5.
The Discourse on the Walking Path
99.
On one occasion the Blessed One was dwelling at Rājagaha on the Vulture's Peak mountain.
Now at that time the Venerable Sāriputta together with several monks was walking up and down not far from the Blessed One;
the Venerable Mahāmoggallāna also together with several monks was walking up and down not far from the Blessed One;
the Venerable Mahākassapa also together with several monks was walking up and down not far from the Blessed One;
the Venerable Anuruddha also together with several monks was walking up and down not far from the Blessed One;
the Venerable Puṇṇa Mantāniputta also together with several monks was walking up and down not far from the Blessed One;
the Venerable Upāli also together with several monks was walking up and down not far from the Blessed One;
the Venerable Ānanda also together with several monks was walking up and down not far from the Blessed One;
Devadatta also together with several monks was walking up and down not far from the Blessed One.
Then the Blessed One addressed the monks: "Do you see, monks, Sāriputta walking up and down together with several monks?" "Yes, venerable sir." "All those monks are of great wisdom. Do you see, monks, Moggallāna walking up and down together with several monks?" "Yes, venerable sir." "All those monks are of great supernormal power. Do you see, monks, Kassapa walking up and down together with several monks?" "Yes, venerable sir." "All those monks are ones who inculcate the ascetic practices. Do you see, monks, Anuruddha walking up and down together with several monks?" "Yes, venerable sir." "All those monks possess the divine eye. Do you see, monks, Puṇṇa Mantāniputta walking up and down together with several monks?" "Yes, venerable sir." "All those monks are speakers of the Teaching. Do you see, monks, Upāli walking up and down together with several monks?" "Yes, venerable sir." "All those monks are experts in monastic discipline. Do you see, monks, Ānanda walking up and down together with several monks?" "Yes, venerable sir." "All those monks are very learned. Do you see, monks, Devadatta walking up and down together with several monks?" "Yes, venerable sir." "All those monks have evil desires."
"Monks, beings flow together and meet according to element. Those of inferior disposition flow together and meet with those of inferior disposition; those of good disposition flow together and meet with those of good disposition. In the past too, monks, beings flowed together and met according to element. Those of inferior disposition flowed together and met with those of inferior disposition; those of good disposition flowed together and met with those of good disposition.
"In the future too, monks, beings will flow together and meet according to element. Those of inferior disposition will flow together and meet with those of inferior disposition; those of good disposition will flow together and meet with those of good disposition.
"At present too, monks, in the present period of time, beings flow together and meet according to element. Those of inferior disposition flow together and meet with those of inferior disposition; those of good disposition flow together and meet with those of good disposition." The fifth.