A Snake Has Passed Through Feces

And what kind of person, Monks, is to be considered unwholesome, not to be associated with, followed, and served?

Here, some person is immoral, of unwholesome character, impure, of suspect behavior, secretive in his actions, not an Ascetic though claiming to be one, not a celibate though claiming to be one, inwardly rotten, corrupt, wicked.

Such a person is to be considered unwholesome, not to be associated with, followed, and served.

For what reason?

Even though one does not follow the example of such a person, an unwholesome report still circulates about oneself: He has unwholesome friends, unwholesome companions, unwholesome comrades.

Just as a snake that has passed through feces, though it does not bite one, would smear one, so too, though one does not follow the example of such a person, an unwholesome report still circulates about oneself: He has unwholesome friends, unwholesome companions, unwholesome comrades.

Therefore such a person is to be looked upon with objection, not to be associated with, followed, and served.

(Reference: AN 3.27)

In this Teaching from Gotama Buddha, he shares guidance in developing wholesome friendships and associates helping one to realize that through having “unwholesome friends, unwholesome companions, unwholesome comrades” “an unwholesome report still circulates” about you.

The Buddha shares Teachings through The Eight Fold Path to help Students understand what is and is not wholesome so that you can make wise choices in your life for your own moral conduct but also helping you to understand how to wisely choose friends and associates.

He shares briefly in this Teaching that “some person is immoral, of unwholesome character, impure, of suspect behavior, secretive in his actions, not an Ascetic though claiming to be one, not a celibate though claiming to be one, inwardly rotten, corrupt, wicked”. This was general guidance helping the Ordained Practitioners understand how to make wise choices in choosing friends and associates. But, one could investigate the entire Eight Fold Path, and many of The Buddha’s other Teachings, to deeply understand wholesome moral conduct. Most of his Teachings integrate into The Eight Fold Path in one way or another, so it is through learning and practicing these Teachings that one improves their own moral conduct and comes to understand how to make wise decisions on how to choose wholesome friends and associates.

If one chooses to associate with individuals who have unwholesome moral conduct, a Practitioner would experience unwholesome results as part of their decision to be involved with those of unwholesome moral conduct. The Buddha uses this simile to help Students understand this more deeply.

“Just as a snake that has passed through feces, though it does not bite one, would smear one, so too, though one does not follow the example of such a person, an unwholesome report still circulates about oneself: He has unwholesome friends, unwholesome companions, unwholesome comrades”.

So, even though your friends may “not bite” you, through their unwholesome conduct, it “would smear” you. Though you may “not follow the example of such a person” of unwholesome conduct, their unwholesome decisions “would smear” you.

It is important to make wise choices related to who you involve in your life and whose life you choose to be involved. While one should not judge others nor look down on others for their choices, it is possible to make wise decisions to not be involved with unwholesome people while maintaining non-judgment with loving-kindness and compassion for them.

• Loving-kindness (Pāli: mettā) is active goodwill towards all beings without judgment. A genuine interest in seeing all beings be well.

• Compassion (Pāli: karuṇā) is concern for the misfortunes of others.

I suggest that any friend or associate you decide to include in your life, that you consider The Five Precepts as a baseline minimum, so that you can ensure you are not “smeared” as described by The Buddha in this Teaching.

While any decisions by your friends and associates affect them, your decision to have them as a friend or associate affects you. It is important to choose your friends and associates wisely to ensure you are producing only wholesome results and outcomes for your life (i.e. wholesome Kamma).