English
Having attained that world of both affliction and non-affliction, both afflicting and non-afflicting contacts touch him. Touched by both afflicting and non-afflicting contacts, he experiences a feeling of both affliction and non-affliction, mixed pleasure and pain, just like humans, and some devas, and some in the lower realms. These three individuals, monks, exist, are found in the world. The Third. 4. The Discourse on Great Help 24. These three individuals, monks, are of great help to an individual. Which three? That individual, monks, by relying on whom another individual has gone for refuge to the Buddha, has gone for refuge to the Dhamma, has gone for refuge to the Sangha; this individual, monks, is of great help to that individual. Furthermore, monks, that individual, by relying on whom another individual truly understands 'This is suffering,' truly understands 'This is the origin of suffering,' truly understands 'This is the cessation of suffering,' truly understands 'This is the path leading to the cessation of suffering;' this individual, monks, is of great help to that individual. Furthermore, monks, that individual, by relying on whom another individual having approached, a person through the destruction of the taints, realizes and abides in the taintless liberation of mind, liberation through wisdom, having directly known it for oneself in this very life. This person, monks, is of great help to that person. These, monks, are the three persons who are of great help to a person. "And, monks, I say that there is no other person who is of greater help to this person than these three persons. But, monks, I say that these three persons cannot be adequately repaid by this person, even with salutations, rising to greet, joining hands in reverence, dutiful service, robes, almsfood, lodging, and medicinal requisites for the sick." The Fourth. 5. The Discourse on the Diamond-like 25. "There are these three persons, monks, existing, found in the world. Which three? A person with a sore-like mind, a person with a lightning-like mind, a person with a diamond-like mind. And what, monks, is a person with a sore-like mind? Here, monks, a certain person is irritable, full of vexation; even when spoken to a little, he becomes angry, upset, hostile, stubborn, and manifests anger, ill-will, and displeasure. Just as, monks, a festering sore, when struck with a stick or a potsherd, gives off even more pus; even so, monks, a certain person here is irritable, full of vexation; even when spoken to a little, he becomes angry, upset, hostile, stubborn, and manifests anger, ill-will, and displeasure. This, monks, is called a person with a sore-like mind. "And what, monks, is a person with a lightning-like mind? Here, monks, a certain person understands 'this is suffering' as it really is, understands 'this is the origin of suffering' as it really is, understands 'this is the cessation of suffering' as it really is, understands 'this is the path to the cessation of suffering' the path leading to the cessation (of suffering) as it really is, he understands. Just as, monks, a man with sight in the deep darkness of night, by a flash of lightning, would see forms; Even so, monks, a certain person here 'This is suffering,' as it really is, he understands... 'This is the path leading to the cessation of suffering,' as it really is, he understands. This, monks, is called the person like a flash of lightning. "And what, monks, is the person like a diamond? Here, monks, a certain person, through the destruction of the asavas, enters and dwells in the stainless liberation of mind, the liberation by wisdom, having realized it for himself with direct knowledge in this very life. Just as, monks, there is nothing a diamond cannot cut, no gem or stone; Even so, monks, a certain person here, through the destruction of the asavas... enters and dwells. This, monks, is called the person like a diamond. 'These, monks, are the three persons existing, found in the world.'" The Fifth. 6. The Discourse on Those to Be Associated With "These three persons, monks, are existing, found in the world. Which three? There is, monks, a person not to be associated with, not to be frequented, not to be waited upon. There is, monks, a person to be associated with, to be frequented, to be waited upon. There is, monks, a person to be associated with, to be frequented, to be waited upon, having honored him, having respected him. And what, monks, is the person not to be associated with, not to be frequented, not to be waited upon? Here, monks, a certain person is inferior in virtue, in concentration, in wisdom. Such a person, monks, is not to be associated with, not to be frequented, not to be waited upon, except out of compassion, except out of sympathy. "And what, monks, is the person to be associated with, to be frequented, to be waited upon? Here, monks, a certain person is similar in virtue, in concentration, in wisdom. Such a person, monks, is to be associated with, to be frequented, to be waited upon should be associated with. For what reason? When there are those endowed with virtue, there will be talk of virtue for us, and that will be conducive to progress for us, and that will be comfortable for us. When there are those endowed with concentration, there will be talk of concentration for us, and that will be conducive to progress for us, and that will be comfortable for us. When there are those endowed with wisdom, there will be talk of wisdom for us, and that will be conducive to progress for us, and that will be comfortable for us. Therefore, such a person should be served, associated with, and attended upon. “And what kind of person, monks, should be served, associated with, and attended upon with respect and reverence? Here, monks, some person is superior in virtue, in concentration, in wisdom. Such a person, monks, should be served, associated with, and attended upon with respect and reverence. For what reason? ‘I will complete my unfulfilled aggregate of virtue, or I will support my fulfilled aggregate of virtue here and there with wisdom; I will complete my unfulfilled aggregate of concentration, or I will support my fulfilled aggregate of concentration here and there with wisdom; I will complete my unfulfilled aggregate of wisdom, or I will support my fulfilled aggregate of wisdom here and there with wisdom.’ Therefore, such a person should be served, associated with, and attended upon with respect and reverence. These three persons, monks, are found, are present in the world.” A person declines by associating with inferiors; One never declines by associating with equals; One quickly rises by approaching superiors; Therefore, one should associate with those better than oneself. 7. The Discourse on What Should Be Avoided 27. “These three persons, monks, are found, are present in the world. Which three? There is, monks, a person who should be avoided, not served, not associated with, not attended upon. There is, monks, a person who should be overlooked. should be shunned, not associated with, not frequented, not waited upon. There is, monks, a person who should be associated with, frequented, waited upon. And what kind of person, monks, should be shunned, not associated with, not frequented, not waited upon? Here, monks, a certain person is immoral, of evil nature, impure, of suspicious conduct, with hidden deeds, not a recluse, but claiming to be a recluse, not a celibate, but claiming to be a celibate, inwardly rotten, leaky, full of defilements. Such a person, monks, should be shunned, not associated with, not frequented, not waited upon. For what reason? Even if, monks, one does not follow the example of such a person, yet a bad reputation spreads about him: ‘He is a bad friend, a bad companion, associated with bad people.’ Just as, monks, a snake in a pile of excrement, even if it does not bite, yet it smears one; even so, monks, even if one does not follow the example of such a person, yet a bad reputation spreads about him: ‘He is a bad friend, a bad companion, associated with bad people.’ Therefore, such a person should be shunned, not associated with, not frequented, not waited upon. And what kind of person, monks, should be ignored, not associated with, not frequented, not waited upon? Here, monks, a certain person is angry, full of vexation; even if spoken to a little, he gets enraged, becomes angry, becomes hostile, becomes resentful, and manifests anger, hatred, and displeasure. Just as, monks, a festering sore, when poked with a stick or a shard, gives off even more pus; even so, monks… Just as, monks, a tinduka ember, when poked with a stick or a shard, hisses and crackles even more; even so, monks… Just as, Monks, a cesspool stirred with a stick or a potsherd becomes even more foul-smelling. Just so, monks, some individual here is angry and full of vexation. Even if spoken to a little, he reviles, gets angry, becomes hostile, and shows resentment. He reveals anger, hatred, and displeasure. Such a person, monks, should be ignored, not associated with, not frequented, not served. And for what reason? "He might abuse me, he might revile me, he might harm me." Therefore, such a person should be ignored, not associated with, not frequented, not served. "And what kind of person, monks, should be associated with, frequented, and served? Here, monks, some individual is virtuous and of good character. Such a person, monks, should be associated with, frequented, and served. And for what reason? Even if, monks, one does not follow the views of such a person, yet a good report arises about him: 'This person is a good friend, a good companion, a good associate.' Therefore, such a person should be associated with, frequented, and served. 'These, monks, are the three types of persons existing, found in the world.'" A person who associates with inferiors degenerates. One who associates with equals never degenerates.