Kalyanamitta
Kalyāṇamitta , Kalyanamitta , Kalyanamittata (pi kalyāṇa / beautiful, morally good, excellent, helpful + mitta / friend, "one whom one follows") or excellent friend denotes the one or the other , friends and teachers on the path of the Dhamma and becomes of Buddha referred to as the most important external condition for good development and the basic requirement for the development of "wings for self-awakening " (pi bodhi-pakkhiya-dhammā ).
In this context, the term friend also stands for teacher, instructor, mentor, but also exemplary companions in the practice of Dhamma. In the search for an excellent friend, at least equals are sought, but one strives for someone who is superior. In any case, progress can only be expected in dealing with better people, and dealing with people who are inferior leads one to expect apostasy in virtues. Failing to find at least an equal friend or teacher, someone who is ahead of the path in virtue , focus, or insight, and attainments, the Buddha recommends on many occasions to continue on the path of practice alone.
Kalyāṇamittas are not ordinary friends, such as those with whom one pursues amusement or those who stand by one side in a conflict, but those who prevent one from doing unwise in the long term. In the Sigalovada Sutta , the Buddha describes to a young man numerous marks for enemies in the disguise of a friend.
"When you find a person who points out your mistakes and censures you, one should follow such a wise and astute advisor as one follows a guide to a hidden treasure."
The qualities of an excellent friend for a lay person and anyone "who is virtuous" are:
- He talks to you, engages you in conversations.
- It promotes great faith in the principle of kamma , in those who have great faith ,
- great virtue ; in those who have great virtue,
- great generosity in those who have great generosity
- and great insight in those who have great insight.
The term nissaya ( pi for ground, ground, foundation, connection) is also used for a good friend . This term can be found in the rules of monks and nuns ( Vinaya ) and is used for the person, the instructor required for initiation. This instructor or good friend has to have various minimum qualities and should ideally be a person who has qualities like an arahant (awakened person).
Contrary to the popular belief that nissaya (often a synonym for happiness) or the guru adjusts himself and approaches you, you have to look carefully and attentively for your own happiness according to the teachings of the Buddha.
“And how,… is a monk gifted with nissaya? Here now, ... what there are knowledgeable monks who are well acquainted with the doctrine, connoisseurs of the doctrine, the ethics of behavior and the code, a monk approaches these from time to time, asks them and asks them: 'How does that behave , Venerable sir? What does that mean?' And those venerable reveal to him the undeveloped, explain the unclear to him, and resolve his doubts in many dubious cases. So is ..., a monk gifted with nissaya. "
literature
- Cultivating with Wise Men , by Bhikkhu Bodhi (BPS Newsletter, Essay, 1994)
- The Power of Judgment - Making good friends requires being a good friend, by Thanissaro Bhikkhu
- Excellent Friendship kalyanamittata , a compilation of suttas on the subject
Web links
Individual evidence
- ^ The Pali Text Society's Pali-English dictionary
- ^ The Pali Text Society's Pali-English dictionary
- ↑ Itivuttaka § 17
- ↑ Seven compilations of principles which, according to Buddha, are the heart of his teachings and conducive to awakening, for more see glossary zugangzureinsicht.org glossary
- ↑ AN 9.1 Sambodhi Sutta: Self-awakening
- ↑ Cakkhupala (Day 1.95)
- ↑ Sn 1.3 Khaggavisana Sutta: A rhinoceros
- ↑ Sigalovada Sutta
- ↑ Dhp. 76
- ↑ AN 8.54 Dighajanu (Vyagghapajja) Sutta: To Dighajanu
- ↑ Codex for Buddhist Hermits I Chapter 2 (3rd edition, 2013) Nissaya
- ↑ Bhikkhu-Pātimokkha The main set of rules of the Buddhist monks translated from the Pali of Bhikkhu Ñāṇadassana