A Mendicant With Defilements Ended

At Sāvatthī.

“Mendicants, possessions, honor, and popularity are an obstacle even for a mendicant who is perfected, with defilements ended.”

When he said this, Venerable Ānanda said to the Buddha,

“Sir, what do possessions, honor, and popularity obstruct for a mendicant with defilements ended?”

“Ānanda, I don’t say that possessions, honor, and popularity obstruct the unshakable freedom of heart.

But I do say that possessions, honor, and popularity obstruct the achievement of blissful meditations in this life for a meditator who is diligent, keen, and resolute. ^[1]

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

So you should train like this:

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

That’s how you should train.”