Religious Materials

 2. Knowing of the four kinds of true friends or friends at heart
(suhadamitta):

 
          1) The helping friend has four features:
               (1) When his friend is off guard, he guards him.
               (2) When his friend is off guard, he guards his property.
               (3) In times of danger, he can be a refuge.
               (4) When some business needs to be done, he puts up more money than requested.

 
2) The friend through thick and thin has four features:
               (1) He confides in his friend.
               (2) He keeps his friend’s secrets.
               (3) He does not desert his friend in times of danger.
               (4) He will give even his life for his friend’s sake.

 
          3) The good counselor has four features:
               (1) He restrains his friend from doing evil or harm.
               (2) He encourages him in goodness.
               (3) He makes known to his friend what he has not heard before.
               (4) He points out the way to happiness, to heaven.

 
          4) The loving friend has four features:
               (1) When his friend is unhappy, he commiserates.
               (2) When his friend is happy, he is happy for him.
               (3) When others criticize his friend, he comes to his defense.
               (4) When others praise his friend, he joins in their praise.

     B. Allocating the wealth one has acquired through right livelihood as follows:
     Stage 1: One should be diligent in earning and saving just as bees
collect nectar and pollens.

      Stage 2: When one’s wealth accrues like a termites’ mound,
expenditure should be planned thus:
          • One portion to be used for supporting oneself, supporting one’s
family, taking care of one’s dependents and doing good works.
          • Two portions to be used for one’s career, earning one’s living.
          • One portion to be put aside as a guarantee for one’s life and
business in times of need.

Law 3: Maintaining one’s relations towards the six directions

 Law 2: Preparing resources for life on two fronts.

 
     A. Choosing the people with whom one is to associate. One should
associate with people who will guide one’s life along a path that is
prosperous and constructive, by avoiding false friends and associating
only with true friends as follows:
1. Recognizing the four kinds of false friends or enemies in the guise of
friends (mittapañiråpaka):
          1) The out-and-out robber, who only takes from his friend, has four features
               (1) He thinks only of taking.
               (2) He gives just a little only to gain a lot.
               (3) Only when he himself is in danger does he help his friend out.
               (4) He associates with his friend only for his own sake.

 
          2) The smooth talker has four features:
               (1) He talks only of what is done and gone.
               (2) He talks only of what has not yet come.
               (3) He offers help that is of no use.
               (4) When his friend has some business in hand, he always makes excuses.

 
          3) The flatterer has four features:
               (1) He consents to [his friend’s] doing wrong.
               (2) He consents to his doing right.
               (3) He praises him to his face.

               (4) He disparages him behind his back.

            4) The leader to ruin has four features:
               (1) He is a companion in drinking.
               (2) He is a companion in nightlife.
               (3) He is a companion in frequenting shows and fairs.
               (4) He is a companion in gambling.

 
2. Knowing of the four kinds of true friends or friends at heart
(suhadamitta):

Law 1: Refraining from 14 kinds of evils.
     A. Refraining from the four kinds of kammakilesa (evil deeds that defile
one’s life), namely:
          1. One does not do bodily harm or take life (i.e. abstaining from
pàõàtipàta).
         2. One does not steal or violate property rights (i.e. abstaining from
adinnàdàna).
          3. One does not commit sexual misconduct (i.e. abstaining from
kàmesumicchàcàra).
          4. One does not speak falsely, lie or deceive (i.e. abstaining from
musàvàda).

 
     B. Refraining from the four kinds of agati (bias or deviant conduct),
namely:
          1. One is not biased on account of like (i.e. being without chandà-gati).
          2. One is not biased on account of hate (i.e. being without dosà-gati).
          3. One is not biased on account of fear (i.e. being without bhayàgati).
          4. One is not biased on account of folly (i.e. being without mohàgati). 

      C. Refraining from the six kinds of apàyamukha (channels to the ruin of
property and life), namely:
          1. One is not addicted to drink or drugs.
          2. One does not revel, oblivious to time.
          3 One is not bent only on entertainment.
          4. One does not indulge in gambling.
          5. One does not consort with evil friends.
          6. One does not constantly laze around.