Eknath Easwaran's Commentary
For the long spiritual journey, ongoing support, guidance, and inspiration are necessary for everyone. We all need the support of people who share our aspirations, and to whom we can turn in difficult times. So we should not overlook the importance of spiritual companionship.
Meditating with two or three friends gives tremendous support. When husband and wife practice meditation together, they strengthen one another immeasurably. The challenges of self-transformation become so much easier to bear when we can face them with the support of those we love.
But if we find that there seems to be no one to share our interest in meditation, the important thing is to be patient – to have faith that we will eventually find the spiritual companions that we need. Until then, we can turn to a few invaluable books in which spiritual aspirants share their experiences. These books can become old friends: the writings of Swami Ramdas, the Gospel of Sri Ramakrishna, the works of Saint Teresa of Avila, Of the Imitation of Christ, the teachings of the Buddha, to give a few examples out of a vast storehouse of spiritual wisdom.