Acharya Prashant addresses the question of what a friend and friendship are. He begins by noting that when we speak of a friend, we always refer to someone else. Therefore, the question becomes: when can we consider another person our friend? We live among others, constantly surrounded by them, and we want to know how to discern who is good for us and who is bad. The one we consider good for us, we call a friend. So, the question simplifies to: in a world full of others, how do we know who is beneficial for us? The one who is beneficial is our friend. To understand who our friend is, we must first understand what is beneficial for us. Acharya Prashant highlights a crucial distinction between what is beneficial (hit) and what is pleasant (priya). He states that we never look for our benefit; we always look for what is pleasant to us. The pleasant has such a strong hold on us that even when told to look for our benefit, we hear it as looking for what is pleasant. We do not know our own benefit, and for this reason, we do not know who our friend is. We are well aware of what we find pleasant, what excites our minds, and what entertains us, but we are ignorant of where our true benefit lies. Consequently, we are surrounded by enemies in the name of friends. Our benefit is not in being taken away from ourselves, nor in having our minds filled with various disturbances. Yet, we choose friends on these very bases. Our benefit is not in being pushed towards unconsciousness, even though unconsciousness feels pleasant, much like alcohol to a drunkard. He asks, who is a friend? The one who sits and drinks with you? According to you, that is your friend. He points out that all disturbances and wrongdoings are committed with the support of so-called friends, not enemies. We don't know what friendship is because we don't know ourselves or our real benefit. There are two types of friends. The first type is one who boosts your ego, strengthens your beliefs, and deepens your sickness, keeping you in the illusion that you are fine. The second type of friend, the true friend, dissolves your ego. This friend will not be liked because they hold a mirror to your real face and do not lie. This friend brings you to reality instead of letting you live in dreams, which is why you will not like them and will run away from them. Your ultimate benefit lies in liberation, joy, and love. You must see whether the person you call a friend is leading you towards liberation or entangling you further in worldly bonds. Your benefit is in consciousness and awakening. See if your friends are themselves awake, because a sleeping person cannot awaken another. Your real friend is your understanding, and your ego is your greatest enemy. People connected to you through your ego are your enemies, while those who come into your life through understanding and love are your friends.