Chakkanipāta 84

Numbered Discourses 6.84

8. Perfection

Day and Night

1 “Mendicants, a mendicant with six qualities can expect decline, not growth, in skillful qualities, whether by day or by night. What six? It’s when a mendicant has many desires—they’re frustrated and not content with any kind of robes, almsfood, lodgings, and medicines and supplies for the sick. And they’re faithless, unethical, unmindful, and witless. A mendicant with these six qualities can expect decline, not growth, in skillful qualities, whether by day or by night.

2 A mendicant with six qualities can expect growth, not decline, in skillful qualities, whether by day or by night. What six? It’s when a mendicant doesn’t have many desires—they’re not frustrated but content with any kind of robes, almsfood, lodgings, and medicines and supplies for the sick. And they’re faithful, ethical, mindful, and wise. A mendicant with these six qualities can expect growth, not decline, in skillful qualities, whether by day or by night.”