Dhamma Principles › The Walking Meditation Sutta and Related Discourses: People Gather by Disposition
The Walking Meditation Sutta and Related Discourses: People Gather by Disposition
Everyday life

The Walking Meditation Sutta and Related Discourses: People Gather by Disposition

Dhātusova bhikkhave sattā saṃsandanti samenti

Beings come together according to their elements: those of low disposition associate with the low, those of good disposition with the good, as milk mixes with milk and honey with honey. The Buddha points to disciples doing walking meditation in groups, each matching its leader, from Sāriputta to Devadatta.

8 points

In the second chapter of the Dhātu Saṃyutta, Saṃyutta Nikāya, several discourses share one theme: beings come together and associate according to their elements, that is, their dispositions. Those of low disposition associate with the low; those of good disposition with the good, in the past, the future and the present (Hīnādhimutti Sutta).

In the Caṅkama Sutta, the Buddha is at the Vulture's Peak, and several senior monks are each doing walking meditation with their own group. He points out that those with Sāriputta all have great wisdom; those with Mahāmoggallāna, great psychic power; those with Mahākassapa practise austerities; those with Anuruddha have the divine eye; those with Puṇṇa Mantāniputta are Dhamma speakers; those with Upāli are experts in the Vinaya; those with Ānanda are learned; and those with Devadatta all have evil desires.

In the Satāpāraddha Sutta (the name used in the Thai Royal Edition), he compares this to faeces mixing with faeces, fresh milk with fresh milk, honey with honey, and ends with verses saying that defilements arise through association, and one clinging to a small log sinks in the great ocean. The Assaddhamūlaka Sutta and those that follow list how the faithless, the shameless, the imprudent, the lazy, the unmindful and the unwise associate with each other, and likewise on the good side.

  1. 1

    Where the mind leans, there are our companions Hīnādhimuttikā hīnādhimuttikehi saddhiṃ saṃsandanti samenti

    Those of low disposition come together and associate with those of low disposition; those of good disposition with those of good disposition. So it was in the past, will be in the future, and is in the present.

    Applying it in daily life

    Write down the five people you spend the most time with, and ask whether you'd like to have their habits. The answer shows which way your mind is going.

  2. 2

    Students walk with teachers of the same quality Sabbe kho ete bhikkhave bhikkhū mahāpaññā

    The Buddha points out that the monks walking with Sāriputta all have great wisdom; those with Mahāmoggallāna, great psychic power; those with Upāli are experts in the Vinaya; those with Ānanda are learned. Each gathered with someone who shared their strength.

    Applying it in daily life

    If you want to be good at something, find a community or mentor who is truly good at it and spend time with them regularly. It works better than trying alone.

  3. 3

    Even near the Buddha, people can gather the wrong way Sabbe kho ete bhikkhave bhikkhū pāpicchā

    Devadatta's group was also walking not far from the Buddha, yet all the monks in it had evil desires. Being in a good place is not enough; what matters is whom we gather with.

    Applying it in daily life

    Even in a good organisation or community there can be a group that gossips or looks for ways to cheat. Don't assume a good place keeps you safe; choose your circle within it too.

  4. 4

    Faeces mixes with faeces Gūtho gūthena saṃsandati sameti

    As faeces mixes with faeces, urine with urine, spit with spit, pus with pus and blood with blood, so those of low disposition associate with those of low disposition.

    Applying it in daily life

    If a certain conversation circle makes you want to gossip or speak harshly more each time, that is a sign you're blending with what you don't want to become. Step back gradually.

  5. 5

    Milk mixes with milk, honey with honey Khīraṃ khīrena saṃsandati sameti

    As fresh milk mixes with fresh milk, oil with oil, ghee with ghee, honey with honey and molasses with molasses, so those of good disposition associate with those of good disposition.

    Applying it in daily life

    When you find people whose company makes you want to be better without anyone forcing you, keep that relationship. It is good mixing with good.

  6. 6

    Faith, conscience, energy, mindfulness and wisdom attract their like Assaddhā assaddhehi saddhiṃ saṃsandanti samenti

    The faithless associate with the faithless; the shameless, the imprudent, the unlearned, the lazy, the unmindful and the unwise each associate with their own kind. Those with faith, conscience, prudence, learning, energy, steady mindfulness and wisdom likewise associate with their own kind.

    Applying it in daily life

    Choose one quality you want to develop, such as diligence, and deliberately spend time where diligent people are, such as a library, an exercise group or a meditation group.

  7. 7

    The jungle of defilements grows from association Saṃsaggā vanatho jāto asaṃsaggena chijjati

    In the verses at the end of the Satāpāraddha Sutta, the Buddha says that defilements, like a thicket in the forest, grow through association and are cut off by non-association.

    Applying it in daily life

    If there is a habit you want to quit, such as gambling or heavy drinking, first cut down on the places and circles that lead there. Intention alone rarely beats environment.

  8. 8

    Clinging to a small log, one sinks at sea Parittaṃ dārumārūyha yathā sīde mahaṇṇave

    As one who climbs onto a small log sinks in the great ocean, so even a good person sinks by relying on a lazy one. So one should avoid the lazy and those of poor energy, and live with the wise who are secluded, meditative and always energetic.

    Applying it in daily life

    In group projects or joint ventures, don't tie your life to someone who won't put in effort. However good your intentions, a log that's too small can take you down.

Try it in daily life

We tend to think we choose friends by reason, but these discourses point out that we are drawn to people whose minds lean the same way, like a magnet. The upside is that this works as a mirror: look at the group you spend the most time with, and you can see which way your own mind is leaning.

This doesn't mean judging others as faeces or honey. The aim is to choose your own direction. If you want to be more diligent or disciplined, gradually spend time where such people are, and your mind will be drawn along by the same element.

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