..续本文上一页of transcendent wisdom and liberation — then we must enter into association with those who represent the highest. Even if we are not so fortunate as to find companions who have already scaled the heights, we can well count ourselves blessed if we cross paths with a few spiritual friends who share our ideals and who make earnest efforts to nurture the noble qualities of the Dhamma in their hearts. 我们若与那些嗜好感官之乐、权力、财富与名声者过从密切，则不应想象自己有可能对那些瘾习保持免疫: 我们的心终究将逐渐地倾向同样的目标。我们若与那些虽未放纵于道德之不端，然已舒适地纳入世俗惯习者频繁交往，也将继续沦陷于庸碌人生之旧辙。我们若向往至高理想，欲达出世的智慧与解脱的高峰，则必须亲近那些体现着至高理想的人士。即使我们尚未有幸寻得已达此等高度的同伴，若能够遇上几位志同道合、精进努力、在内心培育佛法尊贵品质的灵性贤友，我们也堪称有福了。
When we raise the question how to recognize good friends, how to distinguish good advisors from bad advisors, the Buddha offers us crystal-clear advice. In the Shorter Discourse on a Full-Moon Night (MN 110) he explains the difference between the companionship of the bad person and the companionship of the good person. The bad person chooses as friends and companions those who are without faith, whose conduct is marked by an absence of shame and moral dread, who have no knowledge of spiritual teachings, who are lazy and unmindful, and who are devoid of wisdom. As a consequence of choosing such bad friends as his advisors, the bad person plans and acts for his own harm, for the harm of others, and the harm of both, and he meets with sorrow and misery. 面对如何识别善友、区分善恶导师的问题，佛陀给予我们的忠告清晰明了。在《满月小经》(MN 110)中，他解释了非善士与善士两者的同伴之别。非善士选择无信念、无惭意、不畏恶行、对灵性教导无知、怠惰、无念住、少智慧的人士为朋友与同伴。由于选择了这等恶友为其咨谋，此人在计划与行动上害己、害人、两害，他得到忧苦与不幸的果报。
In contrast, the Buddha continues, the good person chooses as friends and companions those who have faith, who exhibit a sense of shame and moral dread, who are learned in the Dhamma, energetic in cultivation of the mind, mindful, and possessed of wisdom. Resorting to such good friends, looking to them as mentors and guides, the good person pursues these same qualities as his own ideals and absorbs them into his character. Thus, while drawing ever closer to deliverance himself, he becomes in turn a beacon light for others. Such a one is able to offer those who still wander in the dark an inspiring model to emulate, and a wise friend to turn to for guidance and advice. 佛陀继续说，反之，善士选择有信念、知耻、畏恶、于法博学、精勤修心、有正念、具智慧者为友人与同伴。求教于这等贤友，敬其为师长、向导，善士以同样的素质为追求理想，将其吸收纳入自己的心性。如此，随着他本人越来越趋近解脱，转而成为他人的灯塔。这样的人，就能够为那些仍然在黑暗中摸索的人们担当起一个励志的榜样、一位可请得忠告与指点的智友。
《亲近智者》全文阅读结束。