William (Billy) MS Lee is the first friend I made when I arrived in the United States in 1950. We were initiated into the same Chinese Student Fraternity, FF, in 1951. Thereafter we maintain contact over the next 70+ years as our friendship remains meaningful in our lives. Retired from Architectural Practice and Volunteering as a Founding Board Member of the 1990 Institute (focusing on US- China relations), Billy joined the USCPFA (US-China People's Friendship Association) and started to do his personal informal research on Friendship via his <https://friendshipology.net>. Below is taken from one of his recent posts. 

BILLY’S THOUGHTS ON COMPASSION, EMPATHY, and FRIENDSHIP – July 2023 

I truly believe that all people have INNATE GOODNESS and WEAKNESSES. I prefer to focus on cultivating and promoting our INNATE GOODNESS like COMPASSION – CARING FOR AND HELPING EACH OTHERS and NOT TO HURT OR HARM EACH OTHER.    That should be my GOAL & PURPOSE. 

EMPATHY is the skill we all need to learn to really understand each other’s emotions, aspirations, and feelings and learn how best to help each other wisely, effectively, and realistically.   That should be my PRACTICE. 

FRIENDSHIP to me is OUR REWARD. It has been proven by many social surveys that FRIENDSHIPS & RELATIONSHIPS HAVE DEFINED OUR MEANING IN LIFE and brought TRUE HAPPINESS. FRIENDSHIP, btw, can be deepened if we PURSUE GLOBAL COMPASSION TOGETHER.  Yes ! I have recently joined Dr. Rick Hanson’s GCC (Global Compassion Coalition). 

This commitment brings me a PURE & WONDERFUL FEELING. 

William (Billy) Ming Sing Lee