The Buddha as My Best Friend (sutra)

Dhr. Seven, Amber Larson, CC Liu, Wisdom Quarterly translation of the "Discourse on Half [the Supreme Life]," Upaddha Sutta (SN 45.2) NOBLE FRIENDSHIP (Kalyāṇa-Mittatā)

The Buddha-to-come, Metteyya ("Friend"), Ladakh, Himalayan India (Sahil Vohra/flickr)

  

Theravada novice, Indonesia (Massulan/flickr)

Thus have I heard. On one occasion the Blessed One was living among [his relatives] the Sakyans [on the northwest Indian frontier, likely in Afghanistan].

 

There in a Sakyan town named Sakkara Ven. Ananda went to the Blessed One, bowed, sat respectfully to one side, and said: "Venerable sir, this is half of the supreme life: noble friendship, noble companionship, noble association!"* 

• [*As AN 8.54 points out, this means associating with noble spiritual friends (kalyana mittas), learning from them, and emulating their good qualities.]

"Do not say so, Ananda, do not say so! Noble friendship, noble companionship, noble association is the whole of the supreme life. When a meditator has noble friends, companions, and associates, such a person can be expected to develop and pursue the Noble Eightfold Path.

How's that?

Buddha, Bodh Gaya (Chandrasekaran arum/flickr)

"How does a meditator with noble friends, companions, and associates develop and pursue the Noble Eightfold Path? 

 

"A meditator develops right (optimal) view dependent on seclusion [mental seclusion, withdrawal of the senses], dependent on [temporary] dispassion [as a result of directly seeing the Three Marks of Existence, the true nature of things], dependent on cessation [focusing on the passing away phase of phenomena], resulting in relinquishment [letting go].

"Furthermore, one develops right intention... right speech... right action (karma)... right livelihood... right effort... right mindfulness... and right concentration dependent on seclusion, dependent on dispassion, dependent on cessation, resulting in relinquishment.

"This is how a meditator with noble friends, companions, and associates develops and pursues the Noble Eightfold Path [which ennobles one, i.e., results in enlightenment and being set FREE by the Truth (Veritas liberabit vos): liberation from all further rebirth and suffering (nirvana)].

The Eyes of Wisdom are always also the Eyes of Compassion (cabrenna.com/WQ)

 
The Buddha as BEST friend

Ahh, nirvana! (Plsrj/flickr)

"Now through this line of reasoning one may come to directly know how noble friendship, noble companionship, noble association is the whole of the supreme life: It is dependent on me (a supremely enlightened teacher) as a noble friend

• that beings (devas and humans) once subject to rebirth have gained release from rebirth,
• that beings once subject to aging have gained release from aging,
• that beings once subject to death have gained release from death,
• that beings once subject to (suffering manifesting as) sorrow, lamentation, pain, distress, and despair [as well as association with the unloved, separation from the loved, not getting what one wants and, in brief, the Five Aggregates of Clinging] have gained release from all of these.

Mahayana novices (wellhappypeaceful.com)

"It is through this line of reasoning that one may directly come to know how noble friendship, noble companionship, noble association is [not only half but actually] the whole of the supreme life."