Relationship consciousness

Henry Ford is said to have expressed the tenet that it would be easy to hire employees that could manage money, simple to find people who could handle finances, but extremely difficult to locate assistants who could deal with people. In his purport to Srimad Bhagavatam 3.29.17, Srila Prabhupada writes: “Friendship should be cemented between persons with mutual interests and understanding.” Here Srila Prabhupada succinctly states how important friendship is in Krsna consciousness. Of course it has to be based on spiritual knowledge, but nonetheless, it must be genuine friendship. I mention this, because I have noticed that true friendship is sometimes overlooked and often intentionally avoided because it may seem to detract from preaching.