Buddhism for Teenagers (Wisdom and Compassion for Life)

By admin on February 12th, 2008

Teens face many different problems in our society everyday. But we can get a lot of strength and support from a spiritual path. This is a place where we can talk about things like school, family, friends, love, and life in the light of Buddhist teachings.

Essential priority on this page is to educate and help to those who like to have a simple peaceful life style. I had both bad and good experiences in the education, friends and many other ways. So I know that every teen have same problems during teenage life. I hope you can have a guide to life from this page.

Who Do You Associate With: Good Friends Or Bad Friends?

“Friend” is a person who shares good or bad things with his companion. There are two kinds of friends:
(1) a false or bad friend
(2) a true or good friend.

Four Bad Friends and Their Characteristics

(Footnote: Singala Sutta, Maha-Vagga, Digha-Nikaya)
There are these four types who can be seen as false or bad friends pretending to be true or good friends:
1. one who takes anything
2. one who is a great talker or only pays lip-service by making empty promises
3. one who flatters or only says pleasant things
4. one who is a fellow-spendthrift or debauched companion

1. The first bad friend, who takes anything, has four characteristics:
(i) taking everything from you
(ii) Wanting a lot for very little (or wanting much in return for giving only a little)
(iii) doing service only when he gets into trouble.
(iv) seeking only his own advantage.

2. The second bad friend, who is a great talker, has also four characteristics:
(i) talking of favours in the past
(ii) talking of favours in the future
(iii) trying to please you with empty promises or mouthing empty promises of goodwill
(iv) pleading inability owing to some disaster when something needs to be done in the present.

3. The third bad friend, who flatters, has also four characteristics:
(i) agreeing to the bad actions of you
(ii) also, agreeing to the good actions of you
(iii) praising you in your presence
(iv) disparaging you behind your back.

4. The fourth bad friend, who is a fellow-spendthrift or who debauches, also has four characteristiocs:
(i) being a companion when indulging in strong drink
(ii) being a companion when haunting the streets at unfitting times
(iii) being a companion when frequenting shows and entertainments
(iv) being a companion when indulging in gambling.

Four Good Friends and Their Characteristics

(Footnote: Singala Sutta, Maha-Vagga, Digha-Nikaya)
There are these four types can be seen to be good or true friends. They are orderly:
1. one who is helpful
2. one who is the same in happy and unhappy times
3. one who points out what is good for you
4. one who is sympathetic.

1. The first good friend, who is helpful, has four characteristics:
(i) looking for you when you are drunk
(ii) looking for your possessions when you are drunk
(iii) being a refuge for you are in trouble
(iv) leting you have twice what you ask for when some business is to be done.

2. The second good friend, who is the same in happy and unhappy times, has four characteristics:
(i) telling you his secrets
(ii) keeping your secrets
(iii) not forsaking you when you are in trouble
(iv) sacrificing even his life for you. More