iti.78 Itivuttaka

Like Elements

This was said by the Lord…

“Bhikkhus, it is according to like elements that beings associate with each other and come together. Beings of low disposition associate and come together with beings of low disposition. Beings of good disposition associate and come together with beings of good disposition. It was so in the past, it will be so in the future, and it is so in the present.”

Desire born of association
Is severed by non-association.
As one riding on a wooden plank
Would sink in the mighty ocean,
Even so one of virtuous life
Sinks by consorting with an idler.

Therefore shun an idle person,
One who makes little effort.
Live with those who dwell secluded,
The noble ones resolved and meditative,
Who are ever strenuous and wise.

- Translator: John D. Ireland

- Editor: Bhikkhu Sujato

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Converging Elements

This was said by the Buddha, the Perfected One: that is what I heard.
“Mendicants, sentient beings come together and converge because of an element:
Those who have bad convictions come together and converge with those who have bad convictions.
Those who have good convictions come together and converge with those who have good convictions.
In the past …
In the future …
At present, too, sentient beings come together and converge because of an element.
Those who have bad convictions come together and converge with those who have bad convictions.
Those who have good convictions come together and converge with those who have good convictions.”
The Buddha spoke this matter.
On this it is said:
“Socializing promotes entanglements;
they’re cut off by being aloof.
If you’re lost in the middle of a great sea,
and you clamber up on a little log, you’ll sink.
So too, a person who lives well
sinks by relying on a lazy person.
Hence you should avoid such
a lazy person who lacks energy.
Dwell with the noble ones
who are secluded and determined
constantly energetic,
the astute who practice absorption.”
This too is a matter that was spoken by the Blessed One: that is what I heard.