Friends form a unique relationship; true friendship is one of mutual commitment to the well-being of the other. Friendship takes time to build. It takes trust, openness, and a desire to put in to it freely just for the benefit of the other, and not just for what can be taken away. And from a Buddhist perspective a good Buddhist friend can help us to maintain our practice, a person who will tell us when we have done something right or when we might do something better. A good Buddhist friend will not merely say things just to make us feel good. Instead, they will say things to us that will make us be good. This is also the kind of friend we can become to others. Helping them attain Buddhahood is the best gift we can give to our friends.