{"collection":"Anguttara Nikaya","full_text_available":true,"graph_url":"https://unchartedknowledge.5gfusion.net/v2/api/page/suttacentral_an3.26/graph","html_url":"https://unchartedknowledge.5gfusion.net/v2/page/suttacentral_an3.26","id":"suttacentral_an3.26","license":"CC0","rights_basis":"suttacentral_bilara_data_cc0","source":"suttacentral","source_url":"https://suttacentral.net/an3.26/en/sujato","summary":null,"tags":["Anguttara Nikaya","Early Buddhist Texts"],"text":"\u201cThese three individuals are found in the world. What three? There is an individual you shouldn\u2019t associate with, accompany, or attend. There is an individual you should associate with, accompany, and attend. There is an individual you should associate with, accompany, and attend with honor and respect. Who is the individual you shouldn\u2019t associate with, accompany, or attend? It\u2019s an individual who is inferior in terms of ethics, immersion, and wisdom. You shouldn\u2019t associate with, accompany, or attend such an individual, except out of kindness and sympathy. Who is the individual you should associate with, accompany, and attend? It\u2019s an individual who is similar in terms of ethics, immersion, and wisdom. You should associate with, accompany, and attend such an individual. Why is that? Thinking, \u2018Since our ethical conduct is similar, we can discuss ethics, the conversation will flow, and we\u2019ll both be at ease. Since our immersion is similar, we can discuss immersion, the conversation will flow, and we\u2019ll both be at ease. Since our wisdom is similar, we can discuss wisdom, the conversation will flow, and we\u2019ll both be at ease.\u2019 That\u2019s why you should associate with, accompany, and attend such an individual. Who is the individual you should associate with, accompany, and attend with honor and respect? It\u2019s an individual who is superior in terms of ethics, immersion, and wisdom. You should associate with, accompany, and attend such an individual with honor and respect. Why is that? Thinking, \u2018I\u2019ll fulfill the entire spectrum of ethical conduct I haven\u2019t yet fulfilled, or support with wisdom in every situation the ethical conduct I\u2019ve already fulfilled. I\u2019ll fulfill the entire spectrum of immersion I haven\u2019t yet fulfilled, or support with wisdom in every situation the immersion I\u2019ve already fulfilled. I\u2019ll fulfill the entire spectrum of wisdom I haven\u2019t yet fulfilled, or support with wisdom in every situation the wisdom I\u2019ve already fulfilled.\u2019 That\u2019s why you should associate with, accompany, and attend this individual with honor and respect. These are the three individuals found in the world. A man who associates with an inferior goes downhill, but associating with an equal, you\u2019ll never decline; following the best, you\u2019ll quickly rise up, so you should keep company <j>with people better than you.\u201d","title":"Associates","tradition":"Anguttara Nikaya","translated_text":null,"word_count":370}