This discourse was taught by the Blessed One, taught by the Arahant, the fully enlightened Supreme Buddha. This is as I heard,
“Monks, with the divine eye, I have seen beings who were overwhelmed, with their minds obsessed with receiving homage and respect; at the break-up of the body, after death, they took rebirth in the plane of misery, the worst destination, the lowest realm, hell.
Monks, with the divine eye, I have seen beings who were overwhelmed, with their minds obsessed with not receiving homage and respect; at the break-up of the body, after death, they took rebirth in the plane of misery, the worst destination, the lowest realm, hell.
Monks, with the divine eye, I have seen beings who were overwhelmed, with their minds obsessed with both receiving and not receiving homage and respect; at the break-up of the body, after death, they took rebirth in the planes of misery, the worst destination, the lowest realm, hell.
I say this, monks, without having learned it from another recluse or brāhmin. Rather, it is from having known it myself, seen it myself, and observed it myself that I say:
Monks, with the divine eye, I have seen beings who were overwhelmed, with their minds obsessed with receiving homage and respect; at the break-up of the body, after death, they took rebirth in the plane of misery, the worst destination, the lowest realm, hell.
Monks, with the divine eye, I have seen beings, overwhelmed, with their minds obsessed with not receiving homage and respect; at the break-up of the body, after death, take rebirth in the plain of misery, the worst destination, the lowest realm, hell.
Monks, with the divine eye, I have seen beings, overwhelmed, with their minds obsessed with both receiving and not receiving homage and respect; at the break-up of the body, after death, they took rebirth in the planes of misery, the worst destination, the lowest realm, hell.”
This is the meaning of what the Blessed One said. So, with regard to this, it was said:
The liberated monk lives diligently. Whether he receives money and respect or does not receive them, his concentration is undisturbed.
He is well-focused on meditation. His insight is extremely sharp to contemplate on even very subtle things. He delights in the destruction of clinging. The wise call such a monk “noble person.”
This, too, is the meaning of what was said by the Blessed One. This is exactly as I heard.
