The Buddha teaches the bhikkhus how to reflect on a dependence that one is taking using the example of a suitable place to live: a forest retreat, a village, a market town, a city, a country. He concludes with an example of depending on a certain person similarly.

Thus have I heard — At one time, the Blessed One was dwelling at Sāvatthi in Jeta’s Grove, in Anāthapiṇḍika’s park. There the Blessed One addressed the bhikkhus, saying: “Bhikkhus.”

“Venerable sir,” those bhikkhus replied to the Blessed One. The Blessed One said this:

“Bhikkhus, I will teach you a discourse on forest retreats. Listen to it and pay close attention, I will speak.”

“Yes, venerable sir,” those bhikkhus replied to the Blessed One. The Blessed One said this:

Dependence on a Forest Retreat

"Bhikkhus, here a bhikkhu dwells in dependence on a forest retreat. However, while dwelling there, his unestablished mindfulness does not become established, his distracted mind does not become collected, the taints that are not exhausted do not come to exhaustion, and he does not attain the unattained supreme security from bondage. Additionally, the requisites of life that should be obtained by one gone forth — robes, alms-food, resting place, and medicinal requisites, are hard to come by. On account of that, bhikkhus, that bhikkhu should reflect thus: ‘I am dwelling in dependence on this forest retreat, but my unestablished mindfulness does not become established, my distracted mind does not become collected, the taints that are not exhausted do not come to exhaustion, and I do not attain the unattained supreme security from bondage. Additionally, the requisites of life that should be obtained by one gone forth — robes, alms-food, resting place, and medicinal requisites, are hard to come by.’ Having reflected thus, that bhikkhu should depart from that forest retreat that very night or that very day; he should not remain there.

Bhikkhus, here a bhikkhu dwells in dependence on a forest retreat. However, while dwelling there, his unestablished mindfulness does not become established, his distracted mind does not become collected, the taints that are not exhausted do not come to exhaustion, and he does not attain the unattained supreme security from bondage. Yet, the requisites of life that should be obtained by one gone forth — robes, alms-food, resting place, and medicinal requisites, are easily obtained. On account of that, bhikkhus, that bhikkhu should reflect thus: ‘I am dwelling in dependence on this forest retreat. However, my unestablished mindfulness does not become established, my distracted mind does not become collected, the taints that are not exhausted do not come to exhaustion, and I do not attain the unattained supreme security from bondage. Yet, the requisites of life that should be obtained by one gone forth — robes, alms-food, resting place, and medicinal requisites, are easily obtained. However, it was not for the sake of robes that I went forth from the household life into homelessness, nor for the sake of alms-food, nor for the sake of a resting place, nor for the sake of medicinal requisites for the sick. Moreover, while I dwell in dependence on this forest retreat, my unestablished mindfulness does not become established, my distracted mind does not become collected, the taints that are not exhausted do not come to exhaustion, and I do not attain the unattained supreme security from bondage.’ Having reflected thus, that bhikkhu should with a sense of urgency, depart from that forest retreat, and should not remain there."

"Bhikkhus, here a bhikkhu dwells in dependence on a forest retreat. However, while dwelling there, his unestablished mindfulness becomes established, his distracted mind becomes collected, the taints that are not exhausted come to exhaustion, and he attains the unattained supreme security from bondage. Yet, the requisites of life that should be obtained by one gone forth—robes, alms-food, resting place, and medicinal requisites, are obtained with difficulty. On account of that, bhikkhus, that bhikkhu should reflect thus: ‘I am dwelling in dependence on this forest retreat. However, my unestablished mindfulness becomes established, my distracted mind becomes collected, the taints that are not exhausted come to exhaustion, and I attain the unattained supreme security from bondage. Yet, the requisites of life that should be obtained by one gone forth — robes, alms-food, resting place, and medicinal requisites, are obtained with difficulty. However, it was not for the sake of robes that I went forth from the household life into homelessness, nor for the sake of alms-food, nor for the sake of a resting place, nor for the sake of medicinal requisites for the sick. Moreover, while I dwell in dependence on this forest retreat, my unestablished mindfulness becomes established, my distracted mind becomes collected, the taints that are not exhausted come to exhaustion, and I attain the unattained supreme security from bondage.’ Having reflected thus, that bhikkhu should remain in that forest retreat with a sense of urgency, and should not depart.

Bhikkhus, here a bhikkhu dwells in dependence on a forest retreat. However, while dwelling there, his unestablished mindfulness becomes established, his distracted mind becomes collected, the taints that are not exhausted come to exhaustion, and he attains the unattained supreme security from bondage. Additionally, the requisites of life that should be obtained by one gone forth — robes, alms-food, resting place, and medicinal requisites, are easily obtained. On account of that, bhikkhus, that bhikkhu should reflect thus: ‘I am dwelling in dependence on this forest retreat. However, my unestablished mindfulness becomes established, my distracted mind becomes collected, the taints that are not exhausted come to exhaustion, and I attain the unattained supreme security from bondage. Additionally, the requisites of life that should be obtained by one gone forth — robes, alms-food, resting place, and medicinal requisites, are easily obtained.’ Therefore, bhikkhus, that bhikkhu should remain in that forest retreat for as long as he lives, and should not depart.

Dependence on a Village

… similar …

Dependence on a Market Town

… similar …

Dependence on a City

… similar …

Dependence on a Country

… similar …

Dependence on a Certain Person

Bhikkhus, here a bhikkhu dwells in dependence on a person. However, while dwelling there, his unestablished mindfulness does not become established, his distracted mind does not become collected, the taints that are not exhausted do not come to exhaustion, and he does not attain the unattained supreme security from bondage. Additionally, the requisites of life that should be obtained by one gone forth — robes, alms-food, resting place, and medicinal requisites, are obtained with difficulty. On account of that, bhikkhus, that bhikkhu should reflect thus: ‘I am dwelling in dependence on this person, but my unestablished mindfulness does not become established, my distracted mind does not become collected, the taints that are not exhausted do not come to exhaustion, and I do not attain the unattained supreme security from bondage. Additionally, the requisites of life that should be obtained by one gone forth — robes, alms-food, resting place, and medicinal requisites, are obtained with difficulty.’ Therefore, bhikkhus, that bhikkhu should depart from that person without asking for permission that very night or that very day, and should not follow them.

Bhikkhus, here a bhikkhu dwells in dependence on a person. However, while dwelling there, his unestablished mindfulness does not become established, his distracted mind does not become collected, the taints that are not exhausted do not come to exhaustion, and he does not attain the unattained supreme security from bondage. Additionally, the requisites of life that should be obtained by one gone forth — robes, alms-food, resting place, and medicinal requisites, are easily obtained. On account of that, bhikkhus, that bhikkhu should reflect thus: ‘I am dwelling in dependence on this person. However, my unestablished mindfulness does not become established, my distracted mind does not become collected, the taints that are not exhausted do not come to exhaustion, and I do not attain the unattained supreme security from bondage. Additionally, the requisites of life that should be obtained by one gone forth — robes, alms-food, resting place, and medicinal requisites, are easily obtained. However, it was not for the sake of robes that I went forth from the household life into homelessness, nor for the sake of alms-food, nor for the sake of a resting place, nor for the sake of medicinal requisites for the sick. Moreover, while I dwell in dependence on this person, my unestablished mindfulness does not become established, my distracted mind does not become collected, the taints that are not exhausted do not come to exhaustion, and I do not attain the unattained supreme security from bondage.’ Having reflected thus, that bhikkhu should, with a sense of urgency, depart from that person, and should not follow them.

Bhikkhus, here a bhikkhu dwells in dependence on a person. However, while dwelling there, his unestablished mindfulness becomes established, his distracted mind becomes collected, the taints that are not exhausted come to exhaustion, and he attains the unattained supreme security from bondage. Additionally, the requisites of life that should be obtained by one gone forth — robes, alms-food, resting place, and medicinal requisites, are obtained with difficulty. On account of that, bhikkhus, that bhikkhu should reflect thus: ‘I am dwelling in dependence on this person. However, my unestablished mindfulness becomes established, my distracted mind becomes collected, the taints that are not exhausted come to exhaustion, and I attain the unattained supreme security from bondage. Additionally, the requisites of life that should be obtained by one gone forth — robes, alms-food, resting place, and medicinal requisites, are obtained with difficulty. However, it was not for the sake of robes that I went forth from the household life into homelessness, nor for the sake of alms-food, nor for the sake of a resting place, nor for the sake of medicinal requisites for the sick. Moreover, while I dwell in dependence on this person, my unestablished mindfulness becomes established, my distracted mind becomes collected, the taints that are not exhausted come to exhaustion, and I attain the unattained supreme security from bondage.’ Having reflected thus, that bhikkhu should remain with that person, and should not depart.

Bhikkhus, here a bhikkhu dwells in dependence on a person. However, while dwelling there, his unestablished mindfulness becomes established, his distracted mind becomes collected, the taints that are not exhausted come to exhaustion, and he attains the unattained supreme security from bondage. Additionally, the requisites of life that should be obtained by one gone forth — robes, alms-food, resting place, and medicinal requisites, are easily obtained. On account of that, bhikkhus, that bhikkhu should reflect thus: ‘I am dwelling in dependence on this person. However, my unestablished mindfulness becomes established, my distracted mind becomes collected, the taints that are not exhausted come to exhaustion, and I attain the unattained supreme security from bondage. Additionally, the requisites of life that should be obtained by one gone forth — robes, alms-food, resting place, and medicinal requisites, are easily obtained.’ Therefore, bhikkhus, that bhikkhu should follow that person for as long as he lives, and should not depart, even if urged to leave.

The Blessed One said this. Those bhikkhus were satisfied and rejoiced in the Blessed One’s words.

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The ultimate goal of one’s life practice is to come to self-reliance, to make oneself one’s refuge.

The Buddha’s guidance here is about the way of practice towards this goal and it can be applied holistically to any other dependence one is taking: a friendship, a teacher, a relationship, a job, a career, a habit, a practice - by reflecting often on whether such a dependence produces improved mindfulness, improved collectedness and seeing whether the taints that are not yet exhausted come to exhaustion.

Related Teachings

Way of Practice for cultivating Right Action (From MN 61) - The Buddha teaches Rāhula on how one cultivates the wisdom of non-harm by reflecting on one’s bodily, verbal and mental actions prior to the action, while doing the action and after having done the action.

Investigate the Teacher Himself (MN 47) ↗️ - In this teaching, the Buddha shows his commitment to radical accountability and integrity. He does not merely pay lip service to the notion of open inquiry, but lays out a detailed and exacting procedure by which his students should test him. By extension, this approach may be applied to any spiritual teacher.

Be an island unto yourself, with no other refuge (SN 47.13) - On the passing away of Sāriputta, the Buddha advises Ānanda to be an island unto himself, with no other refuge, with the Dhamma as his island, with the Dhamma as his refuge, not dependent on another as a refuge.