Friends:

Making oneself into a Mighty Friend:

Friendliness means Goodwill
Friendliness means Kindness
Friendliness means Helpfulness
Friendliness means Assistance
Friendliness means Support
Friendliness means Benevolence
Friendliness means Concern
Friendliness means Care
Friendliness means Compassion
Friendliness means Cooperation
Friendliness means Mutual Aid
Friendliness means Mutual Advantage
Friendliness means Symbiosis
Friendliness means Sympathy
Friendliness means Basic Trust

                       ---

The Blessed Buddha once said:
A friend who always lends a hand,
a friend both in sorrow and joy,
a friend who offers good counsel,
a friend who sympathizes too.
These are the four kinds of true friends:
one who is wise, having understood,
will always cherish and serve such friends
just as a mother tends her only child.

                                                   DN III 188

As a mother even with her life protects her only child,
so let one cultivate immeasurable loving-kindness towards
all living beings.

                       ---

Bhikkhus, whatever kinds of worldly merit there are,
all are not worth one sixteenth part of the release of mind by
universal friendliness; in shining, glowing and beaming radiance
the release of mind by infinite & endless friendliness far excels &
even surpasses them all.

                                                    Itivuttaka 27
                       ---

He who does not strike nor makes
others strike, who robs not nor makes
others rob, sharing love with all that live,
finds enmity with none.

                                                    Itivuttaka 22
                       ---

Thus he who both day and night
takes delight in harmlessness
sharing love with all that live,
finds enmity with none.

                                                     SN I 208
                       ---

When one with a mind of love
feels compassion for the entire world --
above, below and across,
unlimited everywhere.

                                                    Jataka 37
                       ---

I am a friend of the footless,
I am a friend of the bipeds;
I am a friend of those with four feet,
I am a friend of the many-footed.
May not the footless harm me,
may not the bipeds harm me,
may not those with four feet harm me,
and may not those with many feet harm me.

                                                   AN II 72
                       ---

Among tigers, lions, leopards & bears I lived on the wood.
No one was frightened of me, nor did I fear anyone.
Uplifted by such universal friendliness I enjoyed the forest.
Finding great solace in silent solitude.

                                                   Suvanna-sama Jataka 540
                       ---

I am a friend and helper to all,
I am sympathetic to all living beings.
I develop a mind full of love
and takes always delight in harmlessness.
I gladden my mind, fill it with joy,
and make it immovable and unshakable.
I develop the divine states of mind
not cultivated by simple men.

                                                  Theragatha. 648-9

 

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Updated: 22 Nov 2009 http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/II/Blazing_Friendliness.htm