SN 45-56 The Group of Connected Discourses on the Path – Mahāvaggasaṁyutta > SN 45 Linked Discourses on the Eightfold Path – Maggasaṁyutta > SN 45.77 Good Friends

Linked Discourses 45.77 – Saṁyutta Nikāya 45.77

8. Abbreviated Texts on One Thing – 8. Dutiyaekadhammapeyyālavagga

SN 45.77 Good Friends – Kalyāṇamittasutta

At Sāvatthī.

Sāvatthinidānaṁ.

“Bhikkhū, I do not see a single thing that gives rise to the noble eightfold path, or, if it’s already arisen, fully develops it like good friendship.

“Nāhaṁ, bhikkhave, aññaṁ ekadhammampi samanupassāmi, yena anuppanno vā ariyo aṭṭhaṅgiko maggo uppajjati, uppanno vā ariyo aṭṭhaṅgiko maggo bhāvanāpāripūriṁ gacchati, yathayidaṁ, bhikkhave, kalyāṇamittatā.

A bhikkhu with good friends can expect to develop and cultivate the noble eightfold path.

Kalyāṇamittassetaṁ, bhikkhave, bhikkhuno pāṭikaṅkhaṁ—ariyaṁ aṭṭhaṅgikaṁ maggaṁ bhāvessati, ariyaṁ aṭṭhaṅgikaṁ maggaṁ bahulīkarissati.

And how does a bhikkhu with good friends develop and cultivate the noble eightfold path?

Kathañca, bhikkhave, bhikkhu kalyāṇamitto ariyaṁ aṭṭhaṅgikaṁ maggaṁ bhāveti, ariyaṁ aṭṭhaṅgikaṁ maggaṁ bahulīkaroti?

It’s when a bhikkhu develops right view, right thought, right speech, right action, right livelihood, right effort, right mindfulness, and right samādhi, which rely on seclusion, fading away, and cessation, and ripen as letting go.

Idha, bhikkhave, bhikkhu sammādiṭṭhiṁ bhāveti vivekanissitaṁ …pe… sammāsamādhiṁ bhāveti vivekanissitaṁ virāganissitaṁ nirodhanissitaṁ vossaggapariṇāmiṁ.

That’s how a bhikkhu with good friends develops and cultivates the noble eightfold path.”

Evaṁ kho, bhikkhave, bhikkhu kalyāṇamitto ariyaṁ aṭṭhaṅgikaṁ maggaṁ bhāveti, ariyaṁ aṭṭhaṅgikaṁ maggaṁ bahulīkarotī”ti.