(Buddhist-Network.com)NAGARAKA, ancient Indian frontier - Thus have I heard. On one occasion the Buddha [Sakyamuni, "Sage of the Sakyans"] was staying among the Sakyans in a town named Nagaraka. Ananda went to the Buddha. He greeted him, respectfully sat to one side, and said:
"Venerable sir, noble friendship (kalyana mittata), noble companionship, noble association is half of the supreme-life (brahmacariya, the supreme path to liberation from suffering)!"
"Do not say so, Ananda. Do not say so, Ananda. Noble friendship, noble companionship, noble association is the whole of the supreme-life.
"When a practitioner has noble people as friends, companions, and associates, it may be expected that such a person will pursue and develop the Noble Eightfold Path [that leads to enlightenment and nirvana, the greatest happiness of all].
"How does one who has noble people as friends, companions, and associates pursue and develop the Noble Eightfold Path?
- One develops right [samma, optimal, full, necessary and sufficient] understanding dependent on withdrawal [of the senses from sensual distractions], dependent on dispassion [mental calm], dependent on cessation [dismantling name-and-form by insight] resulting in letting go and the attainment of nirvana.
- One develops right intention [thought]...
- One develops right speech...
- One develops right action...
- One develops right livelihood...
- One develops right effort...
- One develops right mindfulness...
- One develops right concentration [samma samadhi, namely, the first four jhanas] dependent on seclusion, dependent on dispassion, dependent on cessation resulting in letting go and the attainment of nirvana.
"In another way, too [within this Dharma and Discipline], may it be understood that noble friendship, companionship, and association is the whole of the supreme-life: It is through reliance on me as [the re-discoverer and teacher of this timeless path and as being's] noble friend
- that beings subject to rebirth have gained release from rebirth,
- that beings subject to aging have gained release from aging,
- that beings subject to death have gained release from death,
- that beings subject to sorrow, lamentation, pain, distress, and despair have gained release from sorrow, lamentation, pain, distress, and despair.
In this sense also one may understand how noble friendship, companionship, and association is the whole of the supreme-life [leading directly to enlightenment and nirvana]."
