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All varieties of devotional topics that don't fit under the other sections of the forums. However, devotionally relevant topics, please - there are other boards for other topics.

What can a friend really do for you? - Devotional Friendships Help Us to See Ourselves



Maha Bhava - Mon, 21 Nov 2005 20:08:28 +0530
The only service a friend can really render is to keep up your
courage by holding up to you a mirror in which you can see a noble
image of yourself.

-- George Bernard Shaw (1856-1950) Irish Playwright

Tha most noble image is to see ourselves as pure servants of the divine couple. biggrin.gif
Sakhicharan - Tue, 22 Nov 2005 06:47:28 +0530
QUOTE(Maha Bhava @ Nov 21 2005, 08:38 AM)
The only service a friend can really render is to keep up your
courage by holding up to you a mirror in which you can see a noble
image of yourself.

-- George Bernard Shaw (1856-1950) Irish Playwright

Tha most noble image is to see ourselves as pure servants of the divine couple. biggrin.gif


While George Bernard Shaw provides us all with a multitude of quotes, his advices should be understood as they are...using the adverb "only" he fails to approach the real meaning of what Vaisnava friendship is all about.

rAmacandra kavirAja, sei saNge more kAja,
tAra saNga vinA sab zUnya |
yadi janma hoy punaH, tAra saNga hoy yena,
tabe hoy narottama dhanya || PBC 118


"With Ramacandra Kaviraj I engage in hearing, chanting, and remembering the sweet pastimes, forms, and qualities of Sri Hari. Without his association everything is void. If I must take birth again, then let it be in his company. Then Narottama will be pleased.


sudhA kaNikA vyAkhyA:

Devotee's friendships are centered around Krishna. Such friendships are not temporary and mortal like the mundane friendships of this world. They are transcendental, eternal and true. Through association of such a transcendental friend the relationship with the Lord is deeply realized, relished and nourished. Thus, this is a real heart's friend.
lbcVisnudas - Tue, 22 Nov 2005 07:12:24 +0530
The only service a friend can really render is to keep up your
courage by holding up to you a mirror in which you can see a noble
image of yourself.

-- George Bernard Shaw (1856-1950) Irish Playwright

When I was on a boat crossing the Ganga to Daksineswar for the first time, a man (obviously impressed by my deceitful costume of an orthodox sanatana dharmi) touched my knees (we were sitting) and made anjali mudra saying, "Sadhuji".
Even though he was wrong, I sat straighter and chanted more single mindedly than previously up to that point.
It is good to have friends that expect more of you than you expect of yourself.
Jai Vaisnava Thakur!
Sakhicharan - Tue, 22 Nov 2005 07:21:36 +0530
QUOTE(lbcVisnudas @ Nov 21 2005, 07:42 PM)
It is good to have friends that expect more of you than you expect of yourself. Jai Vaisnava Thakur!

Do your friends expect more of you or do they just draw the best from you? smile.gif
That is what sanga with a dear friend does to me...I feel I need to be at my best at all times...
lbcVisnudas - Tue, 22 Nov 2005 12:46:00 +0530
QUOTE
I feel I need to be at my best at all times...

That's the way.
You are right.
Gaurasundara - Thu, 24 Nov 2005 08:38:22 +0530
A Vaishnava friend is a companion and a support.