[Advaita-l] Jagadguru Speaks: Strive to be a True Friend

[S Jayanarayanan]

(Around the beginning of the month, a nugget of Wisdom from the Jagadguru may be posted
on the Chaturamnaya list : http://lists.advaita-vedanta.org/cgi-bin/listinfo/chaturamnaya )
 
 
Man must necessarily cultivate certain virtues even while 
acquiring education and material progress. For instance, the 
attitude to be helpful to others, understanding their 
suffering, and assisting to the extent possible are to be 
cultivated. This constitutes a big act of dharma. 
 
Similarly, we must never forget those who have helped us. 
Even if the person who rendered help has forgotten about it, 
the one who received assistance must never forget the act of 
kindness. It must ever remain in the memory of the 
beneficiary. 
 
In this context, our forefathers have described the ideal 
qualities of a friend: 
 
पापान्निवारयति योजयते हिताय गुह्यं निगूहति गुणान्‌ प्रकटीकरोति ।
आपद्रतं च न जहाति ददाति काले सन्मित्रलक्षणमिदं प्रवदन्ति सन्तः ||
 
It means: 
A true friend prevents actions that are sinful (papa), 
facilitates only actions that beget welfare, closely protects 
all confidential matters, highlights to the world the noble 
qualities of a person, does not abandon him during difficult 
times and provides financial aid in times of need. It is these 
qualities that the noble eulogise as befitting a true friend. 
 
Our blessings for everyone to understand this well and 
sanctify their lives.