The Blessed One describes how beings are affected by respect and disrespect, and how this affects their rebirth. The true person is one who is collected, detached, and delights in the ending of grasping.

ITI 81  Sakkāra sutta - Respect

Vuttañhetaṁ bhagavatā vuttamarahatāti me sutaṁ:

This was said by the Blessed One, said by the Arahant, as I have heard:

“Diṭṭhā mayā, bhikkhave, sattā sakkārena abhibhūtā, pariyādinnacittā, kāyassa bhedā paraṁ maraṇā apāyaṁ duggatiṁ vinipātaṁ nirayaṁ upapannā.

“Bhikkhus, I have seen beings who, overcome by |respect::honor, accolade, reverence [sakkāra]| and with minds overwhelmed, upon the breaking up of the body, after death, have arisen in a state of loss, a |bad destination::state of misery [duggati]|, in the |realms of downfall::in realms of misery [vinipāta]|, even in |hell::a place of intense suffering, lit. no good fortune [niraya]|.

Diṭṭhā mayā, bhikkhave, sattā asakkārena abhibhūtā, pariyādinnacittā, kāyassa bhedā paraṁ maraṇā apāyaṁ duggatiṁ vinipātaṁ nirayaṁ upapannā.

Bhikkhus, I have seen beings who, overcome by |disrespect::disregard [asakkāra]| and with minds overwhelmed, upon the breaking up of the body, after death, have arisen in a state of loss, a bad destination, in the realms of downfall, even in hell.

Diṭṭhā mayā, bhikkhave, sattā sakkārena ca asakkārena ca tadubhayena abhibhūtā, pariyādinnacittā, kāyassa bhedā paraṁ maraṇā apāyaṁ duggatiṁ vinipātaṁ nirayaṁ upapannā.

Bhikkhus, I have seen beings who, overcome by both respect and disrespect, and with minds overwhelmed, upon the breaking up of the body, after death, have arisen in a state of loss, a bad destination, in the realms of downfall, even in hell.

Taṁ kho panāhaṁ, bhikkhave, nāññassa samaṇassa brāhmaṇassa sutvā vadāmi; (…) api ca, bhikkhave, yadeva me sāmaṁ ñātaṁ sāmaṁ diṭṭhaṁ sāmaṁ viditaṁ tamevāhaṁ vadāmi.

But, bhikkhus, I do not say this having heard it from another ascetic or brahmin. Moreover, bhikkhus, what I have known for myself, seen for myself, and realized for myself, that is what I declare.

Diṭṭhā mayā, bhikkhave, sattā sakkārena abhibhūtā, pariyādinnacittā, kāyassa bhedā paraṁ maraṇā apāyaṁ duggatiṁ vinipātaṁ nirayaṁ upapannā.

Bhikkhus, I have seen beings who, overcome by respect and with minds overwhelmed, upon the breaking up of the body, after death, have arisen in a state of loss, a bad destination, in the realms of downfall, even in hell.

Diṭṭhā mayā, bhikkhave, sattā asakkārena abhibhūtā, pariyādinnacittā, kāyassa bhedā paraṁ maraṇā apāyaṁ duggatiṁ vinipātaṁ nirayaṁ upapannā.

Bhikkhus, I have seen beings who, overcome by disrespect and with minds overwhelmed, upon the breaking up of the body, after death, have arisen in a state of loss, a bad destination, in the realms of downfall, even in hell.

Diṭṭhā mayā, bhikkhave, sattā sakkārena ca asakkārena ca tadubhayena abhibhūtā, pariyādinnacittā, kāyassa bhedā paraṁ maraṇā apāyaṁ duggatiṁ vinipātaṁ nirayaṁ upapannā”ti.

Bhikkhus, I have seen beings who, overcome by both respect and disrespect, and with minds overwhelmed, upon the breaking up of the body, after death, have arisen in a state of loss, a bad destination, in the realms of downfall, even in hell.”

Etamatthaṁ bhagavā avoca. Tatthetaṁ iti vuccati:

The Blessed One spoke on this matter. In this regard, it is said:

“Yassa sakkariyamānassa,
asakkārena cūbhayaṁ;
Samādhi na vikampati,
appamādavihārino.

“While being honored,
or shown dishonor, or by both;
For one whose |collectedness::stability of mind, stillness of mind, mental composure [samādhi]| does not waver,
as he dwells with a boundless mind —

Taṁ jhāyinaṁ sātatikaṁ,
sukhumadiṭṭhivipassakaṁ;
Upādānakkhayārāmaṁ,
āhu sappuriso itī”ti.

That one, meditative and |practicing continuously::diligent, persevering, consistent [sātatika]|,
refined in vision and insight;
Delighting in the ending of grasping,
is called a |true person::good person, worthy one, awakened being [sappurisa]|.”

Ayampi attho vutto bhagavatā, iti me sutanti.

This matter too was spoken by the Blessed One, as I have heard.

This was said by the Blessed One, said by the Arahant, as I have heard:

“Bhikkhus, I have seen beings who, overcome by |respect::honor, accolade, reverence [sakkāra]| and with minds overwhelmed, upon the breaking up of the body, after death, have arisen in a state of loss, a |bad destination::state of misery [duggati]|, in the |realms of downfall::in realms of misery [vinipāta]|, even in |hell::a place of intense suffering, lit. no good fortune [niraya]|.

Bhikkhus, I have seen beings who, overcome by |disrespect::disregard [asakkāra]| and with minds overwhelmed, upon the breaking up of the body, after death, have arisen in a state of loss, a bad destination, in the realms of downfall, even in hell.

Bhikkhus, I have seen beings who, overcome by both respect and disrespect, and with minds overwhelmed, upon the breaking up of the body, after death, have arisen in a state of loss, a bad destination, in the realms of downfall, even in hell.

But, bhikkhus, I do not say this having heard it from another ascetic or brahmin. Moreover, bhikkhus, what I have known for myself, seen for myself, and realized for myself, that is what I declare.

Bhikkhus, I have seen beings who, overcome by respect and with minds overwhelmed, upon the breaking up of the body, after death, have arisen in a state of loss, a bad destination, in the realms of downfall, even in hell.

Bhikkhus, I have seen beings who, overcome by disrespect and with minds overwhelmed, upon the breaking up of the body, after death, have arisen in a state of loss, a bad destination, in the realms of downfall, even in hell.

Bhikkhus, I have seen beings who, overcome by both respect and disrespect, and with minds overwhelmed, upon the breaking up of the body, after death, have arisen in a state of loss, a bad destination, in the realms of downfall, even in hell.”

The Blessed One spoke on this matter. In this regard, it is said:

“While being honored,
or shown dishonor, or by both;
For one whose |collectedness::stability of mind, stillness of mind, mental composure [samādhi]| does not waver,
as he dwells with a boundless mind —

That one, meditative and |practicing continuously::diligent, persevering, consistent [sātatika]|,
refined in vision and insight;
Delighting in the ending of grasping,
is called a |true person::good person, worthy one, awakened being [sappurisa]|.”

This matter too was spoken by the Blessed One, as I have heard.

Vuttañhetaṁ bhagavatā vuttamarahatāti me sutaṁ:

“Diṭṭhā mayā, bhikkhave, sattā sakkārena abhibhūtā, pariyādinnacittā, kāyassa bhedā paraṁ maraṇā apāyaṁ duggatiṁ vinipātaṁ nirayaṁ upapannā.

Diṭṭhā mayā, bhikkhave, sattā asakkārena abhibhūtā, pariyādinnacittā, kāyassa bhedā paraṁ maraṇā apāyaṁ duggatiṁ vinipātaṁ nirayaṁ upapannā.

Diṭṭhā mayā, bhikkhave, sattā sakkārena ca asakkārena ca tadubhayena abhibhūtā, pariyādinnacittā, kāyassa bhedā paraṁ maraṇā apāyaṁ duggatiṁ vinipātaṁ nirayaṁ upapannā.

Taṁ kho panāhaṁ, bhikkhave, nāññassa samaṇassa brāhmaṇassa sutvā vadāmi; (…) api ca, bhikkhave, yadeva me sāmaṁ ñātaṁ sāmaṁ diṭṭhaṁ sāmaṁ viditaṁ tamevāhaṁ vadāmi.

Diṭṭhā mayā, bhikkhave, sattā sakkārena abhibhūtā, pariyādinnacittā, kāyassa bhedā paraṁ maraṇā apāyaṁ duggatiṁ vinipātaṁ nirayaṁ upapannā.

Diṭṭhā mayā, bhikkhave, sattā asakkārena abhibhūtā, pariyādinnacittā, kāyassa bhedā paraṁ maraṇā apāyaṁ duggatiṁ vinipātaṁ nirayaṁ upapannā.

Diṭṭhā mayā, bhikkhave, sattā sakkārena ca asakkārena ca tadubhayena abhibhūtā, pariyādinnacittā, kāyassa bhedā paraṁ maraṇā apāyaṁ duggatiṁ vinipātaṁ nirayaṁ upapannā”ti.

Etamatthaṁ bhagavā avoca. Tatthetaṁ iti vuccati:

“Yassa sakkariyamānassa,
asakkārena cūbhayaṁ;
Samādhi na vikampati,
appamādavihārino.

Taṁ jhāyinaṁ sātatikaṁ,
sukhumadiṭṭhivipassakaṁ;
Upādānakkhayārāmaṁ,
āhu sappuriso itī”ti.

Ayampi attho vutto bhagavatā, iti me sutanti.

Last updated on September 13, 2025

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