3.
The Discourse to Sāriputta
3.
At Sāvatthī.
Then the Venerable Sāriputta approached the Blessed One;
having approached, he paid respect to the Blessed One and sat down to one side.
Seated to one side, the Venerable Sāriputta said this to the Blessed One -
"This is the entire holy life, venerable sir, that is to say -
good friendship, good companionship, good association."
"Good, good, Sāriputta! This is the entire holy life, Sāriputta, that is to say - good friendship, good companionship, good association. For a monk with good friends, good companions, good associates, Sāriputta, this is to be expected - he will develop the noble eightfold path, he will cultivate the noble eightfold path. And how, Sāriputta, does a monk with good friends, good companions, good associates develop the noble eightfold path, cultivate the noble eightfold path?
Here, Sāriputta, 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, Sāriputta, a monk with good friends, good companions, good associates develops the noble eightfold path, cultivates the noble eightfold path.
"By this method too, Sāriputta, it should be known how this is the entire holy life, that is to say - good friendship, good companionship, good association. Because, Sāriputta, having come to me as a good friend, beings subject to birth are released from birth; beings subject to ageing are released from ageing; beings subject to death are released from death; beings subject to sorrow, lamentation, suffering, displeasure and anguish are released from sorrow, lamentation, suffering, displeasure and anguish. By this method, Sāriputta, it should be known how this is the entire holy life, that is to say - good friendship, good companionship, good association." The third.