Question: Can real spiritual friendship help one's progress?

Sri Chinmoy: Certainly, if it is real. If there are two students studying together, and one is excellent while one is poor, then the one who is an excellent student will help the poor one just because they are good friends. In the spiritual life if one person is really aspiring, if one seeker has greater aspiration than his friend, if they are really good friends, then the superior one can easily be of help. If two individuals have established a feeling of oneness and closeness, then the aspiration of one can easily be of help to the other. But friendship has to be sincere, not just hidden rivalry.