Itivuttaka 17

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Adapted From the Translation by Thanissaro Bhikkhu(Geoffrey DeGraff)

Compared with the Pali Tipitaka at www.tipitaka.org

17. Dutiyasekhasuttam (Training)

This was said by the Lord Buddha(Bhagavata), said by the Arahant, so I have heard:

“Monks, with regard to external factors, I don’t envision any other single factor like friendship with admirable people[1] as doing so much for a monk in training, who has not attained the heart’s goal but remains intent on the unsurpassed safety from bondage. A monk who is a friend with admirable people abandons what is unskillful and develops what is skillful.”

A monk who’s a friend to well wisher —who’s reverential, respectful, doing what his friends advise— mindful, wholly alert, attains step by step the ending of all fetters.

NOTE:

1. In SN 45:2 the Buddha says, “Having admirable people (kalyana-mitta) as friends, companions, and colleagues is actually the whole of the holy life. When a monk has admirable people as friends, companions, and colleagues, he may be expected to develop and pursue the noble eightfold path.… It’s in dependence on me as an admirable friend that beings subject to birth have gained release from birth… aging… death… sorrow, lamentation, pain, disuffering, and despair.”

See also: AN 5:180; AN 9:1; No.76; Ud 4:1