Converging ElementsDhātusosaṁsandanasutta

This was said by the Buddha, the Perfected One: that is what I heard.Vuttañhetaṁ bhagavatā vuttamarahatāti me sutaṁ:

“Mendicants, sentient beings join together and converge because of an element:“Dhātuso, bhikkhave, sattā sattehi saddhiṁ saṁsandanti samenti. Those who have inferior convictions join together and converge with those who have inferior convictions.Hīnādhimuttikā sattā hīnādhimuttikehi sattehi saddhiṁ saṁsandanti samenti, Those who have good convictions join together and converge with those who have good convictions.kalyāṇādhimuttikā sattā kalyāṇādhimuttikehi sattehi saddhiṁ saṁsandanti samenti.

In the past …Atītampi, bhikkhave, addhānaṁ dhātusova sattā sattehi saddhiṁ saṁsandiṁsu samiṁsu.

In the future …Anāgatampi, bhikkhave, addhānaṁ dhātusova sattā sattehi saddhiṁ saṁsandissanti samessanti.

At present, too, sentient beings join together and converge because of an element.Etarahipi, bhikkhave, paccuppannaṁ addhānaṁ dhātusova sattā sattehi saddhiṁ saṁsandanti samenti. Those who have inferior convictions join together and converge with those who have inferior convictions.Hīnādhimuttikā sattā hīnādhimuttikehi sattehi saddhiṁ saṁsandanti samenti, Those who have good convictions join together and converge with those who have good convictions.”kalyāṇādhimuttikā sattā kalyāṇādhimuttikehi sattehi saddhiṁ saṁsandanti samentī”ti.

The Buddha spoke this matter.Etamatthaṁ bhagavā avoca. On this it is said:Tatthetaṁ iti vuccati:

“Socializing creates a snarl;“Saṁsaggā vanatho jāto, they’re cut off by being aloof.asaṁsaggena chijjati; If you’re lost in the middle of a great sea,Parittaṁ dārumāruyha, and you clamber up on a little log, you’ll sink.yathā sīde mahaṇṇave.

So too, a person who lives wellEvaṁ kusītamāgamma, sinks by relying on a lazy person.sādhujīvīpi sīdati; Hence you should avoid suchTasmā taṁ parivajjeyya, a lazy person who lacks energy.kusītaṁ hīnavīriyaṁ.

Dwell with the noble onesPavivittehi ariyehi, who are secluded and determinedpahitattehi jhāyibhi; constantly energetic,Niccaṁ āraddhaviriyehi, the astute who practice absorption.”paṇḍitehi sahāvase”ti.

This too is a matter that was spoken by the Blessed One: that is what I heard.Ayampi attho vutto bhagavatā, iti me sutanti.