The Related Discourses

13. Factors of the Noble Path

23 (768). Good Friends

1. Thus I have heard:[1] One time, the Buddha was staying in Rājagṛha at a mountain valley monastery.[2]

2. It was then that the Venerable Ānanda had this thought while alone in a quiet abode, “Half of the religious practice is good friends, good associates, and good followers …”

3. The Buddha told Ānanda, “The religious practice is entirely, fully, and purely good friends. What is the reason for that? It was because of good friends that I led sentient beings to cultivate right view by relying on seclusion, having no desire, cessation, and being oriented toward renunciation … to cultivate right samādhi by relying on seclusion, having no desire, cessation, and an orientation towards renunciation.”

4. After the Buddha spoke this sūtra, the monks who heard what the Buddha taught rejoiced and approved.

Notes

1. Pali parallel is SN 45.2. At first glance, the Pali appears to be an expanded version of this sūtra, but the Chinese does indicate that it’s been abbreviated between Ānanda’s initial thought to the Buddha’s reply. Cf. SĀ 12.23. [back]
2. a mountain valley monastery. The exact location this represents is so far a mystery. The location is found five times in the Saṃyukta Āgama, but it’s not used anywhere else that I can find. It doesn’t correspond to a similar location in the parallel Pali passages that I could locate. [back]

Translator: Charles Patton

Last Revised: 10 November 2023