Who are Your Real Friends?

SuhadamittāGood-hearted friendsCattāro'me gahapatiputta mittā suhadā veditabbā:- upakāro mitto suhado veditabbo,- samānasukhadukkho mitto suhado veditabbo,- atthakkhāyī mitto suhado veditabbo,- anukampako mitto suhado veditabbo."Young man, be aware of these four good-hearted friends:- the helper,- the friend who endures in good times and bad,- the mentor, and- the compassionate friend."Catūhi kho gahapatiputta ṭhānehi upakāro mitto suhado veditabbo. Pamattaṃ rakkhati, pamattassa sāpateyyaṃ rakkhati, bhītassa saraṇaṃ hoti, uppanne kiccakaraṇīye taddiguṇaṃ bhogaṃ anuppadeti. Imehi kho gahapatiputta catūhi ṭhānehi upakāro mitto suhado veditabbo."The helper can be identified by four things: by protecting you when you are vulnerable, and likewise your wealth, being a refuge when you are afraid, and in various tasks providing double what is requested."Catūhi kho gahapatiputta ṭhānehi samānasukhadukkho mitto suhado veditabbo: guyhamassa ācikkhati, guyhamassa parigūhati, āpadāsu na vijahati, jīvitampi'ssa atthāya pariccattaṃ hoti. Imehi kho gahapatiputta catūhi ṭhānehi samānasukhadukkho mitto suhado veditabbo."The enduring friend can be identified by four things: by telling you secrets, guarding your own secrets closely, not abandoning you in misfortune, and even dying for you."Catūhi kho pana gahapatiputta ṭhānehi atthakkhāyī mitto suhado veditabbo: pāpā nivāreti, kalyāṇe niveseti, assutaṃ sāveti, saggassa maggaṃ ācikkhati. Imehi kho gahapatiputta catūhi ṭhānehi atthakkhāyī mitto suhado veditabbo."The mentor can be identified by four things: by restraining you from wrongdoing, guiding you towards good actions, telling you what you ought to know, and showing you the path to heaven."Catūhi kho pana gahapatiputta ṭhānehi ānukampako mitto suhado veditabbo: abhavenassa na nandati, bhavenassa nandati, avaṇṇaṃ bhaṇamānaṃ nivāreti, vaṇṇaṃ bhaṇamānaṃ pasaṃsati. Imehi kho gahapatiputta catūhi ṭhānehi ānukampako mitto suhado veditabbo"ti."The compassionate friend can be identified by four things: by not rejoicing in your misfortune, delighting in your good fortune, preventing others from speaking ill of you, and encouraging others who praise your good qualities."Idamavoca bhagavā. Idaṃ vatvā sugato, athāparaṃ etadavoca satthā:"Summing up in verse, the sublime teacher said:""upakāro ca yo mitto yo ca mitto sukhe dukheAtthakkhāyī ca yo mitato yo ca mitto'nukampako."The friend who is a helper,The friend through thick and thin,The friend who gives good counsel,And the compassionate friend;"Etepi mitte cattāro iti viññāya paṇḍitoSakkaccaṃ payirupāseyya mātā puttaṃ'va orasaṃ."These four are friends indeed,The wise understand thisAnd attend on them carefully,Like a mother her own child."- DN 31 Sigalovada Sutta: The Buddha's Advice to Sigalakawww.accesstoinsight.org/tipitaka/dn/dn.31.0.ksw0.htmlwww.accesstoinsight.org/tipitaka/dn/dn.31.0.nara.html- This has been posted on TBCM's FB here ... www.facebook.com/tbcm.org.my/photos/a.348973561847973.79180.348962045182458/830043453740979/?type=1- Posted by CFFong