6.
The Discourse on Fame
86.
On one occasion the Blessed One was wandering on a journey among the Kosalans together with a large Community of monks, and arrived at a brahmin village of the Kosalans named Icchānaṅgala.
There the Blessed One stayed at Icchānaṅgala in the Icchānaṅgala forest thicket.
The brahmin householders of Icchānaṅgala heard -
"Indeed, my dear, the ascetic Gotama, a Sakyan son who has gone forth from the Sakyan clan, has arrived at Icchānaṅgala and is staying at Icchānaṅgala in the Icchānaṅgala forest thicket.
And concerning that Master Gotama, such a good reputation has arisen -
'Thus indeed is the Blessed One: the Worthy One, the Perfectly Enlightened One, etc.
Good indeed is the seeing of such Worthy Ones.'"
Then the brahmin householders of Icchānaṅgala, after that night had passed, taking abundant solid and soft food, approached the Icchānaṅgala forest thicket; having approached, they stood outside the door-porch, making loud sounds and great sounds. Now at that time the Venerable Nāgito was the Blessed One's attendant. Then the Blessed One addressed the Venerable Nāgita - "Who are these, Nāgita, making loud sounds and great sounds, like fishermen, methinks, at a fish haul?" "These, venerable sir, are the brahmin householders of Icchānaṅgala, having taken abundant solid and soft food, standing outside the door-porch, for the Blessed One himself and for the Community of monks." "Let me not come together with fame, Nāgita, nor let fame come together with me. Whoever, Nāgita, does not obtain at will, does not obtain without difficulty, does not obtain without trouble, this happiness of renunciation, this happiness of solitude, this happiness of peace, this happiness of enlightenment. Of which I am one who obtains at will, obtains without difficulty, obtains without trouble - he might consent to that filthy happiness, that happiness of torpor, that happiness of material gain, honour and praise."
"Let the Blessed One now consent, venerable sir. Let the Fortunate One consent. Now is the time for the Blessed One to consent, venerable sir. Wherever the Blessed One will now go, inclined towards that will be the brahmins and householders, townspeople and country-folk. Just as, venerable sir, when the sky rains with large drops, the waters flow according to the slope; so too, venerable sir, wherever the Blessed One will now go, inclined towards that will be the brahmins and householders, townspeople and country-folk. What is the reason for this? For such, venerable sir, is the Blessed One's morality and wisdom."
"Let me not come together with fame, Nāgita, nor let fame come together with me. Whoever, Nāgita, does not obtain at will, does not obtain without difficulty, does not obtain without trouble, this happiness of renunciation, this happiness of solitude, this happiness of peace, this happiness of enlightenment. Of which I am one who obtains at will, obtains without difficulty, obtains without trouble - he might consent to that filthy happiness, that happiness of torpor, that happiness of material gain, honour and praise.
"Even certain deities, Nāgita, do not obtain at will, do not obtain without difficulty, do not obtain without trouble, this happiness of renunciation, this happiness of solitude, this happiness of peace, this happiness of enlightenment, of which I am one who obtains at will, obtains without difficulty, obtains without trouble. For you too, Nāgita, when you come together and assemble, dwelling devoted to living in company, it is thus - 'Surely these venerable ones do not obtain at will, do not obtain without difficulty, do not obtain without trouble, this happiness of renunciation, this happiness of solitude, this happiness of peace, this happiness of enlightenment. Of which I am one who obtains at will, obtains without difficulty, obtains without trouble. For thus indeed these venerable ones dwell devoted to living in company, having come together and assembled.'"
"Here I, Nāgita, see monks laughing and playing with each other by nudging with their fingers. It occurs to me thus, Nāgita - 'Surely these venerable ones do not obtain at will, do not obtain without difficulty, do not obtain without trouble, this happiness of renunciation, this happiness of solitude, this happiness of peace, this happiness of enlightenment. Of which I am one who obtains at will, obtains without difficulty, obtains without trouble. Because indeed these venerable ones laugh and play with each other by nudging with their fingers.'
"But here I, Nāgita, see monks, having eaten as much as they like to fill their bellies, dwelling devoted to the pleasure of sleeping, the pleasure of lying on their side, the pleasure of torpor. It occurs to me thus, Nāgita - 'Surely these venerable ones do not obtain at will, do not obtain without difficulty, do not obtain without trouble, this happiness of renunciation, this happiness of solitude, this happiness of peace, this happiness of enlightenment. Of which I am one who obtains at will, obtains without difficulty, obtains without trouble. Because indeed these venerable ones, having eaten as much as they like to fill their bellies, dwell devoted to the pleasure of sleeping, the pleasure of lying on their side, the pleasure of torpor.'
"Here I, Nāgita, see a monk dwelling near a village, sitting concentrated. It occurs to me thus, Nāgita - 'Now a monastery attendant or a novice will attend upon this venerable one. He will disturb him from that concentration.' Therefore I, Nāgita, am not delighted with that monk's dwelling near a village.
"But here I, Nāgita, see a forest-dwelling monk sitting in the forest, nodding off. It occurs to me thus, Nāgita - 'Now this venerable one, having dispelled this weariness of drowsiness, will attend only to the perception of forest in unity.' Therefore I, Nāgita, am delighted with that monk's forest dwelling.
"But here I, Nāgita, see a forest-dwelling monk seated in the forest unconcentrated. It occurs to me thus, Nāgita - 'Now this venerable one will either concentrate an unconcentrated mind, or will protect a concentrated mind.' Therefore I, Nāgita, am delighted with that monk's forest dwelling.
"But here I, Nāgita, see a forest-dwelling monk seated in the forest concentrated. It occurs to me thus, Nāgita - 'Now this venerable one will either liberate an unliberated mind, or will protect a liberated mind.' Therefore I, Nāgita, am delighted with that monk's forest dwelling.
"But here I, Nāgita, see a monk dwelling near a village, an obtainer of the requisites of robes, almsfood, lodging and medicine for the sick. He, desiring that material gain, honour and fame, neglects seclusion, neglects remote forest and woodland lodgings; having gone to villages, market towns and royal cities, he takes up residence. Therefore I, Nāgita, am not delighted with that monk's dwelling near a village.
"But here I, Nāgita, see a forest-dwelling monk, an obtainer of the requisites of robes, almsfood, lodging and medicine for the sick. He, having dismissed that material gain, honour and fame, does not neglect seclusion, does not neglect remote forest and woodland lodgings. Therefore I, Nāgita, am delighted with that monk's forest dwelling.
At the time when I, Nāgita, travelling on the highway, see no one in front or behind, at that time, Nāgita, I am comfortable, even for the act of defecation and urination." The sixth.