1Thus have I heard. On one occasion the Blessed One was dwelling at Kimbilā in a nicula grove. Then the Venerable Kimbila approached the Blessed One, paid homage to him, sat down to one side, and said:

"What is the cause and reason why, Bhante, the good Dhamma does not continue long after a Tathāgata has attained final nibbāna?"

2"Here, Kimbila, after a Tathāgata has attained final nibbāna, (1) the bhikkhus, bhikkhunīs, male lay followers, and female lay followers dwell without reverence and deference toward the Teacher. (2) They dwell without reverence and deference toward the Dhamma. (3) They dwell without reverence and deference toward the Saṅgha. (4) They dwell without reverence and deference toward the training. (5) They dwell without reverence and deference toward concentration. (6) They dwell without reverence and deference toward heedfulness. (7) They dwell without reverence and deference toward hospitality. This is the cause and reason why the good Dhamma does not continue long after a Tathāgata has attained final nibbāna."

3"What is the cause and reason why, Bhante, the good Dhamma continues long after a Tathāgata has attained final nibbāna?"

"Here, Kimbila, after a Tathāgata has attained final nibbāna, (1) the bhikkhus, bhikkhunīs, male lay followers, and female lay followers dwell with reverence and deference toward the Teacher. (2) They dwell with reverence and deference toward the Dhamma. (3) They dwell with reverence and deference toward the Saṅgha. (4) They dwell with reverence and deference toward the training. (5) They dwell with reverence and deference toward concentration. (6) They dwell with reverence and deference toward heedfulness. (7) They dwell with reverence and deference toward hospitality. This is the cause and reason why the good Dhamma continues long after a Tathāgata has attained final nibbāna."

1Evaṁ me sutaṁ—​ ekaṁ samayaṁ bhagavā kimilāyaṁ viharati niculavane. Atha kho āyasmā kimilo yena bhagavā tenupasaṅkami; upasaṅkamitvā bhagavantaṁ abhivādetvā ekamantaṁ nisīdi. Ekamantaṁ nisinno kho āyasmā kimilo bhagavantaṁ etadavoca:

"ko nu kho, bhante, hetu ko paccayo yena tathāgate parinibbute saddhammo na ciraṭṭhitiko hotī"ti?

2"Idha, kimila, tathāgate parinibbute bhikkhū bhikkhuniyo upāsakā upāsikāyo satthari agāravā viharanti appatissā, dhamme agāravā viharanti appatissā, saṅghe agāravā viharanti appatissā, sikkhāya agāravā viharanti appatissā, samādhismiṁ agāravā viharanti appatissā, appamāde agāravā viharanti appatissā, paṭisanthāre agāravā viharanti appatissā. Ayaṁ kho, kimila, hetu ayaṁ paccayo yena tathāgate parinibbute saddhammo na ciraṭṭhitiko hotī"ti.

3"Ko pana, bhante, hetu ko paccayo yena tathāgate parinibbute saddhammo ciraṭṭhitiko hotī"ti?

"Idha, kimila, tathāgate parinibbute bhikkhū bhikkhuniyo upāsakā upāsikāyo satthari sagāravā viharanti sappatissā, dhamme sagāravā viharanti sappatissā, saṅghe sagāravā viharanti sappatissā, sikkhāya sagāravā viharanti sappatissā, samādhismiṁ sagāravā viharanti sappatissā, appamāde sagāravā viharanti sappatissā, paṭisanthāre sagāravā viharanti sappatissā. Ayaṁ kho, kimila, hetu ayaṁ paccayo yena tathāgate parinibbute saddhammo ciraṭṭhitiko hotī"ti.

Chaṭṭhaṁ.