The Related Suttas Collection 17.10

Chapter One

With Verses

At Sāvatthī.

“Possessions, honor, and popularity are brutal …

Take a case where I see a certain person whose mind is overcome and overwhelmed by honor. When their body breaks up, after death, they’re reborn in a place of loss, a bad place, the underworld, hell.

Take another case where I see a certain person whose mind is overcome and overwhelmed by lack of honor. When their body breaks up, after death, they’re reborn in a place of loss, a bad place, the underworld, hell.

And take another case where I see a certain person whose mind is overcome and overwhelmed by both honor and lack of honor. When their body breaks up, after death, they’re reborn in a place of loss, a bad place, the underworld, hell.

So brutal are possessions, honor, and popularity. …”

That is what the Buddha said. Then the Holy One, the Teacher, went on to say:

“Whether they’re honored or not honored, or both, their samādhi doesn’t waver as they live diligently.

They persistently meditate with subtle view and discernment. Rejoicing in the ending of grasping, they’re said to be a good person.”