Hello all,
The Buddha often spoke of the disappearance of the Sasana and of the True Dhamma. I have onlly had time for a quick look - I'm sure others can find more references -
The Disappearance Of The Discourses That Are Words(Sutta) Of The Buddha
"… in the course of the future there will be monks who won't listen when discourses that are words of the Tathagata -- deep, deep in their meaning, transcendent, connected with emptiness -- are being recited. They won't lend ear, won't set their hearts on knowing them, won't regard these teachings as worth grasping or mastering. But they will listen when discourses that are literary works -- the works of poets, elegant in sound, elegant in rhetoric, the work of outsiders, words of disciples -- are recited. They will lend ear and set their hearts on knowing them. They will regard these teachings as worth grasping & mastering. "In this way the disappearance of the discourses that are words of the Tathagata -- deep, deep in their meaning, transcendent, connected with emptiness -- will come about. Therefore, monks, train yourselves thus: To these very Suttas will we listen, give a ready ear, understand, recite and master them." Samyutta Nikaya Sutta XX.7
http://www.mahindarama.com/e-tipitaka/sn20-7.htm" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;
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The Cause The True Dhamma Does Not Last A Long Time
"…when a Tathagata has become totally unbound, the monks, nuns, male lay followers, & female lay followers live without respect, without deference, for the Teacher (The Buddha); live without respect, without deference, for the Sutta(The Buddha's Teachings)... the Sangha a (community of The Buddha's disciples and not any particular monk)... the Training(Vinaya/Discipline/Virtue)... concentration (samadhi/Jhanna in meditation)... heedfulness; live without respect, without deference, for hospitality. This is the cause, this is the reason why, when a Tathagata has become totally unbound, the true Dhamma does not last a long time". (Anguttara Nikaya Sutta VII.56, Samyutta Nikáya Sutta 16.13)
http://www.mahindarama.com/e-tipitaka/an7-56.htm" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;
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Disappearance of the Sasana
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/dhammastu ... sage/24257" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;
with metta
Chris