Friends:

The Good Friend can show the Right Way to Eternal Bliss!!!

At Savatthi the Blessed Buddha once said:
Bhikkhus, as dawn is the initiator and messenger of the rising sun, exactly & even
so too, Bhikkhus, is Good Friendship the forerunner and originator for the arising
of the Noble Eightfold Way, since when a Bhikkhu has a good friend, it is to be
expected that he will develop, cultivate & complete this Noble Eightfold Way...
And how does a Bhikkhu develop, cultivate & perfect this Noble Eightfold Way...
A Bhikkhu first develops Right View, which is based upon seclusion, disillusion,
ceasing, and culminating in release....Then he develops Right Motivation, which is
based upon seclusion, disillusion, ceasing, and culminating in release.... Then he
develops Right Speech, which is based upon seclusion, disillusion, ceasing, and
culminating in release.... Then he develops Right Action, which also is based upon
seclusion, disillusion, ceasing, and culminating in release.... Then he also develops
Right Livelihood, which is based upon seclusion, disillusion, ceasing, & culminating
in release. Then he develops Right Effort, which is based upon seclusion, disillusion,
ceasing, and culminating in release. Then he develops Right Awareness, which is based
upon seclusion, disillusion, ceasing, and culminating in release.... Finally he develops
Right Concentration, which is based upon seclusion, disillusion, ceasing, and culminating
in mental release.... It is in this way, Bhikkhus, that a Bhikkhu, who has a good & mentally
beautiful friend develops, cultivates & consummates this supreme Noble Eightfold Way!

Source (edited extract):
The Grouped Sayings of the Buddha. Samyutta Nikāya. Book V [30]
45: The Way. Magga. Good & Beautiful Friendship. Kalyānamittatā 244.
http://www.pariyatti.com/book.cgi?prod_id=948507
http://www.accesstoinsight.org/canon/samyutta/index.html

With good will for the entire cosmos,
cultivate a boundless & infinite mind,
Above, below, across & all around,
unobstructed, freed of irritation & hate.
Sutta Nipata I, 8

The friend who is a helpmate,
the friend in happiness and woe,
the friend who gives good counsel,
the friend who sympathizes too --
these four as friends the wise behold
and cherish them devotedly
as does a mother her own child.
Digha Nikaya 31

Who is hospitable, and friendly,
Tolerant, generous and unselfish,
A guide, an instructor, a leader,
Such a one to honour may attain.
Digha Nikaya 31

One is not wise just
because one speaks much.
He who is peaceable, friendly & fearless
is called wise.
Dhammapada 258

If you find a wise and clever friend
who leads a good and pure life,
you should, overcoming all obstacles,
keep his company joyously and aware.
Dhammapada 328
 

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Updated: 13 Aug 2007 http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/II/Good_Friendship.htm