FRIENDSHIP: THE SOUL OF RELATIONSHIP AND A LIVING STREAM OF COMPASSION

FRIENDSHIP: THE SOUL OF RELATIONSHIP AND A LIVING STREAM OF COMPASSION

2-AUG-ENG 12

RAJIV NAYAN AGRAWAL

ARA----------------------------Friendship is a relationship that is neither bound by blood nor by any social contract, yet it is the most intimate and strong relationship of life. Friendship is the land where love, trust, affinity, dedication and compassion sprout together. To honor this rare and pure feeling, 'International Friendship Day' is celebrated every year on the first Sunday of August. This day of Friendship Day is not just a formality, but an opportunity that becomes an occasion to reawaken the soul of relationships, to connect broken relationships and to build bridges of friendship between the walls of hatred. This day is a meaningful effort to remember that relationship in the hustle and bustle of our life, which gave us strength, courage and a reason to smile at every turn.

Most of the relationships in the world are formed from social, family or business needs, but friendship is born only from the feeling of humanity, compassion and affection. There is no selfishness, no formality, no display in it. This is the reason why relationships like Shri Krishna-Sudama, Shri Ram-Vibhishan, Gandhi-Nehru become examples for ages. Joseph Fort Newton has said- “People are lonely because instead of building bridges of friendship, they build walls of enmity.” This is the biggest crisis today- the falling walls of humanity, the drying ground of relationships, and the dying call of intimacy. A big question is why is the soil of relationships drying up? Today, the more we are connected technologically, the more we have become emotionally distant. Mobile, social media, virtual world have increased communication but not contact, because the connection with the soul is not through communication but through empathy.

In this era of new civilization and consumerism, every relationship is weighed on the scale of profit and loss. This is the reason why ideological differences are giving birth to differences of heart, indifference to competition, and insensitivity to selfishness. In such times, friendship is the only relationship that can break down all these walls. It is not just a 'relationship' but a state of mind, a point of view, a spiritual experience. While this festival is celebrated on 20th and 30th July in South American countries, in countries like India, Malaysia, Bangladesh it is celebrated with great pomp on the first Sunday of August. For the youth, it is limited to gifts, selfies and chocolates, whereas its original soul is to understand, accept and fulfill each other's feelings.

While celebrating World Friendship Day, a question arises that despite such an ideal status and importance of friendship, why is there such a lack of friendship between man and man today? Why is there so much mutual distance? Why is there ideological animosity? Why does a difference of opinion arise with differences of opinion? Despite being knowledgeable, prudent, intelligent, why does man fight and quarrel every day? Why does he stand tensed and entangled in disputes? Neither does he see with the eye of wisdom, nor does he listen with neutrality and balance, nor does he think and decide relativity. This is the reason why individual creativity is ending. The feelings of familial cooperation and participation are breaking down. Social disintegration is coming to the fore. Religious beliefs are weakening. Holding on to self-made beliefs, man is counting the links of the chains of selfishness in the prison of words. In such times, the bond of friendship infuses new energy into relationships.

The world has changed, the ways have changed, but the soul of friendship is still the same, pure, selfless and life-giving. The sacred friendship of Shri Krishna and Sudama teaches even today that the value of a true friend is measured not by money but by the intimacy of the heart. The friendship of Shri Ram and Vibhishan is proof that despite the difference of thoughts, the union of hearts makes friendship immortal. Today, when relationships are bowing down to selfishness, even then friendship is the relationship that gives meaning to life without any expectations. When today's momentary, selfish friendships break, the person is shattered from within. That's why some thinker had said - earlier we used to pray - O Lord! Save us from enemies, now we have to say, 'Oh God! Save us from friends.' Because now even friendship has taken on the guise of deceit. Whereas in modern times, true friends are really as precious as the souls residing in the flute of life. A friend is one who supports you in every color of life, like a lamp in darkness and like a shade in light. Such friends are rare, but if there is even one true friend in life, then he is more important than wealth, power and happiness.

The seven sutras given by Acharya Tulsi for friendship are more relevant today than before- trust, self-sacrifice, detachment, tolerance, forgiveness, fearlessness and coordination. These seven sutras do not make friendship superficial but give it a spiritual height. These not only make friendship lasting, but also turn life in a positive direction. There are five fundamentals of friendship- accept each other's shortcomings and goodness unconditionally. Respect feelings and give time. The relationship should be light, spontaneous and full of smiles. Keep transparency, honesty and trust at the center. Learn to maintain friendship, not just show it. By following these principles, we can make friendship not just a one-day formality, but the liveliness of life. That is why even today if there is any relationship that can cross the limits of time, distance and differences, then it is only friendship - the ancient heritage of the new era.

Differences in opinion are a sign of a healthy society, but differences in mind hollow the society from within. Revolution comes from differences in opinion, while rebellion comes from differences in mind. Therefore, friendship is not only a common ground for emotions, it can also become a laboratory for social revolution. That is why, by initiating the campaign 'Let's be friends once again', we should fill our lives with smiles. For this, Friendship Day does not only give a message, but it is a call to make life colourful, sweet and meaningful again. This day of friendship is inviting us towards itself, with open arms, to catch hold of the path of friendship without thinking anything, without pausing. Life is colourful, it is white and black too. Sometimes this melody of friendship melts in the ears as the melody of life and sometimes it raises the noise of doubt. Our determination, our will to live, our sensitivity makes friendship strong but for that, dedication and warmth of belongingness is needed. It teaches how to live, gives a colourful shape to life. It inspires us to live in such a way that you go beyond yourself. If we can do this, then every feeling, every step and every moment will be beautiful and life will also become beautiful. Helen Keller rightly said, "I would rather walk with a true friend in the dark than walk alone in the light." So, let us take a pledge on this day that we will make friendship not just a social media post but a true feeling of the heart. We will decorate friendship not with gifts but with dedication, cooperation and compassion. Because friendship is that magical feeling which brightens life from within and gives a new definition to our existence. In ancient times, fulfilling the duty of friendship was a life value, today that duty has become the last hope of our feelings. Friendship is no longer a one-day celebration, it is a need of life, where there is no responsibility, no bond, there is only closeness. Whether the era or technology changes, only true friendship has the power to erase the distance between hearts.