sn.45.70 Saṁyutta Nikāya (Linked Discourses)
Good Friend
At Savatthī. “Bhikkhus, one thing is very helpful for the arising of the Noble Eightfold Path. What one thing? Good friendship. When a bhikkhu has a good friend, it is to be expected that he will develop and cultivate the Noble Eightfold Path.
“And how does a bhikkhu who has a good friend develop and cultivate the Noble Eightfold Path? Here, bhikkhus, a bhikkhu develops right view, which has as its final goal the removal of lust, the removal of hatred, the removal of delusion…. He develops right concentration, which has as its final goal the removal of lust, the removal of hatred, the removal of delusion. It is in this way, bhikkhus, that a bhikkhu who has a good friend develops and cultivates the Noble Eightfold Path.”
- Translator: Bhikkhu Bodhi
- Editor: Blake Walsh
Good Friends (2nd)
At Sāvatthī.
“Mendicants, one thing helps give rise to the noble eightfold path.
What one thing?
It’s good friendship.
A mendicant with good friends can expect to develop and cultivate the noble eightfold path.
And how does a mendicant with good friends develop and cultivate the noble eightfold path?
It’s when a mendicant develops right view, right thought, right speech, right action, right livelihood, right effort, right mindfulness, and right immersion, which culminate in the removal of greed, hate, and delusion.
That’s how a mendicant with good friends develops and cultivates the noble eightfold path.”
