[383] And how, Ānanda, does a bhikkhu who has a good friend (kalyāṇamitta), a good companion, a good comrade develop the noble eightfold path (ariya aṭṭhaṅgika magga), and cultivate the noble eightfold path?
Here, Ānanda, a bhikkhu develops right view, which is based upon seclusion (viveka), based upon dispassion (virāga), based upon cessation (nirodha), maturing in relinquishment (vossagga); he develops right intention … he develops right speech … he develops right action … he develops right livelihood … he develops right effort … he develops right mindfulness (sati) … he develops right concentration (samādhi), which is based upon seclusion, based upon dispassion, based upon cessation, maturing in relinquishment.
It is in this way, Ānanda, that a bhikkhu who has a good friend, a good companion, a good comrade develops the noble eightfold path and cultivates the noble eightfold path.
By this method too, Ānanda, it should be understood how the whole of this holy life (brahmacariya) is just this: good friendship, good companionship, good comradeship.
For, Ānanda, in dependence on me as a good friend, beings subject to birth (jāti) are freed from birth; beings subject to aging (jarā) are freed from aging; beings subject to illness are freed from illness; beings subject to death (maraṇa) are freed from death; beings subject to sorrow, lamentation, pain, grief, and despair (soka, parideva, dukkha, domanassa, upāyāsa) are freed from sorrow, lamentation, pain, grief, and despair.
By this method, Ānanda, it should be understood how the whole of this holy life is just this: good friendship, good companionship, good comradeship.
English translation from the Pali (Siam Raṭṭha edition) — under review, not for citation.