The Buddha advise to Meghiya:

Dear Meghiya, the 5 factors are to make immature mental liberation mature. These five are:

1. association with good friends
2. having morality
3. listening to and reflection on the ten kinds of speech

• speech connected with less desire
• speech connected with contentment
• speech connected with quietude
• speech connected with aloofness
• speech connected with energy
• speech connected with morality
• speech connected with concentration
• speech connected with wisdom
• speech connected with the Path, Fruition and Nibbana
• speech connected with reflective knowledge

4. having developed energy

5. having wisdom as to the arising and falling nature of things

Only when one is associated with a good friend, which forms the first factor, can one acquire the remaining 4,

Dear Meghiya, having established himself in the said 5 factors, a yogavacara (earnest practicing) bhikkhu must go to the next stage for developing 4 things

• he must develop notions of loathsomeness of things (asubha) to eradicate lust (raga)
• he must develop mindfulness of breathing in and out (anapanasati) to eradicate distracting thoughts (vitukka)
• he must develop perception of impermanence (anicca-sanna) to eradicate egoistic conceit (mana),
• True, Meghiya, to the perceptionist of impermanence, perception of non-self (anatta-anna) manifests. The perceptionist of non-self can shed his egoistic conceit and realize Nibbana even in the present life.

Inferior thoughts and subtle thoughts follow the mind and make it frisky. He who does not understand these thoughts is not stable mentally and runs from one sense object to another.

Understanding these thoughts, the Noble Disciple, endowed with energy that can burn up mental defilements and with mindfulness, is able to block the thoughts that follow the mind and make it frisky. The Noble Disciple, who understands the four truths, is able to abandon the thoughts of sensuality and others, completely.

Extracted from “The Great Chronicles of Budhhas- Vol 1”

I just read the above today and thought its good to share.

Part one of Buddha’s advice gives us some idea and knowledge to identify good teachings and teachers. Some teachers may compassionately capture our attention through skillful means so that we are receptive to teachings. But ultimately, the essense of their advice does not depart from what the Buddha said. This is true for all traditions and sects.

Part two summarised the spiritual path progressing towards enlightenment.