Virtuous Friends

Those who have faith and ethics in abundance
Possess wisdom and great austerity,
And associate with virtuous friends -
They will swiftly become a Tathagata.

To arise as a Buddha in the world,
Supreme joyful effort must be made,
All sentient beings held within one's care,
And one must teach the Dharma of virtuous action.

On loving thoughts, and likewise too,
On supreme celibacy remain focused.
Bhaishajya-sena, after having heard this speech,
You should practise this supremely.

Seeing liberation, and enlightened, and
The leader whose speech is acclaimed,
And the father and the mother of the world;
He is called 'bodhicitta'.

A virtuous friend who teaches this Dharma
In the world is supremely rare.
Those who listen with respect to the teachings of the Buddha
Will become unsurpassed Buddhas gone-to-bliss.

Those who are respectful
Towards the peaceful Buddhas' heirs
Will also become the protectors of the world
Releasing all sentient beings.

- The Buddha (The Arya Sanghata Sutra Dharmaparyaya)