[55] There the Venerable Sāriputta addressed the bhikkhus: "Friends, bhikkhus!" "Friend," those bhikkhus replied to the Venerable Sāriputta. The Venerable Sāriputta said this: "'A person subject to decline, a person subject to decline,' friends, so it is said. In what way, friends, has a person subject to decline been declared by the Blessed One, and in what way has a person not subject to decline been declared by the Blessed One?"
"We would come even from afar, friend, to learn the meaning of this statement in the presence of the Venerable Sāriputta. It would be good indeed if the meaning of this statement would become clear to the Venerable Sāriputta himself; having heard it from the Venerable Sāriputta, the bhikkhus will bear it in mind."
"Then, friends, listen and attend carefully; I shall speak." "Yes, friend," those bhikkhus replied to the Venerable Sāriputta. The Venerable Sāriputta said this:
"In what way, friends, has a person subject to decline been declared by the Blessed One? Here, friends, a bhikkhu does not hear a teaching he has not heard before; the teachings he has heard fall into confusion; those teachings that formerly touched his mind do not recur to him; and he does not come to know what he has not known. To this extent, friends, has a person subject to decline been declared by the Blessed One.
"And in what way, friends, has a person not subject to decline been declared by the Blessed One? Here, friends, a bhikkhu hears a teaching he has not heard before; the teachings he has heard do not fall into confusion; those teachings that formerly touched his mind recur to him; and he comes to know what he has not known. To this extent, friends, has a person not subject to decline been declared by the Blessed One.
"If, friends, a bhikkhu is not skilled in the ways of others' minds (paracittapariyāya), then he should train thus: 'We shall be skilled in the ways of our own minds.' Thus indeed, friends, should you train.
"And how, friends, is a bhikkhu skilled in the ways of his own mind? Suppose, friends, a woman or a man, young, youthful, fond of adornment, examining the reflection of her own face in a mirror that is pure and clean, or in a bowl of clear water, if she sees there any dust or blemish, strives for the abandoning of that very dust or blemish; but if she sees no dust or blemish there, she is pleased on that very account, her wish fulfilled: 'It is a gain for me indeed! It is pure for me indeed!' In the same way, friends, self-examination is of great help to a bhikkhu with regard to wholesome qualities: 'Do I dwell for the most part without covetousness? Is this quality found in me, or not? Do I dwell for the most part with a mind (citta) without ill will? Is this quality found in me, or not? Do I dwell for the most part free from dullness and drowsiness? Is this quality found in me, or not? Do I dwell for the most part free from restlessness? Is this quality found in me, or not? Do I dwell for the most part having crossed over doubt? Is this quality found in me, or not? Do I dwell for the most part without anger? Is this quality found in me, or not? Do I dwell for the most part with an undefiled mind? Is this quality found in me, or not? Am I one who gains inward gladness in the Dhamma? Is this quality found in me, or not? Am I one who gains inward serenity of mind (cetosamatha)? Is this quality found in me, or not? Am I one who gains insight into dhammas through higher wisdom (adhipaññādhammavipassanā)? Is this quality found in me, or not?'
"If, friends, when reviewing, a bhikkhu does not see all these wholesome qualities in himself, then, friends, that bhikkhu should apply surpassing desire, effort, exertion, enthusiasm, unflagging perseverance, mindfulness, and clear comprehension for the acquisition of all these very wholesome qualities. Just as, friends, one whose clothes were ablaze or whose head were ablaze would apply surpassing desire, effort, exertion, enthusiasm, unflagging perseverance, mindfulness, and clear comprehension for the extinguishing of that very blazing clothing or head, in the same way, friends, that bhikkhu should apply surpassing desire, effort, exertion, enthusiasm, unflagging perseverance, mindfulness, and clear comprehension for the acquisition of all these very wholesome qualities.
"But if, friends, when reviewing, a bhikkhu sees some wholesome qualities in himself and does not see some wholesome qualities in himself, then, friends, that bhikkhu, having established himself in those wholesome qualities that he sees in himself, should apply surpassing desire, effort, exertion, enthusiasm, unflagging perseverance, mindfulness, and clear comprehension for the acquisition of those wholesome qualities that he does not see in himself. Just as, friends, one whose clothes were ablaze or whose head were ablaze would apply surpassing desire, effort, exertion, enthusiasm, unflagging perseverance, mindfulness, and clear comprehension for the extinguishing of that very blazing clothing or head, in the same way, friends, that bhikkhu, having established himself in those wholesome qualities that he sees in himself, should apply surpassing desire, effort, exertion, enthusiasm, unflagging perseverance, mindfulness, and clear comprehension for the acquisition of those wholesome qualities that he does not see in himself.
"But if, friends, when reviewing, a bhikkhu sees all these wholesome qualities in himself, then, friends, that bhikkhu, having established himself in all these very wholesome qualities, should make further effort for the destruction of the taints (āsava)."
English translation from the Pali (Siam Raṭṭha edition) — under review, not for citation.