Kalyana-mittata is a Buddhist idea which roughly translates as spiritual friendship. This concept conveys a sense of community through spiritual life. For instance, a community that comes together through shared values might be said to have a spiritual friendship. In Buddhist terms, it also tends to include the special type of rapport that is formed in a student-teacher relationship rather than a peer to peer type of friendship. Having a spiritual friend can be helpful on the journey to spiritual awakening and for someone's spiritual growth, and is common in many religions. The teacher can help the student stay on the right path and avoid misunderstandings of practices.