8.
The Good Friend Discourse
129.
At Sāvatthī.
Seated to one side, King Pasenadi of Kosala said this to the Blessed One -
"Here, venerable sir, when I had gone to a private place and was in seclusion, this reflection arose in my mind:
'The Teaching is well proclaimed by the Blessed One, and that is for one with good friends, good companions, good associates, not for one with evil friends, not for one with evil companions, not for one with evil associates.'"
"So it is, great king, so it is, great king! The Teaching, great king, is well proclaimed by me. And that is for one with good friends, good companions, good associates, not for one with evil friends, not for one with evil companions, not for one with evil associates.
"On one occasion, great king, I was dwelling among the Sakyans at Nagaraka, a market town of the Sakyans. Then, great king, the monk Ānanda approached me; having approached, he paid respect to me and sat down to one side. Seated to one side, great king, the monk Ānanda said this to me - 'This is half of the holy life, venerable sir - that is to say, good friendship, good companionship, good association.'"
"When this was said, great king, I said this to the monk Ānanda - '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, 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 disease are released from disease, 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 entire holy life is - that is to say, good friendship, good companionship, good association.'"
"Therefore, great king, you should train thus - 'I will be one with good friends, good companions, good associates.' Thus indeed, great king, should you train.
"For you, great king, who have good friends, good companions, good associates, this one principle should be dwelt upon in dependence - diligence with regard to wholesome qualities.
"For you, great king, dwelling diligently, in dependence on diligence, for the women's quarters who are dependent on you, it will be thus - 'The king indeed dwells diligently, in dependence on diligence. Come, let us too dwell diligently, in dependence on diligence.'"
"For you, great king, dwelling diligently, in dependence on diligence, for the warriors who are dependent on you, it will be thus - 'The king indeed dwells diligently, in dependence on diligence. Come, let us too dwell diligently, in dependence on diligence.'"
"For you, great king, dwelling diligently, in dependence on diligence, for the army too it will be thus - 'The king indeed dwells diligently, in dependence on diligence. Come, let us too dwell diligently, in dependence on diligence.'"
"For you, great king, dwelling diligently, in dependence on diligence, for the townspeople and country-folk too it will be thus - 'The king indeed dwells diligently, in dependence on diligence. Come, let us too dwell diligently, in dependence on diligence.'"
"For you, great king, dwelling diligently, in dependence on diligence, you yourself will be guarded and protected - the women's quarters too will be guarded and protected, the treasury and granary too will be guarded and protected." This he said, etc.
The wise praise diligence in meritorious deeds.
Whatever benefit there is in the present life, and whatever benefit pertaining to the future life;
By attaining what is beneficial, that intelligent one is said to be a person of wisdom"