Chanakya Niti: How to Identify A Good Friend

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We make friends, most of the times, with our eyes blindfolded. We do not see what is inside the shining exterior of your so called friend. We get carried away by the external appearance and trappings.

True friends are those who stand the test of time. As time passes you can realise who stays and who drifts away. Chanakya in his niti gives valuable pointers on these and teaches us how to pick the right friend.

1. Some people are full of sweetness and warmth at the very outset and never hurt you by their words and behavior. These oily tongued people show their real selves by talking disparaging things behind your back about you, and spoil your reputation and growth. Such people can't be banked up on as good friends. It is best to keep off from such pretending souls. Even very polite people speak softly and sweetly but they do not mean it even a bit. These people are usually seen in high society but it is difficult to trust them too. Politeness and manners is a mask that you put in society to hide your true self. Although it is better if you keep people happy and pleased when you strike a conversation with them it is also equally important that you keep your honesty intact.

2. A family in order to be happy, should have children who listen to elders and behave pleasantly to every one at home. They should be taught values and all that is good, to grow up to be worthwhile human beings who are of use to society. Children also must realise what their parents have sacrificed to keep them happy. Moreover, each family member should place absolute trust in one another. After all trust keeps the world going. It is not good to trust every one you come across. But it is equally bad not to trust any one barring oneself. It is important to trust each other in the family so that they can help you in the nick of the time, in case you are in trouble sometime in your life.

3. True friend is someone who keeps secrets as secrets and does not divulge them even in the face of adversity. It is not wise to divulge your secrets to someone who is likely to share it with others. It just mars your reputation and spoils your life in many ways possible.

4. Friendship with certain kinds of people is considered to be good. Whenever some one in your family is seriously sick, the person who comes rushing forward to help you is your best friend. When you are facing trouble from your rivals or from some one who conspires against you, the person who rushes in to help is your best friend. If some one supports you in the most important issue that is bothering you, is a true friend that you can accept blindfolded. Even after you die, the person who carries you on his shoulders along with the rest, is your friend you can blindly trust.