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filled with dung, and in front of it is a great pile of dung, that dung-beetle would despise another, thinking: ‘I am a dung-eater, full of dung, filled with dung, and in front of me is this great pile of dung’”— the Blessed One spoke thus. Indeed, bhikkhus, for that foolish person, it leads to harm and suffering for a long time. So harsh, bhikkhus, is gain, honor, and renown. Therefore, bhikkhus, you should train yourselves thus: “We will abandon arisen gain, honor, and renown, and arisen gain, honor, and renown will not overwhelm our minds”— thus, bhikkhus, you should train yourselves. The Only Son Sutta Question: Venerable sir, where, concerning whom, and how was the Only Son Sutta, recited by the ancient Dhamma reciters, spoken? Answer: Venerable sir, in Sāvatthī, concerning many bhikkhus, the Blessed One spoke thus: “Bhikkhus, gain, honor, and renown are harsh, bitter, cruel, and an obstacle to the attainment of the unsurpassed security from bondage. Bhikkhus, a faithful female lay follower, loving and dear to her only son, would properly wish thus: ‘My dear son, may you be like Citta the householder and Hatthaka of Āḷavī’”— the Blessed One spoke thus. This, bhikkhus, is the measure. This is the measure for my male disciples, lay followers, namely, Citta the householder and Hatthaka of Āḷavī. If you, dear son, go forth from home to homelessness, be such a one, dear son, as Sāriputta and Moggallāna. And do not, dear son, let gain, honor, and fame overtake a trainee whose mind has not yet reached the goal. So dreadful, monks, is gain, honor, and fame; bitter, harsh, an obstacle to the attainment of the unsurpassed security from bondage. The Ekadhītu Sutta Question – Friends, where, concerning whom, and how was the Ekadhītu Sutta, recited by the ancient reciters of the Dhamma, spoken by the Blessed One? Answer – In Sāvatthī, venerable sir, concerning many monks, the Blessed One spoke, saying: "Dreadful, monks, is gain, honor, and fame; bitter, harsh, an obstacle to the attainment of the unsurpassed security from bondage. A faithful laywoman, monks, having an only daughter, dear and pleasing, praying rightly, should pray thus: 'May you, dear lady, be like Khujjuttarā the laywoman and Nandamātā of Veḷukaṇḍakī.' This, monks, is the scale, this is the measure for my female disciples, lay followers, namely, Khujjuttarā the laywoman and Nandamātā of Veḷukaṇḍakī." Thus, venerable sir, did the Blessed One speak, beginning with this. If you, dear lady, go forth from home to homelessness, be such a one, dear lady, as Bhikkhunī Khemā and Uppalavaṇṇā. Therefore, monks, you should train yourselves thus. The Connected Discourses with Rāhula Question – Friends, where, concerning whom, on what occasion, and how was the Rāhula Saṃyutta spoken by the Blessed One? Answer – In Sāvatthī, venerable sir, it was spoken concerning Venerable Rāhula. Venerable Rāhula, venerable sir, said this to the Blessed One: "It would be good for me, venerable sir, if the Blessed One would teach me the Dhamma in brief, so that having heard the Dhamma from the Blessed One, I might dwell alone, secluded, diligent, ardent, and resolute." On that occasion, venerable sir, [the Blessed One said]: "What do you think, Rāhula, is the eye permanent or impermanent?" It blows. It is impermanent, sir. And what is impermanent, is that suffering or happiness? It is suffering, sir. And what is impermanent, suffering, subject to change, is it fit to regard it thus: 'This is mine, this I am, this is my self'? No, sir. Thus, sir, was it spoken by the Blessed One. Connected Discourses on Lakkhaṇa Discourse on Bones Question – Now, friends, where, concerning whom, in what context, and how was the Discourse on Bones, the first discourse recited by the ancient elder reciters of the Dhamma in the Connected Discourses on Lakkhaṇa, spoken by the Blessed One? Answer – It was spoken, sir, at Rājagaha, concerning Venerable Lakkhaṇa and Venerable Mahāmoggallāna. Venerable Lakkhaṇa, sir, in the presence of the Blessed One, said this to Venerable Mahāmoggallāna: "Here, Venerable Mahāmoggallāna, as you were descending from Vulture Peak, you smiled in a certain place. What, friend Moggallāna, was the reason, what was the cause for that smile?" And Venerable Mahāmoggallāna, sir, reported thus: "Here, friend, as I was descending from Vulture Peak, I saw a skeleton chain moving through the air." In that context, sir, the Blessed One spoke thus: "Truly, bhikkhus, the disciples dwell with the eye, truly, bhikkhus, the disciples dwell with knowledge, in that a disciple will know, or see, or bear witness to such a thing." Oh, how wonderful! Oh, how amazing! Such a being will exist! Discourse on a Lump (of flesh) Question – Now, friends, where, concerning whom, in what context, and how was the Discourse on a Lump (of flesh), the third discourse recited in the Connected Discourses on Lakkhaṇa by the knowing... the Fully Self-Awakened One, spoken? Answer – It was spoken, sir, at Rājagaha, concerning Venerable Lakkhaṇa and Venerable Mahāmoggallāna. Venerable Lakkhaṇa, sir, in the presence of the Blessed One, said this to Venerable Mahāmoggallāna: "Here, Venerable Mahāmoggallāna, as you were Descending from Vulture Peak mountain, in a certain place, a smile appeared. "What, friend Moggallāna, is the cause, what is the reason for the appearance of this smile?" And Venerable Mahāmoggallāna said: "Here, friend, as I was descending from Vulture Peak mountain, I saw a lump of flesh going through the air. Vultures, crows, and kites, following it again and again, tore it apart and scattered it. And it was making a painful sound." He reported this and so on. In that matter, Venerable Sir, the Blessed One spoke this and so on: "Indeed, bhikkhus, the disciples dwell as eyes, indeed, bhikkhus, the disciples dwell as knowledge, inasmuch as a disciple will know or see or bear witness to such a thing." The Discourse on the Hair-Blades Question: There, friend, the Discourse on the Hair-Blades, chanted by the ancient great elders who compiled the Dhamma, where, concerning whom, on what matter, and how was it spoken by the Blessed One? Answer: In Rājagaha, Venerable Sir, it was spoken concerning Venerable Lakkhaṇa and Venerable Mahāmoggallāna. Venerable Lakkhaṇa, in the presence of the Blessed One, said this to Venerable Mahāmoggallāna: "What, friend Moggallāna, is the cause, what is the reason for the appearance of this smile?" And Venerable Mahāmoggallāna, the elder, said: "Here, friend, as I was descending from Vulture Peak mountain, I saw a being with hair-blades going through the air." He reported this and so on. In that matter, Venerable Sir, "Indeed, bhikkhus, the disciples dwell as eyes, indeed, bhikkhus, the disciples dwell as knowledge." (etc.) "This being, bhikkhus, was a pig-butcher right here in Rājagaha." The Blessed One spoke this and so on. The Discourse on the Hair-Needles Question: There, friend, the Discourse on the Hair-Needles, chanted by the ancient great elders who compiled the Dhamma, where, concerning whom, on what matter, and how was it spoken by the Blessed One? Answer: There, Venerable Sir, in Rājagaha, concerning Venerable Lakkhaṇa spoken concerning Venerable Mahāmoggallāna. Venerable Lakkhaṇa, sir, spoke likewise in the presence of the Blessed One. And Venerable Mahāmoggallāna, sir, reported likewise. Concerning that matter, sir, the Blessed One spoke thus, beginning with: "Truly, monks, the disciples dwell as eyes, truly, monks, the disciples dwell as knowledge, (etc.) this being, monks, was born right here in Rājagaha." The Discourse on the Evil Monk Question: Friend, where, concerning whom, on what occasion, and how were these five discourses, beginning with the Pāpabhikkhusutta, recited by the ancient great elders who compiled the Dhamma? Answer: They were spoken in Rājagaha, concerning Venerable Lakkhaṇa and Venerable Mahāmoggallāna. Venerable Lakkhaṇa, sir, reported in the presence of the Blessed One in the manner previously stated. And Venerable Mahāmoggallāna, sir, reported: "Here, friend, as I was descending from Gijjhakūṭa mountain, I saw a monk going through the air. I saw a nun going through the air. I saw a female trainee going through the air. I saw a novice monk going through the air. I saw a novice nun going through the air. Her outer robe was ablaze, burning brightly, glowing. Her bowl was ablaze, burning brightly, glowing. Her waist-band was ablaze, burning brightly, glowing. Her body was ablaze, burning brightly, glowing. She was making a painful cry," and so on. Concerning that matter, sir, [the Blessed One said]: "Truly, monks, the disciples dwell as eyes, truly, monks, the disciples dwell as knowledge. (Etc.) This monk, monks, was an evil monk in the dispensation of Kassapa the Perfectly Self-Enlightened One. This nun, monks, was an evil nun in the dispensation of Kassapa the Perfectly Self-Enlightened One. This female trainee, monks, was an evil female trainee in the dispensation of Kassapa the Perfectly Self-Enlightened One. This monks, this novice was a wicked novice in the dispensation of Kassapa the Perfectly Enlightened One. Monks, this novice nun was a wicked novice nun in the dispensation of Kassapa the Perfectly Enlightened One.” Thus spoke the Blessed One. Parable Saṃyutta Fingernail-Dust Sutta Question – Friend, where, concerning whom, and how was the Fingernail-Dust Sutta, recited by the ancient great elders who compiled the Dhamma, spoken by the Blessed One in the Parable Saṃyutta? Answer – At Sāvatthī, venerable sir, concerning many monks, the Blessed One spoke thus: “What do you think, monks, which is greater: this little dust that I have picked up on my fingernail, or this great earth?” What do you think, monks, which is greater? Therefore, monks, you should train yourselves thus. Peg Sutta