The Divine Lord is your only True and Dear Friend - Swami

August 2, 2009

Today being Friendship day, let us remember Swami's Wonderful Discourse on Friendship, excerpts given below :

You might have heard of the friendship between Kuchela and his 'classmate' Krishna. How could the friendship between these two survive the immense gap between their worldly positions and their spiritual status. Krishna was God incarnate; Kuchela was a mere man. Krishna was a ruler, a king-maker, an unsurpassed hero, monarch, and preceptor. Kuchela was so poor that he was ever at his wit's end to procure his next meal. They had studied together for a few years at the hermitage of the sage Sandeepani. That had sown the seed of friendship.

So, his wife sent him to Krishna, assuring him that he would not be turned from the door. Kuchela agreed to proceed but he hesitated long to send word that he had come, even when the guardsmen enquired why he had come and who he was. How could he, a broken, bent, befogged beggar dare to stand before the Lord in His palatial hall with its jewelled throne, and announce himself as a 'friend'? He was aghast at his own audacity.

But, all his fears melted away, when Krishna recognised him and came forward to receive him warmly and with evident joy. Krishna filled him with supreme bliss by His words. His acts of hospitality and His attitude of hearty welcome. Krishna also blessed his wife with enormous wealth and comfort, peace, prosperity, in quantity much more than ever she hoped for or prayed for. No one asked Him for it; but, His love took that shape, His grace awarded them the happiness. But, Kuchela was ever content with the friendship of Krishna; he never desired anything other than that. He was overwhelmed with delight when he experienced the compassion and love of the Lord.

The feeling of friendship must activate every nerve, permeate every blood-cell, and purify every emotional wave; it has no place for the slightest trace of egotism. You cannot elevate the companionship which seeks to exploit or fleece for personal benefit into the noble quality of friendship. Perhaps, the only friend who can pass the rigorous test, is God.

- From Swami's Discourse on 24th May'1973

Looking for local information? Find it on Local