AN 9.01 Beginning with good friendship, the Buddha teaches nine things that give rise to the qualities that lead to awakening.

AN 9.02 The things that a mendicant relies on as supports in spiritual practice.

AN 9.03 Venerable Meghiya, while attending on the Buddha, wants to go off and meditate in a forest alone. The Buddha discourages him, but he goes anyway. When his meditation doesn’t go well, he returns chastened to the Buddha, who teaches him about the benefits of good companions and other fundamentals of a balanced spiritual practice.

An 9.04 Nandaka is teaching the monks when the Buddha arrives. Unbeknown to those inside, the Buddha waits until the talk was finished, then enters. Nandaka is embarrassed at keeping the Buddha waiting, but the Buddha praises him and offers a teaching on the four things a mendicant should complete. Nandaka then teaches five benefits of listening to Dhamma.

AN 9.05 A noble disciple who develops four powers overcomes five fears.

AN 9.06 Four kinds of person who one should or should not associate with. A similar distinction is made regarding robes, almsfood, lodgings, towns, and countries.

AN 9.07 The wanderer Sutavā asks the Buddha about five things a perfected one cannot do; the Buddha expands it to nine.

AN 9.08 The wanderer Sajjha asks the Buddha about five things a perfected one cannot do; the Buddha expands it to nine, which differ slightly from AN 9.7.

AN 9.09 Nine kinds of persons: the eight noble persons and the ordinary person.

AN 9.10 Nine persons are worthy of gifts: the eight noble persons and a member of the spiritual family.