AN 3.26

Sevitabbasutta

“Tayome, bhikkhave, puggalā santo saṁvijjamānā lokasmiṁ. Katame tayo? Atthi, bhikkhave, puggalo na sevitabbo na bhajitabbo na payirupāsitabbo. Atthi, bhikkhave, puggalo sevitabbo bhajitabbo payirupāsitabbo. Atthi, bhikkhave, puggalo sakkatvā garuṁ katvā sevitabbo bhajitabbo payirupāsitabbo. Katamo ca, bhikkhave, puggalo na sevitabbo na bhajitabbo na payirupāsitabbo? Idha, bhikkhave, ekacco puggalo hīno hoti sīlena samādhinā paññāya. Evarūpo, bhikkhave, puggalo na sevitabbo na bhajitabbo na payirupāsitabbo aññatra anuddayā aññatra anukampā.

Associates

“These three individuals are found in the world. What three? There is an individual you shouldn’t associate with, accompany, or attend. There is an individual you should associate with, accompany, and attend. There is an individual you should associate with, accompany, and attend with honor and respect. Who is the individual you shouldn’t associate with, accompany, or attend? It’s an individual who is inferior in terms of ethics, immersion, and wisdom. You shouldn’t associate with, accompany, or attend such an individual, except out of kindness and sympathy.

Katamo ca, bhikkhave, puggalo sevitabbo bhajitabbo payirupāsitabbo? Idha, bhikkhave, ekacco puggalo sadiso hoti sīlena samādhinā paññāya. Evarūpo, bhikkhave, puggalo sevitabbo bhajitabbo payirupāsitabbo. Taṁ kissa hetu? Sīlasāmaññagatānaṁ sataṁ sīlakathā ca no bhavissati, sā ca no pavattinī bhavissati, sā ca no phāsu bhavissati. Samādhisāmaññagatānaṁ sataṁ samādhikathā ca no bhavissati, sā ca no pavattinī bhavissati, sā ca no phāsu bhavissati. Paññāsāmaññagatānaṁ sataṁ paññākathā ca no bhavissati, sā ca no pavattinī bhavissati, sā ca no phāsu bhavissatīti. Tasmā evarūpo puggalo sevitabbo bhajitabbo payirupāsitabbo.

Who is the individual you should associate with, accompany, and attend? It’s an individual who is similar in terms of ethics, immersion, and wisdom. You should associate with, accompany, and attend such an individual. Why is that? Thinking, ‘Since our ethical conduct is similar, we can discuss ethics, the conversation will flow, and we’ll both be at ease. Since our immersion is similar, we can discuss immersion, the conversation will flow, and we’ll both be at ease. Since our wisdom is similar, we can discuss wisdom, the conversation will flow, and we’ll both be at ease.’ That’s why you should associate with, accompany, and attend such an individual.

Katamo ca, bhikkhave, puggalo sakkatvā garuṁ katvā sevitabbo bhajitabbo payirupāsitabbo? Idha, bhikkhave, ekacco puggalo adhiko hoti sīlena samādhinā paññāya. Evarūpo, bhikkhave, puggalo sakkatvā garuṁ katvā sevitabbo bhajitabbo payirupāsitabbo. Taṁ kissa hetu? Iti aparipūraṁ vā sīlakkhandhaṁ paripūressāmi, paripūraṁ vā sīlakkhandhaṁ tattha tattha paññāya anuggahessāmi; aparipūraṁ vā samādhikkhandhaṁ paripūressāmi, paripūraṁ vā samādhikkhandhaṁ tattha tattha paññāya anuggahessāmi; aparipūraṁ vā paññākkhandhaṁ paripūressāmi, paripūraṁ vā paññākkhandhaṁ tattha tattha paññāya anuggahessāmīti. Tasmā evarūpo puggalo sakkatvā garuṁ katvā sevitabbo bhajitabbo payirupāsitabbo. Ime kho, bhikkhave, tayo puggalā santo saṁvijjamānā lokasminti.

Who is the individual you should associate with, accompany, and attend with honor and respect? It’s an individual who is superior in terms of ethics, immersion, and wisdom. You should associate with, accompany, and attend such an individual with honor and respect. Why is that? Thinking, ‘I’ll fulfill the entire spectrum of ethical conduct I haven’t yet fulfilled, or support with wisdom in every situation the ethical conduct I’ve already fulfilled. I’ll fulfill the entire spectrum of immersion I haven’t yet fulfilled, or support with wisdom in every situation the immersion I’ve already fulfilled. I’ll fulfill the entire spectrum of wisdom I haven’t yet fulfilled, or support with wisdom in every situation the wisdom I’ve already fulfilled.’ That’s why you should associate with, accompany, and attend this individual with honor and respect. These are the three individuals found in the world.

Nihīyati puriso nihīnasevī, Na ca hāyetha kadāci tulyasevī; Seṭṭhamupanamaṁ udeti khippaṁ, Tasmā attano uttariṁ bhajethā”ti.

A man who associates with an inferior goes downhill, but associating with an equal, you’ll never decline; following the best, you’ll quickly rise up, so you should keep company with people better than you.”