In one of the earliest records of a conversation with the historical Buddha, 2,500 years ago, the Buddha was asked, “What’s the most important thing for a person walking the spiritual path”?

The Buddha replied “Good friends.” I find this to be surprising, and wonderful.

My experience is that having good friends enriches my life, and in so many ways, allows me to accomplish more, with less effort.

I don’t think he meant friends in the ordinary sense. Buddha was a great revolutionary. He developed a completely new and unique way of looking at and working with the human condition -- reducing anxiety, and opening to awakening...

As social entrepreneurs, we too are revolutionaries. We dare to think, talk about, and live values, that have become radical and unique in our culture: equality and justice in the workplace and in society, a healthy and sustainable planet, a profoundly new way of living and working in the world. How about really wild and revolutionary ideas – a world without armies, a world where children are not only well fed, but are trained in skills of wisdom and peacemaking, a world where words like work, joy, satisfaction and compassion flow naturally.

As the Buddha cautioned, this path, the path of revolutionaries, requires “good friends” not only people who support us, but people who speak the truth, question us, push us – friends, truly on the path.

What do you think?