6.
The Discourse on Disintegration
57. Then a certain wealthy brahmin approached the Blessed One, etc. Seated to one side, that wealthy brahmin said this to the Blessed One - "I have heard this, Master Gotama, from brahmins of former times, senior, elderly, teachers and teachers' teachers, when they speak - 'Formerly, methinks, this world was as filled with human beings as Avīci, with villages, market towns, and royal cities so close that a cock could fly from one to another.' What now, Master Gotama, is the cause, what is the condition, by which now there is destruction of human beings, diminution is evident, villages become non-villages, market towns become non-market towns, cities become non-cities, countryside becomes non-countryside?"
"Now, brahmin, human beings are infatuated with unrighteous lust, overpowered by unrighteous greed, overcome by wrong conduct. They, infatuated with unrighteous lust, overpowered by unrighteous greed, overcome by wrong conduct, having taken sharp knives, deprive one another of life; because of that many human beings die. This too, brahmin, is the cause, this is the condition, by which now there is destruction of human beings, diminution is evident, villages become non-villages, market towns become non-market towns, cities become non-cities, countryside becomes non-countryside.
"Furthermore, brahmin, now human beings are infatuated with unrighteous lust, overpowered by unrighteous greed, overcome by wrong conduct. For them who are infatuated with unrighteous lust, overpowered by unrighteous greed, overcome by wrong conduct, the rain god does not send down proper showers. Because of that there is famine, poor crops, mildew, and subsistence by food tickets. Because of that many human beings die. This too, brahmin, is the cause, this is the condition, by which now there is destruction of human beings, diminution is evident, villages become non-villages, market towns become non-market towns, cities become non-cities, countryside becomes non-countryside.
"Furthermore, brahmin, now human beings are infatuated with unrighteous lust, overpowered by unrighteous greed, overcome by wrong conduct. For them who are infatuated with unrighteous lust, overpowered by unrighteous greed, overcome by wrong conduct, the demons release fierce non-human spirits; because of that many human beings die. This too, brahmin, is the cause, this is the condition, by which now there is destruction of human beings, diminution is evident, villages become non-villages, market towns become non-market towns, cities become non-cities, countryside becomes non-countryside."
"Excellent, Master Gotama! Etc. May Master Gotama remember me as a lay follower who has gone for refuge from this day forth for life." The sixth.