May your spiritual companionship be true!

First, understand this: Wholesome deeds (kusala) are of two kinds – those that lead to suffering and those that liberate from suffering (or those that lead to Nibbāna and those that do not lead to Nibbāna). Unwholesome deeds (akusala) are also of two kinds – those that lead to the lower realms (apāya) and those that do not lead to the lower realms. Such wholesome deeds can lead to suffering, yet they can also lead all the way to Nibbāna. Similarly, unwholesome deeds can lead to the lower realms, but if one skillfully applies unwholesome states, one may avoid the lower realms. Whether one experiences suffering or liberation, falls to the lower realms or avoids them, depends entirely on having right or wrong spiritual companionship. "Spiritual companionship" (Apaung Athin) does not merely mean associating with people; it means associating through Faith (saddhā). As the saying goes: "Faith is the man's companion" (saddhā dutiyā purisassa hoti). Saddhā here does not mean generosity. It means faith, confidence in the Buddha, Dhamma, and Sangha. When we associate through Faith, we believe in the Buddha's Omniscient Wisdom (Sabbaññutañāna), knowing that He knows all. We believe that His teachings can bestow the threefold happiness (worldly happiness, happiness of concentration, happiness of Nibbāna), and that practicing them will yield this threefold happiness. We must associate with unwavering faith in the Buddha, faith in His Omniscient Wisdom, faith in the Dhamma, and faith in the Noble Sangha. If one has unwavering faith in the Buddha, all Dhamma leading to the lower realms are eradicated. Greed (lobha) may still remain, but the greed capable of sending one to the lower realms is exhausted. Associate with Faith first, and then pair it with Wisdom (Paññā) - "Paññā cenaṃ pasāsati" (Wisdom guides him). Pair with Wisdom and observe the body. Believe through Faith that, as the Buddha taught, there are only the Five Aggregates (khandhas); there is nothing besides arising and passing away. Believe through Faith that observing feeling (vedanā) reveals only arising and passing away; observing perception (saññā) reveals only arising and passing away. Having believed, make Wisdom your companion. When you do this, the Faith you initially held becomes more fervent. When you look with Wisdom, you also see the arising and passing away of the aggregates. What you believed in – that there is only arising and passing away – is confirmed by Wisdom as the actual truth: you see the reality of arising and passing away. Therefore, associate with these two: Saddhā and Paññā. Faith (Saddhā) involves believing; it does not involve seeing. Saddhā believes that within the Five Aggregates, there is only arising and passing away, as taught by the Buddha. Paññā (Wisdom) looks to see the actual reality of arising and passing away. Have Faith, and look with Wisdom. When these two – Saddhā and Paññā – come together, you will see Nibbāna ("Nibbānābhirato macco" - one who delights in Nibbāna becomes such a person). When Saddhā and Paññā unite, Nibbāna is seen. Seeing Nibbāna, one is freed not only from the suffering of the lower realms, but from all suffering whatsoever ("sabbadukkhā pamuccati"). Hold firmly to Faith and make Wisdom your companion. Believe through Faith, as taught by the Buddha, that the Five Aggregates exist; that within the aggregates there is impermanence (anicca); that there is nothing besides arising and passing away. With unwavering faith, make Wisdom your companion accordingly, and you will know the reality. Knowing the reality means seeing arising and passing away. Seeing this, Dependent Origination (Paṭiccasamuppāda) becomes personally realized. When you see a flicker of greed (lobha), Faith believes it is merely the volitional formation aggregate (saṅkhārakkhandha). The volitional formation aggregate is part of the Five Aggregates. When something desirable arises in your mind, when a flicker of wanting (lobha) appears, believe it to be a mere volitional formation aggregate arising. Pairing this belief with Wisdom, look at the greed that has arisen. You then know that greed has arisen. This knowing is not knowing greed while it arises; it's knowing after it has ceased. Knowing this, "arising-passing" strikes the Path (Magga). Actually, that little greed arose to torment. But now, don't perceive it as greed. Its name is greed, but looking at it, you see only arising-passing, impermanence (anicca). Seeing it yourself, it becomes impermanence. Impermanence does not lead to the lower realms. If left as it is, greed remains greed and will surely lead to the lower realms. By not perceiving it as greed but as mere arising-passing, the world is no longer frightening. Believe that when greed (lobha), craving (taṇhā), clinging (upādāna), or kamma arises in your mind, it arises due to conditioning (causes and conditions). Believing this, observe accordingly. When it arises, you know it has arisen. Believe that what exists is simply its arising. Pair Wisdom with the greed that has arisen and look with Wisdom. When wisdom arises, greed is no longer present. Since it's not present, Wisdom encounters its absence. Absence is impermanence (anicca); Wisdom is the Path (Magga). Thus, this greed can no longer send you to the lower realms. When paired with Wisdom, greed is no longer seen as greed; it is seen as impermanence. The Buddha also taught to know it thus ("sarāgaṃ vā cittaṃ sarāgaṃ cittanti pajānāti"). Making it known thus, when wisdom arises, one doesn't know it as a greedy mind; one only knows it as impermanence. Decide conclusively: impermanence known in this way does not lead to the lower realms. If greed alone occurred, it would lead to the lower realms; if greed is seen as impermanence, it does not lead to the lower realms. When Saddhā and Paññā unite, greed is no longer the greed that sends one to the lower realms; it becomes the greed that sends one to Nibbāna. Therefore, it is solely due to wrong spiritual companionship – failing to unite Saddhā and Paññā – that greed and craving do a favor for clinging, clinging does a favor for kamma, and kamma, doing its favor, leads to "kammabhavapaccayā jāti" – the great birth in the lower realms arises. But now, by uniting Saddhā and Paññā, because spiritual companionship is right, the enemy called greed – which would have sent you to the lower realms – becomes a friend and works to send you to Nibbāna. Thus, there is no need to fear all greed. Greed is unwholesome, but there is no need to fear all unwholesome states. This answer emerges. If greed is perceived as greed, it is certainly fearful. But if greed is paired with Wisdom and observed, it becomes not fearful, but beneficial. It will cause the Path (Magga) to arise for the attainment of Nibbāna. Therefore, do not perceive greed as greed. Make it strike the Path through insight into arising and passing away. Venerable Dr. Ashin Parami