Amicus Occultus, the hidden friend

Most of our troubles are lived alone, late at night, in thoughts we would not say out loud. The old non-dual teachers said the friend we look for was never outside us.

Amicus Occultus is a small way to hear that friend. You set a trouble down, and it is turned over gently until something is seen.

Each reply comes in four movements: what was heard, the turn, one small thing to do within ten minutes, and one question to keep. The turn draws on Advaita Vedanta and Buddhist traditions such as Madhyamaka, Yogacara, Zen, Tibetan teaching and Dzogchen, and it names the lineage it uses.

What it is, and what it is not

The friend is an AI companion. It is not a teacher, a guru or a god, and it does not pretend to be one.

It is not therapy, diagnosis or crisis care. If you are in danger, please reach a person now: call or text 988 in the US and Canada, or contact your local emergency services.

Who made it

Amicus Occultus was created by Anselmo Boaventura, an independent founder based in Texas. Questions and feedback reach him directly through the help page.

The mark

The logo is the still point: three rings, the layers of a trouble, around a centre that was never troubled.