There is no other single external factor as helpful as good friendship for a trainee bhikkhu who is aspiring for the highest goal.
Vuttañhetaṁ bhagavatā vuttamarahatāti me sutaṁ:
This was said by the Blessed One, said by the Arahant, as I have heard:
“Sekhassa, bhikkhave, bhikkhuno appattamānasassa anuttaraṁ yogakkhemaṁ patthayamānassa viharato bāhiraṁ aṅganti karitvā nāññaṁ ekaṅgampi samanupassāmi yaṁ evaṁ bahūpakāraṁ yathayidaṁ, bhikkhave, kalyāṇamittatā. Kalyāṇamitto, bhikkhave, bhikkhu akusalaṁ pajahati, kusalaṁ bhāvetī”ti.
“Bhikkhus, for a trainee bhikkhu whose mind has not yet attained the unsurpassed security from bondage, who is dwelling and aspiring for it, I do not see any other single external factor as so helpful as |good friendship::friendship with wholesome persons [kalyāṇamittatā]|. Bhikkhus, a bhikkhu with good friends abandons the unwholesome and |develops::cultivates [bhāveti]| the wholesome.”
Etamatthaṁ bhagavā avoca. Tatthetaṁ iti vuccati:
The Blessed One spoke on this matter. In this regard, it is said:
“Kalyāṇamitto yo bhikkhu,
sappatisso sagāravo;
Karaṁ mittānaṁ vacanaṁ,
sampajāno patissato;
Pāpuṇe anupubbena,
sabbasaṁyojanakkhayan”ti.
“The bhikkhu who has good friends,
who is |agreeable::deferential, polite, obedient [sappatissa]| and respectful;
Acting according to the advice of friends,
with |full awareness::attentiveness, clear and full comprehension [sampajañña]| and |mindfulness::remembering to be present with continuous effort, observing the body in and of itself, felt experience in and of itself, mind in and of itself, mental qualities in and of themselves [patissata, sati]|;
Gradually attains,
the |wearing away of all fetters::wearing away of all the chains, slow destruction of all the bonds [sabbasaṃyojanakkhaya]|.”
Ayampi attho vutto bhagavatā, iti me sutanti.
This matter too was spoken by the Blessed One, as I have heard.
This was said by the Blessed One, said by the Arahant, as I have heard:
“Bhikkhus, for a trainee bhikkhu whose mind has not yet attained the unsurpassed security from bondage, who is dwelling and aspiring for it, I do not see any other single external factor as so helpful as |good friendship::friendship with wholesome persons [kalyāṇamittatā]|. Bhikkhus, a bhikkhu with good friends abandons the unwholesome and |develops::cultivates [bhāveti]| the wholesome.”
The Blessed One spoke on this matter. In this regard, it is said:
“The bhikkhu who has good friends,
who is |agreeable::deferential, polite, obedient [sappatissa]| and respectful;
Acting according to the advice of friends,
with |full awareness::attentiveness, clear and full comprehension [sampajañña]| and |mindfulness::remembering to be present with continuous effort, observing the body in and of itself, felt experience in and of itself, mind in and of itself, mental qualities in and of themselves [patissata, sati]|;
Gradually attains,
the |wearing away of all fetters::wearing away of all the chains, slow destruction of all the bonds [sabbasaṃyojanakkhaya]|.”
This matter too was spoken by the Blessed One, as I have heard.
Vuttañhetaṁ bhagavatā vuttamarahatāti me sutaṁ:
“Sekhassa, bhikkhave, bhikkhuno appattamānasassa anuttaraṁ yogakkhemaṁ patthayamānassa viharato bāhiraṁ aṅganti karitvā nāññaṁ ekaṅgampi samanupassāmi yaṁ evaṁ bahūpakāraṁ yathayidaṁ, bhikkhave, kalyāṇamittatā. Kalyāṇamitto, bhikkhave, bhikkhu akusalaṁ pajahati, kusalaṁ bhāvetī”ti.
Etamatthaṁ bhagavā avoca. Tatthetaṁ iti vuccati:
“Kalyāṇamitto yo bhikkhu,
sappatisso sagāravo;
Karaṁ mittānaṁ vacanaṁ,
sampajāno patissato;
Pāpuṇe anupubbena,
sabbasaṁyojanakkhayan”ti.
Ayampi attho vutto bhagavatā, iti me sutanti.