AN 10.199–210 — Should Not Associate, Etc.

“Mendicants, you should not associate with an individual who possesses ten qualities. What ten? They kill living creatures, steal, and commit sexual misconduct. They use speech that’s false, backbiting, harsh, or nonsensical. And they’re covetous, malicious, with wrong view. You should not associate with an individual who possesses these ten qualities. You should associate with an individual who possesses ten qualities. What ten? They don’t kill living creatures, steal, or commit sexual misconduct. They don’t use speech that’s false, backbiting, harsh, or nonsensical. They’re contented, kind-hearted, with right view. You should associate with an individual who possesses these ten qualities.” “Mendicants, you should not frequent an individual who possesses ten qualities … You should frequent …” “You should not pay homage … You should pay homage …” “You should not venerate … You should venerate …” “You should not praise … You should praise …” “You should not revere … You should revere …” “You should not defer to … You should defer to …” “Someone is not a success … Someone is a success …” “Someone is not pure … Someone is pure …” “Someone does not win over conceit … Someone wins over conceit …” “Someone does not grow in wisdom … Someone grows in wisdom …” “An individual who possesses these ten qualities brims with much wickedness. … An individual who possesses these ten qualities brims with much merit. What ten? They don’t kill living creatures, steal, or commit sexual misconduct. They don’t use speech that’s false, backbiting, harsh, or nonsensical. They’re contented, kind-hearted, with right view. An individual who possesses these ten qualities brims with much merit.” The Fifth Fifty The Chapter on the Body Born of Deeds