6.
The Discourse on Association
6.
There the Venerable Sāriputta addressed the monks - etc.
The Venerable Sāriputta said this -
"A person too, friends, should be known as twofold - to be associated with and not to be associated with. A robe too, friends, should be known as twofold - to be used and not to be used. Almsfood too, friends, should be known as twofold - to be associated with and not to be associated with. A lodging too, friends, should be known as twofold - to be used and not to be used. A village and market town too, friends, should be known as twofold - to be associated with and not to be associated with. A region of a country too, friends, should be known as twofold - to be associated with and not to be associated with.
"'A person too, friends, should be known as twofold - to be associated with and not to be associated with' - thus indeed this was said. Dependent on what was this said? Therein, whatever person one would know thus - 'When I associate with this person, unwholesome mental states increase and wholesome mental states decline; and whatever requisites for life should be obtained by one gone forth - requisites of robes, almsfood, lodging, and medicine for the sick - those are obtained with difficulty; and the goal of asceticism for the sake of which I went forth from home into homelessness does not go to fulfilment through development' - by that person, friends, that person should be departed from whether by night-time or by daytime, having considered thus, without asking permission, he should not be followed.
"Therein, whatever person one would know thus - 'When I associate with this person, unwholesome mental states increase and wholesome mental states decline; and whatever requisites for life should be obtained by one gone forth - requisites of robes, almsfood, lodging, and medicine for the sick - those are obtained with little difficulty; and the goal of asceticism for the sake of which I went forth from home into homelessness does not go to fulfilment through development' - by that person, friends, that person should be departed from, having considered thus, without asking permission, he should not be followed.
"Therein, whatever person one would know thus - 'When I associate with this person, unwholesome mental states decline and wholesome mental states increase; and whatever requisites for life should be obtained by one gone forth - requisites of robes, almsfood, lodging, and medicine for the sick - those are obtained with difficulty; and the goal of asceticism for the sake of which I went forth from home into homelessness goes to fulfilment through development' - by that person, friends, that person should be followed, having considered thus, he should not depart.
"Therein, whatever person one would know thus - 'When I associate with this person, unwholesome mental states decline and wholesome mental states increase; and whatever requisites for life should be obtained by one gone forth - requisites of robes, almsfood, lodging, and medicine for the sick - those are obtained with little difficulty; and the purpose for which I went forth from home into homelessness, that goal of asceticism goes to fulfilment through development' - by that person, friends, that person should be followed for life, he should not depart, even if being driven away. 'A person too, friends, should be known as twofold - to be associated with and not to be associated with' - thus what was said, this was said dependent on that.
"'A robe too, friends, should be known as twofold - to be practised and not to be practised' - thus indeed this was said. Dependent on what was this said? Therein, whatever robe one would know thus - 'When I practise this robe, unwholesome mental states increase and wholesome mental states decline' - such robe should not be practised. Therein, whatever robe one would know thus - 'When I practise this robe, unwholesome mental states decline and wholesome mental states increase' - such robe should be practised. 'A robe too, friends, should be known as twofold - to be practised and not to be practised' - thus what was said, this was said dependent on that.
"'Almsfood too, friends, should be known as twofold - to be associated with and not to be associated with' - thus indeed this was said. Dependent on what was this said? Therein, whatever almsfood one would know thus - 'When I practise this almsfood, unwholesome mental states increase and wholesome mental states decline' - such almsfood should not be practised. Therein, whatever almsfood one would know thus - 'When I practise this almsfood, unwholesome mental states decline and wholesome mental states increase' - such almsfood should be practised. 'Almsfood too, friends, should be known as twofold - to be associated with and not to be associated with' - thus what was said, this was said dependent on that.
"'Lodging too, friends, should be known as twofold - to be practised and not to be practised' - thus indeed this was said. Dependent on what was this said? Therein, whatever lodging one would know thus - 'When I practise this lodging, unwholesome mental states increase and wholesome mental states decline' - such lodging should not be practised. Therein, whatever lodging one would know thus - 'When I practise this lodging, unwholesome mental states decline and wholesome mental states increase' - such lodging should be practised. 'Lodging too, friends, should be known as twofold - to be practised and not to be practised' - thus what was said, this was said dependent on that.
"A village and market town too, friends, should be known as twofold - to be associated with and not to be associated with' - thus indeed this was said. Dependent on what was this said? Therein, whatever village and market town one would know thus: "When I frequent this village and market town, unwholesome mental states increase and wholesome mental states decline" - such a village and market town should not be frequented. Therein, whatever village and market town one would know thus: "When I frequent this village and market town, unwholesome mental states decline and wholesome mental states increase" - such a village and market town should be frequented. "A village and market town too, friends, should be known as twofold - to be associated with and not to be associated with' - thus what was said, this was said dependent on that.
"A region of the country too, friends, should be known as twofold - to be associated with and not to be associated with' - thus indeed this was said. Dependent on what was this said? Therein, whatever region of the country one would know thus: "When I frequent this region of the country, unwholesome mental states increase and wholesome mental states decline" - such a region of the country should not be frequented. Therein, whatever region of the country one would know thus: "When I frequent this region of the country, unwholesome mental states decline and wholesome mental states increase" - such a region of the country should be frequented. "A region of the country too, friends, should be known as twofold - to be frequented and not to be frequented" - thus what was said, this was said dependent on that. The sixth.