*~~~False Friends and True Friends~~~*

False friends

  Those who take
They take whatever they can get
They give little but ask for much
They do what is required only out of obligation
They are friends for their own advantage

 

Those who pay lip-service
They claim to have been good friends in the past
They promise to be good friends in the future
They try to gain favour with kind but empty words
When called upon, they say they are unable to help

 

Those who flatter
They approve of wrong-doing
They approve or disapprove of doing right, 
whichever will benefit them
They speak well of you in your presence
They speak ill of you to others when you are not around

 

Those who bring ruin
They are companions for indulging in drinking
They are companions for being out late at night 
for no good reason
They are companions for excessively 
frequenting places of entertainment
They are companions for indulging in gambling

 

In summary :
The friends who take
The friends who pay lip-service
The friends who flatter
The friends who brings ruin.

The wise will know that these four
Are not friends but are enemies;
And should be avoided
As one avoids a dangerous path.

True friends
  Those who are helpmates
They protect you when you are vulnerable
They protect your possessions when you are vulnerable
They are there when you are troubled
They provide generously when there is a need

 

Those who remain the same in good times
 and in bad times
They trust you with their secrets
They can be trusted with your secrets
They do not abandon you in times of trouble
They may even give their life for you

 

Those who give good counsel
They restrain you from doing wrong
They encourage you to do what is right
They keep you informed of what you should know
They show the right way and are companions for spiritual practice

 

Those who are compassionate
They sympathize in your misfortune
They rejoice in your good fortune
They restrain others from speaking ill of you
They commend those who speak well of you

In summary :
The friends who help
The friends who stay in good times and in bad
The friends who give good counsel
The friends who are compassionate.

The wise will know that these four
Are truly friends;
And treasure them
As a mother does her own child.

To the Buddha, friendship is the single 
most important factor 

determining the direction of a person’s life.  

 The right kind of friends can help 
even the most wayward person 

to change for the better, 

whereas the wrong kind of friends can bring down

 even the most upright person.   

Good friends, especially spiritual friends, 

can lead each other to the greatest heights. 

The Buddha pointed out that 
we become like those we befriend, 

and if we  associate with false friends, 

our decline can come about very rapidly indeed.  

 Bad company should be avoided,

 unless we are there in times of need or to help them 
improve themselves. 

 True friends are rare and should thus be treasured.



 
  
(To the Link--->Just Be Good)