The Related Suttas Collection 45.77

8. Abbreviated Texts on One Thing

Good Friends

At Sāvatthī.

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

And how does a bhikkhu with good friends develop and cultivate the noble eightfold path? 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. That’s how a bhikkhu with good friends develops and cultivates the noble eightfold path.”