanged greetings with him. When the greetings and polite conversation were over, he sat down to one side and said to Ānanda: “What’s the cause, Reverend Ānanda, what’s the reason why the true teaching declines? And what’s the cause, what’s the reason why the true teaching doesn’t decline?”
§2 — Ānanda's own answer“Good, good, Reverend Bhadda! Your approach and eloquence are excellent, and it’s a good question. For you asked: ‘What’s the cause, what’s the reason why the true teaching declines? And what’s the cause, what’s the reason why the true teaching doesn’t decline?’” “Yes, reverend.” “It’s because of not developing and cultivating the four kinds of mindfulness meditation that the true teaching declines. It’s because of developing and cultivating the four kinds of mindfulness meditation that the true teaching doesn’t decline.
§3 — the fourfold formula, and the answer restatedWhat four? It’s when a mendicant meditates by observing an aspect of the body—keen, aware, and mindful, rid of covetousness and displeasure for the world. They meditate observing an aspect of feelings … mind … principles—keen, aware, and mindful, rid of covetousness and displeasure for the world. It’s because of not developing and cultivating these four kinds of mindfulness meditation that the true teaching declines. And it’s because of developing and cultivating these four kinds of mindfulness meditation that the true teaching doesn’t decline.”
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