The Buddha teaches a repeated formula on possessions, honor, and popularity as grim, bitter, and harsh obstacles to the supreme sanctuary from the yoke, illustrated by father, etc. in this grouped discourse.

SN 17.38-43 Father, Etc.

Sāvatthiyaṁ viharati.

“Dāruṇo, bhikkhave, lābhasakkārasiloko kaṭuko pharuso antarāyiko anuttarassa yogakkhemassa adhigamāya. Idhāhaṁ, bhikkhave, ekaccaṁ puggalaṁ evaṁ cetasā ceto paricca pajānāmi: ‘na cāyamāyasmā pitupi hetu …pe…

(vitthāretabbaṁ)

bhātupi hetu

bhaginiyāpi hetu

puttassapi hetu

dhītuyāpi hetu

pajāpatiyāpi hetu sampajānamusā bhāseyyā’ti. Tamenaṁ passāmi aparena samayena lābhasakkārasilokena abhibhūtaṁ pariyādiṇṇacittaṁ sampajānamusā bhāsantaṁ.

Evaṁ dāruṇo kho, bhikkhave, lābhasakkārasiloko kaṭuko pharuso antarāyiko anuttarassa yogakkhemassa adhigamāya.

Tasmātiha, bhikkhave, evaṁ sikkhitabbaṁ: ‘uppannaṁ lābhasakkārasilokaṁ pajahissāma, na ca no uppanno lābhasakkārasiloko cittaṁ pariyādāya ṭhassatī’ti. Evañhi vo, bhikkhave, sikkhitabban”ti.

Terasamaṁ.

Catuttho vaggo.

Tassuddānaṁ

Bhindi mūlaṁ duve dhammā,
pakkantaṁ ratha mātari;
Pitā bhātā ca bhaginī,
putto dhītā pajāpatīti.

Lābhasakkārasaṁyuttaṁ samattaṁ.

Reference Translation by Bhikkhu Sujato (CC0).

Sāvatthiyaṁ viharati.

At Sāvatthī.

“Dāruṇo, bhikkhave, lābhasakkārasiloko kaṭuko pharuso antarāyiko anuttarassa yogakkhemassa adhigamāya.

“Possessions, honor, and popularity are grim, bitter, and harsh. They’re an obstacle to reaching the supreme sanctuary from the yoke.

Idhāhaṁ, bhikkhave, ekaccaṁ puggalaṁ evaṁ cetasā ceto paricca pajānāmi:

When I’ve comprehended the mind of a certain individual, I understand:

‘na cāyamāyasmā pitupi hetu …pe…

‘This venerable would not tell a deliberate lie even for the sake of their father.’ …”

(vitthāretabbaṁ)

(Tell in full as in SN 17.37.)

bhātupi hetu

“‘… brother.’ …”

bhaginiyāpi hetu

“‘… sister.’ …”

puttassapi hetu

“‘… son.’ …”

dhītuyāpi hetu

“‘… daughter.’ …”

pajāpatiyāpi hetu sampajānamusā bhāseyyā’ti.

“‘… wife.’

Tamenaṁ passāmi aparena samayena lābhasakkārasilokena abhibhūtaṁ pariyādiṇṇacittaṁ sampajānamusā bhāsantaṁ.

But some time later I see them tell a deliberate lie because their mind is overcome and overwhelmed by possessions, honor, and popularity.

Evaṁ dāruṇo kho, bhikkhave, lābhasakkārasiloko kaṭuko pharuso antarāyiko anuttarassa yogakkhemassa adhigamāya.

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

Tasmātiha, bhikkhave, evaṁ sikkhitabbaṁ:

So you should train like this:

‘uppannaṁ lābhasakkārasilokaṁ pajahissāma, na ca no uppanno lābhasakkārasiloko cittaṁ pariyādāya ṭhassatī’ti.

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

Evañhi vo, bhikkhave, sikkhitabban”ti.

That’s how you should train.”

Terasamaṁ.

Catuttho vaggo.

Tassuddānaṁ

Bhindi mūlaṁ duve dhammā,

pakkantaṁ ratha mātari;

Pitā bhātā ca bhaginī,

putto dhītā pajāpatīti.

Lābhasakkārasaṁyuttaṁ samattaṁ.

The Linked Discourses on possessions, honor, and popularity are complete.

Qualities:

Safety

Safety

A state of complete security and refuge where there is no threat from defilements or the turbulence of becoming. It is the peace of one who has found shelter from the storms of craving and has nothing left to lose or fear.

Also known as: sanctuary, security, at peace, rest
Pāli: khema
View all discourses →
Wisdom

Wisdom

Lived understanding and sound judgment that steers the mind away from suffering, distinct from mere accumulation of facts.

Also known as: (of a person) wise, astute, intelligent, learned, skilled, firm, stable, steadfast, an experiential understanding of the four noble truths
Pāli: paññā, medhā, dhīra, paṇḍita, asammūḷha
View all discourses →

Last updated on July 27, 2026