According to Osho, being called a friend is thrilling because it marks the highest evolution in spirituality: the end of master–disciple slavery and the honoring of your individuality and freedom. It is challenging because you must rise to equality with a buddha, drop the ego without surrendering your true self, and avoid the subtler, 'holy' ego that traditional surrender often breeds.
It’s exciting to be treated as an equal, but hard because you must keep your ego out while staying truly yourself.