At Sāvatthi.

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

Here, bhikkhus, I see a certain individual overwhelmed by respect, with his mind consumed by it, who after the breakup of the body, after death, is reborn in a state of loss, in a bad destination, in the lower realms, in hell.

Here, bhikkhus, I see a certain individual overwhelmed by disrespect, with his mind consumed by it, who after the breakup of the body, after death, is reborn in a state of loss, in the lower realms, in hell.

Here, bhikkhus, I see a certain individual overwhelmed by both respect and disrespect, with his mind consumed by them, who after the breakup of the body, after death, is reborn in a state of loss, in the lower realms, in hell.

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."

The Blessed One said this. Having spoken thus, the Well-Gone One further said this:

"While being honored, or shown dishonor, or by both; For one whose collectedness does not waver, as he dwells with a boundless mind —

That one, meditative and practicing continuously, refined in vision and insight; Delighting in the ending of grasping, is called a true person."