212 lines
8.2 KiB
Plaintext
212 lines
8.2 KiB
Plaintext
Friendship
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World Scripture
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FRIENDSHIP
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Beyond the circle of the family, a person seeks friends who will be honest,
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faithful, and true. The scriptures uphold the ideal of the true friend, while
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admonishing people to choose their friends carefully, lest they be misled or
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find themselves abandoned in adversity.
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Greater love has no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends.
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1. Christianity. Bible, John 15.13
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And the believers, men and women, are protecting friends one of another; they
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enjoin the right and forbid the wrong, and they establish worship and pay the
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poor-due, and they obey God and His messenger.
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2. Islam. Qur'an 9.71
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I am distressed for you, my brother Jonathan;
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very pleasant have you been to me;
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your love to me was wonderful,
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passing the love of women.
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3. Judaism and Christianity. Bible, 2 Samuel 1.26
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Only two virtues are enough;
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Why should the good stand in need of many?
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Anger lived like a lightning flash
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And friendship enduring like a line inscribed on a rock.
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4. Jainism. Vajjalagam 42
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- - - - - - - - - - - -
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John 15.13: Cf. Galatians 6:2, p. 974, and related passages. Qur'an 9.71: Cf.
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Qur'an 49.10, p. 270, and Hadith of Bukhari, p. 974. 2 Samuel 1.26: The story
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of David and Jonathan is a tale of an exemplary friendship. Jonathan, the son
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of King Saul (and heir apparent), risked his life to help David flee his
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father's wrath. David sings this verse in an eulogy for his friend, on hearing
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of his death in battle.
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- - - - - - - - - - - -
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Men bound in fellowship first weep and lament, But afterward they laugh.
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(Hexagram 13: Fellowship with Men)
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The Master said,
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"Life leads the thoughtful man on a path of many windings.
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Now the course is checked, now it runs straight again.
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Here winged thoughts may pour freely forth in words,
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There the heavy burden of knowledge must be shut away in silence.
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But when two people are at one in their inmost hearts,
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They shatter even the strength of iron or of bronze.
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And when two people understand each other in their inmost hearts,
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Their words are sweet and strong, like the fragrance of orchids."
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5. Confucianism. I Ching, Great Commentary 1.8.6
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There are friends who pretend to be friends, but there is a friend who sticks
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closer than a brother.
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6. Judaism and Christianity. Bible, Proverbs 18.24
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He who entreats aid for his comrade, though he himself is in need, is answered
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first.
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7. Judaism. Talmud, Baba Kamma 92a
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The dog says, "If you fall down, and I fall down, the play will be enjoyable."
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8. African Traditional Religions. Nupe Proverb (Nigeria)
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Offend me and I will question you--this is the medicine for friendship.
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9. African Traditional Religions. Yoruba Proverb (Nigeria)
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Only few people act in our interest in our absence,
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When we are not around.
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But in our presence, every Dick and Harry, slaves and freeborn,
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Display their love for us.
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10. African Traditional Religions. Yoruba Verse (Nigeria)
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Confucius said, "There are three sorts of friend that are profitable, and three
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sorts that are harmful. Friendship with the upright, with the true-to-death,
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and with those who have heard much is profitable. Friendship with the
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obsequious, friendship with those who are good at accommodating their
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principles, friendship with those who are clever at talk is harmful."
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11. Confucianism. Analects 16.4
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I Ching, Great Commentary 1.8.6: Cf. Book of Songs, Ode 64, p. 986. Nupe
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Proverb: Good friends should share each other's feelings. Yoruba Verse: Cf.
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Yoruba Song, pp. 953f.; Analects 1.3, p. 1019.
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- - - - - - - - - - -
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It is by dealing with a man that his virtue is to be known, and that too after
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a long time; not by one who gives it a passing thought or no thought at all; by
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a wise man, not by a fool. It is by association that a man's integrity is to
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be known... It is in times of trouble that his fortitude is to be known... It
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is by conversing with him, that a man's wisdom is to be known, and that too
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after a long time; not by one who gives it a passing thought or no thought at
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all; by a wise man, not by a fool.
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12. Buddhism. Udana 65-66
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When you gain a friend, gain him through testing,
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and do not trust him hastily.
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For there is a friend who is such at his own convenience,
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but will not stand by you in your day of trouble.
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And there is a friend who changes into an enemy,
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and will disclose a quarrel to your disgrace.
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And there is a friend who is a table companion,
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but will not stand by you in your day of trouble.
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In your prosperity he will make himself your equal,
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and be bold with your servants;
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but if you are brought low he will turn against you,
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and will hide himself from your presence.
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A faithful friend is a sturdy shelter:
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he that has found one has found a treasure.
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There is nothing so precious as a faithful friend,
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and no scales can measure his excellence.
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A faithful friend is an elixir of life;
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and those who fear the Lord will find him.
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Whoever fears the Lord directs his friendship aright,
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for as he is, so is his neighbor also.
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13. Christianity. Bible, Sirach 6.7-17
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The friend who always seeks his benefit,
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The friend whose words are other than his deeds,
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The friend who flatters just to make you pleased,
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The friend who keeps you company in wrong,
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These four the wise regard as enemies:
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Shun them from afar as paths of danger.
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The friend who is a helper all the time,
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The friend in happiness and sorrow both,
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The friend who gives advice that's always good,
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The friend who has full sympathy with you,
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These four the wise see as good-hearted friends
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And with devotion cherish such as these
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As does a mother cherish her own child.
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14. Buddhism. Digha Nikaya iii.187, Sigalovada Sutta
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Udana 65-66: Cf. Majjhima Nikaya iii.21, p. 469. Sirach 6.7-17: Cf. Micah
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7:5-7, p. 953; Analects 13.25, p. 468.
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What is attached to the defiled will be defiled; and what is attached to the
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pure will be pure.
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15. Judaism. Mishnah, Kelim 12.2
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Those that are good, seek for friends; that will help you to practice virtue
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with body and soul. Those that are wicked, keep at a distance; it will prevent
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evil from approaching you.
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16. Taoism. Tract of the Quiet Way
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Friend! listen to the benefits of holy company:
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Thereby is cast off impurity, vanished are millions of sins,
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And purified is the mind.
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17. Sikhism. Adi Granth, Bilaval, M.5, p. 809
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Sit in the assembly of the honest; join with those that are good and virtuous;
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nay, seek out a noble enemy where enmity cannot be helped and have nothing to
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do with the wicked and the unrighteous. Even in bondage you should live with
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the virtuous, the erudite, and the truthful; but not for a kingdom should you
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stay with the wicked and the malicious.
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18. Hinduism. Garuda Purana 112
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Bilaval, M.5: Cf. Kanara, M.5, p. 285. Garuda Purana 112: Cf. 1 Corinthians
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5.9-13, p. 963.
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As the man one makes his friend,
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As the one he follows,
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Such does he himself become;
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he is like unto his mate.
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Follower and following,
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Toucher and touched alike,
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As a shaft with poison is smeared
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Poisons all the bunch unsmeared,
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Both are fouled. A man inspired
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In the fear of being soiled
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Should not company with rogues.
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If a man string putrid flesh
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On a blade of kusa grass,
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That same grass will smell putrid.
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So with him who follows fools.
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If a man wrap frankincense
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In a leaf, that leaf smells sweet.
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So with those who follow sages.
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Mindful of that leaf-basket,
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Knowing what will him befall,
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The prudent man should company
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With the good, not with the bad.
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Bad men lead to purgatory;
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The good bring to the happy bourn.
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19. Buddhism. Itivuttaka 68-69
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