AN8.6 — Dutiyalokadhammasutta
Disciples, there are these eight worldly conditions that revolve around the world, and the world revolves around these eight worldly conditions.
What are the eight?
Gain and loss, fame and disrepute, praise and blame, pleasure and pain.
These are the eight worldly conditions that revolve around the world, and the world revolves around these eight worldly conditions.
For an unlearned ordinary person gain arises, loss arises, fame arises, disrepute arises, blame arises, praise arises, pleasure arises, pain arises.
For a learned noble disciple gain arises, loss arises, fame arises, disrepute arises, blame arises, praise arises, pleasure arises, pain arises.
In this what is the distinction, what is the difference, what is the distinguishing factor between a learned noble disciple and an unlearned ordinary person?
Our teachings, venerable sir, are rooted in the Blessed One, guided by the Blessed One, and have the Blessed One as their refuge. It would be good, venerable sir, if the Blessed One would explain the meaning of this statement. Having heard it from the Blessed One, the disciples will remember it.
Then listen pay close attention, I will speak.
Yes, venerable sir, the disciples replied to the Blessed One.
The Blessed One said this:
For an unlearned ordinary person gain arises.
He does not reflect thus:
This gain that has arisen for me is impermanent, suffering, and subject to change, and he does not understand it as it really is.
Loss arises...
Fame arises...
Disrepute arises...
Blame arises...
Praise arises...
Pleasure arises...
Pain arises.
He does not reflect thus:
This pain that has arisen for me is impermanent, suffering, and subject to change, and he does not understand it as it really is.
His mind remains consumed by gain, consumed by loss, consumed by fame, consumed by disrepute, consumed by blame, consumed by praise, consumed by pleasure, consumed by pain.
He approves of arisen gain, opposes loss;
He approves of arisen fame, opposes disrepute;
He approves of arisen praise, opposes blame;
He delights in arisen happiness, resists suffering.
Thus, entangled in attachment and aversion, he is not freed from birth, aging, death, sorrow, lamentation, pain, grief, and despair.
I say, He is not freed from suffering.
But for a learned noble disciple, gain arises.
He reflects thus:
This gain has arisen for me;
but it is impermanent, suffering, and subject to change, he understands it as it really is.
Loss arises...
Fame arises...
Disrepute arises...
Blame arises...
Praise arises...
Happiness arises...
Suffering arises.
He reflects thus:
This suffering has arisen for me;
but it is impermanent, suffering, and subject to change, he understands it as it really is.
Neither gain nor loss, fame nor disrepute, blame nor praise, happiness nor suffering overwhelm his mind.
He does not delight in arisen gain, nor resists loss;
does not delight in arisen fame, nor resists disrepute;
does not delight in arisen praise, nor resists blame;
does not delight in arisen happiness, nor resists suffering.
Thus, free from attachment and aversion, he is freed from birth, aging, death, sorrow, lamentation, pain, grief, and despair.
I say, He is freed from suffering.
This is the distinction, the specific difference, the distinguishing factor between a learned noble disciple and an unlearned ordinary person.
Gain and loss, fame and disrepute,
Blame and praise, happiness and suffering;
These are impermanent among humans,
Unstable, subject to change.
Knowing these, a wise and mindful person
Observes the nature of change;
The mind is not disturbed by what is desired,
Nor does it resent what is undesired.
Thus, attachment and aversion
Are dispelled, gone, and do not exist;
Knowing the path to the end of suffering,
He fully understands, reaching the end of becoming.