[27] Bhikkhus, these seven things lead to the decline of a lay follower (upāsaka). What seven? He neglects seeing bhikkhus; he is negligent about hearing the true Dhamma (saddhamma); he does not train in the higher virtue (adhisīla); he is full of distrust toward bhikkhus — the elders, the newly ordained, and those of middle standing; he listens to the Dhamma with a fault-finding mind, seeking flaws; he seeks one worthy of offerings (dakkhiṇeyya) outside of here; and there he performs his prior service (pubbakāra). These seven things, bhikkhus, lead to the decline of a lay follower.
Bhikkhus, these seven things lead to the non-decline of a lay follower. What seven? He does not neglect seeing bhikkhus; he is not negligent about hearing the true Dhamma; he trains in the higher virtue; he is full of confidence toward bhikkhus — the elders, the newly ordained, and those of middle standing; he listens to the Dhamma without a fault-finding mind, not seeking flaws; he does not seek one worthy of offerings outside of here; and here he performs his prior service. These seven things, bhikkhus, lead to the non-decline of a lay follower.
A lay follower who neglects seeing those who have developed themselves,
and the hearing of the noble Dhamma,
who does not train in the higher virtue,
whose distrust of bhikkhus
grows ever more and more,
who wishes to hear the true Dhamma
with a fault-finding mind,
who seeks another worthy of offerings
outside of here,
and who, as a lay follower,
performs his prior service right there —
a lay follower cultivating these seven
well-taught things that lead to decline
falls away from the true Dhamma.
A lay follower who does not neglect seeing those who have developed themselves,
and the hearing of the noble Dhamma,
who trains in the higher virtue,
whose confidence in bhikkhus
grows ever more and more,
who wishes to hear the true Dhamma
without a fault-finding mind,
who does not seek another worthy of offerings
outside of here,
and who, as a lay follower,
performs his prior service right here —
a lay follower cultivating these seven
well-taught things that lead to non-decline
does not fall away from the true Dhamma.
English translation from the Pali (Siam Raṭṭha edition) — under review, not for citation.