2.
The Discourse on Half
2.
Thus have I heard -
On one occasion the Blessed One was dwelling among the Sakyans at Nagaraka, a market town of the Sakyans.
Then the Venerable Ānanda 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 Ānanda said this to the Blessed One -
"This is half of the holy life, venerable sir, that is to say -
good friendship, good companionship, good association."
"Do not say so, Ānanda, do not say so, Ānanda! This is the entire holy life, Ānanda, that is to say - good friendship, good companionship, good association. For a monk with good friends, good companions, good associates, Ānanda, this is to be expected - he will develop the noble eightfold path, he will cultivate the noble eightfold path.
"And how, Ānanda, does a monk with good friends, good companions, good associates develop the noble eightfold path, cultivate the noble eightfold path? Here, Ānanda, a monk develops right view, based upon seclusion, based upon dispassion, based upon cessation, maturing in release; he develops right thought, based upon seclusion, etc. he develops right speech, etc. he develops right action, etc. he develops right livelihood, etc. he develops right effort, etc. he develops right mindfulness, etc. he develops right concentration, based upon seclusion, based upon dispassion, based upon cessation, maturing in release. Thus, Ānanda, a monk with good friends, good companions, good associates develops the noble eightfold path, cultivates the noble eightfold path.
"By this method too, Ānanda, it should be known how this is the entire holy life, that is to say - good friendship, good companionship, good association. Because, Ānanda, 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, Ānanda, it should be known how this is the entire holy life, that is to say - good friendship, good companionship, good association." The second.