7.
The Discourse on What Should Be Detested
27. "Monks, there are these three persons existing and found in the world. Which three? There is, monks, a person who should be shunned, should not be associated with, should not be kept company with, should not be attended upon. There is, monks, a person who should be looked upon with indifference, should not be associated with, should not be kept company with, should not be attended upon. There is, monks, a person who should be associated with, should be kept company with, should be attended upon. And what, monks, is the person who should be shunned, should not be associated with, should not be kept company with, should not be attended upon? Here, monks, a certain person is immoral, of bad character, impure, of suspicious conduct, of concealed actions, not a recluse though claiming to be a recluse, not a practitioner of the holy life though claiming to be a practitioner of the holy life, rotten inside, filled with desire, rubbish-born. Such a person, monks, should be shunned, should not be associated with, should not be kept company with, should not be attended upon. What is the reason for this? Although, monks, one does not follow the example of what one has seen in such a person, yet a bad reputation arises about him - 'This male person has evil friends, evil companions, evil associates.' Just as, monks, a snake that has gone into excrement, although it does not bite, yet it smears one; just so, monks, although one does not follow the example of what one has seen in such a person, yet a bad reputation arises about him - 'This male person has evil friends, evil companions, evil associates.' Therefore such a person should be shunned, should not be associated with, should not be kept company with, should not be attended upon.
"And what, monks, is the person who should be looked upon with indifference, should not be associated with, should not be kept company with, should not be attended upon? Here, monks, a certain person is prone to wrath, abundantly given to anguish; even when spoken to a little, he becomes attached, becomes angry, is repelled, becomes obstinate, and manifests irritation, hate, and displeasure. Just as, monks, a festering sore, when struck by a stick or a potsherd, discharges even more exceedingly; just so, monks, etc. just as, monks, a firebrand of tinduka wood, when struck by a stick or a potsherd, hisses and sizzles even more exceedingly; just so, monks, etc. just as, monks, a pit of excrement, when struck by a stick or a potsherd, becomes even more foul-smelling; just so, monks, here a certain person is prone to wrath, abundantly given to anguish; even when spoken to a little, he becomes attached, becomes angry, is repelled, becomes obstinate, and manifests irritation, hate, and displeasure. Such a person, monks, should be looked upon with indifference, should not be associated with, should not be kept company with, should not be attended upon. What is the reason for this? 'He might revile me, he might abuse me, he might do me harm.' Therefore such a person should be looked upon with indifference, should not be associated with, should not be kept company with, should not be attended upon.
"And what, monks, is the person who should be associated with, should be kept company with, should be attended upon? Here, monks, a certain person is moral, of good character. Such a person, monks, should be associated with, should be kept company with, should be attended upon. What is the reason for this? Although, monks, one does not follow the example of what one has seen in such a person, yet a good reputation arises about him - 'This male person has good friends, good companions, good associates.' Therefore such a person should be associated with, should be kept company with, should be attended upon. These, monks, are the three persons existing and found in the world."
And one associating with an equal would never decline;
Approaching the excellent, one rises quickly,
Therefore one should associate with those superior to oneself." The seventh.