Wednesday, January 31, 2007

The Buddha Says 28

Friends are pleasant in time of need;
happiness is pleasant when shared with them;
merit is pleasant at the hour of death;
but happiest is the destruction of all suffering.
Dhammapada 23:331
Reflections
* The best and most important friends are the Kalyanamitra or spiritual friends ... friends who are walking the Path to Peace, Bliss and Freedom.
* Such friends have high levels of compassion and wisdom ... they practice the Dhamma well and have good degrees of Dhamma realization.
* True spiritual friends are most supportive ... they come to serve and help in times of need when 'others run out.'
* Indeed, happiness shared is happiness doubled; and sorrow shared is sorow halved.
* At death, the only 'friends' that accompany us are our merits, our good Kammic actions ... all else has to be left behind. Realizing this, one is spurred to practice Dana ( Charity ), Sila ( Morality ) and Bhavana ( Mental Purification ).
* The greatest Happiness is the Bliss of Nibbana ... we need to strive on diligently and mindfully for the complete cessation of all Dukkha ( Suffering ) ... and The Way is The Noble Eightfold Path.
With Metta,
Bro. Oh Teik Bin

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