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Two things -- true love and true
friendship are rare in this world. We see children abandoning their parents
when they need their help most. In sorrow and misery even the closest
relatives desert.
Samuel Butler said:
"Friendship is like money, easier made than kept". In prosperity friends
will follow you like a shadow, but in an adverse situation, they will turn
against you. Guru Angad commented: "Friendship with a shallow mind, devotion
to a man of wealth, is like a line drawn on water". Such friendship passes
quickly, is not permanent and is purposeless.
Socrates said, "Do not make hurry in making
friends, but if you do so, keep it, preserve it till end". Wise men like
Mahatma Vidur have repeatedly said that a true friend is he who prevents his
friend straying from the right path, encourages his friend to get involved
in the service of the less privileged and hapless; does not reveal friend's
secrets to anyone. A true friend does not abandon his friend in difficulties
and in the time of dire need he helps him financially. A compassionate
friend remains stable both in prosperity and distress. A true friend remains
cool and patient even in odd situations like the sun which remains red both
at sunrise and sunset. Guru Nanak says: "True friends are those on meeting
whom one has a vision of the beloved."
The sages, the divine
teachers, who open a gateway of our soul to divine knowledge are the best
and permanent friends. Gita says that man should discover his own reality
and not transverse himself; for he has his self as his only friend or as his
only enemy. If a man does not make new acquaintances as he advances through
life, he or she will soon find himself or herself alone. A human being
should keep his friendship in constant repair. There cannot be two opinions
on this that a faithful and true friend is the medicine of life.
Vedas have attached great importance to
friendship. A Yajurveda mantra (36.90) says: "Strong one, make me strong.
May all beings look on me with the eye of friend. May I look on all beings
with the eye of the friend. May we look on one another with the eye of
friend."
Such noble thoughts can make
this world a peaceful place to live in. An old Irish prayer says: "Take time
to be friendly, it is the road to happiness. Take time to look around, the
day is too short to be selfish." |
