4. Catutthavagga

Saṁyutta Nikāya 17.37

Linked Discourses 17.37

4. Catutthavagga

Chapter Four

Mātusutta

Mother

Sāvatthiyaṁ viharati.

At Sāvatthī.

“Dāruṇo, bhikkhave, lābhasakkārasiloko kaṭuko pharuso antarāyiko anuttarassa yogakkhemassa adhigamāya.

“Possessions, honor, and popularity are grim, bitter, and harsh. They’re an obstacle to reaching the supreme sanctuary from the yoke.

Idhāhaṁ, bhikkhave, ekaccaṁ puggalaṁ evaṁ cetasā ceto paricca pajānāmi:

When I’ve comprehended the mind of a certain individual, I understand:

‘na cāyamāyasmā mātupi hetu sampajānamusā bhāseyyā’ti.

‘This venerable would not tell a deliberate lie even for the sake of their mother.’

Tamenaṁ passāmi aparena samayena lābhasakkārasilokena abhibhūtaṁ pariyādiṇṇacittaṁ sampajānamusā bhāsantaṁ.

But some time later I see them tell a deliberate lie because their mind is overcome and overwhelmed by possessions, honor, and popularity.

Evaṁ dāruṇo kho, bhikkhave, lābhasakkārasiloko kaṭuko pharuso antarāyiko anuttarassa yogakkhemassa adhigamāya.

So grim are possessions, honor, and popularity—bitter and harsh, an obstacle to reaching the supreme sanctuary from the yoke.

Tasmātiha, bhikkhave, evaṁ sikkhitabbaṁ:

So you should train like this:

‘uppannaṁ lābhasakkārasilokaṁ pajahissāma.

‘We will give up arisen possessions, honor, and popularity, and we won’t let them occupy our minds.’

Na ca no uppanno lābhasakkārasiloko cittaṁ pariyādāya ṭhassatī’ti.

Evañhi vo, bhikkhave, sikkhitabban”ti.

That’s how you should train.”

Sattamaṁ.