Samyuktagama (Sanskrit fragments) 768.4

768.4

時，尊者阿難獨一靜處，作如是念：「半梵行者，謂善知識、善伴黨、善隨從。」乃至。佛告阿難：「純一滿淨具梵行者，謂善知識。所以者何？我為善知識故，令諸眾生修習正見，依遠離、依無欲、依滅、向於捨，乃至修正定，依遠離、依無欲、依滅、向於捨。」

It was then that the Venerable Ānanda had this thought while alone in a quiet abode, “Half of the religious practice is good friends, good associates, and good followers …”

The Buddha told Ānanda, “The religious practice is entirely, fully, and purely good friends. What is the reason for that? It was because of good friends that I led sentient beings to cultivate right view by relying on seclusion, having no desire, cessation, and being oriented toward renunciation … to cultivate right samādhi by relying on seclusion, having no desire, cessation, and an orientation towards renunciation.”