sutta » sn » sn3 » Saṁyutta Nikāya 3.18

Kalyāṇamittasutta

Good Friends Diligence

Sāvatthinidānaṁ.
At Sāvatthī.
At Sāvatthī.

Ekamantaṁ nisinno kho rājā pasenadi kosalo bhagavantaṁ etadavoca:
Seated to one side, King Pasenadi said to the Buddha,
Sitting to one side, King Pasenadi of Kosala said to the Blessed One:

“idha mayhaṁ, bhante, rahogatassa paṭisallīnassa evaṁ cetaso parivitakko udapādi:
“Just now, sir, as I was in private retreat this thought came to mind.
“Here, venerable sir, while I was alone in seclusion, the following reflection arose in my mind:

‘svākkhāto bhagavatā dhammo, so ca kho kalyāṇamittassa kalyāṇasahāyassa kalyāṇasampavaṅkassa, no pāpamittassa no pāpasahāyassa no pāpasampavaṅkassā’”ti.
‘The teaching is well explained by the Buddha. But it’s for someone with good friends, companions, and associates, not for someone with bad friends, companions, and associates.’”
‘The Dhamma has been well expounded by the Blessed One, and that is for one with good friends, good companions, good comrades, not for one with bad friends, bad companions, bad comrades. ’”

“Evametaṁ, mahārāja, evametaṁ, mahārāja.
“That’s so true, great king! That’s so true!” said the Buddha. And he repeated the king’s statement, adding:
“So it is, great king! So it is, great king!

Svākkhāto, mahārāja, mayā dhammo. So ca kho kalyāṇamittassa kalyāṇasahāyassa kalyāṇasampavaṅkassa, no pāpamittassa no pāpasahāyassa no pāpasampavaṅkassāti.
The Dhamma has been well expounded by me, and that is for one with good friends, good companions, good comrades, not for one with bad friends, bad companions, bad comrades.

Ekamidāhaṁ, mahārāja, samayaṁ sakkesu viharāmi nagarakaṁ nāma sakyānaṁ nigamo.
“Great king, this one time I was staying in the land of the Sakyans where they have a town named Townsville.
“On one occasion, great king, I was living among the Sakyans, where there is a town of the Sakyans named Nāgaraka.

Atha kho, mahārāja, ānando bhikkhu yenāhaṁ tenupasaṅkami; upasaṅkamitvā maṁ abhivādetvā ekamantaṁ nisīdi. Ekamantaṁ nisinno kho, mahārāja, ānando bhikkhu maṁ etadavoca:
Then the mendicant Ānanda came to me, bowed, sat down to one side, and said:
Then the bhikkhu Ānanda approached me, paid homage to me, sat down to one side, and said:

‘upaḍḍhamidaṁ, bhante, brahmacariyassa—yadidaṁ kalyāṇamittatā kalyāṇasahāyatā kalyāṇasampavaṅkatā’ti.
‘Sir, good friends, companions, and associates are half the spiritual life.’
‘Venerable sir, this is half of the holy life, that is, good friendship, good companionship, good comradeship.’

Evaṁ vuttāhaṁ, mahārāja, ānandaṁ bhikkhuṁ etadavocaṁ:
When he had spoken, I said to him:
“When this was said, great king, I told the bhikkhu Ānanda:

‘mā hevaṁ, ānanda, mā hevaṁ, ānanda.
‘Not so, Ānanda! Not so, Ānanda!
‘Not so, Ānanda! Not so, Ānanda!

Sakalameva hidaṁ, ānanda, brahmacariyaṁ—yadidaṁ kalyāṇamittatā kalyāṇasahāyatā kalyāṇasampavaṅkatā.
Good friends, companions, and associates are the whole of the spiritual life.
This is the entire holy life, Ānanda, that is, good friendship, good companionship, good comradeship.

Kalyāṇamittassetaṁ, ānanda, bhikkhuno pāṭikaṅkhaṁ kalyāṇasahāyassa kalyāṇasampavaṅkassa ariyaṁ aṭṭhaṅgikaṁ maggaṁ bhāvessati ariyaṁ aṭṭhaṅgikaṁ maggaṁ bahulīkarissati.
A mendicant with good friends, companions, and associates can expect to develop and cultivate the noble eightfold path.
When a bhikkhu has a good friend, a good companion, a good comrade, it is to be expected that he will develop and cultivate the Noble Eightfold Path.

Kathañca, ānanda, bhikkhu kalyāṇamitto kalyāṇasahāyo kalyāṇasampavaṅko ariyaṁ aṭṭhaṅgikaṁ maggaṁ bhāveti, ariyaṁ aṭṭhaṅgikaṁ maggaṁ bahulīkaroti?
And how does a mendicant with good friends develop and cultivate the noble eightfold path?
And how, Ānanda, does a bhikkhu who has a good friend, a good companion, a good comrade, develop and cultivate the Noble Eightfold Path?

Idhānanda, bhikkhu sammādiṭṭhiṁ bhāveti vivekanissitaṁ virāganissitaṁ nirodhanissitaṁ vossaggapariṇāmiṁ, sammāsaṅkappaṁ bhāveti … sammāvācaṁ bhāveti … sammākammantaṁ bhāveti … sammāājīvaṁ bhāveti … sammāvāyāmaṁ bhāveti … sammāsatiṁ bhāveti … sammāsamādhiṁ bhāveti vivekanissitaṁ virāganissitaṁ nirodhanissitaṁ vossaggapariṇāmiṁ.
It’s when a mendicant develops right view, right thought, right speech, right action, right livelihood, right effort, right mindfulness, and right immersion, which rely on seclusion, fading away, and cessation, and ripen as letting go.
Here, Ānanda, a bhikkhu develops right view, which is based upon seclusion, dispassion, and cessation, maturing in release. He develops right intention … right speech … right action … right livelihood … right effort … right mindfulness … right concentration, which is based upon seclusion, dispassion, and cessation, maturing in release.

Evaṁ kho, ānanda, bhikkhu kalyāṇamitto kalyāṇasahāyo kalyāṇasampavaṅko ariyaṁ aṭṭhaṅgikaṁ maggaṁ bhāveti, ariyaṁ aṭṭhaṅgikaṁ maggaṁ bahulīkaroti.
That’s how a mendicant with good friends develops and cultivates the noble eightfold path.
It is in this way, Ānanda, that a bhikkhu who has a good friend, a good companion, a good comrade, develops and cultivates the Noble Eightfold Path.

Tadamināpetaṁ, ānanda, pariyāyena veditabbaṁ yathā sakalamevidaṁ brahmacariyaṁ—yadidaṁ kalyāṇamittatā kalyāṇasahāyatā kalyāṇasampavaṅkatāti.
And here’s another way to understand how good friends are the whole of the spiritual life.
“‘By the following method too, Ānanda, it may be understood how the entire holy life is good friendship, good companionship, good comradeship:

Mamañhi, ānanda, kalyāṇamittaṁ āgamma jātidhammā sattā jātiyā parimuccanti, jarādhammā sattā jarāya parimuccanti, byādhidhammā sattā byādhito parimuccanti, maraṇadhammā sattā maraṇena parimuccanti, sokaparidevadukkhadomanassupāyāsadhammā sattā sokaparidevadukkhadomanassupāyāsehi parimuccanti.
For, by relying on me as a good friend, sentient beings who are liable to rebirth, old age, and death, to sorrow, lamentation, pain, sadness, and distress are freed from all these things.
by relying upon me as a good friend, Ānanda, beings subject to birth are freed from birth; beings subject to aging are freed from aging; beings subject to illness are freed from illness; beings subject to death are freed from death; beings subject to sorrow, lamentation, pain, displeasure, and despair are freed from sorrow, lamentation, pain, displeasure, and despair.

Iminā kho etaṁ, ānanda, pariyāyena veditabbaṁ yathā sakalamevidaṁ brahmacariyaṁ—yadidaṁ kalyāṇamittatā kalyāṇasahāyatā kalyāṇasampavaṅkatā’ti.
This is another way to understand how good friends are the whole of the spiritual life.’
By this method, Ānanda, it may be understood how the entire holy life is good friendship, good companionship, good comradeship.’

Tasmātiha te, mahārāja, evaṁ sikkhitabbaṁ:
So, great king, you should train like this:
“Therefore, great king, you should train yourself thus:

‘kalyāṇamitto bhavissāmi kalyāṇasahāyo kalyāṇasampavaṅko’ti.
‘I will have good friends, companions, and associates.’
‘I will be one who has good friends, good companions, good comrades.’

Evañhi te, mahārāja, sikkhitabbaṁ.
That’s how you should train.
It is in such a way that you should train yourself.

Kalyāṇamittassa te, mahārāja, kalyāṇasahāyassa kalyāṇasampavaṅkassa ayaṁ eko dhammo upanissāya vihātabbo—
When you have good friends, companions, and associates, you should live supported by one thing:
“When, great king, you have good friends, good companions, good comrades, you should dwell with one thing for support:

appamādo kusalesu dhammesu.
diligence in skillful qualities.
diligence in wholesome states.

Appamattassa te, mahārāja, viharato appamādaṁ upanissāya, itthāgārassa anuyantassa evaṁ bhavissati:
When you’re diligent, supported by diligence, your ladies of the harem,
“When, great king, you are dwelling diligently, with diligence for support, your retinue of harem women will think thus:

‘rājā kho appamatto viharati, appamādaṁ upanissāya.
‘The king dwells diligently, with diligence for support.

Handa mayampi appamattā viharāma, appamādaṁ upanissāyā’ti.
Come now, let us also dwell diligently, with diligence for support.’

Appamattassa te, mahārāja, viharato appamādaṁ upanissāya, khattiyānampi anuyantānaṁ evaṁ bhavissati:
aristocrat vassals,
“When, great king, you are dwelling diligently, with diligence for support, your retinue of khattiya vassals will think thus …

‘rājā kho appamatto viharati appamādaṁ upanissāya.

Handa mayampi appamattā viharāma, appamādaṁ upanissāyā’ti.

Appamattassa te, mahārāja, viharato appamādaṁ upanissāya, balakāyassapi evaṁ bhavissati:
troops,
your troops will think thus: …

‘rājā kho appamatto viharati appamādaṁ upanissāya.

Handa mayampi appamattā viharāma, appamādaṁ upanissāyā’ti.

Appamattassa te, mahārāja, viharato appamādaṁ upanissāya, negamajānapadassapi evaṁ bhavissati:
and people of town and country will think:
your subjects in town and countryside will think thus:

‘rājā kho appamatto viharati, appamādaṁ upanissāya.
‘The king lives diligently, supported by diligence.
‘The king dwells diligently, with diligence for support.

Handa mayampi appamattā viharāma, appamādaṁ upanissāyā’ti?
We’d better live diligently, supported by diligence!’
Come now, let us also dwell diligently, with diligence for support.’

Appamattassa te, mahārāja, viharato appamādaṁ upanissāya, attāpi gutto rakkhito bhavissati—
When you’re diligent, supported by diligence, then not only you yourself,
“When, great king, you are dwelling diligently, with diligence for support, you yourself will be guarded and protected,

itthāgārampi guttaṁ rakkhitaṁ bhavissati, kosakoṭṭhāgārampi guttaṁ rakkhitaṁ bhavissatī”ti.
but your ladies of the harem, and your treasury and storehouses will be guarded and protected.”
your retinue of harem women will be guarded and protected, your treasury and storehouse will be guarded and protected.

Idamavoca …pe…
That is what the Buddha said. …

“Bhoge patthayamānena,
“For one who desires a continuous flow
“For one who desires lofty riches

uḷāre aparāpare;
of exceptional wealth,
Following in succession,

Appamādaṁ pasaṁsanti,
the astute praise diligence
The wise praise diligence

puññakiriyāsu paṇḍitā;
in making merit.
In doing deeds of merit.

Appamatto ubho atthe,
Being diligent, an astute person
“The wise person who is diligent

adhiggaṇhāti paṇḍito.
secures both benefits:

Diṭṭhe dhamme ca yo attho,
the benefit in this life,
The good visible in this very life

yo cattho samparāyiko;
and in lives to come.
And the good of the future life.

Atthābhisamayā dhīro,
Attentive, comprehending the meaning,
The steadfast one, by attaining the good,

paṇḍitoti pavuccatī”ti.
they are said to be astute.”
Is called a person of wisdom. ”