Heya, pple!!! One week nvr hear frm me, did u guys missed me?

AKOS's here, n in case u forget hw i've looked lyk, pls refer to the beautiful picture below!!! A superstar lion's pic can't always be goin up in public de!!! Hahax!!!

Recently, i've a meaningful dialogue wif these two super knowledgable frenz of mine: michael and yun hui. We were talkin abt everything under the sun, when all of a sudden we found ourselves talking abt a topic tat is very close to our hearts: FREINDSHIP!!! Yes, friendship. I shall now recounts what we have been talking abt.

(talking abt everything under the sun @ starbucks)

AKOS: Hey, recently i've got this fren who is facing tis prob of making frenz. He seems to think that nobody lyks him n all, n tat genuine friendship is really hard to find.

Michael: Hmmmm... I think itz really important firstly to know what genuine friendship is. Genuine friendship is a relationship u shared with another person in which u emphathize with them when they are suffering and support them with encouragements and care/ concern etc. And they, in turn will do the same for you.

AKOS: Wow!!! So itz a two-way thingy?

Michael: Yes, where u'll always b there fer them and when u're facing some prob, theyll b there for u too!!! Itz a beautiful thing!!!

AKOS: But, hw do we noe who is our true frenz?

Yun Hui: Well, basically true frenz are those helpful, always being there for u, compassionate n all. On the other hand, bad frenz are those who will be with you onli during good times, flatters u to gain benefits and all. Itz nt that hard to differentiate.

AKOS: Ohhhh... Cud u lyk elaborate abit?

Yun Hui: Okay. True frenz will help u and be there for u whenever you faced a problem. They will NEVER forsake you and will go as far as sacrificing their lives for u. They will emphathize with you n keep encouraging you not to give up!!!

AKOS: Then, wad abt compassionate?

Michael: Compassionate in the sense that they will point out your mistakes and tell you what's good fer u!!! U may not lyk it at times, but do rmb that they are doing this to help you; deep in their hearts they hope by pointing out ur mistakes, you'll nvr commit the same mistakes again and be a better person.

Yun Hui: In short, good frenz are those who cn inspire and help u in doing your human revolution and be a better person!!!

AKOS: I see!!! I've nvr tot of that!!!

Michael: Uh huh. N frm a buddhism point of view, good frenz are those who leads you to the correct teachings, to Nichiren Daishonin's Buddhism!!! Conversely, bad frenz are those who obstruct your Buddhist practice.

AKOS: Woah!!! Now i really see the importance of having good frenz!!! They cud really change your lives.

Yun Hui: Yes!!! ND states: "When a tree has been transplanted, though fierce winds may blow, it will not topple if it has a firm stake to hold it up. But even a tree that has grown up in place may fall over if its roots are weak. Even a feeble person will not stumble if those supporting him are strong, but a person of considerable strength, when alone, may fall down on an uneven path."

AKOS: I know i know!!! So it means good frenz will support you in ur Buddhist practice, encouraging you to strengthen your faith, chants with you and overcome your problems with you!!! Rite?

Michael: Hahax!!! U've become smarter!!! Yes, tatz rite. However, tat is not to sae that bad frenz will forever remain as bad frenz. We cud turn them frm bad frenz into good frenz too.

AKOS: How?

Yun Hui: The SGI organisation (& our TPSD) is a gathering of good frenz - fellow Boddhisattvas of the Earth - who inspire and encourage one another in the correct practice of ND Buddhism. In order to turn bad frenz into good frenz, itz very simple: introduce them to our Buddhism to help them to achieve growth n happiness in their lives.

Michael: Yes. ND indicates in his writings that his opponents were acting as his good frenz in the sense that they help him strengthen his weaknesses, improve his character and giving him tha chance to prove the power of faith. The same applies to us. We cud change them and their lives, by becoming good frenz of our very own bad frenz.

AKOS: NOw i understand le!!! Thnk you to both of you!!! I've indeed learnt alot frm u two. I know how to encourage my fren liao. Hahax. Alrite, let's meet up some other dae?

Michael & Yun Hui: No prob!!!

(The End)


Yea, hopefully u guys hav learn as much as i did!!! I will cont'd to improve myself, to b a beta lion-fren to EVERYONE here in TPSD!!! Really hope to hear frm u guys, n really hope to see u guys soon!!! =)