Kalyāṇa-mittatā

Soni, canonical discourses state that "companionship with the wise" leads to the following developmental progression: "listening to good advice, rational faith, noble thoughts, clear thinking, self-control, good conduct, conquest of the hindrances, gaining of wisdom and the consequent liberation.

"[3] More broadly, in Itivuttaka 1.17, the Buddha declares: The following sutta also refers to spiritual friendship .

Formations should be seen in such a way.…’ At a later time this one gains both internal serenity of mind and the higher wisdom of insight into phenomena.

“Therein, monks, the person who gains both internal serenity of mind and the higher wisdom of insight into phenomena should establish himself in just these wholesome states and make a further effort for the destruction of the taints.” In terms of householders, the Buddha provides the following elaboration in the Dighajanu Sutta (AN 8.54): In the first-century CE exegetic Vimuttimagga, Arahant Upatissa identifies the need to find a "good friend" or "pre-eminent friend" in order to develop "excellent concentration."

The good friend should understand the Tipiṭaka, kamma, "beneficent worldly knowledge" and the Four Noble Truths.

Citing Anguttara Nikaya 7.36, Upatissa says that a bhikkhūmitto ("monk friend") should have the following seven qualities: Lovableness, esteemableness, venerableness, the ability to counsel well, patience (in listening), the ability to deliver deep discourses and the not applying oneself to useless ends.

Within the Vajrayana tradition, the teacher-student relationship is considered of extreme importance to guide the student on the proper tantric path and to avoid the harmful consequences of misunderstanding and incorrect practice.

Sangharakshita, the founder of the Triratna Buddhist Community, emphasises Spiritual friendship—that by having a group of peers as spiritual friends, we learn more about being good people than we would in isolation: [Sangharakshita] stresses the value of friendships with peers, in particular having at least one Platonic friend with whom we can be intimate and completely frank.