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SN 17.4

A Fleecy Sheep

Dīghalomikasutta

from: Chapter One

A Fleecy Sheep

At Sāvatthī.

“Possessions, honor, and popularity are grim …

Suppose a fleecy sheep was to enter a briar patch. She’d get caught, snagged, and trapped at every turn, coming to ruin.

In the same way, take a certain mendicant whose mind is overcome and overwhelmed by possessions, honor, and popularity. They robe up in the morning and, taking their bowl and robe, enter the village or town for alms. They get caught, snagged, and trapped at every turn, coming to ruin.

So grim are possessions, honor, and popularity. …”

Translation: German (Ayyā Sabbamittā), English (Bhikkhu Sujato). Source: SuttaCentral / Bilara (public domain, CC0).

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