[21] On one occasion the Blessed One was dwelling at Rājagaha, on Mount Gijjhakūṭa. There the Blessed One addressed the bhikkhus: "Bhikkhus, I will teach you seven principles of non-decline (aparihāniyā dhammā). Listen to it, attend closely; I will speak." "Yes, venerable sir," those bhikkhus replied to the Blessed One. The Blessed One said this:
"And what, bhikkhus, are the seven principles of non-decline? So long, bhikkhus, as the bhikkhus assemble frequently and hold many assemblies, only growth is to be expected for the bhikkhus, not decline. So long, bhikkhus, as the bhikkhus assemble in concord, rise in concord, and carry out the business of the Saṅgha in concord, only growth is to be expected for the bhikkhus, not decline. So long, bhikkhus, as the bhikkhus do not decree what has not been decreed, do not abolish what has been decreed, but undertake and practise in accordance with the training rules as decreed, only growth is to be expected for the bhikkhus, not decline. So long, bhikkhus, as the bhikkhus honour, respect, esteem, and venerate those bhikkhus who are elders, of long standing, long gone forth, fathers of the Saṅgha, leaders of the Saṅgha, and think them worth listening to, only growth is to be expected for the bhikkhus, not decline. So long, bhikkhus, as the bhikkhus do not come under the sway of arisen craving (taṇhā) that leads to renewed existence, only growth is to be expected for the bhikkhus, not decline. So long, bhikkhus, as the bhikkhus are intent upon forest lodgings, only growth is to be expected for the bhikkhus, not decline. So long, bhikkhus, as the bhikkhus each personally establish mindfulness (sati), thinking: 'May well-behaved companions in the holy life who have not yet come, come; and may well-behaved companions in the holy life who have come dwell at ease,' only growth is to be expected for the bhikkhus, not decline.
"So long, bhikkhus, as these seven principles of non-decline stand among the bhikkhus, and the bhikkhus are seen to conform to these seven principles of non-decline, only growth is to be expected for the bhikkhus, not decline."
English translation from the Pali (Siam Raṭṭha edition) — under review, not for citation.