page_title: Kalyāṇa-mittatā
section_title: Canonical sources
hierarchical_section_title: Kalyāṇa-mittatā / Canonical sources
caption_attribution_description: 054 Consolation of Ananda at Gijjhakuta, Jamalgarhi, at the Indian Museum, Kolkata Photograph from the Indian Museum in West Bengal taken by Anandajoti.
context_page_description: Kalyāṇa-mittatā is a Buddhist concept of "spiritual friendship" within Buddhist community life, applicable to both monastic and householder relationships. One involved in such a relationship is known as a "good friend", "virtuous friend", "noble friend" or "admirable friend".
  Since early Buddhist history, these relationships have involved spiritual teacher-student dyads as well as communal peer groups. In general, such is a supportive relationship based on shared Buddhist ethical values and the pursuit of awakening.
context_section_description: In the Pali Canon's Upaddha Sutta (SN 45.2), there is a conversation between the Buddha and his disciple Ananda in which Ananda enthusiastically declares, 'This is half of the holy life, lord: admirable friendship, admirable companionship, admirable camaraderie.' The Buddha replies:
  'Don't say that, Ananda. Don't say that. Admirable friendship, admirable companionship, admirable camaraderie is actually the whole of the holy life. When a monk has admirable people as friends, companions, & comrades, he can be expected to develop & pursue the noble eightfold path.'
  The Buddha elaborates that, through such friendships, one develops each of the path factors through seclusion, dispassion and cessation.  Further, the Buddha states that through spiritual friendship with the Buddha himself followers have gained release from suffering.
  According to Dr. R.L. 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."
  More broadly, in Itivuttaka 1.17, the Buddha declares:
  'With regard to external factors, I don't envision any other single factor like admirable friendship as doing so much for a monk in training, who has not attained the heart's goal but remains intent on the unsurpassed safety from bondage. A monk who is a friend with admirable people abandons what is unskillful and develops what is skillful.'
  In terms of householders, the Buddha provides the following elaboration in the Dighajanu Sutta (AN 8.54):
  'And what is meant by admirable friendship? There is the case where a lay person, in whatever town or village he may dwell, spends time with householders or householders' sons, young or old, who are advanced in virtue. He talks with them, engages them in discussions. He emulates consummate conviction in those who are consummate in conviction, consummate virtue in those who are consummate in virtue, consummate generosity in those who are consummate in generosity, and consummate discernment in those who are consummate in discernment. This is called admirable friendship.'
caption: Sculpture at Vulture Peak, Rajgir, India, depicting the Buddha consoling Ānanda
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