This Buddhist lecture from Venerable Master Bennie of the Australian Buddhist Practice Incorporated, translated by Chơn Ngộ (Grace Spirit), explores the concept of “true friendship” and the “Bodhi Mind”. Through a dialogue with a disciple, the lecture asserts that genuine friendship involves selfless sacrifice, even to the point of giving one’s life or possessions, distinguishing it from superficial connections based on pleasure or personal gain. The discussion further equates the desire to receive with the mindset of a beggar, while true “emperors” are those who give and contribute to others, emphasizing that many people mistakenly identify as friends or “emperors” when their actions reveal a self-serving mentality. The master ultimately suggests that a lack of true friends often stems from an individual’s own unwillingness to embody the qualities of a selfless giver.
