[284] 5. Bhikkhus, as to those bhikkhus who are accomplished in virtue (sīla), accomplished in concentration (samādhi), accomplished in wisdom (paññā), accomplished in liberation (vimutti), and accomplished in the knowledge and vision of liberation (vimuttiñāṇadassana) — who are exhorters, instructors, revealers, encouragers, arousers, and gladdeners, fully competent expounders of the true Dhamma (saddhamma) — bhikkhus, I say that even the seeing of those bhikkhus is of great service; bhikkhus, I say that even the hearing of those bhikkhus is of great service; bhikkhus, I say that even the approaching of those bhikkhus is of great service; bhikkhus, I say that even the attending upon those bhikkhus is of great service; bhikkhus, I say that even the recollecting of those bhikkhus is of great service; bhikkhus, I say that even the going forth after those bhikkhus is of great service. For what reason? Because, bhikkhus, for one who associates with, keeps company with, and attends upon such bhikkhus, even the aggregate of virtue (sīlakkhandha) that is not yet fulfilled goes to fulfillment by development (bhāvanā); even the aggregate of concentration that is not yet fulfilled goes to fulfillment by development; even the aggregate of wisdom that is not yet fulfilled goes to fulfillment by development; even the aggregate of liberation that is not yet fulfilled goes to fulfillment by development; even the aggregate of the knowledge and vision of liberation that is not yet fulfilled goes to fulfillment by development. And such bhikkhus, bhikkhus, are called "teachers" (satthāro); they are called "caravan leaders" (satthavāhā); they are called "abandoners of strife" (raṇañjahā); they are called "dispellers of darkness" (tamonudā); they are called "makers of light" (ālokakarā); they are called "makers of radiance" (obhāsakarā); they are called "makers of illumination" (pajjotakarā); they are called "makers of brilliance" (pabhaṅkarā); they are called "bearers of the torch" (ukkādhārā); they are called "noble ones" (ariyā); and they are called "possessors of vision" (cakkhumanto).
For those who understand, this is a ground
productive of gladness (pāmojja):
namely, those of developed self,
the noble ones who live by the Dhamma.
They light up the true Dhamma and make it shine —
the makers of brilliance,
the steadfast makers of light,
possessors of vision, abandoners of strife.
And the wise, having indeed heard their teaching,
having rightly understood,
having directly known the destruction of birth (jātikkhaya),
come no more to renewed existence.
The Fifth [Sutta].
English translation from the Pali (Siam Raṭṭha edition) — under review, not for citation.