Linked Discourses on Gains and Honor

Material possessions, honor, and praise are terrible things, obstructing spiritual progress.

Material possessions, honor, and praise are terrible things, which catch you like fish on a hook.

Material possessions, honor, and praise are terrible things, which hit you like a harpoon hits a careless turtle.

Material possessions, honor, and praise are terrible things, which snare you like a long-haired goat in a briar patch.

A mendicant who is proud on account of their material possessions, honor, and praise is like a dung beetle proud of their ball of dung.

Material possessions, honor, and praise are terrible things, like a lightning strike.

Material possessions, honor, and praise are terrible things, like a poison dart.

A mendicant who is proud on account of their material possessions, honor, and praise is never at peace, like a mangy jackal.

A mendicant who is proud on account of their material possessions, honor, and praise is never at peace, like a bird in a gale.

Material possessions, honor, and praise are terrible things, and attachment to them leads to a bad rebirth.

Material possessions, honor, and praise are terrible things, which can corrupt the mind even of a pure mendicant.

Material possessions, honor, and praise are terrible things, which can corrupt the mind even of a pure mendicant.

Material possessions, honor, and praise are terrible things, which can corrupt the mind even of a pure mendicant.

Material possessions, honor, and praise can be even more tempting than a woman.

Material possessions, honor, and praise can be even more tempting than the finest lady in the land.

A laywoman should wish that if her son remains in the household life, he should be like Citta and Hatthaka. But if he becomes a monk, may material possessions, honor, and praise not come to him!

A laywoman should wish that if her daughter remains in the household life, she should be like Khujjuttarā and Veḷukaṇḍakiyā. But if she becomes a nun, may material possessions, honor, and praise not come to her!

Someone who doesn’t fully understand material possessions, honor, and praise is no true ascetic.

Someone who doesn’t fully understand material possessions, honor, and praise is no true ascetic.

Someone who doesn’t fully understand material possessions, honor, and praise is no true ascetic.

Material possessions, honor, and praise cut to the bone.

Material possessions, honor, and praise cut to the bone, like a rope.

Material possessions, honor, and praise are even a problem for a perfected one, as they interfere with their meditation.

Devadatta provoked a schism due to material possessions, honor, and praise.

Devadatta’s wholesome root was cut off due to material possessions, honor, and praise.

Devadatta’s wholesome nature was cut off due to material possessions, honor, and praise.

Devadatta’s bright nature was cut off due to material possessions, honor, and praise.

Material possessions, honor, and praise led to Devadatta’s downfall, like the fruit of a plantain.

Prince Ajātasattu supplied devadatta with 500 carts of offerings, leading to his downfall.

Even someone who would not lie for the sake of their mother would do so when corrupted by material possessions.

Even someone who would not lie for the sake of their father and other relatives would do so when corrupted by material possessions.