English
"Dreadful, monks, is gain, honor, and fame. Of Devadatta, monks, overcome by gain, honor, and fame, with mind overwhelmed, the skillful quality went to utter destruction. So dreadful indeed, monks, is gain, honor, and fame... ...should you train." The Third. 4. The Wholesome Qualities Sutta Residing at Savatthi... "Dreadful, monks, is gain, honor, and fame. Of Devadatta, monks, overcome by gain, honor, and fame, with mind overwhelmed, the wholesome quality went to utter destruction. So dreadful indeed, monks, is gain, honor, and fame... ...should you train." The Fourth. 5. The Recently Departed Sutta At one time the Blessed One was residing at Rajagaha on Vulture Peak Mountain, Devadatta having recently departed. There... Then the Blessed One, concerning Devadatta, addressed the bhikkhus: "For Devadatta's self-destruction, bhikkhus, gain, honor, and fame arose. For Devadatta's downfall, gain, honor, and fame arose." "Just as, bhikkhus, a plantain gives fruit for its self-destruction, gives fruit for its downfall; even so, bhikkhus, for Devadatta's self-destruction, gain, honor, and fame arose. For Devadatta's downfall, gain, honor, and fame arose." "Just as, bhikkhus, a bamboo gives fruit for its self-destruction, gives fruit for its downfall; even so, bhikkhus, for Devadatta's self-destruction, gain, honor, and fame arose. For Devadatta's downfall, gain, honor, and fame arose." "Just as, bhikkhus, a reed gives fruit for its self-destruction, gives fruit for its downfall; even so, bhikkhus, for Devadatta's self-destruction, gain, honor, and fame arose. For Devadatta's downfall, gain, honor, and fame arose." "Just as, bhikkhus, a she-mule conceives a fetus for its self-destruction, conceives a fetus for its downfall; even so, bhikkhus, for Devadatta's self-destruction, gain, honor, and fame arose. For Devadatta's downfall, gain, honor, and fame arose. So terrible, bhikkhus, is gain, honor, and fame. Thus, bhikkhus, you should train yourselves." This the Blessed One said. Having said this, the Fortunate One, the Teacher, further said this: "Indeed, fruit kills the plantain, Fruit kills the bamboo, fruit kills the reed; Honor kills the evil person, Just as a fetus kills the she-mule." Fifth. 6. The Discourse on Five Hundred Chariots 185. (The Blessed One) was dwelling in Rājagaha, in the Bamboo Grove, at the Squirrels' Feeding Ground. Now at that time, Prince Ajātasattu would go to attend upon Devadatta morning and evening with five hundred chariots, and five hundred portions of rice were brought as offerings of food. Then a number of bhikkhus approached the Blessed One; Approached the Blessed One, paid homage to him, and sat down to one side. Seated to one side, those bhikkhus said to the Blessed One: "Venerable sir, Prince Ajātasattu goes to attend on Devadatta morning and evening with five hundred chariots, and five hundred portions of boiled rice are brought as an offering of food." "Bhikkhus, do not envy Devadatta's gains, honor, and fame. As long as, bhikkhus, Prince Ajātasattu goes to attend on Devadatta morning and evening with five hundred chariots, and five hundred portions of boiled rice are brought as an offering of food, Devadatta can expect decline in wholesome states, not growth." "Just as, bhikkhus, if one were to break open bile into the nose of a fierce dog, that dog, bhikkhus, would become even fiercer; in the same way, bhikkhus, as long as Prince Ajātasattu goes to attend on Devadatta morning and evening with five hundred chariots, and five hundred portions of boiled rice are brought as an offering of food, Devadatta can expect decline in wholesome states, not growth. So dreadful, bhikkhus, are gains, honor, and fame... ...thus, bhikkhus, you should train yourselves." The Sixth. 7. The Discourse on the Mother 186. Dwelling at Sāvatthī... ... "Bhikkhus, gains, honor, and fame are dreadful, bitter, harsh, an obstacle to the attainment of the unsurpassed security from bondage. Here, bhikkhus, I discern with my mind, having encompassed the mind of a certain person, thus: 'This venerable one would not speak a deliberate lie even for the sake of his mother.' Then, at a later time, I see him overcome by gains, honor, and fame, his mind overwhelmed, speaking a deliberate lie. So dreadful, bhikkhus, are gains, honor, and fame, bitter, harsh, an obstacle to the attainment of the unsurpassed security from bondage. Therefore, bhikkhus, you should train yourselves thus: 'Having arisen..." We will abandon gain, honor, and fame. And arisen gain, honor, and fame will not overwhelm our minds. Thus, monks, you should train. The Seventh. 8-13. The Six Discourses Beginning with the Father. 187. Dwelling at Savatthi… (and so on)… "Terrible, monks, is gain, honor, and fame; bitter, harsh, an obstacle to the attainment of unsurpassed security from bondage. Here, monks, I discern the mind of a certain person with my mind thus: 'This venerable one would not speak a deliberate lie even for the sake of a father… (and so on)… even for the sake of a brother… even for the sake of a sister… even for the sake of a son… even for the sake of a daughter… even for the sake of a wife.' Then I see him at a later time, overcome by gain, honor, and fame, his mind overwhelmed, speaking a deliberate lie. So terrible, monks, is gain, honor, and fame; bitter, harsh, an obstacle to the attainment of unsurpassed security from bondage. Therefore, monks, you should train thus: 'We will abandon arisen gain, honor, and fame, and arisen gain, honor, and fame will not overwhelm our minds.' Thus, monks, you should train." The Thirteenth. The Fourth Chapter. Its summary – Break, root, two qualities, departed, chariot, mother; Father, brother, and sister, son, daughter, and wife. The Connected Discourses on Gain and Honor are concluded.