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Chapter 6 : Connected Discourses on Gains and Honour (Labhasakkarasamyutta sans. Labh-satkar-samyutta) {Samyutta-17}[]
(i) The First Subchapter (Dreadful)[]
157. Dreadful (Daruna)[]
Thus have I heard(from Lord Buddha, says Ananda). On one occasion the Lord (Buddha) was dwelling at Savatthi in Jeta's-Grove(Jetvana), Anathapindika's Park. There the Lord (Buddha) addressed the bhikkhus thus: "Bhikkhus(monks)!"
"Venerable sir!" those bhikkhus replied. The Lord (Buddha) said this:
"Bhikkhus(Monks), dreadful are gain, honour, and praise, bitter, vile, obstructive to achieving the unsurpassed security from bondage. 316 Therefore, bhikkhus, you should train yourselves thus: 'We will abandon the arisen gain, honour, and praise, and we will not let the arisen gain, honour, and praise persist obsessing our minds.' Thus should you train yourselves."
158. The Hook (Balisa)[]
At Savatthi.
[Buddha:] "Bhikkhus(monks), dreadful are gain, honour, and praise, bitter, vile, obstructive to achieving the unsurpassed security from bondage. Suppose a fisherman would cast a baited hook into a deep lake, and a fish on the lookout for food would swallow it. That fish, having swallowed the fisherman's hook, would meet with calamity and disaster, and the fisherman could do with it as he wishes.
"'Fisherman,' bhikkhus: this is a designation for Mara(Satan) the Evil One. 'Baited hook': this is a designation for gain, honour, and praise. Any bhikkhu(monk) who relishes and enjoys the arisen gain, honour, and praise is called a bhikkhu who has swallowed the baited hook, who has met with calamity and disaster, and the Evil One can do with him as he wishes. So dreadful, bhikkhus, are gain, honour, and praise, so bitter, vile, obstructive to achieving the unsurpassed security from bondage. Therefore, bhikkhus, you should train yourselves thus: 'We will abandon the arisen gain, honour, and praise, and we will not let the arisen gain, honour, and praise persist obsessing our minds.' Thus should you train yourselves."
159. The Turtle (Kumma)[]
At Savatthi.
[Buddha:] "Bhikkhus(monks), dreadful are gain, honour, and praise ..(as in 157).. Once in the past there was a large family of turtles that had been living for a long time in a certain lake. 317 Then one turtle said to another: 'Dear turtle, do not go to such and such a region.' But that turtle went to that region, and a hunter struck him with a corded harpoon. 318 Then that turtle approached the first one. When the first turtle saw him coming in the distance, he said to him: 'I hope, dear turtle, that you didn't go to that region.' - 'I did go to that region, dear.' - 'I hope you haven't been hit or struck, dear.' - 'I haven't been hit or struck; but there is this cord constantly following behind me.' - 'Indeed you've been hit, dear turtle, indeed you've been struck! Your father and grandfather also met with calamity and disaster on account of such a cord. Go now, dear turtle, you are no longer one of us.'
"'Hunter,' bhikkhus: this is a designation for Mara(Satan) the Evil One. 'Corded harpoon': this is a designation for gain, honour, and praise. 'Cord': this is a designation for delight(nandi\anand) and lust(raag). Any bhikkhu(monk) who relishes and enjoys the arisen gain, honour, and praise is called a bhikkhu who has been struck with a corded harpoon, 319 who has met with calamity and disaster, and the Evil One can do with him as he wishes. So dreadful, bhikkhus, are gain, honour, and praise.... Thus should you train yourselves."
160. The Long-Haired Goat (Dighalomika)[]
At Savatthi.
[Buddha:] "Bhikkhus(monks), dreadful are gain, honour, and praise..(as in 157).. Suppose a long-haired she-goat would enter a briar patch. She would get caught here and there, be held fast here and there, be bound here and there, and here and there she would meet with calamity and disaster. So too, bhikkhus, a bhikkhu(monk) here whose mind is overcome and obsessed by gain, honour, and praise dresses in the morning and, taking bowl and robe, enters a village or town for alms. He gets caught here and there, is held fast here and there, is bound here and there, and here and there he meets with calamity and disaster. So dreadful, bhikkhus, are gain, honour, and praise.... Thus should you train yourselves."
161. The Dung Beetle (Milhaka)[]
At Savatthi.
[Buddha:] "Bhikkhus(monks), dreadful are gain, honour, and praise..(as in 157).. Suppose there was a beetle, a dung-eater, stuffed with dung, full of dung, and in front of her was a large dunghill. Because of this she would despise the other beetles, thinking: 'I am a dung-eater, stuffed with dung, full of dung, and in front of me there is a large dunghill.' So too, bhikkhus, a bhikkhu(monk) here whose mind is overcome and obsessed by gain, honour, and praise dresses in the morning and, taking bowl and robe, enters a village or town for alms. There he would eat as much as he wants, he would be invited for the next day's meal, and his almsfood would be plentiful. When he goes back to the monastery, he boasts before a group of bhikkhus: 'I have eaten as much as I want, I have been invited for tomorrow's meal, and my almsfood is plentiful. I am one who gains robes, almsfood, lodgings, and medicinal requisites, but these other bhikkhus have little divine-merit(punya) and influence, and they do not gain robes, almsfood, lodgings, and medicinal requisites.' Thus, because his mind is overcome and obsessed by gain, honour, and praise, he despises the other well-behaved bhikkhus. That will lead to the harm and suffering of this senseless person for a long time. So dreadful, bhikkhus, are gain, honour, and praise.... Thus should you train yourselves."
162. The Thunderbolt (Asani)[]
At Savatthi.
[Buddha:] "Bhikkhus(monks), dreadful are gain, honour, and praise..(as in 157).. whom should a thunderbolt strike, bhikkhus? A trainee upon whom come gain, honour, and praise while he has not yet reached his mind's ideal. 320
"'Thunderbolt' bhikkhus: this is a designation for gain, honour, and praise. So dreadful, bhikkhus, are gain, honour, and praise.... Thus should you train yourselves."
163. The Poisoned Dart (Diddha)[]
At Savatthi. Lord Buddha: "Bhikkhus, dreadful are gain, honour, and praise..(as in 157).. Whom should one pierce with a dart smeared in poison, bhikkhus? A trainee upon whom come gain, honour, and praise while he has not yet reached his mind's ideal. 3 ? 1
"'Dart,' bhikkhus: this is a designation for gain, honour, and praise. So dreadful, bhikkhus, are gain, honour, and praise.... Thus should you train yourselves."
164. The Jackal (Singala)[]
At Savatthi.
[Buddha:] "Bhikkhus(monks), dreadful are gain, honour, and praise..(as in 157).. Did you hear an old jackal howling when the night was fading?"
"Yes, venerable sir."
"That old jackal is afflicted with a disease called mange. 322 He cannot feel at well whether he goes into a cave, or to the foot of a tree, or into the open air. Wherever he goes, wherever he stands, wherever he sits, wherever he lies down, there he meets with calamity and disaster. So too, bhikkhus, a bhikkhu(monk) here whose mind is overcome and obsessed with gain, honour, and praise does not feel at well whether he goes into an empty hut, or to the foot of a tree, or into the open air. Wherever he goes, wherever he stands, wherever he sits, wherever he lies down, there he meets with calamity and disaster. So dreadful, bhikkhus, are gain, honour, and praise..(as in 157).. Thus should you train yourselves."
165. The Gale Winds (Verambha)[]
At Savatthi.
[Buddha:] "Bhikkhus(monks), dreadful are gain, honour, and praise..(as in 157).. Bhikkhus, high in the sky winds called gales are blowing. 323 If a bird goes up there, the gale winds fling it about, and as it is flung about by the gale winds, its feet go one way, its wings another way, its head still another way, and its body still another way. So too, bhikkhus, a bhikkhu(monk) here whose mind is overcome and obsessed by gain, honour, and praise dresses in the morning and. taking bowl and robe, enters a village or town for alms with body, speech, and mind unguarded, without setting up meditation(sati), unrestrained in his sense faculties. He sees women there lightly clad or lightly attired and lust(raag) invades his mind. With his mind invaded by lust he gives up the training and returns to the lower life. Some take his robe, others his bowl, others his sitting cloth, and still others his needle case, as with the bird flung by the gale winds. So dreadful, bhikkhus, are gain, honour, and praise..(as in 157).. Thus should you train yourselves."
166. Sutta With Verses (Sagathasuttam)[]
At Savatthi.
[Buddha:] "Bhikkhus(monks), dreadful are gain, honour, and praise..(as in 157).. Bhikkhus, I see some person here whose mind is overcome and obsessed by honour, with the breakup of the body, after death, reborn in a state of misery, in a bad destination, in the nether world, in hell. Then I see some person here whose mind is overcome and obsessed by lack of honour ... reborn in a state of misery.... Then I see some person here whose mind is overcome and obsessed by both honour and lack of honour, with the breakup of the body, after death, reborn in a state of misery, in a bad destination, in the nether world, in hell. So dreadful, bhikkhus, are gain, honour, and praise..(as in 157).. Thus should you train yourselves."
This is what the Lord (Buddha) said. Having said this, the Fortunate One(Sugato), the Teacher(Sattha), further said this:
"Whether he is showered with honour; Shown dishonour, or offered both.
His samadhi(trance)state does not vacillate; As he dwells in the measureless state. 324
When he meditates with perseverance; An insight-seer(vipassakam) of subtle view
Delighting in the destruction(khaya\kshaya) of clinging(upadana sans. asakti); They call him truly a superior man." 325
(ii) The Second Subchapter(The Bowl)[]
167. Golden Bowl (Suvannapati)[]
At Savatthi.
[Buddha:] "Bhikkhus(monks), dreadful are gain, honour, and praise..(as in 157).. Bhikkhus, I have known of a certain person here whose mind I have encompassed with my own mind: 'This venerable one would not tell a deliberate lie even for the sake of a golden bowl filled with powdered silver.' Yet some time later I see him, his mind overcome and obsessed by gain, honour, and praise, telling a deliberate lie. So dreadful, bhikkhus, are gain, honour, and praise..(as in 157).. Thus should you train yourselves."
168. Silver Bowl (Rupiyapati)[]
At Savatthi.
[Buddha:] "Bhikkhus(monks), dreadful are gain, honour, and praise..(as in 157).. Bhikkhus, I have known of a certain person here whose mind I have encompassed with my own mind: 'This venerable one would not tell a deliberate lie even for the sake of a silver bowl filled with powdered gold.' Yet some time later I see him, his mind overcome and obsessed by gain, honour, and praise, telling a deliberate lie. So dreadful, bhikkhus, are gain, honour, and praise..(as in 157).. Thus should you train yourselves."
169 (10) Suvannanikkha, Etc.[]
At Savatthi.
[Buddha:] "Bhikkhus(monks), dreadful are gain, honour, and praise..(as in 157).. Bhikkhus, I have known of a certain person here whose mind I have encompassed with my own mind: This venerable one would not tell a deliberate lie even for the sake of a suvannanikkha ... even for the sake of a hundred suvannanikkhas ... even for the sake of a singinikkha ... for a hundred singinikkhas 326 ... for the earth filled with gold ... for any material reward ... for the sake of his life ... for the most beautiful girl of the land. 327 Yet some time later I see him, his mind overcome and obsessed by gain, honour, and praise, telling a deliberate lie. So dreadful, bhikkhus, are gain, honour, and praise..(as in 157).. Thus should you train yourselves."
(iii) The Third Subchapter (A Woman)[]
170. A Woman (Matugama)[]
At Savatthi.
[Buddha:] "Bhikkhus(monks), dreadful are gain, honour, and praise..(as in 157).. Bhikkhus, even though a woman, when one is alone with her, may not persist obsessing one's mind, still gain, honour, and praise might persist obsessing one's mind. So dreadful, bhikkhus, are gain, honour, and praise.... Thus should you train yourselves."
171. The Most Beautiful Girl (Kalyani)[]
At Savatthi.
[Buddha:] "Bhikkhus(monks), dreadful are gain, honour, and praise..(as in 157).. Bhikkhus, even though the most beautiful girl of the land, when one is alone with her, may not persist obsessing one's mind, still gain, honour, and praise might persist obsessing one's mind. So dreadful, bhikkhus, are gain, honour, and praise.... Thus should you train yourselves."
172. Only Son (Ekaputtakasa sans. Eka-Putra)[]
At Savatthi.
[Buddha:] "Bhikkhus(monks), dreadful are gain, honour, and praise..(as in 157).. A faithful female lay follower, rightly imploring her only son, dear and beloved, might implore him thus: 'Dear, you should become like Citta the householder and Hatthaka of Alavaka' for this is the standard and criterion for my male disciples who are lay followers, that is, Citta the householder and Hatthaka of Alavaka. 328 'But if, dear, you go forth from the household life into hermit life, you should become like Sariputta and Moggallana' - for this is the standard and criterion for my male disciples who are bhikkhus, that is, Sariputta and Moggallana. 'While, dear, you are a trainee, one who has not yet reached his mind's ideal, may gain, honour, and praise not come upon you!'
"Bhikkhus, if [236] gain, honour, and praise come upon a bhikkhu(monk) while he is a trainee, one who has not yet reached his mind's ideal, this is. an obstacle for him. So dreadful, bhikkhus, are gain, honour, and praise .... Thus should you train yourselves."
173. Only Daughter (Ekadhitu)[]
At Savatthi.
[Buddha:] "Bhikkhus(monks), dreadful are gain, honour, and praise..(as in 157).. A faithful female lay follower, rightly imploring her only daughter, dear and beloved, might implore her thus: 'Dear, you should become like Khujjuttara the lay follower and Velukandakiya, Nanda's mother' - for this is the standard and criteria for my female disciples who are lay followers, that is, Khujjuttara the lay follower and Velukandakiya, Nanda's mother. 329 'But if, dear, you go forth from the household life into hermit life, you should become like the bhikkhunis Khema and Uppalavanna' for this is the standard and criterion for my female disciples who are bhikkhunis, that is, Khema and Uppalavanna. 'While, dear, you are a trainee, one who has not yet reached her mind's ideal, may gain, honour, and praise not come upon you!'
"Bhikkhus, if gain, honour, and praise come upon a bhikkhuni while she is still a trainee, one who has not yet reached her mind's ideal, this is an obstacle for her. So dreadful, bhikkhus, are gain, honour, and praise..(as in 157).. Thus should you train yourselves."
174. Ascetics and Brahmins (1) (Samanabrahmana1)[]
At Savatthi.
[Buddha:] "Bhikkhus(monks), those ascetics or brahmins who do not understand as they really are the worldly-enjoyment(assado sans. aswad), the danger, and the escape in the case of gain, honour, and praise: 330 these I do not consider to be ascetics among ascetics or brahmins among brahmins, and these venerable ones do not, by realizing it for themselves with divine-knowledge(abhinna), in this very life enter and dwell in the goal of asceticism or the goal of brahminhood.
"But, bhikkhus, those ascetics and brahmins who understand as they really are the worldly-enjoyment, the danger, and the escape in the case of gain, honour, and praise: these I consider to be ascetics tics among ascetics and brahmins among brahmins, and these venerable ones, by realizing it for themselves with divine-knowledge(abhinna), in this very life enter and dwell in the goal of asceticism and the goal of brahminhood."
175. Ascetics and Brahmins (2) (Samanabrahmana2)[]
At Savatthi.
[Buddha:] "Bhikkhus(monks), those ascetics or brahmins who do not understand as they really are the origin and the passing away, the worldly-enjoyment(assado sans. aswad), the danger, and the escape in the case of gain, honour, and praise: these I do not consider to be ascetics among ascetics...(as in 174).
"But, bhikkhus, those ascetics and brahmins who understand these dhammas(path,law): these I consider to be ascetics among ascetics and brahmins among brahmins, and these venerable ones, by realizing ing it for themselves with divine-knowledge(abhinna), in this very life enter and dwell in the goal of asceticism and the goal of brahminhood."
176. Ascetics and Brahmins (3) (Samanabrahmana3)[]
At Savatthi.
[Buddha:] "Bhikkhus(monks), those ascetics or brahmins who do not understand gain, honour, and praise, its origin, its cessation(nirodha), and the way leading to its cessation: these I do not consider to be ascetics among ascetics...(as in 174). 331
"But, bhikkhus, those ascetics and brahmins who understand these dhammas(path,law): these I consider to be ascetics among ascetics and brahmins among brahmins, and these venerable ones, by realizing ing it for themselves with divine-knowledge(abhinna), in this very life enter and dwell in the goal of asceticism and the goal of brahminhood."
177. Skin (Chavi)[]
At Savatthi.
[Buddha:] "Bhikkhus(monks), dreadful are gain, honour, and praise..(as in 157).. Gain, honour, and praise cut through the outer skin, then through the inner skin, then through the flesh, then through the sinews, then through the bone. Having cut through the bone, they reach right to the marrow. So dreadful, bhikkhus, are gain, honour, and praise.... Thus should you train yourselves."
178. The Rope (Rajju)[]
At Savatthi.
[Buddha:] "Bhikkhus(monks), dreadful are gain, honour, and praise..(as in 157).. Gain, honour, and praise cut through the outer skin, then through the inner skin, then through the flesh, then through the sinews, then through the bone. Having cut through the bone, they reach right to the marrow. Suppose, bhikkhus, a strong man would wrap one's leg with a taut horsehair rope and pull it tight. It would cut through the outer skin, then through the inner skin, then through the flesh, then through the sinews, then through the bone. Having cut through the bone, it would reach right to the marrow. So too, bhikkhus, gain, honour, and praise cut through the outer skin ..(as in 177).. they reach right to the marrow. So dreadful, bhikkhus, are gain, honour, and praise.... Thus should you train yourselves. "
179. The Bhikkhu (Sans. Bhikshu, Monk)[]
At Savatthi. Lord Buddha: "Bhikkhus(monks), gain, honour, and praise, I say, are an obstacle even for a bhikkhu(monk) who is an arahant, one with defilements destroyed."
When this was said, the Venerable Ananda asked the Lord (Buddha):
"Why, venerable sir, are gain, honour, and praise an obstacle even for a bhikkhu with defilements destroyed?"
"I do not say, Ananda, that gain, honour, and praise are an obstacle to his unshakable liberation(vimutti sans. vimukti) of mind. But I say they are an obstacle to [his attainment of] those pleasant dwellings in this very life which are achieved by one who dwells alertful(appamada), ardent, and resolute. 332 So dreadful, Ananda, are gain, honour, and praise, so bitter, vile, obstructive to achieving the unsurpassed security from bondage. Therefore, Ananda, you should train yourselves thus: 'We will abandon the arisen gain, honour, and praise, and we will not let the arisen gain, honour, and praise persist obsessing our minds.' Thus should you train yourselves."
(iv) The Fourth Subchapter (Schism in the Sangha)[]
180. Schism (Bhindi)[]
At Savatthi.
[Buddha:] "Bhikkhus(monks), dreadful are gain, honour, and praise..(as in 157).. Because his mind was overcome and obsessed by gain, honour, and praise, Devadatta provoked a schism in the Sangha(fraternity). So dreadful, bhikkhus, are gain, honour, and praise.... Thus should you train yourselves."
181. beneficial(kusala) Root (Kusalamula)[]
(as in 157).. . "Because his mind was overcome and obsessed by gain, honour, and praise, Devadatta's beneficial(kusala sans. kushal) root was cut off...(as in 157)." 333
182. beneficial(kusala) Nature (Kusaladhamma)[]
(as in 157)... "Because his mind was overcome and obsessed by gain, honour, and praise, Devadatta's beneficial(kusala sans. kushal) nature was cut off...(as in 157)."
183. Bright Nature (Sukkadhamma sans. Shuk-dharma)[]
(as in 157)... "Because his mind was overcome and obsessed by gain, honour, and praise, Devadatta's bright nature was cut off...(as in 157)."
184. Not Long After He Left (Acirapakkanta)[]
On one occasion the Lord (Buddha) was dwelling in Rajagaha on Mount Vulture Peak not long after Devadatta had left. There, with reference to Devadatta, the Lord (Buddha) addressed the bhikkhus thus: 334
"Bhikkhus(monks), Devadatta's gain, honour, and praise arose to his own downfall and destruction(khaya\kshaya). Just as a plantain tree, a bamboo, or a reed yields fruit to its own downfall and destruction, so Devadatta's gain, honour, and praise arose to his own downfall and destruction. Just as a mule becomes pregnant to its own downfall and destruction, so Devadatta's gain, honour, and praise arose to his own. downfall and destruction. So dreadful, bhikkhus, are gain, honour, and praise..(as in 157).. Thus should you train yourselves."
This is what the Lord (Buddha) said. Having said this, the Fortunate One(Sugato), the Teacher(Sattha), further said this:
"As its own fruit brings destruction(khaya\kshaya); To the plantain, bamboo, and reed.
As its embryo destroys the mule; So do honours destroy the scoundrel."
185. Five Hundred Carts (Pancarathasata)[]
While dwelling at Rajagaha in the Bamboo-Grove(Veluvan), the Squirrel-Sanctuary(Kalandak-Nivap). Now on that occasion Prince Ajatasattu was going to attend upon Devadatta morning and evening with five hundred carts, and an offering of food was conveyed to him in five hundred pots. Then a number of bhikkhus approached the Lord (Buddha), paid homage to him, sat down to one side, and reported this matter to the Lord (Buddha). [The Lord (Buddha) said:]
"Bhikkhus(monks), do not be envious of Devadatta's gain, honour, and praise. As long as Prince Ajatasattu goes to attend upon Devadatta morning and evening with five hundred carts, and an offering of food is conveyed to him in five hundred pots, only loss can be expected for Devadatta in regard to beneficial(kusala sans. kushal) states, not growth.
"Just as a wild dog becomes even wilder when they sprinkle bile over its nose, 335 so too, bhikkhus, so long as Prince Ajatasattu goes to attend upon Devadatta . . . only loss can be expected for Devadatta in regard to beneficial(kusala) states, not growth. So dreadful, bhikkhus, are gain, honour, and praise..(as in 157).. Thus should you train yourselves."
186. Mother Sutta (Matu sans. Matri)[]
At Savatthi.
[Buddha:] "Bhikkhus(monks), dreadful are gain, honour, and praise, bitter, vile, obstructive to achieving the unsurpassed security from bondage. Bhikkhus, I have known of a certain person here, whose mind I have encompassed with my own mind: 'This venerable one would not tell a deliberate lie even for the sake of his mother.' 336 Yet some time later I see him, his mind overcome and obsessed by gain, honour, and praise, telling a deliberate lie. So dreadful, bhikkhus, are gain, honour, and praise, so bitter, vile, obstructive to achieving the unsurpassed security from bondage. Therefore, bhikkhus, you should train yourselves thus: 'We will abandon the arisen gain, honour, and praise, and we will not let the arisen gain, honour, and praise persist obsessing our minds.' Thus should you train yourselves."
187. Father Sutta, Etc. (Pitu etc.)[]
At Savatthi.
[Buddha:] "Bhikkhus(monks), dreadful are gain, honour, and praise, bitter, vile, obstructive to achieving the unsurpassed security from bondage. Bhikkhus, I have known of a certain person here, whose mind I have encompassed with my own mind: 'This venerable one would not tell a deliberate lie even for the sake of his father ... even for the sake of his father ... even for the sake of his brother ... his sister ... his son ... his daughter ... his wife.' 336 Yet some time later I see him, his mind overcome and obsessed by gain, honour, and praise, telling a deliberate lie. So dreadful, bhikkhus, are gain, honour, and praise, so bitter, vile, obstructive to achieving the unsurpassed security from bondage. Therefore, bhikkhus, you should train yourselves thus: 'We will abandon the arisen gain, honour, and praise, and we will not let the arisen gain, honour, and praise persist obsessing our minds.' Thus should you train yourselves."
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