The "Connected Discourses on Acquisitions and Respect" contain teachings on the danger of acqusitions, respect, and popularity for spiritual practitioners. The Buddha emphasizes how these worldly rewards are vicious, bitter, severe, and obstructive, leading to complacency, attachment, and spiritual downfall. Through vivid similes — such as comparing acquisitions and respect to a fisherman's baited hook — the discourses highlight how even accomplished practitioners can become ensnared if they relish praise and recognition.

Lābhasakkārasaṁyutta - Connected Discourses on Acquisitions and Respect

Paṭhama vagga - The First Chapter

The first chapter of the Connected Discourses on Acquisitions and Respect, containing discourses 1–10.

SN 17.1 Dāruṇa sutta - Harsh

The Buddha explains how acquisitions, respect, and popularity are vicious, bitter, and severe, obstructing the attainment of the unsurpassed safety from the bondage.

PTS 2.225

SN 17.2 Balisa sutta - The Hook

The Buddha explains how acquisitions, respect, and popularity are vicious, bitter, and severe, obstructing the attainment of the unsurpassed safety from the bondage using a simile of a fisherman casting a baited hook.

PTS 2.226–2.227

SN 17.3 Kumma sutta - The Turtle

The Buddha uses the simile of a turtle struck by a harpoon to illustrate how attachments to acquisitions, respect, and popularity can lead to misfortune and hinder spiritual progress.

PTS 2.226–2.227

SN 17.4 Dīghalomika sutta - The Wooly Goat

The Buddha shares a simile of a wooly goat entering a thicket of thorns to explain how acquisitions, respect, and popularity are vicious, bitter, and severe, obstructing the attainment of the unsurpassed safety from bondage.

PTS 2.228

SN 17.5 Mīḷhaka sutta - Dung Beetle

The Buddha shares a simile of a dung beetle to explain how acquisitions, respect, and popularity are vicious, bitter, and severe, obstructing the attainment of the unsurpassed safety from bondage.

PTS 2.228

SN 17.6 Asani sutta - Thunderbolt

The Buddha uses a simile of a thunderbolt to explain how acquisitions, respect, and popularity are vicious, bitter, and severe, obstructing the attainment of the unsurpassed safety from bondage.

PTS 2.229

SN 17.7 Diddha sutta - Dipped In Poison

The Buddha uses a simile of a dart dipped in poison to explain how acquisitions, respect, and popularity are vicious, bitter, and severe, obstructing the attainment of the unsurpassed safety from bondage.

PTS 2.229

SN 17.8 Siṅgāla sutta - Jackal

The Buddha explains how acquisitions, respect, and popularity are vicious, bitter, and severe, obstructing the attainment of the unsurpassed safety from bondage, using a simile of an old jackal with mange.

PTS 2.230

SN 17.9 Verambha sutta - Turbulent

The Buddha explains how acquisitions, respect, and popularity are vicious, bitter, and severe, obstructing the attainment of the unsurpassed safety from bondage, using a simile of turbulent winds high in the sky.

PTS 2.231–2.232

SN 17.10 Sagāthaka sutta - With Verses

The Buddha shares the consequences of being overwhelmed by respect, disrespect, or both, and how they obstruct the attainment of the unsurpassed safety from bondage.

PTS 2.231–2.232

Dutiya vagga - The Second Chapter

The second chapter of the Connected Discourses on Acquisitions and Respect, containing discourses 11–20.

SN 17.11 Suvaṇṇapāti sutta - Golden Bowl

The Buddha uses a simile of a golden bowl filled with powdered silver to explain how acquisitions, respect, and popularity are vicious, bitter, and severe, obstructing the attainment of the unsurpassed safety from bondage.

PTS 2.233

SN 17.12 Rūpiyapāti sutta - Silver Bowl

The Buddha uses a simile of a silver bowl filled with powdered gold to explain how acquisitions, respect, and popularity are vicious, bitter, and severe, obstructing the attainment of the unsurpassed safety from bondage.

PTS 2.233

SN 17.13–20 Suvaṇṇanikkha suttādiaṭṭhaka - Beginning With Gold Coin

The Buddha uses different similes to explain how acquisitions, respect, and popularity are vicious, bitter, and severe, obstructing the attainment of the unsurpassed safety from bondage.

PTS 2.233–2.234

Tatiya vagga - The Third Chapter

The third chapter of the Connected Discourses on Acquisitions and Respect, containing discourses 21–30.

SN 17.21 Mātugāma sutta - Woman

It may be that a woman, even when alone with a man, may not remain occupying his mind, but acquisitions, respect, and popularity might.

PTS 2.234

SN 17.22 Kalyāṇī sutta - Beauty Queen

It may be that a beauty queen, even when alone with a man, may not remain occupying his mind, but acquisitions, respect, and popularity might.

PTS 2.235

SN 17.23 Ekaputtaka sutta - Only Young Son

A laywoman should wish for her son to become like the foremost lay disciples Citta and Hatthaka, and if he goes forth, wish that acquisitions, respect, and popularity not come upon him while he is still a trainee.

PTS 2.235

SN 17.24 Ekadhītu sutta - Only Daughter

A laywoman should wish for her daughter to become like the foremost female lay disciples Khujjuttarā and Nandamātā, and if she goes forth, may acquisitions, respect, and popularity not come upon her while she is still a trainee.

PTS 2.236

SN 17.25 Samaṇabrāhmaṇa sutta - Ascetics and Brahmins

The Buddha explains how understanding the gratification, drawback, and escape in regard to acquisitions, respect, and popularity leads to personal experience and attainment of the goal of asceticism or brahminhood in this very life.

PTS 2.236

SN 17.26 Dutiyasamaṇabrāhmaṇa sutta - Ascetics and Brahmins (Second)

The Buddha explains how understanding the arising and passing away, the gratification, drawback, and escape in regard to acquisitions, respect, and popularity leads to personal experience and attainment of the goal of asceticism or brahminhood in this very life.

PTS 2.237

SN 17.27 Tatiyasamaṇabrāhmaṇa sutta - Ascetics and Brahmins (Third)

The Buddha explains how clearly understanding the arising, ending, and the way of practice leading to the ending in regard to acquisitions, respect, and popularity leads to personal experience and attainment of the goal of asceticism or brahminhood in this very life.

PTS 2.237

SN 17.28 Chavi sutta - Skin

The Buddha compares acquisitions, respect, and popularity to a destructive force that cuts through deeply, and obstructs the attainment of the unsurpassed safety from bondage.

PTS 2.237

SN 17.29 Rajju sutta - Rope

The Buddha compares acquisitions, respect, and popularity to a horsehair rope tied to one’s calf that cuts through deeply when pulled tightly, obstructing the attainment of the unsurpassed safety from bondage.

PTS 2.238

SN 17.30 Bhikkhu sutta - Bhikkhu

The Buddha explains how even for an arahant, acquisitions, respect, and popularity are an obstacle to the attainment of pleasant abidings in this very life.

PTS 2.238

Catuttha vagga - The Fourth Chapter

The fourth chapter of the Connected Discourses on Acquisitions and Respect, containing discourses 31–43.

SN 17.31 Bhindi sutta - Schism

The Buddha describes how Devadatta caused a schism in the Saṅgha when his mind became obsessed with acquisitions, respect, and popularity.

PTS 2.239

SN 17.32 Kusalamūla sutta - Wholesome Root

Devadatta’s wholesome root was cut off when his mind became obsessed with acquisitions, respect, and popularity.

PTS 2.240

SN 17.33 Kusaladhamma sutta - Wholesome Nature

Devadatta’s wholesome nature was cut off when his mind became obsessed with acquisitions, respect, and popularity.

PTS 2.240

SN 17.34 Sukkadhamma sutta - Good Qualities

Devadatta’s good qualities were cut off when his mind became obsessed with acquisitions, respect, and popularity.

PTS 2.240

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