At one time, the Blessed One was staying in the Palāsa forest in the town called Naḷakapāna. Now, at that time it was the full moon uposatha day, and the Buddha was sitting, surrounded by a large gathering of monks. Having instructed, encouraged, inspired, and gladdened the group of monks with a Dhamma talk for much of the night, the Blessed One surveyed the group of monks, who were so very silent. Having seen this, the Blessed One addressed the venerable Sāriputta thus:
“Sāriputta, this assembly of monks is free from dullness and drowsiness. Teach a Dhamma sermon as you see fit. My back is sore, I’ll stretch it.”
“Yes, bhante,” the venerable Sāriputta replied.
Then the Buddha spread out his double robe folded in four and laid down in the lion’s posture—on the right side, placing one foot on top of the other—mindful and aware, and focused on the time of getting up.
Then, the venerable Sāriputta addressed the monks: “Venerable friends!”
“Venerable friend,” they replied. Then the venerable Sāriputta said this:
“Venerable friends, whoever has no faith in wholesome qualities, no shame of wrongdoing, no fear of wrongdoing, no energy, no wisdom, does not listen attentively, does not memorize the Dhamma, does not examine its meaning, does not practice accordingly, and is not diligent, whether by day or by night, can expect decline in wholesome qualities, not growth.
Just as the moon in the fading fortnight, whether by day or by night, decreases in beauty, roundness, light, diameter and size; in the same way, whoever has no faith, no shame of wrongdoing, no fear of wrongdoing, no energy, no wisdom, does not listen attentively, does not memorize the Dhamma, does not examine its meaning, does not practice accordingly, and is not diligent, whether by day or by night, can expect decline in wholesome qualities, not growth.
Whoever has faith in wholesome qualities, has shame of wrongdoing, has fear of wrongdoing, has energy, has wisdom, listens attentively, memorizes the Dhamma, examines its meaning, practices accordingly, and is diligent, whether by day or by night can expect growth in wholesome qualities, not decline.
Just as the moon in the bright fortnight, whether by day or by night, increases in beauty, roundness, light, diameter and size; in the same way, whoever has faith in wholesome qualities, has shame of wrongdoing, has fear of wrongdoing, has effort, has wisdom, listens attentively, memorizes the Dhamma, examines its meaning, practices accordingly, and is diligent, whether by day or by night can expect growth in wholesome qualities, not decline.”
Then the Blessed One arose from the lion’s posture and addressed the venerable Sāriputta:
“Good, good, Sāriputta! Whoever has no faith in wholesome qualities, no shame of wrongdoing, no fear of wrongdoing, no energy, no wisdom, does not listen attentively, does not memorize the Dhamma, does not examine its meaning, does not practice accordingly, and is not diligent, whether by day or by night, can expect decline in wholesome qualities, not growth.
Sāriputta, Just as the moon in the fading fortnight, whether by day or by night, decreases in beauty, roundness, light, diameter and size; in the same way, whoever has no faith, no shame of wrongdoing, no fear of wrongdoing, no energy, no wisdom, does not listen attentively, does not memorize the Dhamma, does not examine its meaning, does not practice accordingly, and is not diligent, whether by day or by night, can expect decline in wholesome qualities, not growth.
Sāriputta, whoever has faith in wholesome qualities, has shame of wrongdoing, has fear of wrongdoing, has energy, has wisdom, listens attentively, memorizes the Dhamma, examines its meaning, practices accordingly, and is diligent, whether by day or by night can expect growth in wholesome qualities, not decline.
Sāriputta, just as the moon in the bright fortnight, whether by day or by night, increases in beauty, roundness, light, diameter and size; in the same way, whoever has faith in wholesome qualities, has shame of wrongdoing, has fear of wrongdoing, has effort, has wisdom, listens attentively, memorizes the Dhamma, examines its meaning, practices accordingly, and is diligent, whether by day or by night can expect growth in wholesome qualities, not decline.”
