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.

Kalyāṇī sutta - Beauty Queen

At Sāvatthi.

“Bhikkhus, |acquisitions::gain, money, profit, possessions [lābhā]|, |respect::honor, accolade, reverence [sakkāra]|, and |popularity::fame, praise [siloka]| are harsh, bitter, and severe; they obstruct the attainment of the unsurpassed safety from bondage.

Bhikkhus, even though a beauty queen, when one is alone with her, may not remain |occupying::obsessing, controlling [pariyādāya]| one’s mind, still, acquisitions, respect, and popularity might remain occupying one’s mind.

Thus, bhikkhus, acquisitions, respect, and popularity are harsh, bitter, and severe; they obstruct the attainment of the unsurpassed safety from bondage.

Therefore, bhikkhus, you should train yourselves thus: ‘We will abandon the arisen acquisitions, respect and popularity, and we will not let the arisen acquisitions, respect, and popularity continue to occupy our minds.’ Thus, bhikkhus, you should train yourselves.”

Last updated on June 17, 2025

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