1.
The Good Friend Discourse
63.
At Sāvatthī.
"One thing, monks, is very helpful for the arising of the noble eightfold path.
What is that one thing?
That is to say -
good friendship.
For a monk with good friends, monks, this is to be expected -
he will develop the noble eightfold path, he will cultivate the noble eightfold path.
And how, monks, does a monk with good friends develop the noble eightfold path, cultivate the noble eightfold path?
Here, monks, a monk develops right view, based upon seclusion, based upon dispassion, based upon cessation, maturing in release, etc.
he develops right concentration, based upon seclusion, based upon dispassion, based upon cessation, maturing in release.
Thus, monks, a monk with good friends develops the noble eightfold path, cultivates the noble eightfold path."
The first.