The Quiet Power Of Friendship
good friends
. Close friends can make even the most trying circumstances bearable, while
loneliness
can make even the smallest pain worse. Human connections are treasured in the Buddhist worldview, and
friendship
is seen as more than just a means of having fun; it is an essential force that influences our own
spiritual growth
or human revolution and our journey towards happiness and enlightenment.
Ananda, a disciple of
Gautama Buddha
, once shared with him, "It seems to me that by having good friends and advancing together with them, one has already halfway attained the Buddha way." Gautama corrected him gently but firmly: "Ananda, this way of thinking is not correct. Having good friends and advancing together with them is not half the Buddha way but all the Buddha way." The core of Buddhist practice is revealed in this powerful statement: the presence of genuine, sincere and supportive friends fosters life's progress.
How do we create genuine friendships in a world where many people feel isolated even though they are connected digitally? The answer lies in taking the courageous first step to reach out, listen earnestly, and believe in the inherent worth of those around us. Deep bonds of trust that cut across age, background, and status can be created by simply opening our hearts to others without hesitation or fear of criticism and listening to the perspectives of those around us.
Genuine friendship takes work. It entails caring about other people's happiness, supporting them even when it's inconvenient, and sharing both their joys and their sorrows. Walking the path of the Bodhisattva - a person devoted to the happiness of others - means caring deeply, acting with trustworthiness, and never giving up on people around us.
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Buddhism
refers to these people who support, encourage, and stand by us as 'good friends'. Having such good friends is important but so is becoming one ourselves. It is important to keep asking ourselves these questions: How can we foster growth in those around us? How can we make our homes, workplaces, and communities places of warmth and trust?
My mentor
Daisaku Ikeda
once wrote, "Peace is not some abstraction far beyond our reach. It begins with creating a circle of trust and friendship right where we are. As each of these circles expands to include more people, global peace will be realised." These words remind us that friendly conversation is the first step towards
social reform
,
peacebuilding
, and enduring harmony.
In its purest form, friendship is a spiritual endeavour. It is the practice of showing compassion in our day-to-day interactions and greeting people with warmth and respect. By becoming aware of our everyday interactions in this way, we begin to change not only our own lives but also the structure of society. By being our best selves with others, we can help bring out the best in them.
The future is not built by individuals walking alone. It is created by individuals who journey through life together as friends, companions, and fellow seekers.
Authored by: Minoru Harada
The writer is president, Soka Gakkai, a global community-based Buddhist organisation
Deepen your understanding of the Bhagavad Gita: Explore chapter 2 with Sri Gaur Prabhu's guidance
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