This is as I heard from the Blessed One. At one time the Blessed One was staying in the province of Sāvatthī, in Jeta’s park, at Anathapindika’s monastery.
At that time, the Blessed One was respected, revered, honored, venerated, and given homage. He was offered robes, alms food, lodgings, and medicine. The community of monks was also respected, revered, honored, venerated, and given homage. The monks were also offered robes, alms food, lodgings, and medicine.
However, those from other sects were not respected, revered, honored, venerated, and given homage. They were not offered robes, alms food, lodgings, and medicine. As a result, those from other sects were not able to stand the respect given to the Blessed One and the community of Buddha’s disciples. Furthermore, on seeing Buddhist monks in a village or forest, those of other sects would insult, revile, abuse, and harass them with harsh and cruel words.
Then a number of monks approached the Blessed One, paid homage to him and sat down to one side. Sitting there those monks said to the Blessed One, “At present, Bhante, the Blessed One is respected, revered, honored, venerated, and given homage. The Blessed One is being offered robes, alms food, lodgings, and medicine. The community of monks is also respected, revered, honored, venerated, and given homage. The monks are also offered robes, alms food, lodgings, and medicine.
“However, those from other sects are not respected, revered, honored, venerated, and given homage. They are not offered robes, alms food, lodgings, and medicine. As a result, those from other sects are not able to stand the respect given to the Blessed One and the community of Buddha’s disciples. Furthermore, on seeing Buddhist monks in a village or forest, those of other sects would insult, revile, abuse, and harass them harsh and cruel words.”
Then, on realizing the ups and downs of life, the Blessed One spoke the following inspired verses:
When you experience pleasure or pain, either in a village or forest, don’t take them as yours or as others. One has contacted pleasure or pain due to their defilements. How can the contacts of pleasure and pain affect one without defilements?
