What is a Buddhist monk’s advice on choosing good friends?
The answer to this question comes from Mahamevnawa, a monastery led by monks ordained and trained in the oldest tradition of Theravada Buddhism. Through their guidance, you can learn the Buddha’s teachings on mindfulness, meditation, virtue, and wisdom, which are presented in modern language and easy to understand.
Founded in 1999 in Sri Lanka by Ven. Kiribathgoda Gnanananda Thero, Mahamevnawa’s sole purpose is to spread the original teachings of the Buddha. The monastery is a warm and welcoming place for everyone to investigate true happiness through Dhamma and meditation.
A BUDDHIST MONK’S ADVICE ON CHOOSING GOOD FRIENDS
It’s very difficult to find a good, noble friend—a spiritual friend—in life. But they do exist in the world, and we can identify them through the Buddha’s teachings.
The Buddha taught that a person who abstains from killing living beings, who refrains from stealing the belongings of others, and who avoids engaging in sexual misconduct is a noble person.
A good person speaks the truth, avoids divisive speech, and enjoys harmony between people. They do not try to break up friendships with their words.
A noble person speaks kind and gentle words that are pleasing and touch the heart. Additionally, they speak meaningful words at the proper time and avoid rambling on with meaningless talk.
A good person does not desire the belongings of others. They are happy for the success of others and do not harbor anger.
While they may occasionally feel anger—because that can be the nature of a good person—they understand it is a harmful quality. They are not habitually angry and will strive to remove their anger because they know it leads to harm for both themselves and others.
Complement this Buddhist monk’s advice on choosing good friends with The Heritage of the Bhikkhu: The Buddhist Tradition of Service by Walpola Rahula and then revisit our article on the Five Buddhist Precepts.
About the author: Mahamevnawa Buddhist Monastery is a place for everyone, regardless of background or experience, to learn and practice the ancient teachings of the Buddha. You will discover a like-minded community of people who are interested in finding happiness that is not based on endless consuming and accumulating more and more things. By learning and practicing the teachings of the Buddha, you will gain a peace and happiness that is not tied to the ups and downs of ordinary life.
I’m a freelance writer and mindfulness advocate behind this blog. What you see here is the combination of my three favorite things: reading, writing, and mindfulness. While you’re here, subscribe to my blog updates and gain access to free mindfulness resources for stress relief.
