At Sāvatthi.

 

This, monks, is the herald,

the very first sign of the rising sun, that is;

 

— The breaking dawn.  ^[1]

 

In the same way, monks,

this is the herald,

the is the very first sign of the Awakened ones’ eight-spoked path arising, that is;

 

— Wise friendship.

 

 

It is because of seeking and desiring wise friendship that ^[2]

the eight-spoked path will be developed and brought to maturity.

 

 

And how does a monk who has wise friends

develops the eight-spoked path and brings it to maturity?

 

(1) Here, monks, one develops wise understanding

Which comes from letting go, calming down, release

and that culminates in surrender. ^[3]

 

(2) One develops wise intention

Which comes from letting go, calming down, release

and that culminates in surrender.

 

(3) One develops wise speech,

which comes from letting go, calming down, release

and that culminates in surrender.

 

(4) One develops wise action,

which comes from letting go, calming down, release

and that culminates in surrender.

 

(5) One develops wise livelihood,

which comes from letting go, calming down, release

and that culminates in surrender.

 

(6) One develops wise practice,

which comes from letting go, calming down, release

and that culminates in surrender.

 

(7) One develops wise awareness,

which comes from letting go, calming down, release

and that culminates in surrender.

 

(8) One develops wise collectedness,

which comes from letting go, calming down, release

and that culminates in surrender.

 

 

This is how a monk who has wise friends

develops the eight-spoked path and brings it to maturity.

 

 

 

[1] Sūriyassa, bhikkhave, udayato etaṁ pubbaṅgamaṁ etaṁ pubbanimittaṁ, yadidaṁ—aruṇuggaṁ; 

[2] Kalyāṇamittassetaṁ, bhikkhave, bhikkhuno pāṭikaṅkhaṁ

[3] vivekanissitaṁ virāganissitaṁ nirodhanissitaṁ vossaggapariṇāmiṁ …pe…