The Buddha teaches on a friend (2nd), presenting a sevenfold teaching for disciples on the path.

AN 7.37 A Friend (2nd)

“Sattahi, bhikkhave, dhammehi samannāgato bhikkhu mitto sevitabbo bhajitabbo payirupāsitabbo api panujjamānenapi. Katamehi sattahi? Piyo ca hoti manāpo ca garu ca bhāvanīyo ca vattā ca vacanakkhamo ca gambhīrañca kathaṁ kattā hoti, no ca aṭṭhāne niyojeti. Imehi kho, bhikkhave, sattahi dhammehi samannāgato bhikkhu mitto sevitabbo bhajitabbo payirupāsitabbo api panujjamānenapīti.

Piyo garu bhāvanīyo,
vattā ca vacanakkhamo;
Gambhīrañca kathaṁ kattā,
no caṭṭhāne niyojako.

Yamhi etāni ṭhānāni,
saṁvijjantīdha puggale;
So mitto mittakāmena,
atthakāmānukampato;
Api nāsiyamānena,
bhajitabbo tathāvidho”ti.

Chaṭṭhaṁ.

Reference Translation by Bhikkhu Sujato (CC0).

“Sattahi, bhikkhave, dhammehi samannāgato bhikkhu mitto sevitabbo bhajitabbo payirupāsitabbo api panujjamānenapi.

“Mendicants, when a friend has seven qualities you should associate with, accompany, and attend them, even if they drive you away.

Katamehi sattahi?

What seven?

Piyo ca hoti manāpo ca garu ca bhāvanīyo ca vattā ca vacanakkhamo ca gambhīrañca kathaṁ kattā hoti, no ca aṭṭhāne niyojeti.

They’re likable, agreeable, respected, and admired. They admonish you and they accept admonishment. They speak on deep matters. And they don’t urge you to do bad things.

Imehi kho, bhikkhave, sattahi dhammehi samannāgato bhikkhu mitto sevitabbo bhajitabbo payirupāsitabbo api panujjamānenapīti.

When a friend has these seven qualities you should associate with, accompany, and attend them, even if they drive you away.

Piyo garu bhāvanīyo,

They’re liked, respected, and admired,

vattā ca vacanakkhamo;

an admonisher who accepts admonishment,

Gambhīrañca kathaṁ kattā,

speaks on deep matters,

no caṭṭhāne niyojako.

and doesn’t urge you to do bad.

Yamhi etāni ṭhānāni,

The individual in whom

saṁvijjantīdha puggale;

these things are found is your friend.

So mitto mittakāmena,

If you want to have a friend,

atthakāmānukampato;

benevolent and sympathetic,

Api nāsiyamānena,

then even if they chase you away,

bhajitabbo tathāvidho”ti.

you should keep company with that sort.”

Chaṭṭhaṁ.

Qualities:

Harm

Harm

Intention or action that causes injury or suffering to oneself or others. It arises from aversion and heedlessness and destroys trust and safety. The opposite of non-harm, it obscures compassion and leads to regret.

Also known as: injury causing behavior, destructiveness, bad, evil
Pāli: pāpaka
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Wisdom

Wisdom

Lived understanding and sound judgment that steers the mind away from suffering, distinct from mere accumulation of facts.

Also known as: (of a person) wise, astute, intelligent, learned, skilled, firm, stable, steadfast, an experiential understanding of the four noble truths
Pāli: paññā, medhā, dhīra, paṇḍita, asammūḷha
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Last updated on July 27, 2026