The Buddha explains how even for an arahant, acquisitions, respect, and popularity are an obstacle to the attainment of pleasant abidings in this very life.
Sāvatthiyaṁ viharati.
At Sāvatthi.
“Yopi so, bhikkhave, bhikkhu arahaṁ khīṇāsavo tassapāhaṁ lābhasakkārasiloko antarāyāya vadāmī”ti.
“Bhikkhus, even that bhikkhu who is an arahant, |whose mental defilements have ended::who is awakened through the complete exhaustion of the mental effluents, taints [khīṇāsava]|—I say that for him, |acquisitions::gain, money, profit, possessions [lābhā]|, |respect::honor, accolade, reverence [sakkāra]|, and |popularity::fame, praise [siloka]| are an |obstacle::danger [antarāya]|.”
Evaṁ vutte, āyasmā ānando bhagavantaṁ etadavoca: “kissa pana, bhante, khīṇāsavassa bhikkhuno lābhasakkārasiloko antarāyāyā”ti?
When this was said, the venerable Ānanda said to the Blessed One: “Why, venerable sir, are acquisitions, respect, and popularity an obstacle even for a bhikkhu whose mental defilements have ended?”
“Yā hissa sā, ānanda, akuppā cetovimutti nāhaṁ tassā lābhasakkārasilokaṁ antarāyāya vadāmi. Ye ca khvassa, ānanda, appamattassa ātāpino pahitattassa viharato diṭṭhadhammasukhavihārā adhigatā tesāhamassa lābhasakkārasilokaṁ antarāyāya vadāmi.
“I do not say, Ānanda, that acquisitions, respect, and popularity are an obstacle to his |unshakeable::unassailable, indisputable [akuppa]| |liberation of mind::emancipated by mind/heart, samādhi obtained from fruition [cetovimutti]|. But I say they are an obstacle to the attainment of those pleasant abidings in this very life, which are reached by one who is |diligent::doing one’s work or duty well, with alertness, carefulness and care [appamatta]|, |with continuous effort::ardent, zealous, with energy, with application [ātāpī]|, and |determined::resolute, applying oneself [pahitatta]|.
Evaṁ dāruṇo kho, ānanda, lābhasakkārasiloko kaṭuko pharuso antarāyiko anuttarassa yogakkhemassa adhigamāya.
Thus, Ānanda, acquisitions, respect, and popularity are vicious, bitter, and severe; they obstruct the attainment of the unsurpassed safety from bondage.
Tasmātihānanda, evaṁ sikkhitabbaṁ: ‘uppannaṁ lābhasakkārasilokaṁ pajahissāma, na ca no uppanno lābhasakkārasiloko cittaṁ pariyādāya ṭhassatī’ti. Evañhi vo, ānanda, sikkhitabban”ti.
Therefore, Ānanda, 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 to continue |occupying::obsessing, controlling [pariyādāya]| our minds.’ Thus, Ānanda, you should train yourselves.”
At Sāvatthi.
“Bhikkhus, even that bhikkhu who is an arahant, |whose mental defilements have ended::who is awakened through the complete exhaustion of the mental effluents, taints [khīṇāsava]|—I say that for him, |acquisitions::gain, money, profit, possessions [lābhā]|, |respect::honor, accolade, reverence [sakkāra]|, and |popularity::fame, praise [siloka]| are an |obstacle::danger [antarāya]|.”
When this was said, the venerable Ānanda said to the Blessed One: “Why, venerable sir, are acquisitions, respect, and popularity an obstacle even for a bhikkhu whose mental defilements have ended?”
“I do not say, Ānanda, that acquisitions, respect, and popularity are an obstacle to his |unshakeable::unassailable, indisputable [akuppa]| |liberation of mind::emancipated by mind/heart, samādhi obtained from fruition [cetovimutti]|. But I say they are an obstacle to the attainment of those pleasant abidings in this very life, which are reached by one who is |diligent::doing one’s work or duty well, with alertness, carefulness and care [appamatta]|, |with continuous effort::ardent, zealous, with energy, with application [ātāpī]|, and |determined::resolute, applying oneself [pahitatta]|.
Thus, Ānanda, acquisitions, respect, and popularity are vicious, bitter, and severe; they obstruct the attainment of the unsurpassed safety from bondage.
Therefore, Ānanda, 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 to continue |occupying::obsessing, controlling [pariyādāya]| our minds.’ Thus, Ānanda, you should train yourselves.”
Sāvatthiyaṁ viharati.
“Yopi so, bhikkhave, bhikkhu arahaṁ khīṇāsavo tassapāhaṁ lābhasakkārasiloko antarāyāya vadāmī”ti.
Evaṁ vutte, āyasmā ānando bhagavantaṁ etadavoca: “kissa pana, bhante, khīṇāsavassa bhikkhuno lābhasakkārasiloko antarāyāyā”ti?
“Yā hissa sā, ānanda, akuppā cetovimutti nāhaṁ tassā lābhasakkārasilokaṁ antarāyāya vadāmi. Ye ca khvassa, ānanda, appamattassa ātāpino pahitattassa viharato diṭṭhadhammasukhavihārā adhigatā tesāhamassa lābhasakkārasilokaṁ antarāyāya vadāmi.
Evaṁ dāruṇo kho, ānanda, lābhasakkārasiloko kaṭuko pharuso antarāyiko anuttarassa yogakkhemassa adhigamāya.
Tasmātihānanda, evaṁ sikkhitabbaṁ: ‘uppannaṁ lābhasakkārasilokaṁ pajahissāma, na ca no uppanno lābhasakkārasiloko cittaṁ pariyādāya ṭhassatī’ti. Evañhi vo, ānanda, sikkhitabban”ti.