• Linked Discourses 17.30 Saṁyutta Nikāya 17.30
  • Chapter Three 3. Tatiyavagga

A Mendicant With Defilements Ended Bhikkhusutta

At Sāvatthī. Sāvatthiyaṁ viharati.

ā€œMendicants, possessions, honor, and popularity are an obstacle even for a mendicant who is perfected, with defilements ended.ā€ ā€œYopi so, bhikkhave, bhikkhu arahaṁ khīṇāsavo tassapāhaṁ lābhasakkārasiloko antarāyāya vadāmÄ«ā€ti.

When he said this, Venerable Ānanda said to the Buddha, Evaṁ vutte, āyasmā ānando bhagavantaṁ etadavoca: ā€œSir, what do possessions, honor, and popularity obstruct for a mendicant with defilements ended?ā€ ā€œkissa pana, bhante, khīṇāsavassa bhikkhuno lābhasakkārasiloko antarāyāyÄā€ti?

ā€œÄ€nanda, I don’t say that possessions, honor, and popularity obstruct the unshakable freedom of heart. ā€œYā hissa sā, ānanda, akuppā cetovimutti nāhaṁ tassā lābhasakkārasilokaṁ antarāyāya vadāmi. But I do say that possessions, honor, and popularity obstruct the achievement of blissful meditations in this life for a meditator who is diligent, keen, and resolute. Ye ca khvassa, ānanda, appamattassa ātāpino pahitattassa viharato diį¹­į¹­hadhammasukhavihārā adhigatā tesāhamassa lābhasakkārasilokaṁ antarāyāya vadāmi.

So grim are possessions, honor, and popularity—bitter and harsh, an obstacle to reaching the supreme sanctuary from the yoke. Evaṁ dāruṇo kho, ānanda, lābhasakkārasiloko kaį¹­uko pharuso antarāyiko anuttarassa yogakkhemassa adhigamāya.

So you should train like this: Tasmātihānanda, evaṁ sikkhitabbaṁ: ā€˜We will give up arisen possessions, honor, and popularity, and we won’t let them occupy our minds.’ ā€˜uppannaṁ lābhasakkārasilokaṁ pajahissāma, na ca no uppanno lābhasakkārasiloko cittaṁ pariyādāya į¹­hassatī’ti. That’s how you should train.ā€ EvaƱhi vo, ānanda, sikkhitabbanā€ti.

Tatiyo vaggo.

Tassuddānaṁ

Mātugāmo ca kalyāṇī, putto ca ekadhÄ«tu ca; Samaṇabrāhmaṇā tīṇi, chavi rajju ca bhikkhunāti.