One should cultivate a friend who is intelligent,
learned, a master of the dharma, noble.
(*Having understood the dharma)
[and] abandoned doubt, (*one should wander) alone (*like the rhinoceros.)

sayi labhea nivago sahayo
sardhacare sasovihari dhiro
(*abhibhuya) sarvani pariseani
carea ten' atamana svad(*ima')

If one should find a wise companion,
a well-behaved, strong fellow,
[then] (*overcoming) all dangers,
one should wander along with him, satisfied at heart, mindful.

no ya labhea nivag(*o) sahayo
sardhacare sasovihari dhiro
(*raya va ratha) viyidam prahae
eko care khargavisanagap(*o')

If one should not find a wise companion,
a well-behaved, strong fellow,
[then] (*like a king who) has abandoned (*the realm) [which he had] conquered,
one should wander alone like the rhinoceros.

Source:

The previous text is from the oldest surviving Buddhist text discovered, and is believed to have originated from the 1st Century C.E. Using knowledge acquired from studying the information on Buddhism presented on this site, read and answer the following questions in relation to the source provided above.

1. What does the word, �dharma� mean?

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2. What does the phrase, �a master of the dharma� present in the second line refer to?

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3. Using the knowledge gained from studying the Essential Doctrines of the Buddhist philosophy, describe the attributes of �a wise companion�.

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4. Simply, what do you believe, in accordance to the Buddhist philosophy, constitutes �well-behaved�.

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