When approached with abundant offerings, the Buddha expresses a heartfelt wish to avoid fame, and speaks of five contemplations which result in being established in dispassion and wisdom.

AN 5.30  Nāgita sutta - With Nāgita

Evaṁ me sutaṁekaṁ samayaṁ bhagavā kosalesu cārikaṁ caramāno mahatā bhikkhusaṅghena saddhiṁ yena icchānaṅgalaṁ nāma kosalānaṁ brāhmaṇagāmo tadavasari. Tatra sudaṁ bhagavā icchānaṅgale viharati icchānaṅgalavanasaṇḍe. Assosuṁ kho icchānaṅgalakā brāhmaṇagahapatikā:

Thus have I heard—At one time, the Blessed One was on a walking tour, wandering in the Kosalan country with a large |Saṅgha::The community of monks and nuns practicing in line with the Buddha’s teachings. In the broader sense, this is the community of disciples who have realized the noble path and fruition through the Buddha’s teachings [saṅgha]| of bhikkhus, and eventually he arrived at a Kosalan brahmin village named |Icchānaṅgala::name of a brahmin village in Kosala [icchānaṅgala]|. There the Blessed One dwelled in the Icchānaṅgala forest grove. The brahmin householders of Icchānaṅgala heard:

“samaṇo khalu bho gotamo sakyaputto sakyakulā pabbajito icchānaṅgalaṁ anuppatto; icchānaṅgale viharati icchānaṅgalavanasaṇḍe. Taṁ kho pana bhavantaṁ gotamaṁ evaṁ kalyāṇo kittisaddo abbhuggato: ‘itipi so bhagavā arahaṁ sammāsambuddho vijjācaraṇasampanno sugato lokavidū anuttaro purisadammasārathi, satthā devamanussānaṁ buddho bhagavāti’. So imaṁ lokaṁ sadevakaṁ samārakaṁ sabrahmakaṁ sassamaṇabrāhmaṇiṁ pajaṁ sadevamanussaṁ sayaṁ abhiññā sacchikatvā pavedeti. So dhammaṁ deseti ādikalyāṇaṁ majjhekalyāṇaṁ pariyosānakalyāṇaṁ sātthaṁ sabyañjanaṁ, kevalaparipuṇṇaṁ parisuddhaṁ brahmacariyaṁ pakāseti. Sādhu kho pana tathārūpānaṁ arahataṁ dassanaṁ hotī”ti.

“The ascetic Gotama, the Sakyan son who went forth from a Sakyan clan, has arrived at Icchānaṅgala and is dwelling in the Icchānaṅgala forest grove. Now a good report of sir Gotama has been spread to this effect: ‘The Blessed One is an Arahant, a perfectly Awakened One, accomplished in true knowledge and conduct, who has reached the destination, knower of the world, an unsurpassed guide of trainable persons, a teacher of gods and humans, Buddha, Fortunate One. He declares this world with its |deities::gods [devas]|, |Māras::demons, tempters, beings of delusion; lit. causing death [mārake]|, |Brahmas::Gods; celestial beings residing in the Brahmā realms, often considered to be highly refined and long-lived deities. [brahmā]|, this generation with its ascetics and brahmins, kings and commoners, which he has himself realized with direct knowledge. He teaches the |Dhamma::teachings of the Buddha that point to the nature of reality, the ultimate truth [dhamma]| that is beneficial in the beginning, beneficial in the middle, and beneficial in the end, with the right meaning and phrasing, and he reveals a spiritual life that is entirely perfect and pure.’ It is auspicious to see such arahants.”

Atha kho icchānaṅgalakā brāhmaṇagahapatikā tassā rattiyā accayena pahūtaṁ khādanīyaṁ bhojanīyaṁ ādāya yena icchānaṅgalavanasaṇḍo tenupasaṅkamiṁsu; upasaṅkamitvā bahidvārakoṭṭhake aṭṭhaṁsu uccāsaddamahāsaddā.

Then, after the night had passed, the brahmin householders of Icchānaṅgala, took abundant |raw food::non-staple food, lit. to be chewed [khādanīya]| and cooked food of various kinds and went to the Icchānaṅgala forest grove. Having drawn near to the entrance gate, they stood making a loud noise and a great commotion.

Tena kho pana samayena āyasmā nāgito bhagavato upaṭṭhāko hoti. Atha kho bhagavā āyasmantaṁ nāgitaṁ āmantesi: “ke pana kho, nāgita, uccāsaddamahāsaddā, kevaṭṭā maññe macchavilope”ti?

Now on that occasion, the venerable Nāgita was the Blessed One’s attendant. The Blessed One addressed the venerable Nāgita: “Who is making that loud noise and great commotion? One would think that it was the fishermen making a haul of fish.”

“Ete, bhante, icchānaṅgalakā brāhmaṇagahapatikā pahūtaṁ khādanīyaṁ bhojanīyaṁ ādāya bahidvārakoṭṭhake ṭhitā bhagavantaññeva uddissa bhikkhusaṅghañcā”ti.

“Venerable sir, these are the brahmin householders of Icchānaṅgala who have brought abundant raw food and cooked food of various kinds. They are standing outside the entrance gate, [wishing to offer it] to the Blessed One and the Saṅgha of bhikkhus.”

“Māhaṁ, nāgita, yasena samāgamaṁ, ca mayā yaso. Yo kho, nāgita, nayimassa nekkhammasukhassa pavivekasukhassa upasamasukhassa sambodhasukhassa nikāmalābhī assa akicchalābhī akasiralābhī, yassāhaṁ nekkhammasukhassa pavivekasukhassa upasamasukhassa sambodhasukhassa nikāmalābhī akicchalābhī akasiralābhī. So taṁ mīḷhasukhaṁ middhasukhaṁ lābhasakkārasilokasukhaṁ sādiyeyyā”ti.

“May I never come upon |fame::glory, prestige [yasa]| Nāgita, and may fame never catch up with me. One who does not gain at will—without trouble or difficulty—the |happiness::ease, comfort, pleasure, contentment [sukha]| of |renunciation::going out state, rejection of sensual pleasure [nekkhamma]|, the happiness of |seclusion::solitude [paviveka]|, the happiness of |tranquility::calmness, serenity, stillness, peace [upasama]|, the happiness of |full awakening::enlightenment [sambodhi]|, as I do without trouble and without difficulty; [they] might |consent to::accept, permit [sādiyati]| that filthy pleasure, they might indulge in that |lethargic::sluggish, lit. stiffness [middha]| pleasure, the pleasure of |acquisitions, respect, and popularity::gains or possessions, honor or reverence, and fame or praise [lābhasakkārasiloka]|.”

“Adhivāsetu dāni, bhante, bhagavā, adhivāsetu sugato; adhivāsanakālo dāni, bhante, bhagavato. Yena yeneva dāni bhagavā gamissati taṁninnāva gamissanti brāhmaṇagahapatikā negamā ceva jānapadā ca. Seyyathāpi, bhante, thullaphusitake deve vassante yathāninnaṁ udakāni pavattanti; evamevaṁ kho, bhante, yena yeneva dāni bhagavā gamissati, taṁninnāva gamissanti brāhmaṇagahapatikā negamā ceva jānapadā ca. Taṁ kissa hetu? Tathā hi, bhante, bhagavato sīlapaññāṇan”ti.

“May the Blessed One consent to this, may the |Fortunate One::well gone, Accomplished One, epithet of the Buddha [sugata]| consent to this, this is now the time for the Blessed One to consent. Wherever the Blessed One will go now, the brahmin householders of town and countryside will be drawn in the same direction. Just as, when thick drops of rain are pouring down, the water flows down along the slope, so too, wherever the Blessed One will go now, the brahmin householders of town and countryside will be drawn in the same direction. For what reason? Because of the Blessed One’s virtue and |wisdom::distinctive knowledge, discernment [paññā]|.”

“Māhaṁ, nāgita, yasena samāgamaṁ, ca mayā yaso. Yo kho, nāgita, nayimassa nekkhammasukhassa pavivekasukhassa upasamasukhassa sambodhasukhassa nikāmalābhī assa akicchalābhī akasiralābhī, yassāhaṁ nekkhammasukhassa pavivekasukhassa upasamasukhassa sambodhasukhassa nikāmalābhī akicchalābhī akasiralābhī. So taṁ mīḷhasukhaṁ middhasukhaṁ lābhasakkārasilokasukhaṁ sādiyeyya.

“May I never come upon fame Nāgita, and may fame never catch up with me. One who does not gain at will—without trouble or difficulty—the happiness of renunciation, the happiness of seclusion, the happiness of tranquility, the happiness of awakening, as I do without trouble and without difficulty; they might consent to that filthy pleasure, they might indulge in that lethargic pleasure, the pleasure of acquisitions, respect, and popularity.

Asitapītakhāyitasāyitassa kho, nāgita, uccārapassāvoeso tassa nissando.

1.) Nāgita, whatever is eaten, drunk, chewed, and tasted winds up in feces and urine. This is its outcome.

Piyānaṁ kho, nāgita, vipariṇāmaññathābhāvā uppajjanti sokaparidevadukkhadomanassupāyāsāeso tassa nissando.

2.) Nāgita, from the change and alteration of things that are |dear::beloved [piya]| arises sorrow, lamentation, pain, displeasure, and despair. This is its outcome.

Asubhanimittānuyogaṁ anuyuttassa kho, nāgita, subhanimitte pāṭikulyatā saṇṭhātieso tassa nissando.

3.) Nāgita, for one devoted to the |inquiry::examination, scrutiny [anuyoga]| of the |unattractive::not beautiful, not pleasing [asubha]|, |revulsion towards::aversion towards, disgust towards; lit. against the slope state [pāṭikulyatā]| the |attractive::beautiful [subha]| becomes established. This is its outcome.

Chasu kho, nāgita, phassāyatanesu aniccānupassino viharato phasse pāṭikulyatā saṇṭhātieso tassa nissando.

4.) Nāgita, for one who abides contemplating impermanence in the six bases for contact, dispassion towards |[all] contacts::sense impingements, raw experiences, touches [phasse]| becomes established. This is its outcome.

Pañcasu kho, nāgita, upādānakkhandhesu udayabbayānupassino viharato upādāne pāṭikulyatā saṇṭhātieso tassa nissando”ti.

5.) Nāgita, for one who dwells |seeing the arising and passing away::observing the formation and dissolution of [udayabbayānupassī]| in the |five aggregates that are subject to clinging::the physical and mental heaps that are appropriated, grasped at, or taken as self; the fivefold collection of form, feeling, perception, formations, and consciousness bound up with attachment [pañca + upādānakkhandha]|, dispassion arises toward |clinging::grasping, acquiring, appropriating, taking possession, identifying [upādāna]|. This is its outcome.”

Qualities:

Dispassion

Dispassion

The fading of desire and attraction toward conditioned things. It arises through seeing the impermanent and unsatisfactory nature of experience. It is the natural fragrance of understanding and the forerunner of release.

Also known as: detachment, disinterest, fading of desire, disentanglement
Pāli: virāga, visaṃyutta
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Recognition of impermanence

Recognition of impermanence

Perceiving all conditioned things as unstable and transient. This recognition weakens attachment by revealing the continual arising and ceasing of phenomena, turning the mind toward wisdom and release.

Also known as: perception of impermanence, perception of instability, realization of transience
Pāli: aniccasaññā
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Recognition of unattractiveness

Recognition of unattractiveness

Contemplation that perceives the body as composed of impure and impermanent parts, countering the delusion of beauty and sensual infatuation. This perception cools passion, fosters dispassion, and restores clear seeing of the body’s true nature as conditioned and transient.

Also known as: perception of unattractiveness, recognition of the drawbacks
Pāli: asubhasaññā
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Recognition of unsatisfactoriness

Recognition of unsatisfactoriness

Perceiving the inherent inadequacy and unreliability of conditioned existence. This recognition loosens craving and the pursuit of lasting satisfaction in what cannot endure.

Also known as: perception of unsatisfactoriness, recognition of discontentment
Pāli: dukkhasaññā
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Conceit

Conceit

Self-view expressed as comparison—seeing oneself as superior, inferior, or equal; the persistent “I am” conceit (asmimāna) that underlies identification and fuels rebirth

Also known as: arrogance, egotism, pride, self-importance, tendency of self-comparison
Pāli: māna, atimāna, unnaḷa
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Passion

Passion

Intense desire or lust that dyes the mind. It fixates on the features of objects, coloring perception with infatuation and making it difficult to see things as they truly are.

Also known as: burning fever, intense desire, strong emotion, infatuation, obsession, lust
Pāli: rāga
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Self-making

Self-making

Spiritual or worldly striving to “be someone,” the “I must become something” energy

Also known as: an aspiration for identity, drive for status or attainment, craving to be, romanticizing some better self or future state
Pāli: bhavataṇhā, bhavesanā
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Last updated on December 13, 2025