With Verses

At Sāvatthī.

“Possessions, honor, and popularity are grim …

Take a case where I see a certain individual 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 individual 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 individual 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 grim 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 immersion doesn’t waver

as they abide in the immeasurables.

They persistently meditate

with subtle view and discernment.

Rejoicing in the ending of grasping,

they’re said to be a true person.”