'noble (or good) friend', is called a senior monk who is the mentor and friend of his pupil, "wishing for his welfare and concerned with his progress", guiding his meditation; in particular, the meditation teacher (kammatthānācariya) is so called.

For details see Vis.M. III, 28,57ff.

The Buddha said that "noble friendship is the entire holy life" (S.III.18; S.XLV.2), and he himself is the good friend par excellence: "Ananda, it is owing to my being a good friend to them that living beings subject to birth are freed from birth" (S.III.18).