Traveling the path with friends

I think it's much easier to travel the Buddhist path with good friends.  Once you've received a practice in Tibetan Buddhism you can go it alone, but you're left to your own afflictions I believe.  But the support of a community is so helpful for that.  As was said by the precious Buddha,

One day Ananda, who had been thinking deeply about things for a while, turned to the Buddha and exclaimed: "Lord, I've been thinking- spiritual friendship is at least half of the spiritual life!" The Buddha replied: "Say not so, Ananda, say not so. Spiritual friendship is the whole of the spiritual life!"

-Samyutta Nikaya, Verse 2


I have recently been relying upon spiritual friends more, and it's so fruitful.  It is so helpful!