By 佛光大學佛教研修院碩士班


In this world, everyone needs a friend. A friend could be good or bad. If one makes a good friend, it is like being in a room full of fragrant orchids, where one becomes unconscious to the sweet smell after a period of time. However, if one makes friends with those who are of bad influence, it is like being in a fish market, where one becomes unaware of the fish odour after a period of time. Therefore, we should be cautious when making new friends.

世間上每個人都需要朋友，朋友有益友和損友，結交益友，如入芝蘭之室，久而不聞其香；結交損友，如入鮑魚之肆，久而不聞其臭，因此交友不可不慎。

According to the Fo Shou Bei Sutra , there are four kinds of friends:

1.A friend who is like a flower : This means when you possess power and wealth, this type of friend will applaud you; flatter you with everything you do; and obey you. However, once you lose your power and wealth, and are no longer of use to these friends, they will forsake and leave you. They despise the poor and favor with the rich. They treat you like a flower – when you blossom, they will adhere to you; but once you wither, you will be thrown away. They favor the rich, and abandon the poor.

《佛說孛經》說，朋友有四品，也就是有四種朋友︰

１有友如花︰如花的朋友就是當你擁有權勢富貴的時候，他把你捧得高高的，凡事奉承你、隨順你；一旦你失意潦倒，失去了利用的價值，他就背棄你，離開你，這種嫌貧愛富的朋友，他視你如花，好時插頭，萎時捐之，富貴攀附，貧賤則棄。



【Key Words】

Fo Shou Bei Sutra：《佛說孛經》

Have a friend who likes a flower：有友如花