Kalyāṇa-mittatā
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Kalyāṇa-mittatā (
Canonical sources
In the
- '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.'[2]
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."[3]
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.'[4]
In terms of householders, the Buddha provides the following elaboration in the
- '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.'[5]
Post-canonical Pali texts
In the first-century CE exegetic
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."[6][7]
In the fifth-century CE
Teacher-student relationship
In traditional schools of Buddhist thought, a spiritual friendship is a friendship not between one's peers, but a friendship between a student and their
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.[11]
Peer relationships
Spiritual friendships are important to building a bond between peers within the Buddhist community.
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. Through friendship we have the opportunity to develop the virtues of generosity, compassion, patience and forgiveness.[12]
See also
- Dīghajāṇu Sutta - contextualizes kalyāṇa-mittatā among other householder duties.
- Sigālovāda Sutta - elaborated on the importance of having and being a true friend who is also a kalyāṇa-mittatā
- Dhammika Sutta
References
- ^ Collins, Steven (1987). Kalyāṇamitta and Kalyāṇamittatā, Journal of the Pali Text Society 11, 55
- Thanissaro Bhikkhu (1997). "Upaddha Sutta: Half (of the Holy Life) (SN 45.2)". Retrieved April 15, 2007.on February 4, 2012. Retrieved July 27, 2006.
{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link) Also see Dharma Life. "Dharmalife.com". Archived from the original - ^ Dr R.L. Soni, Life’s Highest Blessings (The Wheel Publication No. 254) (Kandy: Buddhist Publication Society, 1997) retrieved 2007-11-08 from "Access to Insight" at http://www.accesstoinsight.org/lib/authors/soni/wheel254.html.
- Thanissaro Bhikkhu (2001). "The Group of Ones (Iti. 1-27)". Retrieved April 15, 2007.)
{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link - Thanissaro Bhikkhu (1995). "Dighajanu (Vyagghapajja) Sutta: To Dighajanu (AN 8.54)". Retrieved April 15, 2007.)
{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link - ISBN 955-24-0054-6.
- ^ The actual Pali associated with this sutta is "Piyo ca hoti manāpo ca, garu ca, bhāvanīyo ca, vattā ca, vacanakkhamo ca, gambhīrañca kathaṃ kattā hoti, no ca aṭṭhāne niyojeti." Sri Lanka Buddha Jayanti Tipitaka Series (SLTP). "AN 7.1.4.6, "Bhikkhumitta suttaṃ"". Retrieved October 7, 2006.
- ISBN 1-928706-00-2.
- ^ Buddhaghosa & Ñāṇamoli (1999), pp. 98-99.
- ^ Alexander Berzin. "StudyBuddhism.com". Retrieved June 16, 2016.
- ^ Berzin, Alexander. Relating to a Spiritual Teacher: Building a Healthy Relationship. Ithaca, Snow Lion, 2000
- ^ fwbo.org. "Spiritual Friendship". Retrieved July 27, 2006.
External links
- Friendship Verses about Intimate Friends – Mitra-vargha
- Spiritual Friendship by Bhikkhu Bodhi
- Bullitt, John T. (2005). Admirable friendship: Kalyanamittata [An anthology from the Pali Canon]. Retrieved 20 July 2007 from "Access to Insight" at Admirable friendship: kalyanamittata.
- Subhuti (2001). Good Company [essay on spiritual friendship]. Printed in Dharmalife (No. 17, Winter 2001). Retrieved from "DharmaLife" at Good Company of Dharma Life.