user10376: It is said that Devadatta, before turning on the Buddha, was a good monk with psychic abilities and grace.
What were the motivations behind his goodness before he turned evil? Was he only being kind to earn a good image, and so later on was feeling unsatisfied and wanted more?

user13709: The Buddha shares this:

AN4.68:1.2: There the Buddha spoke to the mendicants about Devadatta:
AN4.68:1.3: “Possessions, honor, and popularity came to Devadatta for his own ruin and downfall.

Possessions, honor and popularity are all impermanent and unsatisfactory.
Relishing those would bring suffering.

MN1:171.4: Because he has understood that relishing is the root of suffering,

Things that are relished tend to grow, and as they grow, so too do their defilements grow. So perhaps we might simply say that Devadatta relished possessions, honor and popularity?

10376: <p>It is said that Devadatta, before turning on the Buddha, was a good monk with psychic abilities and grace.</p>
<p>What were the motivations behind his goodness before he turned evil? Was he only being kind to earn a good image, and so later on was feeling unsatisfied and wanted more?</p>
 13709: <p>The Buddha shares this:</p>
<blockquote>
<p><a href="https://suttacentral.net/an4.68/en/sujato#an4.68:1.2" rel="nofollow noreferrer">AN4.68:1.2</a>: There the Buddha spoke to the mendicants about Devadatta:<br />
<a href="https://suttacentral.net/an4.68/en/sujato#an4.68:1.3" rel="nofollow noreferrer">AN4.68:1.3</a>: <strong>“Possessions, honor, and popularity</strong> came to Devadatta for his own ruin and downfall.</p>
</blockquote>
<p>Possessions, honor and popularity are all impermanent and unsatisfactory.</p>
<p>Relishing those would bring suffering.</p>
<blockquote>
<p><a href="https://suttacentral.net/mn1/en/sujato#mn1:171.4" rel="nofollow noreferrer">MN1:171.4</a>: Because he has understood that relishing is the root of suffering,</p>
</blockquote>
<p>Things that are relished tend to grow, and as they grow, so too do their defilements grow. So perhaps we might simply say that Devadatta relished possessions, honor and popularity?</p>
