Notebooks of Paul Brunton > Category 1: Overview of the Quest > Chapter 6: Stuent!

"ea#her
Stuent!"ea#her
General notes
1
"he few who have a broa e$perien#e of life% whose reason is suffi#iently alive to &uge
both fruits an roots #orre#tly an whose intuition is suffi#iently a#tive to re#ogni'e
nobility when (eeting it% who want the whole truth an nothing less% will fin a frien
)for he will not wish to be anything (ore* who will e#line to per(it others to hol a
fan#iful vision of an earthly perfe#tion whi#h is non!e$istent+ who will be hu(ble% sane%
an balan#e above all things% an yet prove with ti(e!!if they the(selves prove loyal!!
to be also a sure an benevolent guie in this ark forest where so (any waner
bewilere% e#eive% or self!e#eive, -$#essive unrefle#tive saint!worship raises
e$aggerate an even false hopes, .t has histori#ally often ene with e$ploitation of the
worshipper, But even where it oes not% it is still in#o(patible with healthy self!
evelop(ent+ an affe#tionate respe#t is wiser an safer, /et us not ask a tea#her to be a
go% be#ause thereby we are liable to e#eive an enanger ourselves% but let us ask hi(
to be #o(petent an illu(ine% truthful an helpful an #o(passionate,
0
Not by our own e$ertions alone% an not by the gift or gra#e of an e$ternal being alone%
#an we be brought to final reali'ation% but by both,
1
"hose who #an let the(selves be uplifte by so(e inspire or enlightene person
shoul unerstan that he is #apable of lifting the( to the point of tou#hing their best
self% the ivinity within the(, So(e (ay even gain a gli(pse of it% a (e(orable
unforgettable e$perien#e, But will they let it happen2
3
4e are not left to fin out for ourselves what the truth is, Now an then (essengers
appear a(ong us% ea#h bearing his own personal #o((uni#ation about the e$isten#e of
a higher power an the nee of a higher life,
5
4e (ay help the Overself in rawing us to the goal by surrenering to the guian#e of a
#o(petent spiritual aviser or we (ay obstru#t it by #linging to the ego6s, But an
in#o(petent aviser will also obstru#t it% an in fa#t be#o(e a #hannel for the ego6s
truth!obs#uring ta#ti#s,
6
"he iffi#ulty of the task of self!i(prove(ent is not to be unerrate an it is be#ause
of this as well as for other reasons that seekers sin#e an#ient ti(es have been avise to
obtain the help of a guru, 7ro( hi( they #an get inspiration% guian#e% an a #ertain
telepathi#ally transferre strengthening power whi#h is #alle 8ra#e,
.t is not ne#essary to be living always near a guru in a (onastery as so (any see( to
think, 4hat is really ne#essary is to (eet hi( on this physi#al plane on#e only% even if it
be &ust for five (inutes, 9fter that his help #an be re#eive inwarly an (entally by
telepathy without any further physi#al (eeting, "his is be#ause the real guru is not the
boy% but his inner being% the :in behin the boy% an it is that inner being with
whi#h the seeker (ust try to #o(e into relation, Su#h a relation he buils up hi(self by
his own (ental attitue% by his faith evotion an obeien#e to the way that is shown,
;
4herever there is instru#tion to be got there is an ashra(, 9n whenever you go there
you will get instru#tion fro( the e$perien#es of life, "herefore the whole worl is an
ashra( to a is#erning stuent, :u#h the sa(e applies to the <uestion of a tea#her, Says
a Bengali verse: =4oulst thou (ake obeisan#e to thy (aster% (y heart2 >e is there at
every step% on ea#h sie of thy path, "he wel#o(e offere thee is thy (aster% the agony
infli#te on thee is thy (aster, -very wren#h at thy heartstrings that (aketh the tears
flow is thy (aster,=
?
9ny book or person seen or art prou#tion whi#h re(ins a (an of his iviner self% is to
that e$tent his tea#her, 9ny happening or event or e$perien#e whi#h alienates hi( fro(
su#h re(e(bran#e% whether it be regare by the worl as goo or as evil% likewise is
his tea#her, -ven his own unworthy a#tions will% be#ause of the #onse<uen#es to whi#h
they (ust infallibly lea% also be his tea#hers,
@
"hose whose inner evelop(ent or outer #ir#u(stan#es or personal kar(a have
prepare the( for the truth will #o(e to it anyway: they (ay nee a little proing or a
lot of refle#tion% but in the en they will re#ogni'e it for what it is, But they #onfoun
this re#ognition with the relation of is#ipleship to so(e guru, "he two things nee to
be separate if they are to be #orre#tly unerstoo,
1A
"ea#hing is always available in so(e way or so(e for(% for /ife% through varie
situations% takes #are of its own+ but a "ea#her in his physi#al for( (ay not be available
&ust at the ne#essary point in ti(e, .n that #ase% one (ay be (et through his writings, .f
this oes not happen% he (ay #o(e into the (ental life uring a great anguish or an
enfor#e ina#tivity or an unusual rela$ation or% finally% through or uring (eitation,
11
):ira Bai* =On the way . foun two guies: the spiritual pre#eptors an 8o, "o the
pre#eptors . (ake (y bow, But 8o . keep in (y heart,=
The need for a teacher
10
>appiness epens on our unerstaning of life% unerstaning epens upon the
penetration of insight% insight epens upon right instru#tions re#eive fro( a
#o(petent tea#her,
11
"he inspirational an (oral% the intelle#tual an (eitational helps whi#h a #o(petent
guie #an give to a worthy is#iple are valuable, .f su#h a worthy% honourable% selfless%
e$perien#e% an e$pert guie #an be foun!!an this (ay be #ounte e$#eptionally
goo fortune!!the is#iple shoul #ertainly sub(it to his tutelage an surrener to his
influen#e,
13
"he nee of a saviour arises fro( the fa#t that the ego #annot lift itself by its own
bootstraps% #annot rise out of its own i(ension into a higher one% an will not willingly
en#o(pass its own estru#tion, Bet its spiritual #areer arrives eventually at a point
where it fins an sees that it has one what it #oul% that further efforts are futile% an
that only so(e power outsie itself #an bring about the ne$t forwar (ove, >owever% it
(ay not without self!e#eption e#lare this point to be rea#he when in fa#t it ought to
#ontinue with its strivings+ it (ay not #ease pre(aturely fro( its struggles, .f it oes so%
then it woul be e<ually futile to seek a (aster6s gra#e,
15
"hose who refuse to a(it that a :aster is essential to the neophyte will at least grant
that his ai is avisable, Only a (an severely hani#appe or a fool woul unertake the
stuy an pra#ti#e of (ei#ine% or builing% or of any other art without a tea#her% an
e$pert who has hi(self (astere the sub&e#t, >ow then #an anyone take up the art of
soul!unfol(ent% subtle an re#onite as it is% without reali'ing the usefulness of a
:aster2
16
>eaven lies within an without us% it is true, But in (ost #ases% only by the intervention
of so(e authenti# spiritual genius o we see( able to translate this into a#tuality for
ourselves,
1;
/ife is tea#hing us all the ti(e but its voi#e nees a hu(an being as a (ore ire#t
(eiu(% its lessons nee hu(an spee#h or writing to gain #learer utteran#e,
1?
Nature herself is forever silently voi#ing these (a&esti# truths an if we are unable to
re#eive the( fro( her lips% as we usually are% then we (ust re#eive the( fro( a
tea#her6s lips,
1@
4e know that the (ere reaing of books an &ournals is not enough% an our essential
#onvi#tion )as also the a#knowleg(ent of the Orient sin#e ti(e i((e(orial* is that a
personal guie who #an instru#t an inspire one to travel through the twilit &ungle lan
whi#h lies between ignoran#e an truth is inispensable,
0A
"he (issing ele(ent in (any <uests is the spiritual guie,
01
One of the greatest helps to #onvert our ti(i thoughts an our tre(bling wishes into
ees is the inspiration re#eive fro( a superior (in,
00
:ost (en fin they nee a #on#rete sy(bol to re#eive their evotion an #on#entrate
their aspiration, .n short% they fin they nee a Spiritual /eaer% be he histori#al an of
the past% or #onte(porary an of the present,
01
"he purposes of hu(an evolution re<uire the presen#e at all ti(es through hu(an
history of so(e spiritually fulfille iniviuals to a#t as guies or tea#hers, 9t no perio
has the ra#e been left entirely without the(% no (atter how bleak% how savage% or how
(aterialisti# the perio has been,
03
-very generation has to fin its own way through these (ysteries an to these truths
anew% espite the heavy freight of re#ore tea#hings an revelations whi#h it re#eives
fro( all the previous ones, "his is why new prophets have always been neee to
provie the ol% ol #lues,
05
So(ething or so(eone is neee to raw us fro( the ego to the Overself behin it,
06
4hen he fins out that all his efforts at self!i(prove(ent are (ove(ents aroun a
#ir#le% that the ego oes not really inten to give itself up in surrener to the Overself
an therefore only pretens to o so% he reali'es that left to hi(self he #annot su##ee in
really #hanging his inner #entre of gravity, >elp is neee fro( so(e outsie sour#e if
he is to free hi(self fro( su#h a hopeless position,
0;
.t is sai that wiso( #o(es with e$perien#e, But the sages who offer to i(part it%
whether in person or in writing% (ay save us so(e of the effort an suffering whi#h
a##o(pany e$perien#e,
0?
4hile the rea( is still #ontinuing% he #annot help taking its s#enes an figures as being
<uite real, But if so(eone rings a bell until he awakens fro( the rea(ing state% he will
then see that both s#enes an figures were (ere fig(ents of his own i(agination, .n a
sense% the tea#her of philosophy a#ts as this awakener i% e$#ept that he ire#ts his
efforts to the sense!e#eive #ons#iousness of everyay life,
0@
.t is not enough to set up a spiritual ieal for hi( to attain, >e nees also the
psy#hologi#al help% the e(otional an (ental re!eu#ation whi#h #an re(ove large
obstru#tions to that attain(ent,
1A
No seeker is so wise% so infor(e% so perfe#t% or so balan#e as not to nee the
#onstru#tive #riti#is( an e$pert #ounsel of a true spiritual guie,
11
.f so(eone knows what . o not yet know% if he has troen farther on this path% then it
is well to learn fro( hi( if he will tea#h (e,
10
9 (an nees #o(fort an support in these ti(es (ore than in orinary ti(es, 4here #an
he best fin the(2 By sitting hu(bly in intelle#tual is#ipleship uner those who have
been blesse by the higher power with the revelation of its own e$isten#e, >e #an
absorb fro( the( a #ertitue that the worl is still rule by higher laws an its history
by higher purposes,
11
Su#h is the worl toay% with its tensions an grees% its #onfusions an wrongs% its
ignoran#e an evil!oing% that if anyone has a store of virtue an an awareness of
ivinity% people have nee of the( an hen#e of hi(, "here is too little of the one an
harly any of the other a(ong us,
13
"he instru#tion an #riti#is( of a <ualifie living guie are worth having, But owing to
the rarity of su#h guies% (any seekers are unable to fin one,
15
>e shoul appre#iate the value of fining a (aster worthy of being followe, "he inner
e(an of the one will attra#t in ti(e the outer (eeting with the other,
16
No (ania# #an #ure hi(self, 4e are not leave the treat(ent of hu(anity6s (ania
entirely to the hu(anity the(selves, "he help of sane outsiers is neee, But it shoul
be given inire#tly an unobtrusively,
1;
.f the (ore (ature% oler% an (ore e$perien#e nightingales fin it ne#essary to give
lessons in singing to the younger ones% why not the sa(e situation a(ong hu(an
beings2
1?
.t is the greatest irony of (an6s e$isten#e that in the en he will be save fro( his
(eanness an (isery not by those who shout the louest but by the <uietest% the (ost
silent of his fellows, 7or the power an knowlege whi#h he will gain fro( is#ipleship
with the( will be what he nees above all else!!power over the baseness in hi(self an
knowlege of the ivine 4orl!.ea,
1@
.t is when one rea#hes the en of a parti#ular phase an has first to fin% then to begin a
new one that help fro( outsie is useful, "he sa(e is true when one rea#hes a iffi#ult
pla#e on the Quest, "his help (ay be foun in a book% a le#ture% a guru% a #han#e
(eeting% or in so(e other way,
3A
"he beginner #annot take his lessons fro( the skies, >e has to fin a tea#her% even if
only to i(part the right at(osphere an in#ul#ate the right ieas,
31
"he use of a tea#her is% firstly% suggestive, >is influen#e is a efinite ai to in#line us to
travel along the proper path, .t is% se#only% prote#tive% for uner his #onstant guian#e
we learn to be wary of pitfalls,
30
Not only is the tea#her helpful in pointing out the proper path to be followe an also in
e$posing the errors of the is#iple but further(ore in bestowing upon hi( an i(petus to
the pra#ti#e of (eitation an the strength to obtain the #on#entration re<uire for it,
"he i(petus is neee be#ause through long habit engenere over (any rein#arnations
of the past% (ost people are unbalan#e, "hat is% they are either too e$troverte an
overa#tive with outwar (atters or live in a state of #ontinual (ental restlessness
through being too busy with their own thoughts, "he strength is neee be#ause keeping
the attention along a single tra#k an sustaining it for a #ertain perio is an e$tre(ely
iffi#ult task, On#e the inner #onta#t has been properly establishe% <uite often the (ere
thought of the (aster will be enough to inspire the is#iple an thus give hi( both the
i(petus an the strength re<uire to (ake his atte(pts at (eitation (ore effe#tual,
31
Other results of asso#iating with one who is (ore spiritually avan#e are that it in#ites
a stuent to e$#el hi(self% strengthens hi( in the resolve to pursue the <uest% an fans
the spark of longing for the Civine,
33
.t is sai in the Bogi# an Sufi s#hools that the #o(pany of enlightene (en tens to
arouse those who well in arkness to seek light% as it tens to hasten the evelop(ent
of those who are alreay engage in this sear#h,
35
.n the single (atter of learning (eitation alone one will en#ounter all sorts of obsta#les
within oneself an iffi#ulties without, "hey will be (u#h (ore easily an <ui#kly
over#o(e if one pla#es oneself uner the training of an e$pert pre#eptor whose long
e$perien#e in this (atter an natural gift for guiing others (akes his avi#e (entally
enlightening an pra#ti#ally useful,
36
"he help of a (aster shows itself prin#ipally% an is #hiefly i(portant in% the #ourse
taken by the (in uring (eitation,
3;
One of the #hief benefits of (eeting with an illu(ine book or an inspire (an% is that
su#h an en#ounter opens up the possibility of (oving (ore swiftly fro( a lower to a
higher stanpoint, .t opens up truths whi#h woul orinarily be too far ahea to be
noti#e% thus a#ting like a spiritual teles#ope, .t also brings us fa#e to fa#e with our own
errors in thought an #onu#t, Su#h a (ove(ent (ight otherwise take several years or
so(eti(es a whole lifeti(e, But it re(ains only a possibility, .t is for us to re#ogni'e
the true #hara#ter of the opportunity an for us to grasp an take the fullest avantage of
it,
3?
.t (ay be that he keeps the spiritual <uest in the ba#kgroun of his (in only, .f so he
nees a <ui#kening i(pulse, Su#h an i(pulse #an be given hi( but only by a (aster, >e
i(parts the ne#essary i(petus whi#h helps the stuent towars the reali'ation of his
finest aspirations,
3@
4hoever seeks to raise his own #ons#iousness to the Overself6s% will get (ost help fro(
seeking out an iniviual who has alreay a##o(plishe that task, .n the presen#e of
so(eone whose own #ons#iousness is in the Overself% he will re#eive the inwar
inspiration whi#h #an energi'e an lea his personal efforts in the sa(e ire#tion,
5A
"he entran#e of a book of truth% or of a (an bearing truth% into the aspirant6s life will% at
#ertain perios when he is reay an prepare for further evelop(ent% be like turning
on the light in a roo( to shut out the arkness,
51
"he earnest seeker will get (ore fro( a single (eeting with a truly inspire (an than
fro( attenan#e at a hunre sessions in an organi'e spiritual s#hool or ashra(, 7or
the first will awaken his intuition whereas the se#on will (erely a to his
infor(ation, "he first will really avan#e his progress whereas the se#on will only give
the illusion of oing so, But su#h is the wiesprea ignoran#e an ine$perien#e of these
things% as well as the suggestive power of po(p an prestige% that the organi'e
institution will always attra#t fifty followers where the lone illu(inate will attra#t five,
50
"he (aster #an see the is#iple6s #hara#ter an (otives% hien #o(ple$es an
unreveale weaknesses better than he #an hi(self,
51
>is own little e$perien#e (ay be too li(ite to #o(prehen (ysti#al revelations aright,
Conse<uently he (ay in parts or at ti(es (isinterpret the(, 9 safeguar against this is
first% to #all in the e$perien#e of other seekers% whi#h he (ay o through their books or
spee#h% an se#on% to #all on authority% whi#h he (ay o through &oining his inner life
to a trustworthy tea#her,
53
"he beginning aspirant la#ks the e$perien#e to &uge hi(self aright an even the
inter(eiate la#ks the i(personal view to &uge hi(self #orre#tly,
55
-ven a single (eeting with a (aster is vastly i(portant to the aspirant, >e (ay never
enter into any personal relation with the (aster but that (eeting will alone suffi#e to o
four funa(ental things, .t will vini#ate the value of his aspirations an e(onstrate
their attainability+ it will #onvin#e hi( that the Overself oes e$ist an show hi( in
what ire#tion he is to seek it,
56
4hen he hi(self forgets it% (an is re(ine of his ivine linkage by prophets% tea#hers%
an sages,
5;
One avantage of having a personal tea#her is that% to so(e e$tent% you #an wat#h his
(in work,
5?
9 hu(an #hannel is neee for the superhu(an inspiration% gra#e% tea#hing% or
revelation be#ause the re#ipient (ins are not suffi#iently sensitive% pure% or prepare to
re#eive it ire#tly for the(selves,
5@
So long as e$perien#e an results have not establishe suffi#ient #onfien#e in his
intuitive guian#e an suffi#ient trust in his philosophi# knowlege% he nees to
#ontinue travelling with a tea#her,
6A
"he (aster is the wonerful #atalyst who (akes possible a <ui#kene evelop(ent% an
inspire renewal of the aspirant6s inner life,
61
"ea#hing is ne#essary, >ow #an those who o not know the true #ause of their
affli#tions know the way out of the(2 So(eone (ust warn the(% so(eone (ust awaken
the(,
60
4hat the earnest (in is struggling to for(ulate to itself vaguely an un#ertainly an
un#learly% the tea#her states e#isively% assurely% an efinitely,
61
9 phrase or two% #o(ing fro( an inspire (an% (ay set a sub#ons#ious pro#ess working
in the (in of another an lea hi( in the en to a#<uire a new truth or a new view,
63
"hose who #o(e forwar as gurus riven by the ego% the a(bitions% an ulterior
(otives are not gurus at all, "hey are trespassers on a fine vo#ation, 4e (ust re(e(ber
that those who work to earn a livelihoo an #o(e ho(e tire have not the ti(e or
strength to think for the(selves or to sear#h for the(selves, 7or the( the reay!(ae
support of establishe religion is inee helpful% while the guian#e of sin#ere%
#o(petent% an available tea#hers is even (ore sought for,
65
"o follow one6s own path% re&e#ting the iea of seeking the e$pert help% teste
knowlege% an a##u(ulate e$perien#e of a :aster is to follow a hapha'ar #ourse of
trial an error, "he eter(ination to (aintain su#h inepenen#e an to (ake one6s way
by one6s own effort is not of (u#h use, One will be far better off working uner
guian#e than without it,
66
9n aspirant is (ost fortunate if he has been le safely upwars past the elusory
sietra#ks an bypaths whi#h etain so (any other seekers, Only in this way #an his
#ons#iousness arrive at what really #onstitutes the >ighest "ruth,
6;
9t a #ertain stage in the life of the aspirant it is of the ut(ost i(portan#e to hi( that he
i(prove his #hara#ter an kar(a, "his% neither he nor anyone #an hope to o so
effe#tively alone as when stuying uner a genuine tea#her, .n the latter #ase% it is
possible for hi( to a##o(plish within a relatively short ti(e that whi#h woul
orinarily re<uire (any (ore years of flounering self!effort,
6?
Sri Da(akrishna on#e sai: =9 (an who hi(self approa#hes 8o with eep longing for
>i(% an earnest prayer% will fin >i( even if he has no guru,= 4hen aske why a
tea#her was ne#essary at all% he replie% =Eery few people have this eep yearning an
therefore the guru is ne#essary for the(,= By this he (eant that the tea#her inspires an
en#ourages seekers of 8o not to give up when the going is iffi#ult% but to sti#k to the
Quest% regarless of the (any long years it inevitably takes,
6@
.t is always pleasant to learn that a seeker has foun a goo tea#her, .t (ay be pu''ling
then to hear that the tea#her #an no longer #ontinue with his pupil, >owever% in su#h a
#ase% the iniviual shoul not be unne#essarily istresse% be#ause he #an (ost
#ertainly #ontinue to (ake progress on the Quest irrespe#tive of whether or not he has
an outwar tea#her, 9ll he nees to o is to pray hu(bly to 8o% whose love an
forgiveness will a##o(pany hi( always where a hu(an tea#her6s #annot,
;A
4e o not go all the way with the "ibetan saying that =without the guru you #annot get
liberation%= but we o go part of the way,
;1
"he nee of a guie an (entor is obvious but this is no reason to e$aggerate it to the
e$tent that so (any have one,
;0
.s there then no real nee of a (aster2 "he answer is =NoF= for so(e (en but =BesF= for
(ost (en, >e is neee to wake up the sleeper by telling hi( the highest truth from the
very first time% an then es#en by egrees to the stages while still holing on to the
truth, "he (aster serves only by showing a seeking person his real self% his Overself: or
holing a (irror up to hi(, "his #an be #alle% also% giving hi( a =gli(pse%= or% (ore
truthfully% being use by the higher power as a vehi#le to o so,
;1
>e who is working uner the guian#e of a (aster is not e$e(pt fro( (aking (istakes%
but he will (ake fewer an e$pose the( sooner an #orre#t the( <ui#ker than he who is
not,
;3
. write all this in no sneering or isparaging (anner% but rather as one who unerstans
sy(patheti#ally the nee of (ost beginners an (any inter(eiates to fin guian#e
outsie the(selves for the all!suffi#ient reason that they #annot fin it insie, .nee it
is be#ause . have been a is#iple that . (yself know why others be#o(e one% an #an
approve of their a#tion, But that e$perien#e is also why . know the li(itations an
isservi#es of a is#ipleship,
;5
"o say that no tea#her is ne#essary is to set oneself up as a tea#her by that very
state(ent,
;6
"he original Shankara% 9i Shankara% (ae it an absolute ne#essity that whoever sought
to reali'e the spiritual "ruth (ust seek out a guru, "his in&un#tion has hypnoti'e the
.nians who #a(e after hi( as it hypnoti'e those before his ti(e be#ause it was lai
own in the Mundaka Upanishad long% long before, Shankara even warne his reaers
an hearers that even an e$pert stuent of the Vedas shoul not engage in su#h a sear#h
by hi(self, Bet there are several #ases in .nian history where (en have e$perien#e
this reali'ation without any guru whatever,
;;
Self!instru#tion #annot be as #orre#t an effi#a#ious as instru#tion by an e$pert% a
spe#ialist% or a fully e$perien#e person who #an also #o((uni#ate ae<uately as a
tea#her,
;?
4e nee to buil up an inti(ate inner relationship with a being whose #o(passion is
wie enough to unerstan us an whose power is evelope enough to help us, .t oes
not (atter that he is ea,
;@
"hose who know only a single (oe of living% that of the e$trovert% or a single (oe of
thinking% that whi#h is sense!base% nee to e$pose the(selves for suffi#ient ti(e to the
influen#e of a spiritual (aster before they #an begin to be#o(e even i(ly aware that
they have a soul, But sin#e a fully evolve (aster is har to fin% so(ething else (ust
a#t as his ne$t best substitute, "his (ust ne#essarily be an inspire writing prou#e by
su#h a (an,
?A
"he truth is that nearly all aspirants nee the help of e$pert hu(an guies an printe
books when they are a#tively seeking the Spirit% an of printe books at least when they
are (erely beginning to seek,)P*
Books as teachers
?1
.t is not essential to fin a tea#her in the flesh!!he (ay be in print, 9 book (ay be#o(e
a <uite effe#tive tea#her an guie,
?0
.n the absen#e of a sage6s personal so#iety% one (ay have re#ourse to the best
substitute!!a sage6s printe writings,
?1
:ost stuents seeking inspiration have no other #hoi#e than re#ourse to the printe
wors,
?3
Books are (ost useful to those who% whether by ne#essity through la#k of sin#ere
#o(petent instru#tion or by #hoi#e% to avoi narrow se#tarianis(% seek the goal by
the(selves,
?5
.nspire te$ts% portions of s#riptures% great (en6s writings an sayings offer guian#e on
the #ourse of a#tion to be followe% the ethi#al #onsierations to be heee% the
e#isions to be (ae uner #ertain pressures% #rises% or #onfrontations!!e#isions whose
#onse<uen#es are often <uite grave, 4ho #an pri#e the value of su#h reaings at su#h
ti(es2
?6
"he personal #onta#t with a (aster oes not ne#essarily re<uire a fa#e!to!fa#e (eeting,
.t #an also be effe#te through a letter written by hi(!!nay% to so(e egree% even
through a book written by hi(, 7or his (in in#arnates itself in these prou#tions, "hus%
those who are prevente by #ir#u(stan#es fro( (eeting hi( physi#ally% (ay (eet hi(
(entally an gain the sa(e results,
?;
"he perspi#a#ious stuent will #ling steafastly throughout his life to the writings of
illu(ine (asters% returning to the( again an again, "heir works are the truest of all%
pure gol an not alloys,
??
"here are (en whose thought went eeper an unerstoo (ore #learly than that of
their fellows, "heir re#or e$ists% their sayings an writings also, "heir stuy is
worthwhile% their pre#epts #an be put to the test in pra#ti#al everyay living,
?@
.n these books the voi#e of (en who were spiritually illu(inate long ago speaks to
hi(, "hey are the only way in whi#h it #an speak to hi( toay, "herefore he shoul
respe#t an #herish the(,
@A
"hose who have towere above all other (en as :asters% who have left re#ors of their
path an of its attain(ent% #an be goo guies,
@1
4hy not (ake these great (en your tea#hers through their preserve tea#hings2 4hy
not be the is#iple of So#rates% Buha% Saint Paul% an o'ens of others2
@0
>owever istant a tea#her (ay be% whether in #ountry or #entury% by (eans of this
written re#or he is able to help whoever is willing to len his ti(e an eyes,
@1
.f a book gives #orre#t tea#hing about the <uest an ne#essary warning about its pitfalls%
it shoul be stuie with proper #are an respe#t,
@3
9 (an #an take fro( the printe wor what he is unable to hear fro( the spoken wor,
@5
"he truth!seeker will be wise to (ake use of su#h outwar helps as appeal to hi(, "hey
(ay be the written wor% the printe book% the (ole statuette% the pi#torial
representation% or the hu(an photograph!!always provie they are referable to a
genuinely inspire sour#e, >e shoul stuy the wors an works% the lives an e$a(ples
of pra#tising (ysti#s% an follow in their footsteps,
@6
8oo books are not to be isaine% espite #onte(ptuous referen#es by fanati#al
(ysti#s or ill!balan#e as#eti#s, Negatively% they will warn hi( against (isleaing
ele(ents likely to #ause a eviation fro( his #orre#t #ourse, Positively% they will guie
hi( where no personal guie is available,
@;
But he (ust beware of i(agining that the pleasure he erives fro( spiritual reaing is
any sign that he is (aking progress in spiritual living, .t is easier to rea lofty thoughts
than to think the( out for oneself% an to live the( is the (ost iffi#ult of all,
@?
Books% too% serve as guies if they are properly use% that is% if their li(itations are
re#ogni'e an if their authors6 li(itations are a#knowlege, .n the first #ase it is the
intelle#t6s own inability to trans#en thought that stops it fro( reali'ing truth, .n the
se#on #ase it is the evolutionary status of the (an6s ego% an the a##ura#y of his
attitues!!the(selves vi#ti(s or #ontrollers of his e(otions% passions!!whi#h (atter, 7or
if his (in #annot register the i(pa#t of truth% be#ause of the blo#kage set up partially
or even all aroun hi(% the author6s work will refle#t his ignoran#e, >e #annot tea#h
what he oes not know+ his own (ental obs#urity #an lea only to the reaer6s obs#urity,
Bet su#h is the e#eptiveness of thought% that a wrong or false iea (ay be re#eive an
hel in the (in uner the belief that it is a right or true one,
@@
Book tea#hing is too general, .t (akes no allowan#e for iniviual ifferen#es% for the
wie variation fro( one person to another, .t is always ne#essary for the reaers to aapt
the tea#hing to their own se$% age% #hara#ter% strength% an #ir#u(stan#es,
1AA
"he very fine writings of philosophers an (ysti#s of all ti(es (ay bring into one6s life
so(e e(otional inspirational an intelle#tual guian#e% even% possibly% sti(ulating his
power of will, "hrough the long% unavoiable years of struggle on the Quest% they #an%
to that e$tent% a#t the part of a tea#her or guie, >owever% it (ust be re(e(bere that
so(e are infinitely (ore worthwhile than others% an it is essential for one to be able to
is#ri(inate between what is true an helpful an what is false an worthless,
1A1
"hese sub&e#ts are be#o(ing (ore wiely known an (ore stuie than they were a
half!#entury ago, "here has been <uite a flow of literature% original works%
#o((entaries% an translations in our ti(e (aking both (ysti#al an philosophi# ieas
(ore available,
1A0
4ith the universal sprea of ele(entary eu#ation% an the issue of #heaper paper!
#overe te$ts an translations% it is now possible for (ost earnest seekers living in the
free #ountries to #o(e into possession of the tea#hing,
1A1
.f he #annot unerstan the (ore intelle#tual portions of these books he shoul not
worry be#ause they are written for ifferent #lasses an those portions whi#h he #annot
follow are parti#ularly aresse to highbrows an have to be e$presse in a (ore
#o(pli#ate an s#ientifi# style,
1A3
.f the literature on these sub&e#ts is so (u#h larger toay% the proble( of #hoosing
#orre#tly what is (ost reliable is so (u#h (ore iffi#ult,
1A5
"he writings of these :asters help both the (oral nature an the intelle#tual (in of the
responsive an sensitive% who are e$#ite to the sa(e eneavour% e$hilarate to the
sa(e level% an urge to reali'e the sa(e ieas, "hese stan out fro( all other writings
be#ause they #ontain vivi inspiration an true thought,
1A6
7ro( these great writings% he will re#eive i(pulses of spiritual renewal, 7ro( these
strong paragraphs an lovely wors he will re#eive in#ite(ent to (ake hi(self better
than he is, "heir every page will #arry a (essage to hi(+ inee% they will see( to be
written for hi(,
1A;
One of the helps to kinle this spark into a fla(e is the reaing of inspire literature%
whether s#ripture or not!!the (ental asso#iation through books with (en who have
the(selves been wholly possesse by this love,
1A?
4ith su#h books he will feel for a while better than he is% wiser than he is,
1A@
-very book whi#h sti(ulates aspiration an wiens refle#tion oes spiritual servi#e an
a#ts as a guru,
11A
9 #han#e phrase in su#h an inspire writing (ay give a (an the guian#e for whi#h he
has long been waiting,
111
"he wors of inspire (en are like a lighthouse to those seekers who are still groping in
the ark,
110
Perhaps one pri(e value of a book is its power to re(in stuents of funa(ental
prin#iples an its ability to re#all the( to the leaing points of this tea#hing% for these
are easily lost or overlooke a(i the press of aily business,
111
>e will raw fro( su#h reaing the in#entive to keep on with his <uest an the #ourage
to set higher goals,
113
.t (ay not be in the power of any pie#e of writing to guie a (an all the way along this
<uest but it #ertainly is in its power to give hi( general ire#tion an spe#ifi# warning,
115
/et hi( stuy the literature of (ysti#al an philosophi# #ulture to be#o(e better
infor(e about the Quest% about its nature an goal% an about hi(self,
116
By #o(paring what is es#ribe in the books with what he has so far e$perien#e for
hi(self% an aspirant (ay #he#k an #orre#t his #ourse,
11;
"hose who were awakene by this reaing #oul then look elsewhere for the personal
guian#e they seek,
11?
"hrough a book help is given without involving the helper in the personal lives of the
reaers% but through a letter or a (eeting involve(ent begins,
Issues in seeking a teacher
11@
.t is a (an6s own fault if% through his failure to seek spiritual guian#e or unerstaning%
none is vou#hsafe to hi(, =9sk% an it shall be given unto you%= sai Gesus in this
referen#e% whi#h #o(ple(ents an is ne#essary to the assertion of the Chinese sage:
="hose who know o not speak,=
10A
.t is sai% =4hen a pupil is reay% the :aster appears,= "his (eans that su#h is the
wonerful sensitivity of the (in% su#h is the reality of telepathi# power% that when a
(an6s sear#h for truth has rea#he a #risis% he will (eet the (an who or the book whi#h
#an best resolve that #risis, But the #risis itself (ust be fille with un#ertainty an
oubt% with helplessness an espair before the (ysterious for#es of the Overself will
begin to (ove towars his relief, .t shoul see( to hi( the (ost (o(entous
#onse<uen#e that it shall be brought to a satisfa#tory en% if life in the future is to have
any (eaning for hi( at all, "here (ust be a sense of inner loneliness so a#ute that outer
loneliness #o(pares as nothing with it, "here (ust be no voi#e within his worl whi#h
#an speak to his #onition, "his #riti#al perio (ust fill his (in with e$aggeration of
its own self!i(portan#e to su#h an e$tent as to blot out every other value fro( life, .t
will be at su#h an opportune (o(ent% when his sear#h for truth will be (ost intense an
the re<uire preparation for (eeting its bearer (ost #o(plete% that the bearer hi(self
will arise an bring into his night the &oyful tiings of awn, "he influen#e of su#h a
(an or his book at su#h a perio is in#al#ulable, -(erson gives its inner(ost (eaning
in his lines% =.f we re#all the rare hours when we en#ountere the best persons% we there
foun ourselves, , , , 8o6s greatest gift is a "ea#her,= "he seeker knows at last that even
if he has not foun the truth he is at least on the way to fining it, >e has begun to fin
har(ony with hi(self,
101
.f the strong yearning for truth be absent% a (an (ay (eet a thousan (asters of the
<uest but he will neither re#ogni'e the( for what they are nor e$perien#e any e$altation
in their presen#e, "his yearning (ust inee be as strong as the hunger of a starving
(an or the esperation of a traveller lost in the esert,
100
"here has arisen too (u#h har( an e$ploitation fro( the tea#her!seeking attitue of
so(e, 7irstly% the re<uest for a tea#her shoul arise fro( a eep% sustaine% an urgent
sense of neeing su#h help!!not (erely for the sake of having one,
101
.n obeien#e to this inner urge he shoul take a path whi#h will lea hi( to the
frienship of the few sages living in his ti(e an bring hi( to their feet,
103
"he (an who begins to feel this nee in hi(self shoul seek out spiritual ire#tion, >e
shoul fin an authoritative sour#e to instru#t hi( in spiritual truth an to #lear up his
<uestions,
105
Contrary to #o((on belief% the tea#her is not foun in the inner psy#hi# life first an
then the is#overy refle#te in the outer physi#al life later, >e is (et first in the flesh+
but the is#overy (ust eventually be#o(e a settle psy#hi# fa#t before any real
relationship #an be establishe between the two, >e (ust be foun unshakeably
establishe in the inner(ost epths of the heart as a presen#e an in the ba#kgroun of
the (in as a pi#ture,
106
>is esperate nee rives hi( to go in sear#h of help wherever he #an fin it,
10;
>is Overself (ay lea hi( to seek an fin another (an who shall be its inter(eiary
with hi(: its representative to hi(% its i(age for hi(,
10?
9 knowlege worth unerstaning is not less i(portant than a tea#her worth seeking,
10@
.f a seeker believes that he has a#hieve a #ertain e$tent of self!preparation an self!
purifi#ation% if he is #onvin#e of the esperate nee of a (aster% an if he oes not
su##ee in fining a worthy one% then let hi( pray for help in the (atter,
11A
.t is not enough to try to follow the #ounsel given by prophets% (ysti#s% an sages% to
look within, .t is ne#essary also to look eep enough an long enough to get really
worthwhile results, "his applies &ust as (u#h to the sear#h for help as to the sear#h for
truth,
111
"he iniviual seeking a tea#her (ust not be isappointe nor is#ourage if he is not
a##epte as a pupil, Prayer an aspiration ire#te towar the >igher Self will bring the
sought!for guian#e fro( within, :oreover% he (ay have been given help of whi#h he
is as yet unaware an% eventually% this will #o(e through into his #ons#ious (in, >e
shoul not e$aggerate the nee for a tea#her, Hlti(ately% his evelop(ent will epen
on prin#iples rather than on personalities,
110
"he seeker shoul resolve to appeal ire#tly by #onstant aspiration an prayer to his
own higher self% in the knowlege that it alone #an help hi( if he is to work without a
tea#her, On the other han% if his kar(a has e#ree that he is to have a guie% his higher
self will bring before hi( the (ental i(age or intuitive thought of the :aster, .f this
happens% he will not nee to seek out the :aster6s physi#al person+ the inner pi#ture will
bring results,
111
9lthough it is true that (eeting with inspire (en oes arouse so(e persons for the first
ti(e to the nee of a higher life% it is also true that eep probing woul show to what a
large e$tent previous events or refle#tions ha alreay (entally le su#h persons to the
verge of this nee, "he inspire tea#her oes not #reate it, >e only ini#ates it, 7ate
brings hi( at the right (o(ent into the other person6s life to enable this to be one,
113
9n so(ewhere% so(eti(e% for every (an who sin#erely seeks there (ust #o(e a
8uie% (erely be#ause this personal opening of the gate is part of Nature6s progra(,
115
9t ti(es it see(s to hi( that the help pro(ise hi( has not (ateriali'e, "his is his
opinion, But it (ay also be that his ego was so strong that the help #oul not rea#h hi(
be#ause the ego stoo in the way too obstinately, .n any #ase it shoul have been (ae
#lear to hi( in books an #onversations that the avan#e (ysti# is not a :aster but
only a fellow stuent, .f he #oul not get the re<uire help fro( su#h a one he (ust
a##ept the fa#t that it si(ply was not (eant to be,
116
-ven when a tea#her is foun he (ay be a (aster of one path only an unable to guie
aspirants properly along those with whi#h they have iniviual affinity an for whi#h
they have the re<uisite (ental or e(otional or volitional #apa#ity,
11;
9nother false iea is that the (asters seek out is#iples% (ake the avan#e towars
the(% whether =astrally= or physi#ally, On the #ontrary% aspirants (ust take the first step
the(selves% (ust re<uest a##eptan#e,
11?
4ith all (y 4estern eu#ation an intelle#tual outlook% . a( still si(ple enough to
believe% with -astern people% that it is worthwhile (aking a &ourney to get the blessing
of a superior person,
11@
But although philosophers o not engage in (aking proselytes or in starting #rusaes%
the (an who is attra#te by any tenet of philosophy will sooner or later fin so(eone
who will be reay to e$plain or is#uss it with hi(,
13A
4hen it is sai that the reainess of the seeker eter(ines the appearan#e of the (aster%
this applies to the first funa(ental initiation of his spiritual life, .t oes not (ean that a
(aster will #o(e into his town an seek hi( out% but that he will #o(e into his life, 9n
this (ay be brought about in various ways!!as by the seeker hi(self being le% either by
worlly #ir#u(stan#es or by his own seeking% out of his own town to the town or
#ountry where the (aster is living,
131
"he lo#ation of his spiritual guie will in part be the a##ient of his own geographi#al
situation% for he will obviously be li(ite in his sele#tion to possibilities an reputations
in his own #ountry or nation or ra#e, "he sheer physi#al an finan#ial iffi#ulties of
travelling throughout the worl!!not to (ention the obsta#les of personal #ir#u(stan#e%
fa(ily obligations% an ignoran#e of where to sear#h an who( to approa#h in foreign
lans% #o(bine to set this li(itation upon his in<uiry an hen#e upon his opportunity,
130
.t is foolish to seek holiness geographi#ally or holy (en in parti#ular pla#es, . have
foun that one (an (ay live in a >i(alayan aboe an be a s#ounrel an another (an
(ay live in a Bowery slu( an be a saint, 4herever they live% (en always #arry their
own thoughts an their own selves with the(, "he Soul% whi#h is the ob&e#t of our
<uest% is within us, "he :aster% who is to guie us upon our <uest% will appear whenever
we are reay for hi( an wherever we happen to live!!or else we will be le to hi(,
"here are (en in the 4est% in -urope an 9(eri#a% not less wise an noble than any
(en in "ibet an .nia, .f we have not (et the(% =the fault% Cear Brutus is , , , in
ourselves%%= pri(arily in our unworthiness% an se#onarily in our in#apa#ity to
re#ogni'e what is beneath the surfa#e,
131
.t is not ne#essary in the (oern 4est to follow the Oriental #usto( of living with or
near the "ea#her, >owever% it is avisable to try to arrange a (eeting% even if only for a
few (inutes, 4hen this is i(possible% one substitute is to enter into a written
#orresponen#e with hi(!!an to keep his photograph in a hallowe pla#e where one6s
eyes fall fre<uently upon it an one is thus re(ine (any ti(es a ay of the nee to
work #ontinuously at i(proving oneself an one6s #hara#ter,
133
"he effe#t of the first (eeting with a (aster faes off with ti(e% like the effe#t of a
(ysti#al gli(pse, 4hen that happens it nees to be renewe by another (eeting% an
that again in turn still later by a thir,
135
.t is right an &ust that the arent aspirations of a sin#ere #aniate shoul eventually
bring hi( a rewaring (eeting in person with so(eone (ore avan#e or in print with
a <ualifie is#iple, .f he (erits (ore% if he as preparation to his aspirations% then a
personal (eeting with su#h a is#iple (ay follow, But it is wrong an un&ust for hi( to
be too e(aning, >e shoul e$pe#t further (eetings only as he works upon hi(self
enough to be worthy of the(% as well as only as the is#iple has ti(e to spare for the(,
9n if he is so fortunate as to (eet an aept% he shoul be satisfie with that single
(eeting,
136
Su#h a (eeting always brings #ertain tests with it an usually leas either to a powerful
enhan#e(ent of the relation or to an abrupt #an#ellation of it altogether, "his is be#ause
the tests arise fro( the power of opposition,
13;
"he beginner who ventures out in <uest of a tea#her (ay have to stu(ble fro( #harlatan
to in#o(petent until he either fins the right one or abanons the effort as i(possible,
13?
.n (ost of the other affairs of life we fin it ne#essary to use the servi#es of spe#ialists,
Gust so% here, 4e surrener our boy to the surgeon, 4e (ust surrener our (in to the
spiritual guie, Both% if in#o(petent or uns#rupulous% (ay (ai( us for life, .t is of the
greatest i(portan#e therefore to e$er#ise right &uge(ent in the #hoi#e of one or the
other,
13@
4hen Cillip Doy% a fa(ous Bengali (usi#ian% first #a(e to Sri 9urobino for an
interview% the latter sai: =Bou (ust tell (e #learly what it is e$a#tly that you seek an
why you want to o (y yoga, Seekers approa#h yoga with iverse ai(s, So(e want to
get away fro( life, Others aspire after supre(e bliss, Bet others want yoga power or
knowlege or a poise i(pervious to the sho#ks of life, So you (ust first be efinite as to
what% pre#isely% you seek in yoga,=
15A
.f he falls into the wrong hans% or if he lets hi(self be guie by an in#o(petent
a(ateur instea of a wise an e$pert (an% his way will be hinere an even the goo
he thinks he oes get will turn out to be evil,
151
>e shoul be eter(ine to wait #al(ly for the assent of his whole being before he
(akes a e#ision whi#h (ust ne#essarily an tre(enously affe#t his whole future,
150
:ost people rea#t strongly to these gurus!!either e(phati# re&e#tion straightway or
infatuate a##eptan#e superfi#ially, 9 #lear per#eption whi#h is una##o(panie by
sitting in &uge(ent or rushing into a#<uies#en#e% whi#h &ustly notes what is%
unieali'e yet unbiase evaluation% is rare,
151
"he orinary aspirant% whose intuition is not suffi#iently evelope% shoul test the (an
he proposes to a##ept as his (aster, "his will re<uire hi( to wat#h the other #losely for
a perio of ti(e, .n so(e #ases a week will give the answer% in others three (onths will
be neee, .n all #ases% the aspirant ought not #o((it hi(self until he has ha enough
evien#e that he is #o((itting hi(self rightly,
153
Cis#ri(ination is of ut(ost i(portan#e in the sele#tion of a spiritual path an "ea#her,
One (ust apply all his intelligen#e an intuition% #aution an #o((on sense to a
e#ision of su#h #onse<uen#e,
155
"hose who la#k the innate is#ern(ent or wie e$perien#e neee to ete#t the real
#hara#ter an true #apa#ity of a (aster% shoul wait suffi#iently long an seek outsie
avi#e before entrusting the(selves to hi(,
156
"he faith that the Overself is working through a parti#ular (an #an be teste for its
valiity by wat#hing% for a suffi#ient length of ti(e% what happens to those who re&e#t
hi( utterly or respon to hi( arently,
15;
.n their e$#essive eagerness to is#over a (aster% they fail to pra#tise is#ern(ent,
15?
But to wait for the true (aster re<uires a #ertain patien#e an strength,
15@
9 true sage is har to fin, 9 false one% rooling his plagiaris(s or his platitues% is easy
to fin,
16A
Gust be#ause a (an happens to feel he has attaine happiness or truth% is no suffi#ient
groun for a##epting that he has one so, >e #oul get the sa(e feeling out of the self!
betraying attain(ent of the illusion of happiness an the illusion of truth, >en#e we
have not only to over#o(e the iffi#ulty of fining honest an isintereste spiritual
guian#e but also the iffi#ulty of fining #o(petent une#eive guian#e,
161
"his proble( of fining a (aster in what is al(ost a (asterless worl% is a iffi#ult one,
"he only realisti# suggestion whi#h #an be given is to sele#t so(eboy in who( you
have so far been able to pla#e (ost #onfien#e, But if su#h a person oes not e$ist% then
sele#t the book whi#h helps you (ost an (ake it your tutor,
160
"he ne$t best thing to stuying uner a tea#her% if the latter is not available% is to
asso#iate with his (ental i(age% where the latter is available through a previous
(eeting, .f% however% even this is not possible then the seeker shoul stuy the tea#her6s
writings, .n this way the tea#her takes the is#iple by the han through the (eiu( of
the printe wor,
161
"he seeker who is fu(bling for the right ire#tion to take shoul wel#o(e the help of a
#o(petent guie, But where su#h a guie is not personally forth#o(ing% the best
substitute is a personal is#iple of his or% failing that% a book written by hi(,
163
"he is#iples6 #ase!histories of a spiritual guie% like the patients6 #ase!histories of a
(ei#al physi#ian% are always instru#tive an signifi#ant,
165
9s to the public tea#hers of the o##ult% there are none in the 4est really #o(petent to
lea people into truth% whatever their #lai(s (ay be, "he real tea#hers are so rare
nowaays that it is al(ost i(possible to fin the(, .n these #ir#u(stan#es it is safer an
wiser to #onfine oneself to the stuy of authoritative books rather than to asso#iate with
inferior sour#es of help,
166
"he seeker who has gone unsatisfie fro( #ult to #ult for several years shoul waste no
further ti(e seeking 8o through su#h organi'ations or through self!na(e :asters but
shoul strive earnestly to purify his heart of all lower feelings% su#h as anger% envy%
irritability% fear% an epression% an work #onstantly on his #hara#ter to i(prove it,
9fter vigorously oing this for at least si$ (onths he (ay begin to pray aily for further
guian#e,
16;
.t is often sai that when the pupil is reay the :aster will appear, But . have not yet
rea anyone6s aitional state(ent!!that he (ay be invisible an unhearable!!that is% he
(ay be entirely within you,
16?
. o not say that fining the (aster internally in this (anner is the best way% but that for
(any seekers it is the only way, "heir own li(itations #o(bine with estiny to (ake it
so,
16@
.f it is his estiny to fin a (aster only in the (in an not in the boy% if #ir#u(stan#es
for#e hi( to sear#h internally an not e$ternally% then he will be wise to a##ept the
leaing an not rebel against it, 7or he will fin that% faithfully followe% it will bring
hi( to a vivi presen#e within% a voi#e that guies where there is see(ingly none to
guie,
1;A
.n (any (atters it is neeful to sub(it to the will of estiny, >e shoul know% however%
that by the right (ental attitue% the inner #onta#t an the inner (eeting #an be obtaine
even if the outer #annot, "hat inner (eeting% after all% is the real one!!(ore real than the
physi#al, .t is enough to have ha a single physi#al (eeting to re#eive ever afterwars
the possibility of this inner #onta#t,
1;1
"he truth is that the :aster (ay appear in three ways: first% inwarly alone for the
whole lifeti(e+ se#on% inwarly at first as =the .nterior 4or= an then later as the
physi#ally e(boie hu(an guie+ thir% as the e(boie :aster fro( the very
beginning, "he first two #ases presuppose the pra#ti#e of (eitation an its
evelop(ent to a #ertain egree of intensity, "he thir #ase nees no prior (eitation
but it oes re<uire an attitue of sear#h for truth% help% or guian#e evelope to as great
an intensity as in the other #ases,
1;0
"he iffi#ulty whi#h you (ention about fining a tea#her nee not be overrate, Bou
have within yourself a ray of 8o% whi#h is your own soul, .f you pray to an besee#h it
#onstantly for guian#e% it will surely lea you to all that you really nee to know,
1;1
9ll seeking an fining of spiritual instru#tion through a spiritual tea#her be#o(es real%
in the en% on a (ental plane only, "herefore he shoul ire#t his efforts in that ire#tion
with #o(plete faith,
1;3
"hose whose <uest of the Overself through a (aster has faile the( shoul take this
very failure as instru#tion on the <uest itself, /et the( re(e(ber that 8o is
everywhere present% that there is no spot where 8o is not, "herefore% 8o is in the(
too, "his inwelling presen#e is the Soul, /et the( turn to it ire#tly% no longer seeking
so(eone else to a#t as an inter(eiary% no longer running here an there in sear#h of
hi(, Gust where they are now is pre#isely where they (ay establish #onta#t with 8o
through their own Soul, /et the( pray to it alone% (eitate on it% obey its intuitive
behests% an they will not nee any hu(an agent, 7ro( this (o(ent they shoul look to
no one else% shoul follow the Buha6s avi#e to epen on their own for#es, But sin#e
these are lying latent within an nee to be arouse% the aspirants nee to e$ert
the(selves through physi#al regi(es that will provie the energies neee for this great
effort,
1;5
.f you #an fin so(eone whose person attra#ts you (ost% or whose tea#hings appeal to
you (ore than those of others% or whose writings inspire you above all other (en6s
writings% then (ake hi( your spiritual guie, Bou o not have to apply for his
per(ission for it is to be one within the priva#y of your own inner life, Bou are not
epenent on his personal a##eptan#e or re&e#tion for the iea of hi( whi#h you believe
in an the i(age of hi( whi#h you for( to be#o(e alive an effe#tual, But% you will
ob&e#t% is not the whole pro#ess a self!e#eptive one an oes it not lea to worthless
hallu#ination2 4e reply% it #oul be#o(e that if you (isuse it an (isinterpret its
results% but it nee not if you work it aright, 7or telepathy is a fa#t, Bour faith in% an
re(e(bran#e of% the other (an lays a #able fro( your inner being to his own an there
will flow ba#k along it a response to your attitue,
1;6
"hose who seek a tea#her (ay be re(ine that they (ay take anyone who appeals to
or inspires the(% an by their own (ental attitue of faith in an evotion towars hi(%
together with obeien#e to his publishe tea#hings% raw inner help an inspiration
telepathi#ally fro( hi(, "hus they #reate for the(selves a (ental relationship whi#h% to
that e$tent% is not ifferent fro( what woul have #o(e into being as part of the regular
tea#her!is#iple relationship, "hey nee also to be re(ine that even after a physi#al
(eeting% in all #ases a tea#her #an be foun only when they are suffi#iently sensitive to
have the #apa#ity to feel his (ental presen#e within the(selves an when they are
suffi#iently evelope to be reay for hi(, "he (ost pra#ti#al #ourse for (ost seekers is
to engage in the work of self!i(prove(ent,
1;;
4hat is the hope for those who are unable to enter the shrine of (ysti#is( an have left
the fol of religion2 9re they to be abanone to a bleak espair or a har #yni#is(2
9re they to be#o(e engulfe in the waters of (oral wi#keness2 No% let the( take the
unseen han of a personal saviour or spiritual guie% whether ea or alive!!so(eone
who( they believe to have attaine aeptship in yoga% or sagehoo in philosophy% an
who has announ#e his intention to give his life to the enlighten(ent of (ankin, /et
hi( be#o(e their se#ret refuge, /et the( ask an eserve his gra#e, "he sa(e help #an
be utili'e by those who feel they #annot (ake the intelle#tual effort e(ane by
philosophy but wish to avan#e beyon the stage of orinary (ysti#is( in whi#h they
now rest,
1;?
"he wise an goo ea (en who have left their e$a(ples for i(itation or their wors
for ger(ination% an any living (en who( we have hear (et or rea about!!all these
are our spiritual guies+ all these #an be#o(e our (asters if we only (ake the( so,
4hy then shoul we narrow ourselves own to a single (an with a single point of
view2
1;@
.f he #annot fin entry into the so#iety of a (aster% he #an (eitate upon the life stories
of histori# (asters of the past, /et hi( take the signifi#ant situations an evotional
attitues of these great souls into his own thought an stuy% to analyse the one an
i(itate the other, /et hi( think often an long of their #hara#ter an #onu#t, /et hi(
also rea an rerea the written (essages they have left us, .n this way he will i(bibe
so(ething of their <uality,
1?A
Su#h is the rarity of <ualifie tea#hers that toay it is no longer a <uestion of sele#ting
one who parti#ularly or personally appeals to the seeker% but of fining one at allF
1?1
"he sear#h for a (aster is often fruitless an abortive, 4hy is this2 "he answer is first%
that few su#h (asters e$ist toay an se#on% that few of the sear#hers are <ualifie to
work with one,
1?0
"hose who have this knowlege are not easily a##essible nor% even when foun% o they
easily ivulge it, "hey are e$#eeingly rare,
1?1
Not only are tea#hers (ore rare but the (ost sensitive seekers feel shyly inhibite fro(
approa#hing the(,
1?3
.t is a #lai( at on#e irrational an un&ust that no (an is to be save who oes not
approa#h a (aster in the flesh, 7or few (en #an fin su#h a (aster nor% fining hi(% #an
they always know hi( e$#ept fro( a istan#e,
1?5
.n an#ient ti(es there were few books to guie the aspirant an fewer still available to
hi(, Conse<uently the nee of a living guie was (u#h greater than it is now, -ven in
an#ient ti(es su#h tea#hers were har to fin, ="hat 8uru is rare who #an bring
rian#e to his is#iple fro( the sorrows whi#h agitate his heart%= says Skanda
uranam,
1?6
:en of the highest spiritual #alibre are not ne#essarily waiting aroun for is#iples to
#o(e to the(, "hey know <uite well that ea#h (an is his own tea#her in the en,
1?;
.f the aspirant is fortunate enough to (eet a (an or wo(an in person or writing who
genuinely represents the true an real% no effort will be (ae to influen#e hi(+ it will be
left entirely to his own free #hoi#e whether he follow this light hien behin a bushel
or any will!o6!the!wisp (as<ueraing as a light,
1??
.t is har to establish hu(an #onta#t with a (aster% har to get hi( intereste in one6s
personal a#tivities,
1?@
.t is not the a#tual (eeting with a (aster that #onstitutes its i(portan#e% but the
recognition that he is a (aster,
1@A
"here are (en who #o(e as a(bassaors fro( heaven% an the writings or arts of (en%
whi#h #o(e as revelators, But unless the rea#tion in#lues re#ognition% the #onta#t is
fruitless% the (eeting useless,
1@1
>ow shall he know who is really a (aster% an who is not2 .t is easy at a istan#e of a
thousan years to put an esti(ate on those who have left the effe#t of their spiritual
greatness on generation after generation% but it is har to (easure #onte(poraries who
look like other orinary (ortals,
1@0
So(eti(es an aspirant% a #aniate% a neophyte% or a is#iple will refuse the opportunity
of personal #onta#t with a (aster when it o##urs% be#ause he feels unworthy%
sha(efa#e% or even guilty, .t is a grave (istake for hi( to re&e#t what a favourable
estiny thus offers hi(, >owever sinful he be% there is also the fa#t that he aspires to
rise above his sins% else he woul not feel sorry for the(, >owever pure the (aster
hi(self be% there is also the fa#t that he bla(es no one% shrinks fro( no one% e$tens
goowill to the virtuous an the sinful alike, Of the (aster it (ay truly be sai that the
utter absen#e of prie or #on#eit leas to the utter absen#e of the thought that he is
holier than another, "he #han#e to (eet hi( shoul be taken espite all personal fears of
hi( or personal feelings of one6s own la#k of virtue,
1@1
O##asionally one feels he is not worthy enough to #onta#t a spiritual tea#her be#ause he
oes not have a =#lean heart,= "his is a wrong (ental attitue, >e nees assistan#e in
getting this =#lean heart= an there is nothing wrong in seeking su#h help,
1@3
Bou will walk a long ti(e or visit (any #ities before you fin another illu(inate, 8reet
hi( well% therefore% an think of hi( well% that you (ay (ake so(ething of this
fortunate (eeting,
1@5
.t nees so(e hu(ility an (ore is#ern(ent to approa#h su#h a (an an ask hi( to
give us the benefit of his knowlege% his insight% his e$perien#e% an his wiso(!!all of
whi#h are unusual an rare,
1@6
.f su#h a (an6s presen#e% fa#e% bearing% an tea#hing show so(ething golike in hi(%
we shoul not hesitate to give hi( the benefit of re#ognition as being inspire% even if
we are not willing to give (ore,
1@;
De(e(ber that the (aster is not likely to live as long as you are% sin#e he is probably an
oler (an, "ake the best possible avantage therefore of his presen#e,
1@?
.f he lets the #han#e slip by unuse% it (ay not o##ur again,
1@@
>e (ay se#ure valuable help fro( ifferent sour#es that he (eets on the way but he
(ust above all fin the tea#her to who( he belongs by inner affinity an in whose
s#hool he feels (ost at ho(e, On#e foun% he shoul stubbornly refuse to be rawn out
of the tea#her6s orbit% for if he were to allow it to happen% he woul lose pre#ious years
an en#ounter neeless suffering% only to have to return in the en,
0AA
Co what he (ay% he will not be able to #hange tea#hers per(anently, "he spiritual guie
allotte to hi( by estiny% as well as by affinity% is the one he has to a##ept in the en if
not in the beginning, "his is his real (aster% the one whose i(age will rise again an
again in his (in6s eye% obs#uring or blotting out the i(ages of all other guies to who(
the seeker turne for neee te(porary ire#tion,
0A1
9(ong living (ortals there is one with who( he (ay fin this link% one who( he (ay
never (eet in the flesh but only through a photo% a work of art% a na(e uttere by
so(eone% or perhaps through a pie#e of publishe writing, 9(ong those who no longer
live in the boy% but with who( the link was (ae in for(er births% the e#ho will return
an the idea itself will suffi#e,
0A0
4hat we #an hope to fin toay is no longer a tea#her to instru#t our (ins nor a (aster
to guie our steps but an inspirer to set us afla(e% to show us the worl as the Overself
sees it, "here is for ea#h seeker only one (an in the whole worl who #an o that, >e
an he alone #an work this (ira#le,
0A1
.t is a strange (ystery why estiny has e#ree that these seekers after 8o shoul have
to epen on this one (an6s lit (in an strong heart for the help they nee (ore than
on any other (an6s, Strange% be#ause until they fin hi( their sear#h see(s to have a
great la#k in it whi#h al(ost brings the( to anguish,
0A3
"he attra#tion whi#h (akes a (an sele#t so(eone as his (aster an (akes the (aster
willing to help hi( is analogous to #he(i#al affinity, .t is not that they eliberately an
#ons#iously #hoose one another but that they #annot help oing so,
0A5
"he (aster knows% auto(ati#ally an i((eiately by his own intuition% whether a
#aniate for is#ipleship is in affinity with hi( or not% an hen#e whether to a##ept or
re&e#t the (an or not,
0A6
.f he is sensitive an aspiring% an if there is any real spiritual power in the other (an%
he will feel involuntarily an internal e$#ite(ent an an intuitive e$pe#tan#y al(ost fro(
the first (inute of their (eeting, But if he is also at a suffi#ient egree of reainess an
longing to learn% an if there is personal or prenatal affinity with this other (an% then he
will feel shaken to the epths of his being% #apture in (in an heart, 7or he will feel
the beginnings of is#ipleship,
0A;
4ith the (eeting% the aspirant6s supre(e #han#e has #o(e, 4hen an aspirant #o(es into
#onta#t with an avan#e soul% his own longing is like a (agnet whi#h itself
spontaneously attra#ts spiritual for#e an thought fro( the other (an, "hereupon he
e$perien#es an uplift an an enlighten(ent, .f the (eeting is a personal one this result is
at its fullest, .f through a book or letter written by the other (an% it is still present but in
a weaker egree,
0A?
Seeking the :aster: 8reat possibilities atta#h the(selves to the first interview between
the stuent earnestly seeking ire#tion% neeing guian#e% or re<uesting #ounsel% an the
illu(inate who has establishe #o((union with his own Overself, "hese possibilities
o not epen upon the length of ti(e it takes nor upon what is sai uring the a#tual
#onversation itself, "hey epen upon the attitue whi#h a stuent silently brings with
hi( an upon the power whi#h the illu(inate silently e$presses, .n other wors% they
epen upon invisible an telepathi# fa#tors,
0A@
Only when he is finally reay for a (aster will he fin a true one, But to be reay the
aspirant (ust bring his #hara#ter to its highest possibility, 4hen that is one then even
at the first (eeting the power of attra#tion will speak silently yet elo<uently, Both will
know% before that first (eeting ens% that the other is the right one+ there will be no
oubts% no hesitations+ they #an e$ist only when &uge(ent is wrong, >e will know an
affinity of soul that #an an has previously been e$perien#e with no one else, 9ffinity
has its own #lear language, .t will put both (en at perfe#t ease,
01A
4hen a sensitive heart% a re#eptive (in% an a strong yearning for spiritual perfe#tion
(eet a (an who e(boies su#h perfe#tion to a large egree% there is or shoul be so(e
re#ognition% so(e brief purifi#ation% so(e intelle#tual #larifi#ation% so(e e(otional
e$altation% a(ounting in all to a (iniature (ysti#al e$perien#e,
011
4hen the preestine is#iple (eets the (aster for the first ti(e% he (ay feel either that
he has known hi( before or else that he has known hi( always,
010
So(eti(es we have the feeling on (eeting a stranger for the first ti(e% that we have
known hi( long an known hi( well, "he feeling on first (eeting the estine (aster
is (u#h the sa(e but greatly e$pane an eeply intensifie,
011
"he feeling whi#h is arouse on this #onta#t!!whether affinity or antipathy!!(ust be his
first guie to the #hoi#e of a (aster,
013
>e (ay feel the for#e of a real attra#tion when first (eeting his (aster% in (ost #ases%
but it is &ust possible he (ay not,
015
"he (an in whose presen#e your #hara#ter rises to its best an your faith to its highest%
is the (an who #an help you spiritually, 4ithout this inwar affinity it is of not (u#h
use to atta#h yourself to a guie% however repute he (ay be,
016
"he seeker whose pre#on#eive pi#ture of what #onstitutes a (aster is #orre#t!!but this
is un#o((on!!will be able to re#ogni'e one at their first (eeting, >e will feel with
positive #ertainty the inner greatness of the (aster, Bet it oes not follow that this is his
parti#ular (aster, "here (ust also be a feeling of personal affinity as well as an
intelle#tual appeal of the o#trines taught,
01;
4ithout this feeling of affinity% an the #onsierable satisfa#tion whi#h erives fro( it%
he woul be pruent to look elsewhere an not a##ept this person as guru,
01?
"ake that (an as your tea#her whose #hara#ter an (entality approa#h the ieal you
have for(e% an with whose o#trine an personality you feel in sy(pathy,
01@
"he (eeting with a (aster is a rare opportunity whi#h shoul not be (isse but shoul
be eagerly followe up, .t (ay not re#ur again uring one6s own lifeti(e or uring the
(aster6s lifeti(e, But it #an be followe up only if the aspirant feels intuitively that
there is a =ray of affinity= between the(% through whi#h the inner #onta#t #an be
establishe,
00A
So(eti(es is#iples atta#h the(selves to a (aster with who( they have no basi#
affinity, "hey have been rawn to hi( by a partial self!e#eption about his nature or by
a partial (is#on#eption #on#erning his tea#hing, 9fter a perio has elapse when the
har(ony with hi( or his tea#hing has #o(e to an en% an the usefulness of both is not
suffi#ient to &ustify the #onne#tion% they usually leave an seek elsewhere for inspiration
or help, But in those #ases where% for so(e i(proper reason% they fail to o so% he (ay
eliberately provoke an in#ient or arrange a #ir#u(stan#e whi#h will pro(pt the( to
go away,
001
.t often happens that seekers o not get the true (aster si(ply be#ause they woul not
be attra#te to hi( even when they (et hi(, "hey naturally are rawn to one whose
te(pera(ent% #hara#ter% (entality% an a#tions are like their own, "he unbalan#e an
the neuroti# woul be repelle by a sane an e<uable tea#her% the hysteri#al by a
is#ipline one% the futile rea(ers by an effi#ient an a#tive one,
000
"here is really no #hoi#e in the (atter!!only the illusion of a #hoi#e, "hat whi#h raws
hi( to a parti#ular (aster is preestination, >e (ay try again an again with so(eone
else, >e (ay not wish to #o(e to this (an% but in the en he must #o(e, >is hea (ay
argue itself out of the attra#tion but his heart will push hi( ba#k into it,
001
.t is sai that a (an will re#ogni'e in a (o(ent the (aster with who( he has true
affinity% when (eeting his person or wors, "hat is true% but the re#ognition (ay be so
vague or partial or faint that a few years (ay pass before he will be#o(e aware of it%
an hen#e before he takes any a#tion about it,
003
.t woul be foolish for anyone to #ontinue to follow a tea#hing for whi#h he has no
liking% or a tea#her with who( he has no affinity, But it woul also be foolish to &uge
either by (erely personal an e(otional rea#tions alone,
005
4hat is present in the surfa#e #ons#iousness as a (il interest (ay be present in the
sub#ons#ious as a strong love, But% however long it (ay take% the isproportion will
eventually be righte, 4hen this happens% an as pertains to this parti#ular (atter% the
(an #o(es to know hi(self as he really is, "his is why the (eeting with an ol :aster
or a new truth (ay not lea to i((eiate re#ognition% (ay inee take so(e years to
ripen,
006
9 guru who is suppose to be an enlightene (an but who awakens no feeling of
kinship% awe% pea#e% reveren#e% or gooness in the person who approa#hes hi( (ay not
be enlightene at all!!or (ay not be the proper affinity for the seeker% who (ay take this
as a signal to look elsewhere, But it woul also be a signal to be patient% wait a little%
look eeper% an really get to know what is in this (an,
00;
So(ething within see(s to re#ogni'e the true tea#her when he appears, "his is not
(ira#ulous when one unerstans that the visible present has its root in the invisible
past an that is#ipleship is a relation whi#h reappears in birth after birth, >owever% the
philosophi# path oes not epen only on faith or intuition but also on rational appeal
an prove fa#t, "herefore% so(e ti(e (ust elapse before one knows thoroughly that he
has foun the right path an the right tea#her,
00?
9nother sign that you have foun the right (aster is when you fin that he is the one
who inspires you to go (ore eeply into yourself uring (eitation than any other,
00@
>e will re#ogni'e his (aster not only by the feeling of affinity an the attra#tion of his
tea#hing but also if% ever sin#e the first physi#al (eeting% the other (an6s fa#e
persistently keeps re#urring to hi(,
01A
>e who has foun his estine :aster will know it well after a few (onths at (ost, 7or
he will fin that it is as har to leave the :aster as for helpless steel filings to leave a
powerful (agnet,
011
"he blessing of pea#e or power whi#h the seeker feels in su#h a (an6s presen#e% the
faing away of all <uestions in his aura!!these are ini#ations of authenti#ity an
spirituality,
010
9nother thing to look for as a sign of the right (aster is that his way of thinking shoul
be #ongenial to the seeker,
011
"hat person is best fitte to be a (an6s (aster with who( he is able to be his own best
self,
013
>u(ility is re<uire to re#ogni'e that here is a (an whose wiso( is greater than one6s
own,
015
"he kin of (aster he seeks will be a loving one!!a (aster who is large!hearte enough
to re#eive hi(% sins weaknesses foolishnesses an all,
016
Other things being e<ual% #hoose your tea#her fro( a(ong those approa#hing the en of
life% or at least well into (ile life, 7or they have the (ature e$perien#e whi#h younger
people la#k+ they #an give the tran<uil #ounsel whi#h #o(es fro( the a##eptan#e of life%
the a&ust(ent to its situations% an the waning of physi#al esires,
01;
"he tea#her is not to be (easure only by his weaker is#iples nor by his foolish ones,
9 &uster (easure(ent (ust take into re#koning the wiser an stronger ones also, 4hat
he has one for (ost of the( has been one in spite of the(selves% for the egos have
thwarte or twiste his influen#e all too often, Nevertheless it is there an in twenty or
thirty years it will still be there% inevitable an ines#apable% awaiting the thinning own
of the ego6s resistan#e,
01?
.t is a is#ri(inating seeker who respons only to what is wise an true an fine in a
tea#her% but re&e#ts what is frail or fallible in hi(,
01@
9 stuent is often is(aye% an$ious% or upset by the aura of apparent i(personality
whi#h surrouns the "ea#her, Su#h rea#tions are natural but also (ust be #he#ke!!
whi#h #an be one by learning to s(ile at oneself an be at pea#e,
03A
Co not look for truth a(ong the unbalan#e% the ego!obsesse% the brainless% the
hysteri#al an the unsensitive, /ook for it a(ong the (oest% the serene% the intuitive%
the eep!ivers an those who honour the Overself to its utter(ost,
031
:any take to an i(perfe#t% half!#o(petent or half!satisfa#tory tea#hing be#ause no
better one is available,
030
.n#o(petent instru#tion is unesirable but it (ay be helpful in so(e #ases if it is
stoppe at the proper point,
031
"he stuent (ay be #ertain that if there be #o(petent guian#e on this path there is no
staning still, -ither he (ust go forwar an onwar until he rea#hes the goal% or he
(ust get ri of his guie,
033
>ow useless it is to go to a tea#her who has only an intelle#tual!!that is% a talking!!
knowlege of it% for help is #learly shown by an ol >inu story, On#e upon a ti(e a
#ertain king evelope a esire to obtain ivine #ons#iousness, >e obtaine a Brah(i
punit as his guie, 7or two (onths he re#eive tea#hing but foun that he gaine
nothing in the a#tual e$perien#e of ivinity, >e thereupon threatene the Brah(in with
his royal ispleasure, "he punit returne ho(e in a sorrowful state of (in, >e ha
one his best an i not know how to satisfy the king, >is aughter% who was a girl of
high intelligen#e% saw her father6s istress an (ae hi( tell her the #ause, "he ne$t ay
she appeare at the #ourt an infor(e the king that she #oul throw light on his
proble(, She then aske hi( to orer his soliers to bin both herself an hi(self to
separate pillars, "his was one, "hen the girl sai% =O Iing% release (e out of this
bonage,= =4hatF= answere the king% =Bou speak of an i(possibility, . (yself a( in
bonage an how #an . release you2= "he girl laughe an sai% =O Iing% this is the
e$planation of your proble(, :y father is a prisoner of this worl!illusion, >ow #an he
set you free2 >ow #an you gain ivinity fro( hi(2=
035
.f anyone who presents a worl view really knows what he is talking about% there shoul
be so(e noti#eable vitality in his talk,
036
.f a tea#her e(pties the purse or wallet of his pupils% be sure he is a false one, .f he
e(ans servility fro( the(% he is (ost likely a false one, .f he (akes no response to
so(eone6s approa#h yet has the sta(p of authenti#ity% he (ay not be the parti#ular one
with who( that person #an fin affinity,
03;
4e have seen a nu(ber of spiritual tea#hers either arise in the 4est or #o(e here fro(
the -ast an ea#h one see(s to fin a #ertain nu(ber of aherents, "hese tea#hers an
their tea#hings are of varying <uality an (ay be helpful to (any of those who &oin
the(, But it is ne#essary to give a (easure of warning against e$aggerations (ae by
the tea#hers about the(selves or% if not% (ae by their followers, .t is easy for untraine
an ine$perien#e seekers to be taken in by #onfient #lai(s to the highest
enlighten(ent, .t is better to look for the signs of hu(ility an i(personality,
03?
9 weakness a(ong these #ultists is that they persist in seeing their leaer with a kin of
#hara#ter an a height of #ons#iousness whi#h are not sustaine by the fa#ts, >e is
turne into an unerring super(an or even eifie as a living go, >is virtues are either
e$aggerate or invente% his (ost #o((onpla#e wors are ponere over as if they
were ora#les of prophe#y or epigra(s of wiso(, 9n if they o not gift hi( with
#os(i# o(nis#ien#e an total pres#ien#e% he is gifte with so(ething like it, "he
#onse<uen#e is that the e$pe#tations of votaries% having been lifte too high% (ust fall
too low when his personality is eflate an his short#o(ings are e$pose, "heir
isappoint(ent inevitably follows, >owever% sin#e not (any spiritual seekers of the
kin who &oin organi'ations are possesse of the <ualities of is#ri(ination an
intelligen#e% the bulk of his followers #ling to their iol, 9n honest an sin#ere leaer
woul be alar(e at su#h e$aggerate worship% an o his ut(ost in self!epre#ation to
bring it to an en, >e knows that (aking a #ult of a parti#ular person will ivert
attention fro( the proper ob&e#t of evotion,
03@
"he e$#essive i(portan#e given to the guru% the e$aggerate evotion given to hi(% #an
only have value in the earlier stages of the <uest, "he point of view then present has so
(u#h ego in it that the aspirant woul not be satisfie unless he ha a guru, But it is still
an atta#h(ent% this relationship% so it has to be let go later on,
05A
"his over!ieali'ation of the guru% so wiesprea in .nia an so (u#h #opie now by
4estern seekers% #oul ini#ate an ele(entary stage,
051
4e (ay e$ten great reveren#e to the person who is worthy of it!!saint or sage!!but we
(ay ben the knee in worship only to the everlasting Spirit, No hu(an being has the
right to re#eive it% (u#h less to e(an it% an it is iolatry to give it,
050
>e is a hu(an being% after all% a person not a e(igo, 4orship of the (an is not only
irrelevant but also% in a sense% irreverent,
051
4e (ay a(ire hi( for his fine <ualities but that oes not (ean we have to agree with
hi( in all his views,
053
:any Orientals suffer fro( the ba #onse<uen#es of an e$aggerate respe#t for their
spiritual guies whereas the -uropeans an 9(eri#ans suffer fro( the #onse<uen#es of
an insuffi#ient respe#t for the(,
055
9 superfi#ial e(otional approa#h to truth is less #on#erne with the (essage than with
the (essenger% with the ieas taught than with their hu(an origin,
056
=So (any tea#hers #o(e to us with their o#trines, 4ho of the( is right an who is
wrong2= 8auta(a was aske, =Not be#ause you think% JOur tea#her is one to who(
great eferen#e is ue%6 shoul you a##ept a o#trine%= was the answer,
05;
.t is not ne#essary for is#iples to inulge in fulso(e panegyri#s about their (aster, "his
helps no one% for it raises e$travagant hopes in their hearers+ it lowers their own #apa#ity
to re#eive truth+ an it e(barrasses the (aster hi(self, "hey nee to learn that his
greatness #an be far (ore sin#erely appre#iate by restraine es#ription% that the
graneur of his inner being is better pi#ture% an (ore reaily believe% by ignifie
state(ent of the truth as it is, .f others #an be i(presse only by fan#iful e(bellish(ent
or foolish e$aggeration% they are not reay for hi( an shoul seek elsewhere a(ong
the #ults whi#h #ater to the naKve,
05?
.n their overpraise of the guru% the is#iples prevent the #areful in<uirer fro( learning
the truth, .n their refusal to see the plain fa#ts of the guru6s hu(an weakness or
i(perfe#tion be#ause they are #o((itte by their theory to see hi( only as 8o% they
alienate su#h an in<uirer an strengthen his involuntary feeling that to be#o(e anyone6s
is#iple is to abanon that very sear#h for truth whi#h is suppose to be the (otive for
oing so,
05@
9ll this e$aggerate praise tens to put off #ooler an #learer (ins% so that what is
eservely lauable tens to get (ini(i'e,
06A
4hy o they arbitrarily try to (ake the illu(inate into a perfe#t an superhu(an
#reature an not let hi( re(ain the hu(an being that he really is2 4hy o they re(ain
<uite unseeing to his short#o(ings an fin glib e$#uses for his failings2 .s there not
enough genius or greatness still left in hi( to be <uite worthy of our eepest
a(iration2 4hy not give hi( his ue without this unne#essary a#t of eifi#ation%
whi#h (erely rags the subli(e own to the absur2 .t is be#ause they inhabit a plane
where e(otion runs high an fanati#is( runs eep% where is#ri(ination is absent an
i(agination all too present, .t is be#ause they have not attaine the attitues of% nor felt
the nee for% philosophy,
061
"he pra#ti#e is all too #o((on in the Orient of presenting a guru to the literary publi# in
a (ost fulso(e an aulatory (anner, "hose followers who write as if their spiritual
guie is a faultless person% never blunering in any way an ever angeli# in all ways% o
their guie a isservi#e, "hey eprive hi( of his hu(anity an others of the hope of
attaining his #onition, >is reliability an #o(peten#e% his trustworthiness an holiness%
as a guie% are not i(inishe if his li(itations an faults as a hu(an being are
a#knowlege,
060
"heir followers put these (en forwar as being flawless e(igos% not knowing that by
oing so they rener a isservi#e to the (en the(selves as (u#h as to the #ause of truth,
4hat is worse% they throw #onfusion into the path of all aspirants% who for( wrong
ieas as to what lies ahea of the( an what they ought to o or be,
061
"he traitional attitue of an Oriental towars a guru attains fantasti# egrees of utter
(aterialis(, 4e have observe is#iples rinking water in whi#h the guru6s feet were
washe% an kissing the tail of the horse on whi#h he roe, "hey are in part the result of
the poor tea#hing they have re#eive, "hey (istake servitue to a guru for servi#e to
(ankin,
063
. istrust the legens whi#h are tol about (ost gurus by the is#iples, "hey all
e$aggerate, 4hy2 Be#ause they have stopped seeking truth!
065
4hen a (an turns belief in the superior knowlege of the guie into belief in the virtual
o(nis#ien#e of the guie% it is angerous,
066
9fter having #harte all the (erits an #apa#ities of the enlightene (an% his evotees
an is#iples easily fall into e$aggerations an forget his li(itations% or ignore the
si(ple fa#t that he re(ains a (an a(ong (en,
06;
"he is#iples e$aggerate the (aster, "hey #reate a new eity, .f later so(e a(ong the(
inevitably is#over that he has his (inor faults an (akes his little (istakes% there is
al(ost an e(otional #ollapse% a nervous sho#k, 4hy% with all his wonerful attain(ents%
#an they not a##ept hi( as a hu(an being2
06?
.t is inevitable that they will e(an #ontinuing iniviual attention an it is &ust as
inevitable that he will be unable to give it, Cisappoint(ent will ensue an negative
thoughts will start breeing,
06@
"hey asso#iate hi( with o(nipoten#e% if not o(nis#ien#e% but when ti(e shows up the
e$travagan#e an the e$aggeration of their ieali'e e$pe#tations% their faith falls to the
groun% eflate,
0;A
Nearly every professional who helps people inti(ately or (entally has to unergo
#ertain tests or te(ptations or oreals, 4hen he eals with a neuroti# patient of the
opposite se$% the psy#hoanalyst% the physi#ian% or the s#hooltea#her (ay pass through
the sa(e e$perien#e as the spiritual guie, .f she is too e(otionally affe#tionate or too
physi#ally sensual% or if she is starve of affe#tion or sensuality% she (ay naturally fall
in love with hi( for a ti(e, . say =for a ti(e= avisely be#ause the su##eeing phase!!
e<ually known to the spiritual guie!!is to be#o(e antagonisti# to hi(, Psy#hology has
ientifie this first phase an #alls it =transferen#e,=
0;1
"he sa(e is#iple whose e$aggerate enthusias( #ause hi( to regar the (aster as an
ar#hangel% now% by a #urious pro#ess of transfor(ation% regars hi( as an ar#hevilF
0;0
"he guie is up against the fa#t that (ost aspirants e$pe#t too (u#h fro( hi(, -ven if
he warns the( at the start% his wors are given little weight or else are soon forgotten,
"hey e$pe#t hi( to use so(e tri#k% whose se#ret he alone knows% to turn the( <ui#kly
into illu(ine (ysti#s or even powerful aepts, Conse<uently they rea#t e(otionally
against hi( in their later isappoint(ent,
0;1
4hen the is#repan#y between the real (an an the pre#on#eive (ental i(age of hi(
be#o(es too obvious an too large% they bla(e hi( instea of the(selves,
0;3
.t is be#ause followers pla#e hi( in su#h a uni<ue an e$alte position in their hearts
that they o real psy#hi# in&ury to the(selves when they believe it ne#essary to throw
hi( own fro( it,
0;5
"he first an last illusion to go is that any perfe#t (en e$ist anywhere, Not only is there
no absolute perfe#tion to be foun% but not even oes a (oerate perfe#tion e$ist a(ong
the (ost spiritual of hu(an beings, >en#e% the at(osphere of personal iolatry is not a
healthy one, .t is right that the i(pa#t of an unusually outstaning personality shoul
prou#e an unforgettable intelle#tual or e(otional e$perien#e, But it is wrong to believe
hi( a go rather than a (an% or to lea others to believe it% for that is an e$#ess whi#h
#an only lea to the rea#tion of isappoint(ent in the en% as sooner or later he will be
reu#e by further knowlege to hu(an proportions, "o ask that a spiritual (aster or a
love (ate shall be perfe#t in every respe#t is to ask the i(possible an the non!
e$istent, .n the #ase of a seeker% it is likely to result in (issing the very opportunity he is
seeking, .n the #ase of one who is alreay asso#iate with a (aster or (ate%
e$peri(ental straying away is likely to result in isappoint(ent an a retra#ing of steps,
/et us not turn the( into what they are not, "hey are hu(an% they (ake (istakes+ they
are not gos,
0;6
"his esire to eify their tea#hers% whi#h is so #o((on a(ong .nian is#iples% #an
have no pla#e a(ong philosophi# ones, 4e look upon the tea#her as a (an% as one who
in#ites us to seek the best an inspires us to self!i(prove(ent an guies us to the truth,
But he is still a (an to be respe#te% not a go to be worshippe, >e has his
i(perfe#tions,
0;;
>ow honest was that reputely wise (an So#rates in saying what so few gurus have
ever sai, >e ha &ust answere Lenophon6s re<uest for avi#e on a #ertain (atter an
#on#lue: =But (y opinion is only that of a (an,=
0;?
.t is not (y business to (ake known (atters that woul only stir #ontroversy about past
history <uite uselessly, But it woul be a serious o(ission of uty not to utter a warning
that hu(an perfe#tion oes not e$ist+ that fa(ous figures in history% politi#s% warfare%
govern(ent% literature% religion% (ysti#is(% an art have #o((itte grave errors of
&uge(ent% i(pression% or tea#hing+ that these errors are known only to a few in ea#h
#ase% an will probably never be known to posterity at all, 9 (an (ay be su##essful in
leaing his people through a war to final vi#tory but% on the way% he (ay have (ae
bluners that were heavily pai for by others, 9 tea#her (ay be spiritually enlightene
but personally ine$perien#e+ his opinions on unfa(iliar (atters (ay not have (u#h
value,
0;@
4here is su#h a (aster% su#h a faultless paragon of virtue wiso( strength an pity% to
be foun2 /ook where we will% every (an falls short of the ieal% shows an
i(perfe#tion or betrays a weakness, "he ieal sage portraye in philosophi#al )as
istin#t fro( (ysti#al* books% has not #o(e to life in our ti(es however (u#h he (ay
have one so in an#ient ti(es,
0?A
"he :aster ha his short#o(ings or frailties &ust as we all have% but he also ha what
few of us have!!a ire#t #onta#t with the Overself,
0?1
4here is the (an who is wise enough to give everyone else spiritual guian#e% personal
avi#e% (arital #ounsel% an prei#tion of future2 4ho with a single look knows all
about you as he alreay knows all about 8o an the universe2 /et us not look for
fantasies of wishful thinking but see hu(ans as hu(ans,
0?0
/et hi( not e$pe#t to fin perfe#tion in any (ortal, /et hi( be satisfie to fin so(eone
who has so evelope his spirituality that he is worthy to lea those who are still (u#h
in the rear,
0?1
"here is no (an without his efe#ts: it is a rea(er6s notion that the perfe#t hu(an
being e$ists on our planet, >en#e the is#iples who servilely #opy their guru in all
things (ay #opy his efe#ts tooF
0?3
So long as a (an is turne into a go an is worshippe as su#h% so long as he is
regare Perfe#t an without efe#ts% so long are those #on#erne!!both the (an an his
followers!!kept outsie the philosophi# goal by their own efi#ien#ies,
0?5
Behin the (a&esti# phrases of (ost of these spiritual tea#hers% we usually fin in the
en of a sear#hing investigation base on living with the( or on the histori# fa#ts of
their lives% that there stan poor frail (ortals, >en#e those few who e(erge as being one
with% an not inferior to% their tea#hings stan out all the (ore as truly great (en,
0?6
.t is (isleaing to put su#h a (an forwar% as so (any .nians put hi( forwar% as
being faultless, >is #ons#iousness of the Overself (ay be perfe#t% but his #onu#t as a
hu(an being (ay be not, .s there anywhere a faultless (an2
0?;
>e (ay be wise but he (ay not be wise all the ti(e, 7or history shows lapses of
&uge(ent% i(pulsive a#tions% an other regrettable happenings ue to kar(i# pressures
even where least e$pe#te,
0??
"here are (any ways to uner(ine the stuent!guru relationship: if the guru is put upon
an unrea#hable peestal% if he is turne into a go an his hu(anness is enie% or if the
guru is believe to be perfe#tion itself, "he possibility for perfe#tion in any (an is a
ebatable point,
0?@
"here are no Buhas in our age% only woul!be Buhas, /et us fa#e the fa#t%
a#knowleging (an6s li(itations% an #ease bluffing ourselves or per(itting ourselves
to be bluffe by the self!style :asters,
0@A
"oo (any seekers #reate a supernatural halo aroun the (aster6s personality, "oo (any
wrap it in ra(ati# an ro(anti# garb, "oo (any e$pe#t too (u#h fro( the first
(eeting with hi(, "he #onse<uen#e of all this is often a tre(enous e(otional let!
own% an unreasonable isappoint(ent after the reality of an a#tual (eeting% an they
lose their balan#e altogether, .t is inevitable that a #lose!up view of the (aster will not
prove so striking as a long!range one seen through ro(anti# glasses, 7ro( a istan#e it
is easy to bestow a(iration an feel awe for a (an they have al(ost turne into a
eity, But rawn into #lose #onta#t with hi( it is &ust as easy to swing in the opposite
ire#tion an turn the (aster into a (an, "hey o not noti#e how brief is their firsthan
a#<uaintan#e with hi(% how few are the appearan#es that #onstitute the ata for their
#on#lusions% how #on#eite it is for spiritual pyg(ies to think they unerstan a
spiritual titan, Be#ause what they appear to have foun oes not #orrespon with the
(ental i(age they have previously #on#eive of hi(% he is &uge to be no (aster at all,
Nor are these the only reasons for su#h a failure, -<ually i(portant is the fa#t that su#h
a (eeting% or the perio i((eiately following it% be#o(es the signal for opposition by
averse for#e, -vil spirits (ay fin their opportunity &ust then to lea hi( astray%
(is#hievous ones (ay try to bewiler his (in% or lying ones (ay give untrue
suggestions to hi(, >is own weaknesses of #hara#ter an faultiness of &uge(ent (ay
be#o(e greatly (agnifie an foist an absurly wrong esti(ate of the (aster upon hi(,
>e (ay even feel personal antagonis( towar the (aster, 9ll this is of #ourse a test for
hi(, .f he thinks he is &uging whether this (an is fit to be his (aster% life in its turn is
&uging whether he is fit to have su#h as (aster, >ere then are so(e of the answers to
the <uestion =4hy% if we #on#ee that the aepts have a right to hie fro( the
(ultitue% o they also see( to hie fro( the earnest seeking few2= "he aepts are
#onfient that those iniviuals who are really reay for the( will (eet the( when the
right ti(e #o(es, "hey know that this will happen not only uner the ire#t working of
kar(a% not only uner the i(pulsions of the seeker6s own higher self% but also uner the
wise laws whi#h govern the <uest itself, "hese are high an har truths, But they are the
realities of life% not rea(s for those who like to be self!elue, 4hoever re&e#ts the(
for su#h a reason oes so at the risk of being harshly sho#ke into awakening one ay,
0@1
"hey approa#h su#h a (an with a kin of awe% if not of reveren#e, .t (ay or (ay not be
&ustifiable: that epens first% on the (an6s <uality an se#on% on his (oo,
0@0
.t nees #lear eyes to see the truth about these spiritual tea#hers% eyes su#h as both their
arent followers an intolerant #riti#s o not possess,
0@1
:ost people are si(ply not #o(petent to sele#t a guru properly+ they are too governe
by outer appearan#es% physi#al i(pressions% an e(otional rea#tions,
0@3
"he sear#h for an ieal (aster (ay obstru#t itself through an e$#essively #riti#al
attitue e<ually as through a senti(entally ro(anti# one, 7or however ivinely inspire
he (ay be in his best (o(ents% the (aster (ust still re(ain <uite hu(an in (any ways
(ost of the ti(e,
0@5
"hose who for( ro(anti# graniose e$oti# or (ira#ulous pi#tures of what a (aster is
like an of what they seek in a (an before they #an a##ept hi( as a (aster% oo(
the(selves to frustration an assure the(selves of isappoint(ent, 7or they o not yet
unerstan what (asterhoo really is% hen#e they are still unfit for personal instru#tion
by a (aster,
0@6
.f he is not #onne#te with any religious asso#iation or (ysti#al traition% any institution
or (onastery% he is looke upon askan#e, 7or who or what is there to valiate the
=#orre#tness= of his tea#hing an the #reentials of the (an hi(self2 "hey look for a
o#trine that is =offi#ial= an a revelator #ertifie by =authority,=
0@;
"he (an who seeks a (aster to whose #os(ologi#al vision% e$presse thought% an
behaviour he hopes to give perfe#t a##eptan#e% seeks the i(possible, >e oes not want a
tea#hing whi#h is liable to isproof by s#ientifi# knowlege% yet he oes not want to
li(it hi(self (erely to that knowlege,
0@?
>e (ay see( #ol an unapproa#hable by the senti(ental stanars of those who
(istakenly regar hi( as a glorifie #lergy(an,
0@@
.f his pre#on#eption of a (aster is wrong% as is likely be#ause of the lui#rous #ari#ature
in the pi#tures rawn by popular #ults an books% he (ay not be able to re#ogni'e a real
(aster even when he (eets one, "here will be an inner struggle instea, >e will suffer
the agony of (ental or (oral ine#ision,
1AA
>e sees an i(age whi#h he has hi(self #reate% not the reality of the other (an, Only
by #lose asso#iation with hi( uner one roof will it be possible to fin out how ifferent
the i(age is fro( the person it is suppose to represent, "he first is a perfe#t but
i(possible #reature, "he se#on is a hu(an #reature,
1A1
.t is unerstanable an even paronable that the weak% the neuroti#% the unhappy or the
unevelope% the inno#ent or the ine$perien#e shoul look for a father i(age who will
#arry all their burens% (aterial as well as spiritual, "hey are entitle to o so, But they
shoul seek hi( within religious or (ysti#al #ir#les% not within the philosophi# #ir#le,
1A0
"he (istake so (any seekers (ake in approa#hing su#h a (an is to e(an that he
tea#h the( on their ter(s% in their way% an not his own,
1A1
.f he has not got the appearan#e they think he ought to have or they e$pe#t hi( to have%
that is another #ause for offense, "he reality is bla(e!!an not the(selves!!for
isappointing the fantasy,
1A3
Bou o not see the (aster when you see his boy, Bou o not know hi( when you know
what he looks like, Bou o not love hi( if you are attra#te only by his hanso(e
appearan#e, "he real (aster is his (in,
1A5
9 (an6s spiritual status oes not reveal itself i((eiately to anyone who looks at his
physi#al boy, Not only so% but if the latter is ugly% efor(e% an senile% repulsion (ay
(isrea his inner nature #o(pletely,
1A6
"hose who re&e#t truth be#ause of the e$ternal repulsiveness of the truth!bearer% o so
for the right reasons% that is% they are not reay to re#eive it, "hose who a##ept truth
be#ause of the e$ternal attra#tiveness of the truth bearer% o so for the wrong reasons%
that is% they have not re#eive it at all, 7or in both #ases it is not the (in or the heart to
whi#h appeal has been (ae% but the senses, .t is not reason or intuition% suffi#ient
e$perien#e or suffi#ient authority whi#h has &uge the testi(ony for truth% but boily
sight hearing an tou#h,
1A;
"he personal traits of the spiritual guie (ay repel the seeker, Bet if no one else is
available who has the sa(e knowlege% it is the seeker6s uty to repress his repulsions
an enter into the relationship of a pupil, .f he oes not% then he pays a heavy pri#e for
his surrener to personal e(otion an sensual superfi#iality,
1A?
9 (aster woul not ne#essarily be re#ogni'e as su#h if he were walking in the street%
not even by those who are looking for one an have rea all the books about hi(,
1A@
"hat a (an wearing <uite orinary #lothes whose fa#e was #lean shaven% whose hair
was of <uite average length% #oul be an aept is (u#h less likely to be thought by (ost
persons% than one who was theatri#al!looking an #onspi#uously resse,
11A
.n the worlly life a su##essful (an usually seeks to give others the i(pression of his
su##ess but in the spiritual life an unassu(ing (an (ay be a great (aster,
111
"he aspirant is not orinarily in a position to &uge what illu(ination really is% an who
is a fully illu(inate (an, >e #an only for( theories about the one an use his
i(agination about the other,
110
:any will spe#ulate on the tea#her6s (otives, "hat they #oul be pure an selfless%
seeking only to bring (en #loser to awareness of the Overself an to knowlege of the
higher laws% only a few will per#eive, "o the others he will be a (an like the(selves%
a#tuate by selfish (otives,
111
"hose who re&e#t a noble (essage an sneer at its (essenger% who pronoun#e hi( to be
a false prophet% a e#eiver of (en% thereby pronoun#e their own selves to be falsely le
an self!e#eive,
113
"o (any blasM an worlly people% the tea#her will be #lasse with a(bitious #harlatans
at worst or regare as self!hypnoti'e at best, But even to those who o not <uestion
his sin#erity% the goal he points to the( (ust see( so utterly absur an istant fro( the
#o((only a##epte goals an the path to it so oly e##entri# that few persons are
likely to be attra#te to the(,
115
"hose of his followers who e$pe#t hi( to behave with i(pe##able propriety an are
reay to leave an follow so(eone else if he oes not% will either be vi#ti(s of% or
gainers by% their own &uge(ent, .f the tea#her is really unifie with his Overself% any
&uging of hi( one by e$ternal stanars will be only partly appli#able, "here is a
point where neither his #hara#ter nor his (otives #an be #orre#tly (easure by su#h
stanars% an beyon whi#h they (ay be <uite (isleaing,
116
"he (ysti#al an #ultist #ir#les whi#h talk (u#h about these (atters use the na(e
=:aster= to trail su#h an a##u(ulation behin it of falsifie fa#ts% superstitious notions%
an nonsensi#al thinking% that it is neeful to be on guar for se(anti# efinition
whenever this ter( is hear,
11;
"he (istake that so(e followers (ake is to fail to see that their e(igo is
re#ogni'ably hu(an, "he (istake that (ost non!followers (ake is to fail to see that he
is% in his best (o(ents% superhu(an,
11?
"he e$#essively #riti#al attitue whi#h seeks to fin a flaw in a holy (an an soon
su##ees is as foolish as the e$#essively evout attitue whi#h pronoun#es hi( perfe#t
an #ontinuously faultless, "he hostility of the one leas to i(balan#e+ the naKvetM of the
other leas to e$pe#tan#y, "he holy (an is still a (an sub&e#t to the li(itations of his
spe#ies,
11@
"he "heosophi# tea#hing that the (aster takes on the kar(a of his pupil is often
(isunerstoo, So (any stuents think that the (aster hesitates to a##ept a pupil
be#ause of this heavy liability of a##epting his kar(a, "he (easure of truth in this belief
is that the (aster oes have so(e (oral responsibility for the self!in&uring (istakes
#o((itte by the pupil as a ire#t #onse<uen#e of spe#ial knowlege entruste to hi(
or for so#iety!in&uring (isuse of spe#ial powers transferre to hi( or arouse into
a#tivity within hi( be#ause of spe#ial instru#tions given by the tea#her!!in either #ase
before he was suffi#iently strong (orally an pure in (otive, But the general kar(a of
the pupil is not a##epte nor #an it be a##epte by any (aster, "hat is the pupil6s (aking
an he hi(self (ust work it out,
10A
"he stuent is (istaken if he thinks the tea#her ever pla#es obsta#les or te(ptations in
anyone6s way, >e oes not have to o that+ it is one by life itself% or% (ore pre#isely% by
the kar(a arising fro( the iniviual #hara#ter an its spe#ial nees, "he tea#her (ay
note the( an a#t a##oringly% but he oes not #reate the(, .n the en% the stuent
hi(self #reates his own obsta#les an his own te(ptations by his thinking% by his
#hara#ter% an by his kar(a,
101
>e is not only an instru#tor but is too often #alle upon to play the role of (entor% to be
a wise #ounsellor at all ti(es an a truste frien in iffi#ult ti(es% to solve personal
proble(s an guie personal e#isions, "his ieal person is yet to be foun% alasF But
the wish for one is strong enough to #lothe lesser (en in i(agine perfe#tion,
100
"hose who regar hi( as an unreliable visionary are not less vi#ti(s of pre&ui#e than
those who regar hi( as an o(nis#ient prophet,
101
-ven the (an who talks fro( the Overself6s inspiration #an #onvin#e only those other
(en who are reay, Not all are sensitive to his spell,
103
"hey e<uate (an6s powers with 8o6s powers% blanly refusing to see that he #an create
nothing but #an only provie the #onitions whi#h (ake so(e #reations possible, "hey
e$aggerate what is true% that he possesses% potentially% #ertain golike attributes% into
what is untrue% that he #an o what 8o oes,
105
.t is a self!e#eption to believe that the (aster #an interfere in all sorts of (ira#ulous
ways in the is#iple6s worlly life or intervene in all sorts of arbitrary ways in his
spiritual life, "he (aster6s true fun#tion% the (ost i(portant role he #an play in the
is#iple6s #areer% is to assist the latter6s efforts to withraw into his inner self% to guie%
strengthen% an prote#t his eneavour to pra#tise (eitation,
106
"here is a #o((on .nian belief!!pi#ke up by an transferre to so(e 4estern #ults!!
that without sub(ission to a leaer% (aster% guru whose guian#e is to lea the( an
whose power is to lift the( into Nirvana% they #an never win a##ess to this goal, .t is an
e$aggerate belief when it refers to authenti#ally enlightene (en an a false one when
it refers to all others, Blin a##eptan#e of it has pre#ipitate a nervous breakown in
so(e #ases% an (u#h feeling of (orbi frustration in (ost #ases where seekers have
faile to fin a guru or% fining% have be#o(e isappointe or isillusione afterwars,
10;
"here is no #elestial wit#h!o#tor% no angeli# (agi#ian #o(ing to #hange their
#hara#ters overnight,
10?
"hose who o not unerstan that true evelop(ent is self!evelop(ent will look for%
even e(an% a guru6s =(agi#%= as they believe it to be, "his will lea the( to fre<uent
his vi#inity or even live in it per(anently% in orer to be (ore or less #onstantly uner
his (es(eri# influen#e, "hus they #o(e to epen in#reasingly on an outsie sour#e!!
another person!!an re(ain ungrown,
10@
"he is#iples e$ert so (u#h pressure an en#ourage(ent on the guru to o what he
#annot o for the( that they go on believing their own esires in the (atter% that is% their
ego% rather than hi(, "hey think he #an give the( total prote#tion against risks% perils%
an falls on the spiritual path, "hat is i(possible% sai Da(ana :aharshi, "he guru is
not o(nis#ient an not al(ighty, >e is still a li(ite hu(an being, 4hy for#e hi( into
a##epting a false position2
11A
"he iea of a (aster as being so(e sort of free perfe#t an infallible #ounsellor in all
the o(esti# personal an professional perple$ities of life is an appealing one, .f it were
true there woul be (any (ore is#iples, But it is only a ro(anti# pie#e of wishful
thinking,
"ualifications# duties of a teacher
111
"o pla#e oneself uner another6s spiritual tutelage is an a#t whi#h (ay be angerous or
(ay be auspi#ious, .t epens on the other!!on whether his (in is really irraiate
with the ivine effulgen#e or whether it is arkene by its own ego,
110
Spiritual help #annot be given inis#ri(inately an at the sa(e ti(e given wisely, .t
shoul be #onitione by reainess% worthiness% an willingness to re#eive it, .t shoul
be offere only by those who are properly e<uippe% suitably <ualifie% an purely
(otivate,
111
$r! %sborne Mavor% a S#ottish physi#ian% sai: =Builing up personality is a &ob for
So#rates% Christ% an Confu#ius working in the #losest #o!operation, . shoul not #are to
entrust (y personality% su#h as it is% to any iniviual of a lower intelle#tual an (oral
stanar than that,= "his #riti<ue is also appli#able to spiritual tea#hers% as well as
psy#hotherapists% against who( it was ire#te,
113
. ivie all tea#hers into two #lasses: titular gurus an real gurus, "he for(er are <uite
#o((on% the gap between their o#trines an their behaviour being noti#eable% whereas
the latter are rare inee for they have a#hieve a #on<uest over the ego whi#h reveals
itself in their #onu#t an refle#ts itself in their lives,
115
"he e(an for inspire tea#hers is always insistent but the supply is wholly
insuffi#ient, Hnless the tea#her is an inspire one he will be of little help to the woul!
be (ysti#, By inspire% we (ean either in #o((union with his higher self or fully
unite with it,
116
7ew are the tea#hers% guies% priests% an leaers of (en who o not put into their work
the false opinions an favoure pre&ui#es that they the(selves have been taught or
have a#<uire, 7ew% also% are those who have s#rupulously striven to be#o(e as free
fro( these things as they possibly #oul be,
11;
Su#h tea#hers are unable to free the(selves fro( the relativity of their own position,
>en#e they give instru#tions whi#h are pertinent only to those who wear the (onk6s
#owl,
11?
"he appeal of a tea#her will epen upon the epth of his own inspiration% an the
appeal of his tea#hing will epen upon how well it fits in with the prevailing thought
an the pressing nee of his epo#h,
11@
"he (oern tea#her shoul be a (an of the worl% not a (an of the ashra(s, >e shoul
be one who oes not pra#tise a fastiious as#eti#is(% oes not frown on hu(an frailty,
Su#h a (an begins his tea#hing by (aking other (en feel that wiso( is pri#eless an
holiness is beautiful,
13A
>e (ust so (anage the two tenen#ies that they balan#e ea#h other, .nsofar as he eals
with the eternal verities% he #an utter only the ol% ol truths, .nsofar as he belongs to his
perio he (ust restate the( in a #onte(porary way,
131
"he possession of su#h power an influen#e% although it is ire#tly li(ite to spiritual
(atters% is inire#tly (anifeste in worlly (atters too+ for (en have to live an a#t in
the worl, >e will gain (ore estee( as a tea#her% an #ertainly as a leaer% who is
known to be honourable% #ons#ious of his responsibilities an obligations% whose
#hara#ter is well!balan#e an whose pro(ises are soli% whose state(ents are ba#ke
by fa#ts an whose o#trines are worthy of trust,
130
>e is a true (essenger who seeks to keep his ego out of his work% who tries to bring
8o an (an together without hi(self getting in between the(,
131
Su#h a tea#her woul not #lai( to be an inter(eiary with 8o but rather a #ounsellor
with (an,
133
No (aster who is a true #hannel for the ivine life will a##ept the aulation of others for
hi(self, "heir flattery will never be allowe to fool hi(, .nstea% he will always transfer
it where it belongs!!to that life itself,
135
>e will a##ept none of the ho(age for hi(self+ he knows it is not ue to hi(% but to the
higher power whi#h inter(ittently uses hi(,
136
>e is not a leaer an$ious to appear infallible before the (e(bers of his #ult,
13;
.f the faith of su#h a (an sti(ulates those who re#eive his (essage% they in turn
sti(ulate his own, .f they feel inspire by the #onta#t with it% he feels awe an
hu(ble by its power over the(,
13?
"he (an who lets hi(self be war(e by sunshine will be able to raiate so(e of its
effe#ts to others, But they ought not to #lai( in #onse<uen#e that he is the sunF >e is not
the originator of those effe#ts but only their (eiator,
13@
=:y son%= sai an ol sage to (e% =the o#ean oes not rise any higher when strea(s
flow into it% so the true (aster oes not swell with prie when (any is#iples atta#h
the(selves to hi(, >e takes it as a (atter of natural #ourse+ for he knows that they
#o(e to seek out the true /ight% not (erely his boy,=
15A
>u(ility will not let a (an tea#h others until he knows hi(self what he tries to tea#h
the(,
151
Patiently an perseveringly% the true tea#her establishe hi(self in awareness of the
truth before offering to lea others into it,
150
"he guie uner who( he stuies% who wat#hes both his progress an his lapses% #an
(inister to hi( #o(petently only if he hi(self is a liberate an inspire iniviual
with an aptitue for su#h servi#e,
151
>e who is to a#t as a spiritual guie to others shoul hi(self have rea#he the goal
towar whi#h he proposes to lea the(,
153
>e who has foun authenti# pea#e within hi(self is in a position to assist others who
are still seekers% but he who has not yet trans#ene (ere theories an eruite stuies
about pea#e #an only give the( so(e (ore thoughts to a to the buren they alreay
#arry,
155
Only that (an who has over#o(e the lower nature hi(self #an help others to over#o(e
it in their turn,
156
"he #apa#ity to re#eive truth is one thing+ the power to #o((uni#ate it to other (en is
another, :oreover% only he who has hi(self live near to our own e$perien#e of the
<uest% our own falls an slips an tu(bles% who hi(self re(e(bers how he struggle
step by step along it to rea#h his present height% #an best help those he has left far
behin hi(,
15;
Only he who has se#urely establishe his own reali'ation #an safely guie others to
theirs, 9uto(ati# progress on the <uest #an be guarantee by noboy, /ike all hu(an
enterprises it is sub&e#t to ups an owns,
15?
>e who is unhappy in hi(self% or whose ho(e is is#orant an unhappy% #an show the
way to happiness only out of intelle#t% not out of e$perien#e,
15@
.f his #ounsel is to be effe#tive enough to help others% it (ust spring fro( a (in whi#h
has fa#e an resolve the sa(e proble(s within itself, But it nee not ne#essarily have
one so in e$ternal #onu#t, .t (ay have one so in i(agination or in intelle#t only, "he
<uality of the (in will (easure the value of su#h a #ourse,
16A
"he true tea#her assists his is#iples to fin their own spiritual feet so that they #an walk
in#reasingly without leaning on hi( or anyone else, .t is the uty of an honest
isintereste spiritual guie to point out to his followers that their epenen#e on hi( is
a weakness to be over#o(e% not a virtue to be #ultivate, "he false tea#her% seeking to
profit in so(e way by the situation% (akes the( utterly epenent on hi(,
161
"he true tea#her seeks to bring his is#iples to learn how to guie the(selves, So he
patiently e$plains an willingly is#usses his own #ounsel where the false tea#her
leaves it wrappe in obs#urity an involve(ent, "he true guie ire#ts the( #ontinually
towar that pla#e where in the en they (ust reali'e the truth!!within the(selves!!for
there is its only sour#e,
160
>e is a proper guie who gives ea#h is#iple a #han#e to evelop a##oring to his own
iniviuality an oes not try to (ake hi( a #opy of the guie, But su#h a tutor is rare%
an woul not even #all anyone =(y is#iple,=
161
Gust as the ego!le tea#hers seek publi#ity so the egoless tea#hers seek anony(ity,
163
9 true tea#her will pra#tise the ut(ost self!abnegation an will seek an work for the
ay when his influen#e or interferen#e are brought own to nothing,
165
"he orinary kin of guru points to hi(self% his ne#essity an i(portan#e+ but the rare
kin points away fro( hi(self% to the seeker6s own higher self% its reality an
availability,
166
.f the true (aster i(poses no obligations towar hi(self on those he helps an e(ans
no rewars fro( the(% this is be#ause he wishes to retain his freeo(% his
inepenen#e% his eta#h(ent as (u#h as it is be#ause he gives out of #o(passion an
gooness,
16;
>e esires not to win is#iples but to lose the(F >e wants the( to seek fin an follow
not (ortal (an but the light that burns serenely within their own hearts,
16?
"he sin#ere tea#her seeks to wean his is#iples at the earliest possible (o(ent, "o
su##ee in oing so% he will pro(ise nothing as a gift but will e(phasi'e how ne#essary
it is to apply the tea#hing to their personal lives honestly an #ontinuously,
16@
"he :aster Galaluin Du(i i not allow is#iples to have #onstant #onta#t with hi(,
9t a #ertain point he is(isse the(, "hey ha hen#eforth to work alone upon the
founations lai own, >e was an original "ea#her% an a su##essful one,
1;A
-very te$t an every guru (ust in the en% an better fro( the beginning also% point
away fro( the(selves, But this will happen only if full authenti# enlighten(ent is
present,
1;1
Su#h a tea#her looks for no aoration but rather ire#ts it towar the is#iple6s own
Soul,
1;0
.t is only the half!bake% half!finishe (asters who have this #raving for power over
others% whose little egos nee a following of aoring is#iples, "he fully evelope
ones!!an they are <uite rare!!re(ain unaffe#te but not inifferent, 7or they re#ogni'e
in ea#h person who #o(es to the( a heeing of the inner #all% a response to the pulling
power of their own ivine Sour#e,
1;1
-(erson #on<uere the (ost subtle te(ptation that #an beset a (an of his type, >e was
openly a tea#her% an the tea#her6s natural tenen#y is the wish to be looke to for
#ontinual guian#e, But -(erson was too pure a soul to show the tea#her6s egotis(, >e
wishe to set others fir( on their own feet, :r, 4oobury tells us how% fining hi(self
iffering fro( his revere (aster% he went an state his #ase, -(erson eliberate%
then% with his bright kinly look: =4ell% . o not wish is#iples,= .t was a sho#k% but a
healthy one, .t shook the pupil off fro( his support% but thereby he learne to walk
alone,
1;3
"he (an who #an so(eti(es (ake other (en aware!!however (o(entarily!!of their
ivinity is a true (aster,
1;5
"he guie will not only point out the way to spiritual (aturity but also will en#ourage
the pupil to follow it, >e seeks no other re#o(pense than your loyalty% no better
pay(ent than your faith% no superior satisfa#tion than your own spiritual progress,
1;6
"he true (entor will possess a penetrating insight into his pupils6 nees,
1;;
Su#h a guru seeks neither (oney nor personal power,
1;?
>e will be able to per#eive fro( what sour#e a (an raws his life% whether fro( the
i(pulsion of the ego or fro( the inspiration of the Overself,
1;@
"he instantaneous an ae<uate nature of his replies to all <uestions shows a eeper
unerstaning than the (erely intelle#tual% hen#e (ust be intuitive% inspirational% or
reali'ational, On su#h a basis a (an6s fitness for guruship be#o(es (ore evient,
1?A
"he role of spiritual guie involves a #oe of ethi#s% a spe#ial (oral responsibility on
the part of the guie,
1?1
"he appellation of spiritual tea#her shoul be given only to one who not only #an
#o((uni#ate spiritual truth intelle#tually but who also lives it fully,
1?0
"he tea#her (ust not only provie instru#tion+ he (ust also set an e$a(ple of how to
live an a#t in the worl% an he (ust not only o both of these but he (ust also provie
a profouner influen#e than other (en by virtue of his own attain(ent% as telepathi#ally
reveale by his (ere presen#e,
1?1
"he perfe#t tea#her is he who lives up to the tea#hing itself, "he se(i!perfe#t one tries
to live up to the tea#hing, "he i(perfe#t one oes not even try: avoi hi(,
1?3
9#tions% ees% are the final test of the spiritual (an or guru, "he life he leas (ust be a
pattern,
1?5
"he spiritual guie who asks his is#iples to pra#tise self!is#ipline an re(oel their
#hara#ters% will see( to the( to be offering i(possible #ounsels of perfe#tion unless he
hi(self is willing to o or has alreay one what he asks, >owever soun his theoreti#al
guian#e (ay be% it will fail in persuasive power to the e$tent that it is not at one with
his own e$perien#e,
1?6
4hat the >inus #all a spiritual ispeller of arkness% what the -astern Christian
Chur#h #alls a Spiritual 7ather is not only holy hi(self but is also an e$perien#e
tea#her of the way to holiness for others,
1?;
>e who takes upon hi(self the task of guiing is#iples shoul possess sure!foote
e$perien#e gaine by years of work with the (ost varie kins of apprenti#es,
1??
"o be a guru is to a##ept a responsibility, 7or this% one nees the #apa#ity in oneself an
the (anate fro( the higher power,
1?@
Only when a (an is per(anently an #ons#iously establishe in the higher self (ay
these o##ult powers be safely a#<uire an these relations with is#iples be safely
entere into, Only when other planes of e$isten#e are a##essible to hi( an higher
beings fro( those planes are instru#ting hi( #an he really know how properly to live
own here an be able to #o(petently instru#t others to o so,
1@A
Noboy is entitle to wear the (antle of a (aster (erely be#ause he has re#eive
tea#hing fro( a (aster, >e is at best only a trans(itter of infor(ation an not the
originator of it, 7or he (ay trans(it knowlege whi#h he oes not hi(self unerstan%
whi#h is far over his hea or whi#h he is even #apable of (isunerstaning an
therefore likely to lea others totally astray, >ow #an su#h a person be #alle a <ualifie
(aster2 /et us therefore (ake a sharp ifferentiation between those who are #o(petent
to be #alle tea#hers an those who are (erely trans(itters of tea#hing,
1@1
.t is all right for a tea#her to have only a partial an li(ite knowlege of his sub&e#t so
long as he re#ogni'es it as su#h% an so long as it is not applie in #ases where #o(plete
knowlege is essential,
1@0
So long as so(e of the truth!!perhaps so(e vital aspe#ts of it!!re(ains hien fro(
hi(% so long (ust he be stern with hi(self an re&e#t the te(ptation of setting up as a
(aster,
1@1
"he is#iple who poses as a (aster is a fool, "he (aster who poses as a is#iple is a
sage,
1@3
9 professional lawyer or surgeon a##epting #lients is e$pe#te to have #ertain
<ualifi#ations before he unertakes to serve the(, 9 spiritual prophet who sets out to
guie others nees #ertain <ualifi#ations too, >e nees the intelle#tual #apa#ity to
e$plain tea#h an #larify% the te(pera(ental patien#e to put hi(self in their shoes% an
the altruisti# #o(passion to work for their benefit, :oreover% given the innate fa#ility% it
is easy to tea#h ethi#s to others an har to live those tea#hings oneself, >e nees the
ability to set a right e$a(ple for i(itation in his own #onu#t,
1@5
.t is <uite wrong to #on#eive of a spiritual guie in a highly senti(ental way, >e woul
reveal his in#o(peten#e an bungle his work for you not less if he were to pa(per as to
nag you% not less if he were to be e(otionally too soli#itous about your personal life as
too authoritarian, 7or he woul (ake you (ore egoisti# an less is#ipline% (ore
epenent an less self!reliant% (ore in#apable of a#hieving real progress an less
infor(e about the fa#tors #on#erne in it, >e woul% inee% (ake you a flabby
parasite instea of an evolving entity,
1@6
>e is a (an whose per#eption goes farther% whose awareness goes eeper than the rest
of his fellow (en, .t (ust go so far an so eep that it rests urably in the =. 9(= of the
Overself, 4ithout this he oes not possess the first% the (ost essential an (ost
i(portant of all the #reentials neee for #o((uni#ating to others the art of attaining
the Overself, "he se#on #reential% an a(ittely a lesser one% is the #o(passionate
esire to effe#t this #o((uni#ation as (u#h as possible, "he thir is that he have
spe#ial power to tea#h others what he knows,
1@;
>e unerstans the feeling of love whi#h a is#iple e$presses an he a##epts it on the
level of the sa(e feeling whi#h he hi(self gives in turn to "hose who are his leaers,
"he attra#tion is inevitable, But in the #ase of fe(ale is#iples% it (ust be kept on a high
level an never allowe to (i$ with lower e(otions, .t (ust be pure an% in a #ertain
sense% even i(personal, "he tea#her walks the path of life outwarly alone an
uninvolve with any =person= as su#h, "he only way anyone #an #o(e #loser to hi( is
to approa#h the attain(ent of union with his own higher self, Co not e$pe#t the aept to
behave as orinary hu(an beings% with their esires an e(otions% behave, >e has
#o((itte sui#ie in that ire#tion, .t was the pri#e e(ane of hi( for what little
pea#e he has foun,
1@?
>e (ust live in freeo( an not in epenen#e% whether outwarly or inwarly% on
followers or is#iples: therefore he keeps the( at a istan#e that they in turn (ay fin
an e$perien#e the truth within the(selves, >is work ens at pointing the way,
1@@
>e #annot sub(it to the pressures an #lai(s of a personal relation without falsifying
his status an aulterating his servi#e,
3AA
>is help is provie by what he is!!the power of e$a(ple!!an by what he tea#hes!!the
power of suggestion,
3A1
4hat a guie (ay be able to o in #ertain #ases is to fa#ilitate the awakening of higher
#ons#iousness an to (ake easier the entry of higher truths,
3A0
.t is possible for one who has (astere his own (in to affe#t that of another person%
whether the latter is in propin<uity to hi( or is pla#e at a great istan#e fro( hi(, "his
fa#t be#o(es espe#ially evient where there is an atte(pt to learn an pra#tise
(eitation,
3A1
4hat the (aster #an o for a is#iple is li(ite, >e #an sti(ulate the latter6s natural
aspiration% guie his stuies% an point out where the pitfalls are+ but he #an o little
(ore, >e #annot take on his own shoulers responsibilities whi#h the is#iple ought to
take,
3A3
.t is the will of a higher power that he% whose own inner eye is open% shall be
instru(ental in opening that eye for others wherein it is #lose,
3A5
>e has the power to awaken the 8li(pse!e$perien#e in other (en% but not in all other
(en, >e #an su##ee with those only who are reay enough or sensitive enough,
3A6
.t is usually <uite i(possible for the average aspirant to eter(ine who is a fully
<ualifie (aster, But it is so(eti(es <uite possible to eter(ine who is not a (aster, >e
(ay apply this negative test to the suppose (aster6s personal #onu#t an publi#
tea#hing,
3A;
.f a (an #lai(s to have attaine the fullness of his higher being% we (ay test his #lai(
by the (oral fruits he shows, 7or he ought #onstantly to e$er#ise the <ualities of
#o(passion% self!restraint% nonatta#h(ent% an #al(ness on the positive sie an
freeo( fro( (ali#e% ba#kbiting% gree% lust% an anger on the negative sie,
3A?
>e who takes up the vo#ation of spiritual servi#e shoul o so only if he be suffi#iently
prepare for it (orally!!only if he be estitute of a(bitions an grees% eta#he fro(
wo(en an the thought of wo(en% isolate fro( personal (otivations% liberate fro(
the lower e(otions,
3A@
9 (aster issues no #o((an an re<uires no obeien#e, Others (ay o so but not he,
31A
>e will bear no gruge if his avi#e is re&e#te,
311
"he guru who perfor(s the Oriental potentate to his #ourt of is#iples (ay be
un#ons#iously playing up to their esires or e$pe#tations but also playing own to his
own esire for power, .t (ay help to keep the( in &uvenile epenen#e on hi( but also
keep hi( within the ego an thus reu#e his #apa#ity to serve the(,
310
-ven if he were not ethi#ally (ore sensitive an hen#e (ore s#rupulous than (ost
people% his own spiritual ignity an personal self!respe#t woul alone forbi his taking
avantage of the #reulous% the ine$perien#e% or the unbalan#e,
311
"he spiritual guie who is not hi(self free fro( passion is a angerous guie for those
who are still struggling in the grip of passion, "he tea#her who has not utterly subue
personal egois( is unfit to assist those who seek liberation fro( it, >e shoul learn to
solve his own proble(s before he #an safely venture forth to help solve the proble(s of
other people,
313
"he true tea#her ientifies hi(self with his stuent an oes not sit on a >i(alayan
height of self!estee(,
315
9 guru who thinks of hi(self as having is#iples has atta#h(ents, "he ego is present in
hi(, "hey are (entally hel as possessions,
316
9 (an who is privilege to #arry a (essage fro( the (ountaintop own to his fellows
shoul feel no envy of other (essengers% no e(otional isturban#e at their su##ess or
his own failure, .f he oes% it (eans that the ego has inserte itself into his work an
poisone it, On the #ontrary% he ought to be gla that so(e (ore seekers have been
helpe to hear truths whi#h they #oul not hear for the(selves, >e ought to re&oi#e at
their blessing% otherwise he is still worshipping hi(self an not 8o, 9 true (essenger
will not look for followers but for those who( he #an help,
31;
-$pose to flattery an obse<uiousness though he will be% he will nevertheless keep
<uite free fro( po(posity an vanity,
31?
"he tea#her has to bear patiently with the efe#ts an weaknesses of his stuents, >e
#oul not o this if his insight were too li(ite% his #o(passion too s(all% an his
#al(ness too superfi#ial,
31@
"he tea#her whose own (in rests in the serenity of the Overself will feel no #on#ern
over the slow avan#e of any of his is#iples, >e has sub(itte this in avan#e to the
#are of the Overself% &ust as he sub(itte his own in earlier ays, Bet this eta#h(ent
will not in any way abate the #onstant flow of #ounsel% guian#e% en#ourage(ent% an
inspiration whi#h will go forth fro( hi( to those is#iples,
30A
.f the truly avan#e (ysti# ever gives the i(pression that he frowns on any person
who has erre% a totally false i(pression has been re#eive, 7or he knows that it is
through that s(all part of evolution whi#h is evote to free will that we learn an
grow, >e who has hi(self learnt an grown in this way never frowns at the (istakes of
others% but% instea% forgives the(,
301
>elping others to unerstan the art of proper living is itself an art, 9 (an (ay be goo
an yet not a goo tea#her,
300
4ise tea#hers try to har(oni'e the #ontrai#tions, "hey use pra#ti#al s#ientifi# ways
along with (ysti#al interior ones,
301
"he (an who is fluent an arti#ulate (akes a better tea#her so far as #o((uni#ation is
#on#erne+ but the (an who has ha ivine e$perien#e% who knows what he is talking
about% is still the best tea#her of all,
303
.f he knows in e$perien#e as in theory% an if he possesses the ability to #o((uni#ate
this theory% then the i(pressions left will not be vague but <uite istin#t,
305
9 tea#her who gives a well!argue is#ourse about the "ruth helps us% but so oes the
tea#her who announ#es the "ruth in non!is#ursive ter(s, Both are neeful in their
pla#e,
306
"he guru is one who not only knows the truth but #an tea#h well what he knows!!an
not ne#essarily in wors% for silen#e #an also be use as an effe#tive (eiu(,
30;
"he spiritual guie (ust be so(eone to be truste (ore than any (an% to be looke to
for guian#e% knowlege% hope% inspiration% an warning,
30?
>e respe#ts every #onfien#e that is repose in hi( an keeps all #onfessions in the
hien ar#hives of (e(ory,
30@
4hatever #onfien#e he re#eives uring the interview% the other person (ay feel sure
that it will not be betraye,
31A
"he (an who professes to guie others spiritually an to inspire the( with higher ieals
#annot es#ape being wat#he, .f he resents the oreal% his servi#e to the( will be
i(paire+ but if he a##epts it% he shows thereby that he is not looking for self!glory,
311
Conte(pt an slaner will be the une<ual rewar so(e will pay hi(+
(is#o(prehension an (inifi#ation will be re#eive fro( others, >e will a##ept the(
all un#on#ernely,
310
No true (aster will take (oney for his servi#es,
311
Su#h a (an #oul not #harge others for his ti(e% his #ounsel% or his trouble% #oul not
#o((er#iali'e his work% #oul not bring hi(self to (ake (oney out of truth!seeking
wanerers, >is servi#e to the( is a holy thing% unpri#e an unpri#eable, 7or it is one
at the i#tate of his higher self,
313
4e (ust re#ogni'e a sharp% #lear!#ut istin#tion between spiritual tea#hing as a uty
an spiritual tea#hing as a business, "he one e$presses his true relationship to the
is#iple% the other seeks finan#ial return fro( hi(,
315
Spirituality is no #o((oity to be bought an sol in the (arketpla#e, .t (ust be
worke for step by step an won by personal effort, "his still re(ains true even though
in the en it is #onferre by 8ra#e% for without su#h preparation the #onfer(ent is
unlikely% nay al(ost i(possible, "his is not less true if the efforts (ay (ostly be burie
in the history of past lives, .f any religious organi'ation or #ult!leaer even (entions a
pri#e% a fee% or even a #ontribution as a prere<uisite to 8ra#e% initiation% or higher
#ons#iousness% then the evotee is being e#eive by i(posture,
316
.t is an an#ient traition that su#h instru#tion shoul be given free an that a tea#her is
egrae by re#eiving pay(ent,
31;
"he Overself is #ostless, .t is% as Gesus pointe out% as free as the win whi#h #o(es an
goes, 4hoever has reali'e it will glaly tea#h the way to anyone who is ripe an reay
for his tea#hing, .f any (an puts a pri#e on it an offers to sell it to you% be sure he is
offering a false or shoy i(itation,
31?
.f he a##epts gifts or #ontributions he will probably be aske for% or e$pe#te to allow%
#on#essions of his ti(e% attention% an even gra#e whi#h others (ay not hope to re#eive,
"he intensity of evotion rather than the value of offerings (ust always govern the
(aster6s response,
31@
9 guru has an offi#ial position% whi#h is a##o(panie by appropriate uties, "hey
in#lue: )1* taking a personal interest in the is#iples6 inner welfare an growth+ )0*
instru#ting the( in the truth% an in the way to its attain(ent+ )1* inspiring the(
telepathi#ally with gli(pses of the higher states+ )3* en#ouraging the( to persevere in
travelling along the way+ )5* warning the( against the pitfalls an obsta#les,
33A
"he tea#her6s uty is to give ire#tion% provie knowlege% warn against pitfalls% #orre#t
errors, .t is not his uty to save the pupil ne#essary efforts of will an thinking,
331
"he (aster powerfully re(oves the sluggishness of the intelle#t of his is#iple+ #larifies
his ieas about what is eternal an what is perishable% what is real an what is unreal%
what is (aterial an what is (ental+ an opens to hi( the real( of truth slow but
un(istakably by #onstant appeal to his reason,
330
"he first servi#e of the :aster is to point out the way% both inwarly an outwarly% to
the is#iple, "his shortens his &ourney by several lifeti(es% whi#h woul otherwise have
to be spent in wanerings% e$plorings% gropings% an sear#hings,
331
.t is to e$poun truth an #orre#t errors% to pla#e an e$a(ple before the others% an to
purify the( by his #o(pany that su#h a tea#her appears in the outer worl,
333
9nother phase of his work is to sti(ulate the yearning for higher attain(ent where it
e$ists% an to in#ul#ate it where it oes not,
335
.t is his work to show the( what they #annot see for the(selvesN!their own higher
possibilities,
336
>is fun#tion is to interpret (an!!an (ore espe#ially spiritual (an!!to hi(self,
33;
>is task is to (ake known to other (en their golike possibilities within the(selves,
33?
>is (ission is not to bring (en pleasure% but to raise the( to appre#iate truth,
33@
"he tea#her assists his stuents to attain a egree of #on#entration beyon that whi#h
they are able to a#hieve by the(selves,
35A
>e etonates the higher potentialities of ea#h is#iple% breaks the #lose #ir#le of his
senses% an leas hi( towars a (oral an (ysti#al regeneration,
351
"he uty of any spiritual tea#her is to lea the seeker to her own >igher Self% to fin her
own sour#e of inner light an strength an thus not to lean on outsie hu(an beings,
350
9 guru who is <uite #o(petent oes help the learner: he shows the way% illu(inates
proble(s% untangles knots% ispels #onfusions% e$plains (eanings% an en#ourages
effort, "utelage has its pla#e,
351
>e who ire#ts anyone6s wakening spiritual faith is that (an6s tea#her,
353
.f he guies us to noti#e hitherto unobserve truths% if he leas our thought an faith
away fro( hitherto strongly hel errors% then a tea#her fulfils a useful fun#tion,
355
>is servi#es in#lue the unveiling an e$posing of psy#hi# or (ysti# e$perien#es whi#h
are (erely self!suggeste or (ainly hallu#inatory,
356
>e #annot o (ore than help the( fin an fulfil their own ways to the goal% but it is
enough,
35;
"he tea#her has to be fir( at so(e ti(es% gentle at others,
35?
9 spiritual guie6s uty to an erring (an will not be fully #arrie out if he only arouses
the (an to re#ognition of the ne#essity of taking a new roa,
35@
.t will not be enough to show the( the path, >e (ust also keep the( steafast on the
path,
36A
>e who woul appear publi#ly as a religious prophet or (ysti#al tea#her (ust eal with
the people of his #entury as he fins the(% (ust speak to the( in a language whi#h they
#an unerstan, But even though he thus tries to #onfor( to the re<uire(ents of those
he has #o(e to help% he #annot give the( the intuition% the sensitivity% an the
intelligen#e neee to unerstan his (essage% nor the aspiration an reveren#e neee
to appre#iate it,
361
So(e tea#hers o not have a single is#iple!!they (erely help a few people in a frienly
way,
360
>e who tea#hes well% learns hi(self,
361
>e who has ei#ate his life to this kin of servi#e will fin before long that others
#o(e to hi(!!perhaps a few at first% but later (any (ore!!to pile on his stury shoulers
the burens an sufferings% the perple$ities an gropings whi#h they fin so iffi#ult to
eal with the(selves,
363
"here is a kin of guru a#tive in -ast an 4est alike who hungers for followers% is eager
to a#<uire is#iples% plays the i#tator to his little #ir#le% an not infre<uently tries to get
(oney fro( the(, >is tea#hing (ay be <uite plausible% his pro(ises <uite attra#tive,
But he is self!appointe% not 8o!appointe,
365
4hen he lets his followers regar hi( as a e(igo an will not a##ept the slightest
#riti#is( fro( anyone% it is a sign that his personal ego is a#tive,
366
Certain tea#hers evelop an unhealthy lust for power% i(posing their personal will on
hapless is#iples,
36;
:any seekers through following su#h self!style tea#hers have either re(aine
stationary or gone astray altogether,
36?
.f his following of the <uest is wrong it (ay also be be#ause he has #hosen for guru a
(an with an enlarge ego (aking e$aggerate #lai(s,
36@
"he peril of in#o(petent guies is not lessene when% as so often happens% they are
sin#ere, 7or they (ay be% an usually are% utterly ignorant of their own li(itations,
3;A
"he tea#her whose (otives get (i$e up% whose esire to help an serve others twines
aroun his esire to gain (oney% prestige% influen#e% or power is one who begins to
tea#h before he is reay to o so, Both he an his is#iples will have to pay the pri#e for
his pre(ature a#tivities,
3;1
4hen the heart has areny #herishe the wish for a (aster an the (in has
#onse<uently entere a highly suggestible state% the #han#e (eeting between a woul!be
follower an an over!eager spiritual 7uehrer is foolishly regare as a ivinely oraine
event,
3;0
.t is better to have no tea#her at all than to have one who has psy#hologi'e hi(self into
the elusion that he has rea#he the 8o!reali'e state% who (istakes self!e#eption for
self!reali'ation,
3;1
"he (an who #onstantly tries to (ake other persons over into a #opy of hi(self% who
tries to #hange their living habits or thinking!ways into the sa(e as his own% who seeks
'ealously to proselyti'e their religious beliefs% is too often (erely asserting his own ego
an pra#tising a subtier% (ore self!e#eptive for( of egotis(, .f he really felt love for
the(% as he often professes% he woul leave the( their freeo( to #hoose what suits
the(,
3;3
"he kin of spiritual guie that (ost people want is one who pats the( en#ourag(gly
on the shouler% flatters the( #onstantly in spee#h or writing% an habituates the( to
refer all their personal proble(s to hi( for solution, "he kin of guie they really nee
is one who will #riti#ally point out their faults an weaknesses an who will
unhesitatingly throw the( ba#k on their own resour#es, .t is better to en#ourage (en in
goo #onu#t than to pa(per their neuroti# religiosity,
3;5
"he aspirant #o(es to the philosophi# tea#her with a (in fille by error an ignoran#e,
>e #o(es to the philosophi# life with a #hara#ter fille by egois( an pre&ui#e, "hus
he is the largest stu(bling blo#k in his own path, >e hi(self prevents the spiritual
#ons#iousness fro( ap! proa#huig hi(, So the first uty of a tea#her is to show hi( all
this error% ignoran#e% egois(% an pre&ui#e for the ugly things they are an (ake hi(
aware an asha(e of the(,
3;6
>e (ust #ast asie (u#h of his #arefully heape!up pile of knowlege an begin afresh,
"o (ake a (an tea#hable% you (ust first #onvin#e hi( of his own ignoran#e, 9n the
(aster will show hi( that he really knows little of his own self,
3;;
.t is an i(portant part of his task to show (en what their personal lives look like fro(
an i(personal stanpoint, >en#e he points out the falla#y of their egotisti# a#tions an
the foolishness of their egotisti# purposes, O#enterP3;?> 4hatever he says or suggests
to his is#iples is sai or suggeste with a view to their ulti(ate goo, "herefore he (ay
so(eti(es re#o((en a #ourse of a#tion whi#h brings un(eiate pain or self!enial or
self!is#ipline,
3;@
>e (ay gently #hie one (an for errors an short#o(ings% or fir(ly warn another (an
against sins an lapses,
3?A
.t is har to bring a (an fro( a wrong point of view to a right one% not only be#ause he
(ay not be intelle#tually or intuitively #apable of (aking the transition% but also
be#ause he #an (ake it only by losing so(e of his e(otional egoisti# self!estee(, "his
is true of general propagana a(ong the (asses as it is of the preli(inary #orre#tion of
pupils by a (aster,
3?1
"he first task of a genuine guie is not to flatter the seeker but to #riti#i'e hi(% not to let
hi( re(ain ignorantly in the grip of his unre#ogni'e weaknesses but to point the( out
relentlessly to hi(,
3?0
/et hi( not think the tea#her brutal for poun#ing on his faults,
3?1
One of the first uties of a spiritual guie is to #orre#t the beginner% show where he has
(istaken his way% an e$pose his falla#ies of thought% feeling% an #onu#t, 9 #o(petent
guie will be <ui#k to per#eive an fearless to point out these (atters however
unpleasant a uty it be an however unpalatable to the pupil,
3?3
.t is part of the task of a spiritual ire#tor to point out ta#tfully but fir(ly the faults an
efi#ien#ies of his is#iples% to (ake the( (ore aware of what is neee in their (oral
self!#orre#tion,
3?5
"he spiritual ire#tor who is over!severe in his #orre#tion of the aspirant6s faults% nees
#orre#ting hi(self,
3?6
"he paternal spiritual guie who #oles his bleating is#iples reners the( a
isservi#e,
3?;
.t is a #o((on e$perien#e with abbots of (onasteries in the 4est an with gurus of
ashra(s in the -ast that attention given to one is#iple (ay rouse the ego6s #on#eit in
hi( an the ego6s envy in the others,
3??
"he guie who refuses to appease the ego of those who approa#h hi(% (ay nevertheless
be eager to help the(, Bet they will resent his #ounsel an feel rebuffeF "hey o not
see that he is trying to help the( in a wiser way by showing the( how to help
the(selves, Only longer ti(e an further e$perien#e (ay bring the( to their senses an
show the( the logi# of his avi#e an the pruen#e of his attitue,
3?@
"he spiritual leaer who is always soft an senti(ental (ay help so(e of his pupils but
he woul help the( (ore if% at the sa(e ti(e% he were also har an fir(, "he first
attitue will attra#t (ore to hi(% but without the se#on to balan#e it neither he nor they
will get the proper view of life,
3@A
9 true tea#her (ust warn his followers against false e$pe#tations an irreee(able
pro(ises,
3@1
One of the first tasks of a philosophy tea#her is to restrain the (issionary fervour of his
younger pupils an to i(press upon the( the nee of #aution% is#ri(ination% an even
se#re#y in this (atter,
3@0
.t is not enough that he has the penetration to per#eive the truth+ he (ust also have the
#ourage to tell it to his is#iples% even though he knows it will sho#k the(,
3@1
"he guru whose ego still harbours vanity will fin it flattere by every new is#iple%
will be enangere afresh by every wiening of his personal influen#e,
3@3
>e fins that the is#iples #o(e to hi( for their e(otional #o(fort% they o not #o(e
for their ego6s e(otional <uietus, "hey want to re(ain en#lose in its little #ir#le% not to
be taken #o(pletely out of it,
3@5
"he kin of (aster neee an sought after by those who are on the religio!(ysti#!
o##ult path is one who will take a keen interest in their personal life as well as spiritual
welfare% one who is always willing to help the( with any an every proble(% one who
by virtue of resien#e or #orresponen#e is always an <ui#kly available to the(, "he
philosophi# (aster is not like this but of a ifferent kin,
3@6
>e is not a (issionary telling others that they must follow the Quest but an eu#ator
telling the( that they (ay follow it if they so #hoose,
3@;
"he title =leaer= i(plies its #orollary =follower,= But a spiritual leaer of the kin here
es#ribe oes not want a (ass of followers trailing behin hi( in a partisan spirit, .t is
enough for hi( to give others a few inspirations% ieas% insights% an yet leave the( free
to work on the (aterial as they wish% unobligate to &oin any (ove(ent,
3@?
.t is neeful for you to unerstan that a philosophi# tea#her never really wants anyone
to follow hi( but only to follow "ruth, So#rates hu(orously es#ribe hi(self as
pra#tising the sa(e vo#ation as his (other who was a (iwife!!the only ifferen#e
between the( being that whereas she helpe wo(en to eliver the(selves of infants% he
helpe (en to eliver the(selves of the true ieas with whi#h their (ins were in
labour, >is business% like that of all genuine tea#hers% was not to i(part truth as
so(ething new an foreign but to assist the stuent to eli#it it fro( within hi(self,
-very genuine tea#her tries in his work to lea the stuent6s (in in su#h a way that his
thinking graually #hanges without his be#o(ing #ons#ious of the fa#t at the ti(e%
although he will re#ogni'e it in retrospe#t later, >e (akes stuents think for the(selves+
sti(ulates the( to solve their own (etaphysi#al% personal% an e(otional proble(s+
perioi#ally gives an inner (ysti#al i(petus to their (eitation pra#ti#e+ an points out
the pitfalls an falla#ies whi#h lie in their life!path, Be#ause his outlook is so
isintereste% be#ause his pri(ary purpose is to liberate an not li(it the(% to give an
not get% su#h a tea#her6s servi#es #an never be bought by anyone!!although they (ay be
#lai(e by those who are prepare to #ast off the shoes of #onventional pre&ui#e at his
oor an who are willing to refrain loyally fro( i(posing upon hi( their pre#on#eive
notions of what #hara#teristi#s the tea#hing% the tea#her% an the <uest shoul possess,
"hus if he will not sha#kle the(% they in their turn (ust not sha#kle hi(, Su#h woul!be
is#iples are rare% but su#h tea#hers who pra#tise what they prea#h are rarer still,
3@@
"he (etho of a philosophi# tea#her is not to (ake the e#isions of the pupil for hi(
but rather to lea hi( to (ake the( for hi(self, "he tea#her will outline the pro#ess of
arriving at the #orre#t #on#lusion% but he will not eprive the pupil of the responsibility
of trusting that pro#ess an a##epting its out#o(e, "he tea#her (ay even (ake available
infor(ation whi#h will be helpful to the stuent in arriving at a e#ision% but beyon
that he #annot go if the stuent is to arrive at inepenen#e an (aturity, "he
relationship whi#h we fin in (ysti#al or Oriental #ir#les% whi#h leaves the pupil
#o(pletely or #ontinuously epenent upon his guie an #auses hi( to #o(e
#onstantly running to an fro for avi#e as to what he shoul o ne$t% will only in#rease
the helplessness of the pupil, "he philosophi# way is to help hi( evelop his own
ability to ispose of proble(s an #onfront situations effe#tively, "he philosophi#
(etho is to lea the pupil to the point where he re<uires no tea#her, "he (ysti#al
(etho is to lea hi( to the point where he #annot o without the tea#her,
5AA
"he tea#her who e(ans blin obeien#e fro( his pupil belongs to a vanishing age,
"he tea#her who strives to (ake his pupil6s own (in unerstan ea#h step of the way
he travels belongs to the #o(ing age, "he first often ens by enslaving his followers%
whereas the se#on ens by liberating the(, "he first is a i#tator% the se#on a
#o(panion, "he first #reates nonentities% the se#on% (en,
5A1
9 wise tea#her will not le#ture to his stuents% will not try the superfi#ial way of telling
the( every etail of truth, But by is#ussion <uestioning an en#ourage(ent he will
help the( to eli#it it for the(selves an thus enable the( to (ake it eeply an lastingly
their own,
5A0
"he right way to tea#h (en is to propose truth% not i(pose it,
5A1
9 philosophi# tea#her often prefers to let the stuent (ake his own is#overies on the
basis of #lues provie rather than lea hi( into rigi i(prisoning og(as,
5A3
"he true tea#her shoul sti(ulate thought an not stereotype it, .f an aspirant is
fortunate enough to get ire#t an personal guian#e of this kin% he is fortunate inee,
5A5
"he (aster gives a #aniate the sees an tea#hes hi( how to #ultivate the(: how to
water% nourish% an ten the plants whi#h sprout up fro( the(,
5A6
"he highest type of tea#her oes not want an will not en#ourage a blin un<uestioning
a##eptan#e of his own views,
5A;
"he true tea#her interprets the ivine will for his is#iple but oes not i(pose it on hi(,
Su#h a guie (ay proffer avi#e an tener suggestions but he will never issue orers
an i#tate e#isions, .nstea of trying to eprive the stuent of his #apa#ity to intuit
truths for hi(self% the isintereste tea#her will try to #reate it,
5A?
9 genuine tea#her will not seek to o(inate the soul of a stuent% will not strive to
i(pose his own will upon hi(, 7or the tea#her esires to see a natural an not a for#e
artifi#ial growth% to free (en an not to enslave the(, "he real (aster spirituali'es his
is#iple but oes not ebilitate hi(,
5A@
"he guru who oes not want to enslave is#iples% will guie the( to o what they
the(selves ought to be oing% but are weakly an foolishly e$pe#ting hi( to o for
the(,
51A
9 pruent (aster prefers not to help people but to help the( to help the(selves,
511
.t is (erely (o#kery to a(onish a weakling to be#o(e strong if you o not put into his
hans the knowlege an e<uip(ent wherewith he #an a#<uire strength,
510
.t is the tea#her6s uty to foster his is#iple6s #reativeness% not his i(itativeness!!to
en#ourage the is#iple to evelop his own inspiration,
511
"he average tea#her takes fro( his own personal e$perien#e what helpe hi( (ost or
what his own tea#her le hi( to% an passes it on to the stuent as being =the Path%= the
only way to 8o% the sole (etho of arriving at truth!!whether this parti#ular way or
(etho suits the iniviual type or his egree of evelop(ent or not, >e al(ost for#es
it on the stuent% even if it is #ontrary to the latter6s entire te(pera(ent or nee, "he
poor stuent fins hi(self i(prisone an lo#ke up in his tea#her6s personal opinions
an pra#ti#es% as if nothing goo e$iste outsie the(,
513
"he wisest (aster lets the is#iple evelop in his own way% a##oring to his own
iniviuality,
515
Su#h a tea#her will be the stuent6s (otivating influen#e while% parao$i#ally%
en#ouraging hi( to preserve his inepenen#e,
516
4hat the wise tea#her oes is to wait for the right situations to evelop in whi#h his
own efforts #an be (ost fruitful,
51;
>e has waite for years% reserving the full e$pression of his powers until the #ru#ial
hour when the aspirant is reay to re#eive hi(, Hntil then% he (ust #on#eal his ientity,
51?
>is wiso( in refusing to influen#e the stuents6 e#isions will not be apparent at first,
.nee it will be regare as unwiso(!!an his attitue will be felt as unsy(patheti#,
51@
.t is not the business of a (aster to save the is#iple fro( suffering so (u#h as to save
hi( fro( the faults in hi(self whi#h #reate suffering, >e (ay suggest an avise but
never i(pose his will upon yours, >e turns a la(p upon your proble(s but leaves you
free to work the( out for yourself,
50A
9 (aster6s work is not to issue #o((ans whi#h (ust be obeye by enslave is#iples%
but to for(ulate prin#iples whi#h (ust be unerstoo by enlightene ones, .t is not to
#reate belief but to strengthen knowlege,
501
"he philosophi# tea#her leaves to the iniviual pupil how he shall apply these
prin#iples to his own life% an oes not try to #halk out the pre#ise etails of su#h
pra#ti#e for hi(,
500
>is unwillingness to give spe#ifi# avi#e on pra#ti#al personal (atters shoul not be
#onstrue as unwillingness to help% or as la#k of interest in the(, .t is only that he wants
the solution to #o(e straight out of the stuent6s own being% so that the growth will be
the stuent6s too,
501
Only the ine$perien#e over!enthuse novi#e will want to share the whole of his
knowlege with others% will want to let the( into all its se#rets without elay, "he
pruent e$pert guie is (u#h (ore restraine, >e #arefully refrains fro( giving (ore
than the others are reay for% holing the rest ba#k for a later ti(e, .t is not only
pruen#e whi#h warns hi( against yieling all his se#rets at on#e: Nature% in her own
operations% likewise lets the (in of her ani(als grow by egrees through a grauate
pro#ess of evelop(ent,
503
.t is the (ark of a well!<ualifie tea#her that he aapts his avi#e to fit ea#h is#iple
iniviually, .f everyone is re#o((ene to pra#tise the sa(e (etho irrespe#tive of
his #o(peten#e% his personal history an te(pera(ent% his grae of evelop(ent an
#apa#ity% his #hara#ter!traits an tenen#ies% in a nu(ber of #ases it will be largely
ineffe#tual,
505
>is long!range work is to lift the is#iples to his own level% but his short!range work is
ne#essarily #on#erne with their levels,
506
>is refusal to give everything out to everyone (ust be &uge by this light% this
re#ognition of the fa#t that there e$ist various levels of unerstaning% an hen#e of
reainess to learn these things,
50;
9 tea#her of spiritual #ulture% ieals% prin#iples% an pra#ti#es (ust think of the
intelle#tual level of those he seeks to instru#t% an aress his (essage to that,
O#enterP50?> Be#ause there are ifferent levels of aspirants% ifferent levels of
tea#hing are ne#essary,
50@
>e takes the view that these (ultiple tea#hings are su##essive steps leaing in ti(e to
the highest truth an that it woul be har(ful or unwise to present this truth at too early
a stage,
51A
"here are three (ethos of approa#h use by the tea#hers% epening on the level of the
people they have to eal with, "hey are: first% terrori'ing the lowest type by fears+
se#on% #oa$ing the better evolve ones by baits an lures+ thir% giving a fair% balan#e
state(ent of the truth for those people who are (entally an (orally on the highest
level,
511
9 #o(petent tea#her puts hi(self behin his pupil6s eyes% insie his pupil6s (in% an
starts his instru#tion fro( what he fins there,
510
"he pruent tea#her will reveal what will best help people% not ne#essarily what they
like to hear or all that he knows, >e (ust give people what is best for the(% (ust first
evaluate how (u#h truth they #an take in, .t is utterly i(pra#ti#able an i(pruent to
give all people all the spiritual truth at all ti(es,
511
"he pruent tea#her will give out only slighty (ore than the seeking en<uirer is able to
re#eive,
513
"o e$plain su#h subtle tea#hings in all their fullness to anyone who will not be able to
unerstan the( or to feel as intereste as the stuent oes% woul be foolish,
Nevertheless% he is not the proprietor of the( so he #annot keep the( solely for his own
use+ nor is he so separate fro( others that their inner fate is not his #on#ern, .f so(eone
#o(es who asks <uestions sin#erely or nees #o(fort spiritually or seeks guian#e in
bewiler(ent% the stuent (ust give what he #an, But he (ust give it pruently% not
pouring out one rop (ore of his knowlege or power than is neee for the parti#ular
person at this parti#ular stage in evolution, "here is no ne#essity to keep truth &ealously
guare% as in (eieval ti(es% nor to rush to the opposite e$tre(e an give everything
to everyone,
515
"he (essage will rea#h hi( only when it #an re!eu#ate his unerstaning,
516
9ll spiritual progress is iniviual, -a#h (an grows by hi(self% not as part of a group,
"herefore% if instru#tion is really to be effe#tive% it shoul be iniviual instru#tion,
51;
"he outer tea#her6s pri(e uty is to lea the aspirant to his own inner tea#her, But if he
leas the aspirant towars ever!in#reasing atta#h(ent% epenen#e% an sub(ission to
hi(self!!that is% outwars an away fro( the inner tea#her!!then he only e$ploits hi(
rather than ire#ts hi(% an there is only false progress,
51?
Deal progress will be the fruit of their own eneavours% not of the goowill of others, .t
is one of the obligations of a true spiritual guie to (ake aspirants feel that they have
the power to a#hieve it an to en#ourage the( to take their spiritual estiny into their
own hans,
51@
>e for(ulates pre#isely an e$presses efinitely an iea whi#h a nu(ber of (ins are
(oving towar but have not yet prou#e, "hey re#ogni'e it when he gives it to the(%
an thus be#o(e the willing re#eivers of it,
53A
"he tea#her passes so(e of his own #ons#iousness an for#e into the is#iple% thus
enabling hi( to reali'e the truth of what (ight otherwise be but theory, :oreover he
provies =truth!wors= for the is#iple who% by #onstantly ru(inating over these% attains
intuitive knowlege,
531
"he <uestion of helping stuents (ore iniviually is a <uestion of pra#ti#al
fun#tioning, "he tea#her wishes to keep his own freeo( an at the sa(e ti(e leave
the( free too,
530
"he ai( of a tea#her is not to #reate a philosophi#al elite for its own sake but for the
larger sake of (ankin,
531
"he starting of a #ult to gain a personal following woul be abhorrent to the spirit of any
truly selfless spiritual guie% but the #reation of a s#hool for spiritual evelop(ent an
philosophi#al learning he (ight #onsier helpful to (any earnest but bewilere
stuents of life,
533
"he true (aster is to work for the few, "here are several agen#ies who will sprea their
a#tivities thinly on a wie surfa#e but his will penetrate to a eeper level, "heirs will be
(ore showy but his (ore effe#tive,
535
9epts not only seek the few who seek the( but they also seek the fewer still who are
<ualifie for the(,
536
"he tea#her oes not lift the veil of .sis for everyone he (eets in the street but he will
always lift it for those who ask aright,
53;
>e #annot help all the (illions of (ankin, >e #an help only the seekers a(ong
(ankin, Nor #an he help all the seekers, >e #an help only those who #o(e into
sy(patheti# an re#eptive #onta#t with hi( or with his work,
Master&disciple relationship
53?
"o be so(eone6s is#iple is to go farther in relationship than to be his stuent,
53@
.f (en #all the(selves is#iples sharing his views% two paths be#o(e open to the(, "he
first is to be#o(e lay is#iples% who li(it the(selves to intelle#tual sharing only, "he
se#on is to be#o(e full is#iples% who go all the way with hi( into the philosophi#al
is#ipline an life,
55A
One great avantage of the path of personal is#ipleship is that it re<uires no intelle#tual
#apa#ity% no spe#ial gifts of any kin% to get its profits an (ake progress along its
#ourse, 4hat #oul be si(pler than re(e(bering the (aster6s na(e an fa#e2 4hat
#oul be easier than (entally turning to hi( every ay in faith% reveren#e% hu(ility% an
evotion2
551
"he avantage of having a living (aster is i((ense, :an is so sense!boun that it is
easier for hi( to follow an e(boie ieal than a ise(boie one% easier to unerstan
truth in a#tion than truth in the abstra#t, Shoul anyone have the goo fortune to be
taken uner the wing of a sage% his progress will go forwar at a far <ui#ker rate than
woul otherwise be possible, .t is not a little thing that he has so(eone to turn hi( in
the right ire#tion or that his (ove(ent in this ire#tion is guie by an e$perien#e
pioneer,
550
9lthough the (aster #annot o the is#iple6s work for hi(% he #an put the is#iple in
#o((an of the spe#ial knowlege erive fro( long e$perien#e whi#h #an help hi(
o the work (ore effi#iently an (ore su##essfully,
551
"he (aster will tea#h with love what the stuent (ust learn with reveren#e,
553
9s the :aster brings the is#iple to #larify his own thinking an knowlege an
awareness% the latter turns his attention to what it is that he really oes believe,
555
"he 'eal of the :aster will by slow egrees per(eate the heart of the is#iple,
556
Hner the sunshine of this en#ourage(ent% inspiration% an sti(ulation% the inner life
e$pans,
55;
Only those who have the(selves felt it #an unerstan how he is able to e$ert su#h
rawing power an arouse su#h fervi evotion in is#iples,
55?
"here is inti(a#y in the fellowship between tea#her an is#iple whi#h is uni<ue, "here
is an i(personality in this (ost personal of hu(an relationships whi#h is e<ually
uni<ue,
55@
No other relationship% whether fa(ilial or frienly% #an #o(pare with this relationship in
epth or beauty or value,
56A
"here is no tie so strong% no attra#tion so eep as that between :aster an pupil,
Conse<uently it persists through in#arnation after in#arnation,
561
.t is a spe#ial kin of relationship% one whi#h is less epenent on physi#al #onitions
than any other hu(an relationship, .f they never (eet again% never see ea#h other again%
it re(ains un#hangeably the sa(e to the en,
560
"he average aspirant oes not fin the true tea#hers be#ause he woul not behave
hi(self #orre#tly with the( if he i, Sooner or later he woul abuse the lofty #hara#ter
of the relation of is#ipleship an seek to for#e it to be#o(e a half!worlly one, .t is
probably true to say that even i(perfe#t tea#hers% who are all that the publi# is likely to
know% often re#eive fro( their followers franti# appeals for this or that personal
intervention or fren'ie outpourings #on#erning this or that personal (aterial proble(
for whi#h i((eiate help is e(ane, But even when the aspirant has linke hi(self
up with an e(boie (aster or invisible aept% a s#riptural personage or his own higher
self% he (ay start to assu(e that the higher power or person is hen#eforth going to settle
all his personal troubles without his own e$ertions being #alle for, "his is a pie#e of
wishful thinking, "he very purpose of evolution woul be efeate if he were to be
eprive of the opportunity of ta#kling his proble(s an troubles for hi(self: it is only
so that his #apa#ities #an stret#h out an his unerstaning enlarge itself, 4e (ay
sy(pathi'e with the nee of trouble is#iples% but a wrong notion of what #onstitutes
the tea#her!is#iple relation will not help the(, .t will lea to false hopes an the
anguish of subse<uent isappoint(ent, 7or what is it that they are really trying to o2
"hey are not (erely using the tea#her as a spiritual guie% whi#h is <uite #orre#t% but
also as a (aterial guie% leaning!post% an father!(other% whi#h is <uite wrong, "hey
want to shunt their own responsibilities an shift their personal burens onto the ba#k of
a (aster or at least to share the( with hi(, Su#h a #on#eption of is#ipleship is a wrong
one, 9lso it is an unfair one, .nstea of using the (aster as a sour#e of prin#iples an
inspirations to be applie by the(selves in pra#ti#al life% they try to e$ploit hi(% to
avoi the responsibility for (aking their own e#isions by saling it upon his
shoulers, "he (aster #annot solve all their personal proble(s or #arry all their burens,
"his task rests with the is#iples the(selves, "o seek to shift their responsibility for it
onto the (aster6s shoulers is to e(an the i(possible% the unfair% an the unwise, .f
su##essful% it woul efeat the very purpose of their in#arnation, .t woul rob the( of
the benefit of the e$perien#e to whi#h they have been le by their own Overself, Su#h
e$#essive relian#e on the guie (akes the( (ore an (ore in#apable of inepenent
thought an &uge(ent, But it shoul be the ob&e#t of a #o(petent guie to help the(
evelop these very things an grow in spiritual strength% as it shoul be the ai( of a
sin#ere one not i#tatorially to rule their #onu#t but suggestively to elevate it, .f they
are to avan#e to higher levels% is#iples (ust learn to rely on their own eneavours, No
(aster #an relieve the( of this responsibility, .t is not the work of a philosophi# tea#her
to save stuents fro( having to (ake e#isions for the(selves, .t is% on the #ontrary% his
uty to en#ourage the( to fa#e up to rather than to flee fro( the responsibility an
profit of working out their own solutions, "he pruent (aster will leave the( to work
out for the(selves how to apply philosophy to their personal situations, 7or hi( to
(anage their lives% settle their proble(s% an negotiate their iffi#ulties (ight please
their egos but woul weaken their #hara#ters, >en#e% he oes not wish to interfere in
their lives nor assu(e responsibility for for(ing e#isions on those personal% o(esti#%
fa(ily% e(ploy(ent% an business proble(s whi#h they ought to arrive at for
the(selves, 9t best he #an point out the general ire#tion for travel% not supply a
efinite (ap+ he #an lay own the general prin#iples of a#tion an it is for the( to fin
out the best way of applying these prin#iples, "he agony of #o(ing to a right &uge(ent
is part of the eu#ative pro#ess in eveloping right intuitions, -a#h e$perien#e looke at
in this way brings out their inepenent #reative fa#ulty% that is% (akes the( truly self!
reliant, "he prin#iples of su#h solutions are partially in their hans+ pra#ti#al horse!
sense (ust be harnesse to shrew reason an guie by ethi#al ieals an intuitions,
561
.t is not right for the woul!be is#iple to take the new relationship as an e$#use for
releasing hi(self fro( all personal responsibilities% all personal e#isions, >e shoul
not e$pe#t the tea#her to take entire #harge of his entire life for hi(, Nor is it right for a
tea#her to a##ept su#h a position% to play a role #onsisting of father an (other an 8o
#o(bine into a single person towar an iniviual who has rea#he ault life, .t will
not help a is#iple to let hi( evae his responsibilities an shirk his e#isions, .f the
at(osphere between the( is sur#harge with e(otion alone without the restraining
balan#es of reason an #o((on sense% this is the kin of situation whi#h is likely to be
brought about, 9 wise tea#her will try to (eet is#iples upon the proper groun between
a##epting su#h helpless epenen#e an rebuffing it brus<uely altogether, 9ny other
(eeting woul be unhealthy e(otionally an unsoun intelle#tually,
563
'merson: =4hy insist on rash personal relations with your frien2 4hy go to his house%
or know his (other an brothers an sisters2 4hy be visite by hi( at your own2 9re
these things (aterial to our #ovenant2 /eave this tou#hing an #lawing, /et hi( be to
(e a spirit, 9 (essage% a thought% a sin#erity% a glan#e fro( hi( . want% but not news
nor pottage, . #an get politi#s an #hat% neighbourly #onvenien#es fro( #heaper
#o(panions, Shoul not the so#iety of (y frien be to (e poeti#% pure% universal an as
great as nature itself2=!!"hese wors are &ust as appli#able to the is#iple,
565
4hoever entrusts hi(self to a (aster or his (in to a tea#hing% #annot es#ape his own
personal responsibility for what he oes, "his is not to absolve either the guru or the
author of the tea#hing fro( their own responsibility% whi#h they also have% but it is to
(ake #lear that the followers share it too,
566
"he is#iple6s reveren#e for the :aster #an still hol roo( for sight of the latter6s
failings an i(perfe#tions, .f he gets enough inspiration fro( the :aster to help his
spiritual life% it woul be a foolish e#ision to leave hi( be#ause of those failings an
i(perfe#tions,
56;
.n pri(itive tribal ti(es it was the #usto( in (ost pla#es to (easure knowlege by the
length of the bear, "oay it is foun that (any of our #leverest ato(i# energy s#ientists
are #o(paratively young an #ertainly bearlessF .t is as sensible to follow the pri(itive
#usto( nowaays as it is to (easure virtue by the beauty of the fa#e, Bet it is not an
un#o((on attitue for self!style truth!seekers to follow one spiritual tea#her be#ause
his fa#ial appearan#e pleases the( an to re&e#t another tea#her be#ause his physi#al
figure ispleases the(F Says SQren Iierkegaar in (oncluding Unscientific ostscript,
=>e )So#rates* was very ugly% ha #lu(sy feet% an% above all% a nu(ber of growths on
the forehea an elsewhere% whi#h woul suffi#e to persuae anyone that he was a
e(orali'e sub&e#t, "his was what So#rates unerstoo by his favourable appearan#e
in whi#h he was so thoroughly happy that he woul have #onsiere it a #hi#ane of the
ivinity to prevent hi( fro( be#o(ing a tea#her of (orals% ha he been given an
attra#tive appearan#e like an effe(inate #ithara player% a (elting glan#e like a shepher
la% s(all feet like a an#ing (aster in the 7rienly So#iety an in toto as favourable an
appearan#e as #oul have been esire by any appli#ant for a &ob through the
newspapers% or any theologue who has pinne his hope on a private #all, 4hy was this
ol tea#her so happy over his unfavourable appearan#e% unless it was be#ause he
unerstoo that it (ust help to keep the learner at a istan#e% so that the latter (ight not
sti#k fast in a ire#t relationship to the tea#her% perhaps a(ire hi(% perhaps have his
#lothes #ut in the sa(e (anner2 "hrough the repellent effe#t e$erte by the #ontrast%
whi#h on a higher plane was also the role playe by his irony% the learner woul be
#o(pelle to unerstan that he ha essentially to o with hi(self% an that the
inwarness of the truth is not the #o(raely inwarness with whi#h two boso( friens
walk ar( in ar(% but the separation with whi#h ea#h for hi(self e$ists in the truth,=
56?
.f you as the stuent #hoose hi( as your guie% an if he as the tea#her a##epts you%
what will follow2 Bou shoul not have (istaken or e$aggerate notions about this
relation% shoul not i(agine% for instan#e% as so (any have i(agine% that within a week
of a##eptan#e you will have supernor(al e$perien#es% (agi#ally attain the trans#enent
insight% or re#eive hour!by!hour wat#hful #are fro( hi(, "he path is a lifeti(e one+ it
(ay well run into several lifeti(es, 7or the first an se#on things to happen is to run
#ontrary to the laws of nature, >is own work is so wiesprea an so surprisingly
varie% his #orresponen#e so large% his writing labours so i(portant% that it is physi#ally
i(possible for a tea#her #ontinuously to pay personal attention to the several hunre
iniviuals seeking his help, 4hat help then (ay you legiti(ately e$pe#t fro( hi(2
Bou (ay e$pe#t help in the three bran#hes of this path: the evelop(ent of
philosophi#al intelligen#e% the pra#ti#e of (ysti#al (eitation% an the living of a wise
an virtuous e$isten#e, Con#erning the first ite(% your intelle#tual iffi#ulties <uestions
an proble(s will be #leare up through avan#e is#iples or through the post or% less
fre<uently% at personal interviews, Con#erning the se#on ite(% you will be given a
pra#ti#al initiation at a personal (eitation with hi(% whi#h (ay even be repeate a
nu(ber of ti(es if possible, .n aition you (ay be given the sa(e privilege with his
avan#e is#iples, But beyon this you (ust travel your own path, Bou (ust faithfully
stuy the neeful books% #arry on the regular (eitations% an try to a&ust your a#tions
to your ieals for yourself an by yourself, Bou #annot o(it any part of this work an
then rightfully e$pe#t the tea#her to #arry you forwar to su##essful a#hieve(ent of the
goal, >e (ay be there to ire#t% inspire% an en#ourage your work% but that oes not
absolve you fro( oing the work itself, 4hen Buha was aske by #riti#s if all his
is#iples a#te a##oring to his tea#hing% he frankly answere: =So(e o an so(e o
not,= "he #riti#s e$#lai(e% =>ow is it that even your own is#iples o not follow you2=
So Buha e$plaine% =:y task is (erely to show the path, So(e trea it an others o
not,=
56@
"he (aster (ust have the #ontinue #o!operation of the is#iple% if he is to o his best,
5;A
"he e$pe#tations of is#iples% their high esti(ate of his #hara#ter an notion of his
outlook% (ay help to (ake hi( what he is,
5;1
"he is#iple who oes not follow the path pointe out to hi(% who obeys only when it is
easy or #onvenient to obey% #o((its frau an oes insult to his (aster,
5;0
"he stuent6s elight in learning (ust be (at#he by the (aster6s elight in giving,
5;1
"he stuent6s faith (ust (eet the tea#her6s patien#e an the tea#her6s knowlege an
integrity (ust be su#h as to inspire #onfien#e in the stuent,
5;3
.t is better in every way that the tea#her shoul belong to the sa(e se$ as the is#iple,
5;5
"he attitue of the stuent towars his tea#her is of great i(portan#e to the stuent%
be#ause it lays an unseen #able fro( hi( to the tea#her% an along that #able pass to an
fro the (essages an help whi#h the tea#her has to give, "he tea#her #an never lose
#onta#t with the stuent by going to another part of the worl, "hat unseen #able is
elasti# an it will stret#h for thousans of (iles% be#ause the 4orl!:in #ons#iousness
will travel al(ost instantly an anywhere, Conta#t is not broken by in#reasing physi#al
istan#e, .t is broken by the #hange of heart% the alteration of (ental attitue by the
stuent towars the tea#her, .f the attitue is wrong% then the #able is first weakene an
finally snappe, Nothing #an then pass through an the stuent is really alone,
5;6
"rust lays the #able an trust keeps it in pla#e, Coubt severs the #able an (istrust
estroys it altogether, "herefore it is pruent an proper for a woul!be is#iple to #lear
his oubts an answer his <uestions before #hoosing the tea#hing whi#h he is to
approa#h as his faith% an not after the #hoi#e has been (ae,
5;;
.t is essential for aspirants to reali'e that in su#h a relationship it is the (ental attitue%
espe#ially the faith an evotion!!rather than outwar asso#iation an physi#al #onta#t!!
that is of true i(portan#e,
5;?
Os(osis% the prin#iple of absorption as a result of being with or near a thing or a person%
is a#tive here as elsewhere,
5;@
.t is not only neeful to link up with the guie in a general way by a right attitue of
faith an evotion towars hi( but also to link up in a spe#ial way by a aily (eitation
whi#h seeks to put the is#iple6s (in in rapport with the guie6s,
5?A
>is silent influen#e #an lift up the other (an6s inner being (u#h (ore easily if the
is#iple sits rela$e in boy an e(ptie in (in,
5?1
9 (aster (ay give out his tea#hings% (ethos% an instru#tions, Sooner or later so(e
a(ong his followers!!if not his opponents!!will twist the(% reinterpret the(% (oify
the(% or even efor( the(, "his pro#ess even starts uring his lifeti(e% but be#o(es
#onsierable an i(portant only after that!!when he6s no longer present to atten to
neee #orre#tions, "his shows that not all who hear hi( unerstan what they hear%
an that there are ifferent levels of #apa#ity a(ong the followers,
5?0
"he spiritual #ounsellor who takes personal avantage of the epenen#e pla#e upon
hi( or of the trust shown in hi(% thereby reners hi(self unfit for su#h a high position,
"herefore in his ealings with is#iples it is best for hi( to (aintain an inepenen#e in
pra#ti#al affairs an worlly relationship as well as a #ool eta#h(ent in so#ial #onta#t
an personal inter#ourse, .t is inevitable that the is#iples shoul feel hurt at su#h
i(personality an su#h ob&e#tivity% but therein lies a prote#tion both for the(selves an
for the tea#her until su#h ti(e as they are (ore evelope% better balan#e% (ore
#ontrolle% an farther seeing, "hen an then only is it possible for the tea#her to revise
the relationship an (ake it not only a war(er one but even a (ore personal one% with
safety to both sies, Cis#iples who are not well!balan#e an are so(ewhat neuroti#
often try to get the tea#her personally involve in their lives, 7or they want to be set free
fro( the nee of eveloping the(selves% the uty of i(proving their #hara#ters% the
buren of a##epting their responsibilities% an the painfulness of working out e(otional
proble(s whi#h are (erely the result of their own egois(, .f the tea#her su##u(bs to
their appeals% then they re(ain unevolve an the relationship itself re(ains
unpra#ti#able, But if he fir(ly resists the( he (ay% by su#h resistan#e% for#e a #hange in
their attitue an #onse<uently an in#rease in their wiso(, .n oing so however he
#ourts (isunerstaning on the part of his is#iples% who (ay first be#o(e bewilere
an later resentful, 9ffe#tion (ay turn to anger for a ti(e% an the is#iple (ay even
withraw altogether, .f they are so foolish as to o this their evelop(ent will not only
be stoppe but also% what is worse% set ba#k for (onths or years,
5?1
Possessive love is natural, 4e want to have an keep what we love, But when its ob&e#t
is another hu(an being% there is an inevitable esire for the return of our love% for the
restri#tion of their affe#tion to us alone% so that what we give is not given in purity but
in e$tene selfishness, >en#e when others love you they want to eprive you of your
freeo(, But when the is#iple loves you% he (ust give you your freeo(,
5?3
.t is also an error to believe that one is#iple (ust ne#essarily asso#iate with the other
is#iples of the sa(e tea#her, Only where there is real te(pera(ental har(ony an
personal affinity shoul is#iples asso#iate together, 4here these are la#king% it is (u#h
wiser an safer not to o so, 7or then the evil for#es take avantage of the #han#e to
evelop ishar(ony% <uarrels% ill!feeling% an even worse, "his spoils the progress of
both,
5?5
"he real business of any is#iple is with the tea#her% not with the other is#iples, Su#h a
situation #annot be helpe an (ust be a##epte, >u(an beings are all born with
ifferent #hara#ters an ispositions, Only the sage #an har(oni'e with all+ others (ust
re#ogni'e li(itations,
5?6
.f one #annot be happy with #ertain stuents% he (ust wish the( well an then go his
own way, >e (ust never allow hi(self to be rawn into <uarrels for then the evil for#es
be#o(e a#tive,
5?;
"he relationship between the( is a beautiful but free one, .f the is#iple takes a
possessive attitue an tries to anne$ the tea#her% if he betrays &ealousy of other
is#iples or e(ans as (u#h attention as they get% he substitutes an egoisti# for an
i(personal relationship% fails to unerstan its istin#tively an uni<uely free nature%
an thus spoils it,
5??
>e (ust insist on getting the sa(e freeo( fro( his is#iples that he allows to the(,
5?@
4hether physi#ally together or physi#ally apart% that is a true relationship between
(aster an is#iple% husban an wife% frien an frien% whi#h refusing to be tightly
possessive or personally e(aning% is satisfie by the silent fa#t that the other e$ists at
all,
5@A
No guru #an lea anyone to enlighten(ent if he hi(self is atta#he to the role of guru%
nor #an any is#iple ever re#eive enlighten(ent if he wants to play the role of is#iple
forever, Both are suffering fro( atta#h(ents whi#h prevent enlighten(ent, "his is why
the whole thing be#o(es a stage play% whether serious or #o(i#al% in whi#h the a#tors
are perfor(ing their personal parts, -ven if they babble about the ne#essity of not
getting atta#he to the worl% they are still atta#he to what they are suppose to be% that
is% <uesting, 9 truly enlightene (an has no su#h atta#h(ent an unless he is investe
by the >igher Power with a spe#ial apostleship% or with a spe#ial (ission% he woul not
#onsier hi(self a guru% nor anyone else as a is#iple,
5@1
"he way of leaning upon a guie% or being #arrie by one% is a way whi#h of itself #an
never lea to the goal, .t #an only lea in the en to the superior way of struggling to
one6s own knees again an again until one is strong enough to walk to the goal, "he
(aster (ust not stan in the way% (ust not ire#t attention to hi(self unuly an at the
e$pense of seekers6 own attra#tion to his #entral inner self, SQren Iierkegaar writes in
(oncluding Unscientific ostscript% =9 ire#t relationship between one spiritual being
an another% with respe#t to the essential truth% is unthinkable, .f su#h a relationship is
assu(e% it (eans that one of the parties has #ease to be spirit, "his is so(ething that
(any a genius o(its to #onsier% both when he helps people into the truth en masse% an
when he is #o(plaisant enough to think that a##la(ation% willingness to listen% the
affi$ing of signatures% an so forth% is ienti#al with the a##eptan#e of the truth,
Pre#isely as i(portant as the truth% an if one of the two is to be e(phasi'e% still (ore
i(portant% is the (anner in whi#h the truth is a##epte, .t woul help very little if one
persuae (illions of (en to a##ept the truth% if pre#isely by the (etho of their
a##eptan#e they were transferre into error, >en#e it is that all #o(plaisan#e% all
persuasiveness% all bargaining% all ire#t attra#tion by (eans of one6s own person%
referen#e to one6s suffering for the #ause% one6s weeping over hu(anity% one6s
enthusias(!!all this is sheer (isunerstaning% a false note in relation to the truth% by
whi#h% in proportion to one6s ability% one (ay help a &ob!lot of hu(an beings to get an
illusion of truth, So#rates was an ethi#al tea#her% but he took #ogni'an#e of the non!
e$isten#e of any ire#t relationship between tea#her an pupil% be#ause the truth is
inwarness% an be#ause this inwarness in ea#h is pre#isely the roa whi#h leas the(
away fro( one another, .t was presu(ably be#ause he unerstoo this% that he was so
happy about his unfavourable outwar appearan#e,=
5@0
"he relation between a pupil an his tea#her #an be base upon #o(plete sub(ission
an epenen#e on authority% or it #an be base on a reasonable freeo( an (oerate
self!relian#e,
5@1
"he belief #o((on in .nia an the Near -ast that a guru (ust take over your (in an
your life is wel#o(e by the weak or (isinfor(e here too, But it for(s no part of
philosophi#al tea#hing% pra#ti#e% an training,
5@3
"he rule of absolute sub(ission to a (aster (ay be as unsafe to follow as the rule of
absolute inepenen#e fro( a (aster,
5@5
"he proble( is one of re#on#iling the giving of #o(plete faith to the tea#her an the
keeping alive of one6s inner freeo( to think for oneself an to re#eive intuition fro(
oneself,
5@6
No (aster has the right to ask any #aniate for is#ipleship to surrener hi(self
absolutely% to pla#e hi(self unreservely in the (aster6s hans an to obey
un<uestioningly the (aster6s orers, "he trust e(ane shoul arise of its own a##or
by progressive egrees as the relationship pro#ees an evelops% an as the (aster
proves by his #onu#t an effe#tiveness to be fully worthy of it,
5@;
Be#ause he gives the (aster evotion he oes not also have to give hi( iolatry,
5@?
>is is#iples are taught how to unite inepenent thinking with loyal feeling in their
attitue towar hi(, "his satisfies the( both,
5@@
"here are those who think that he negle#ts to answer his (ail, Be#ause he leaves their
letters so long unanswere% they #on#lue that he (eans to rop the( out of his life,
Nothing #oul be farther fro( the truth, .t is true that his (ail a##u(ulates for long
perios of ti(e, But it is e<ually true that he la#ks the staff neee to hanle it% that the
pressure of work like writing an (eitation an resear#h notes leaves hi( little
re(aining ti(e, >owever% those who have (et hi( personally an #all the(selves his
is#iples often #annot unerstan his behaviour so he gives this publishe e$planation,
On#e inner #onta#t is establishe by a single physi#al (eeting it is not ne#essary to have
further ones with the guie although they (ay be helpful, Sri 9urobino grante only a
single (inute to ea#h iniviual at his first or later (eeting with a is#iple or a
#aniate for is#ipleship, "hus it is evient that he oes not #onsier (ore than si$ty
se#ons really ne#essary to establish it, Not only are further physi#al (eetings not
ne#essary but even further personal a#tion on his part% su#h as writing letters to the
is#iples are also unne#essary even though they (ay be helpful, "hus a spiritual guie
oes not nee to o anything physi#ally or write anything personally to keep up the
internal #onta#t% it being kept up by the stuent6s re(e(bran#e% evotion% faith% an
(eitation,
No is#iple #an be effe#tively traine by the long istan#e (etho of an o##asional
e$#hange of letters, >e nees personal supervision% personal #onta#t% an personal
is#ussion of his spe#ial proble(s, No #ons#ientious tea#her will ever unertake to give
instru#tions by (ail an e#lare it suffi#ient, .t gives too (eagre a basis for a##urate
unerstaning on the is#iple6s part or for an ae<uate #o((uni#ation on the tea#her6s
part,
"hen again he #annot a##ept the position of personal #ounsellor uner the guise of being
spiritual tea#her, "hat is not his work, :ost stuents who keep on failing to re#ogni'e
this fa#t against all previous an present warnings an who sen letter after letter with
every flu#tuation of their personal (oos an fortunes% in an atte(pt to wrest avi#e or
intervention fro( hi(% (ay for#e hi( to break the e$ternal #onta#t with hi( until su#h
ti(e as they o reali'e what the true situation is, .f he were to aopt a #ounselling
position an to agree to show stuents how to apply the philosophi#al tea#hing to every
#hange of their own personal life% he woul soon have no ti(e to give out those
tea#hings at all, Conse<uently he (ust refuse to respon to all these atte(pts often
openly but so(eti(es hien% often naKve but so(eti(es #unning% to get hi( personally
involve in the life of the seeker or to (i$ both their personal proble(s together, So
(any of his #orresponents try to for#e hi( into this highly personal guru!stuent
relationship% an thus to i(pose their own responsibilities upon his shoulers% that he
has to fall into lengthy perios of silen#e to prote#t hi(self, :oreover% if he were to
respon to the e(otional or worlly proble(s in the way su#h response is esire% it
woul only (ean the ownfall of both of the( an the breakown of their pure
relationship, "o (aintain this purity% to safeguar the relationship itself% an to prote#t
the (aster as well as the seeker% the proper tea#hing (ust be given fro( the start an
that is: the tea#her (ust be regare as a sy(bol% not as a person, >e is to be #onsiere
(erely as an agent for that whi#h he represents% not as &ust another hu(an being
entering into a hu(an relation with the is#iple, Often the beginner% fining that the
tea#her oes not fully respon to his e(otional #raving for #ontinuous personal
attention% soon be#o(es isappointe, "his feeling (ay evelop until it rea#hes a
#riti#al stage where one of two things (ay happen, -ither he will fail to pass the test% for
so it be#o(es% an will withraw altogether fro( the relationship!!perhaps even
(aligning the guie!!or he will #ontinue his trust% gain a new point of view% an (ake
the neee #hange to a higher attitue in the en, .f% however% he allows his egois( or
e(otion to lea hi( into isobeien#e of this rule% he will only enanger the
relationship, .f he persists in this isobeien#e% he will even fin it brought to an en for
a ti(e, So few unerstan what is really involve in this relationship% so (any
(isunerstan it an are therefore isappointe by it in the beginning or along the way%
that the tea#her prefers with rare e$#eptions of well!avan#e #ases% not to enter into it
outwarly at all but instea to offer a little frienly help without obligation,
6AA
No real (aster is ever afrai that he (ight lose any parti#ular is#iple, >e takes
possession of no one an leaves everyone as free as he foun the(, >e unerstans
<uite well that the (an6s nee or sear#h an his own higher self6s gra#ious response
brought the (aster into the pi#ture as an inire#t (eiu( through whi#h the response
#oul operate, >e unerstans% too% that all the instru#tion an avi#e% the uplift an
help whi#h he gives the is#iple originate ulti(ately an really within the (an hi(self%
as the latter will one ay is#over when he has evelope his own ire#t a##ess to the(%
an therefore refuses to regar the relationship between the( egotisti#ally,
"ualifications# duties of a disciple
6A1
"here are ine$orable laws% not of his (aking% whi#h govern the opening of a spiritual
relation between a (aster an a woul!be is#iple% however (u#h his evotion an
loyalty are appre#iate, "he #han#e re(ains open to hi( on a probation only% whi#h is
ne#essarily of a li(ite nu(ber of years, .f uring that perio they are able to (ake
personal #onta#t% it will be helpful for the is#iple6s progress in unerstaning the
tea#hing% an he #an then profit by it to #lear up (is#on#eptions an wee out faults,
6A0
>e (ay be generous enough to a##ept the( as they are% with their weaknesses an
(istakes% but the law of kar(a is above all hu(an e(otions% whether they be generous
or ingenerous, .t e(ans full pay(ent an istributes to the( the #onse<uen#es of
their a#tions,
6A1
"he (aster i not for(ulate these laws governing the <uest an% however urgent the
plea of his is#iple% he #annot o away with the(,
6A3
No aspirant has the right to seek personal is#ipleship with a genuine tea#her before he
has suffi#iently evelope hi(self for it% any (ore than a #hil who has not learne to
rea an write has the right to seek entran#e into a #ollege,
6A5
"he i((eiate presen#e of a tea#her a#ts as a #atalyst upon the stuent, >is efe#ts% no
less than his virtues% #annot then be hien for long% an #ir#u(stan#es will usually so
arrange the(selves that these <ualities will glaringly reveal the(selves in ti(e, >en#e
this is ne#essarily a probationary perio, "ests will #o(e not through any arbitrary a#t
on the part of the tea#her but through the orinary events of everyay life an also
through persons (et, "hey are not alone tests of a ethi#al kin!!after all% we are all
sinners until we reali'e truth!!as of his evotion to truth rather than its #ounterfeits, "he
stuent will be teste first to observe how far he #an re(ain personally loyal to the
tea#her!!be#ause the latter stans in sy(boli# relation to truth!!espite the efforts of
#riti#s an ene(ies to put a plausible fa#e on their opposition, "he (ost ele(entary
#onition of spiritual instru#tion is #o(plete #onfien#e between the tea#her an pupil,
9ll sorts of blin #riti#s an (ali#ious ene(ies will appear fro( ti(e to ti(e to atte(pt
to isturb that #onfien#e, "hey are un#ons#iously or #ons#iously the instru(ents of the
averse ele(ents in nature, >e will be teste% too% by surfa#e sho#ks to his pre&ui#es%
pre#on#eive notions% an e$pe#tations, >e will be teste to reveal how far he is willing
to go in the unselfish servi#e of hu(anity when su#h servi#e #o(es into #onfli#t with
his personal interests, .t oes not follow that if he oes not know when an where he is
being teste the test is unfair, .t is for hi( to use his intelligen#e at su#h ti(es as at
others% an to #onsult his plege whenever oubts arise an iffi#ulties o##ur, "hese
tests will so(eti(es be plainly evient an therefore #o(paratively easy to pass
through% but there are others whi#h are (ore subtle or isguise an therefore (ore
iffi#ult to pass through, >owever% all tests have one ob&e#t alone!!to eta#h hi( fro(
the path towars truth, .f he keeps this #learly in his (in% it will help hi( to unerstan
the(% an those who e(erge with unwavering #onfien#e espite all the oppositions
en#ountere will re#eive their rewar, .f after the probationary perio is over!!an its
length #annot be fi$e for it will vary with ea#h iniviual!!those whose feet still follow
the tea#her unhesitatingly an #o(pletely will naturally fin the interval of ti(e
between probation an a##eptan#e is (u#h shorter than will those in who( oubts still
linger an hesitation still arises,
6A6
7ro( the ti(e when he begins to take instru#tion fro( his tea#her% the is#iple also
begins a perio of probation in his inner #areer an of separation fro( his inner
weaknesses, "he probation will enable hi( graually to show forth all the ifferent
aspe#ts of his personality an will ini#ate how re#eptive he really is to the tea#her6s
influen#e, Curing this pro#ess% <ualities whi#h are lying latent beneath the surfa#e will
arise above it+ situations will arrange the(selves in su#h a way as to for#e hi( to
e$press the(, .n short% what is hien will be#o(e open, "hus he will be given the
#han#e to look to his (oral founations before he avan#es to the intensive (ysti#al
training whi#h pla#es hien power an hien knowlege in his hans, 4ithout first
getting su#h a founation% he who gets possession of these powers (ay soon fall into
overpowering te(ptations% with isastrous results to hi(self an others, "he inner
#onfli#t whi#h results fro( the probation will for#e hi( to fa#e hi(self% to look at the
weaknesses whi#h are present within hi( an to try to #on<uer the(, .f there is no other
way to get hi( to o so% then he will have to take the way of suffering their
#onse<uen#es so as to have the( brought ho(e to hi(, Su#h a phase of the is#iple6s
#areer will naturally be fille with strains for hi(self an with (isunerstanings about
hi(self, "he ter( of probation is a perio of severe trials an strong te(ptations,
>owever% the prin#iple of probation is a soun one, Out of the vorte$ of its tests an
stresses an upheavals% he has the #han#e to e(erge a stronger an wiser (an,
6A;
>is probationary perio is #on#erne with the general purifi#ation of #hara#ter fro(
egois( an ani(ality as well as with its sensiti'ation to intuition an instru#tion,
4ithout su#h a basis to work upon% it woul be angerous for hi( to venture into
(ysti#al work or publi# servi#e, Nor woul the tea#her per(it hi( to o so% as there are
ine$orable laws% not of his (aking% whi#h govern the (atter, >e (ust be on guar an
not (istake psy#his( for spirituality% pseuo!intuition for the real thing% (i$ personal
(otives with altruisti# servi#e% nor lose hi(self in rea(s an fantasies instea of
fining hi(self in inspire a#tion, "hese faults are #o((on to (ost (ysti#al aspirants,
"he Quest is ealy serious an e(ans so (u#h, .t is far easier to go astray fro( it
than to keep on it,
6A?
9n aspirant who approa#he a Ren :aster in Gapan was refuse personal instru#tion,
Nevertheless% he waite aroun in the vi#inity for half a year, "hen% tiring of the la#k of
su##ess% he abanone further soli#itation% resolve to epen on his own efforts% an
arrange to epart, But on the very eve of eparture the (aster sent for hi( an agree
to tea#h hi(,
6A@
.t is not the #usto( of a true (aster to a##ept personal stuents e$ternally an for(ally
fro( a(ong those who apply for the first ti(e% but only fro( those who have been in
tou#h with hi( for so(e years at least an hen#e have ha suffi#ient ti(e to (ake sure
that this is really the tea#her they want, Su#h a tea#her woul not esire an ought not to
a##ept those pupils who o not belong to his orbit by inwar affinity, >e woul be
foolish to a##ept a #aniate whose true #all is with so(e other tea#her% unwise to
per(it a passing enthusias( to waste his own ti(e an isappoint the enthusiast6s
hopes, .t is easy in transient (oos of enthusias( to (ake a (istake in this (atter an
to fin that he is not% after all% the kin of (an they originally believe hi( to be or the
kin of tea#her that best suits the(, So for their sake no less than his% it is better to look
elsewhere unless they have the patien#e to wait a few years before (aking su#h a fir(
an final e#ision, 7or every tea#her will naturally possess his own notion of the
<ualifi#ations for is#ipleship whi#h he values (ost an seeks (ost, >e always pla#es
(ore stress upon eep loyalty than upon any other virtue, >e woul not even (in so
(u#h that his stuents shoul rink al#oholi# li<uor to e$#ess as that they woul fail
hi( in this regar, 7ielity is the finest of virtues in his eyes, Cis#iples who la#k this
will soon be roppe, But if he asks for loyalty he oes not ask for slavishness, >e will
be perfe#tly satisfie to be taken for an orinary (ortal without being turne into a
perfe#t% unerring go, >e is the last (an to wish to be set up for what he is not, Nor will
he e(an fro( anyone that blin servility whi#h oes uty with (ost aspirants in
pla#e of the genuine loyalty that ought to be offere, -$ternally an for(ally% however%
there is nothing to stop anyone (eanwhile fro( appointing hi(self% if he so wishes% a
stuent!!(entally% se#retly% an internally, 7or is#ipleship is self!#reate by the (ental
attitue of evotion whi#h by rea#tion spontaneously brings hi( interior help, >e will
not then really nee the e$ternal signs of a##eptan#e,
61A
>e will be hani#appe to so(e e$tent by a #ons#iousness of the iffi#ulty of se#uring
ae<uate loyalty to a tea#her who refuses to surroun hi(self with all the paraphernalia
of ashra(s an all the trappings of guru!worship!!both of whi#h are repugnant to hi(,
"here are e$#ellent reasons in the stuent6s own interest!!an perhaps to so(e egree in
the tea#her6s% too!!why in this #ase su#h personal loyalty (ust be e(phati#ally insiste
on, "he pupil6s allegian#e will sooner or later be sub&e#te to the une$pe#te strain of
severe tests, "he aept possesses far too sensitive a te(pera(ent an far too strong an
inepenen#e to enure with inifferen#e the telepathi# refle#tions of this strain% whi#h
are invariably prou#e when the relationship effe#tively e$ists with the profoun
obligations on both sies whi#h it entails, >e (ay be philosophi# enough to s(ile at
(isunerstaning or esertion but he will also be hu(an enough to be sensitive to the(,
7or even were a stuent to break with hi( he #oul never break with the stuent, >is
own #on#eption of loyalty e(bra#es a wier stret#h than the frail seekers are likely to
unerstan, So(e inee have been so e#eive by the #o(pulsions of personal kar(a
an the logi# of (ere appearan#es as to i(agine that he is evoi of hu(an sy(pathy
an inifferent to hu(an feelings,
611
"he :aster is well aware of the bitter an painful lessons the aspirant (ust learn before
attaining (aturity an balan#e% an wishes it were possible to stret#h out a helping han,
Curing these iffi#ult ti(es% outer lines of #o((uni#ation shoul be kept open for they
are helpful an% inee% are ne#essary until the iniviual be#o(es suffi#iently intuitive,
"he :aster never #loses the inner lines% but they nee (aintenan#e on both sies if they
are to be effe#tive,
610
>e (ay woner why he re#eives so little ire#t help an personal en#ourage(ent fro(
his tea#her uring the first few years of their relationship, >e has to rea#h a #ertain point
in his (ental evelop(ent first an this #annot be until he has e$perien#e events whi#h
are like tests,
611
"wo su#h iniviuals as :aster an stuent are linke together by an#ient ties, :u#h
(ay re(ain to be one in the future as it was in the past, .f% in a previous in#arnation%
the stuent attaine a higher phase of evelop(ent than at present% this (ust again be
a#hieve before results #an appear in #ons#iousness, .n su#h a #ase he shoul work
espe#ially har to (ake progress,
613
.n Pythagoras6 s#hool at Crotona% the pupils passe through a series of three graes% an
were not allowe personal #onta#t with Pythagoras hi(self until they rea#he the
highest or thir grae,
615
.f the :aster ha no patien#e with his is#iples% he an they woul soon part, .f he ha
no belief in their eventual evolution% he an they woul never &oin,
616
.f a (an has hit#he the wagon of his spiritual effort to the star of a #o(petent an
worthy spiritual guie% it is nonsensi#al to ob&e#t that he surreners his freeo(
whenever he surreners his own personal &uge(ent to the guie6s or even whenever he
obeys a #o((an fro( the guie, 7or who #hose the guie2 >e% hi(self, By the
e$er#ise of what fa#ulty i he (ake su#h a #hoi#e2 By the e$er#ise of free will,
"herefore the initial a#t was a free #hoi#e, .t was also the (ost i(portant one be#ause it
was #ausal% all his other a#ts as a is#iple being (erely its effe#ts% however long be the
#hain whi#h e$tens fro( it, .t is be#ause he respe#ts the larger wiso( of the guie
an trusts his isinteresteness that the is#iple follows hi( in thought an pra#ti#e% not
be#ause he has be#o(e a puppet,
61;
"he aspirant who believes that he #an #o(e to a (aster for a few ays or weeks an
glean the tea#hing will glean only a sa(ple of it, .t will take hi( all his life not only to
re#eive what a (aster knows but to be a&uge worthy of an reay for it, .f he la#ks
this patien#e an hu(ility% he will fall into self!e#eption,
61?
Plato has pointe out in his seventh epistle that the philosophi#al wiso( =re<uires long
#ontinue #o((union between pupil an tea#her in &oint pursuit of the ob&e#t they are
seeking to unerstan% an then suenly% &ust as light flashes forth when a fire is
kinle% this wiso( is born in the (in an hen#eforth nourishes itself,=
61@
7aith in the (aster is the first step% obeien#e to his in&un#tions is the ne$t one% evotion
towar hi( is the thir step% an re(e(bran#e of his presen#e% na(e% or i(age is the
fourth, Su#h following of the (aster an pra#ti#e of his tea#hings will bring his gra#es,
60A
.n the earlier stages of their relation% the is#iple nees to atta#h hi(self (ore an (ore
#losely to the :aster, >e is still learning what the <uest is% still weak!wille% un#ertain%
an unevelope, But in the later stages he shoul release his hol on the (aster%
is#ipline his feelings% an let go of what has be#o(e so ear to hi(, 7or now he shoul
in#reasingly epen on (aking for hi(self the ire#t #onta#t with his higher Self,
):e(o to P,B,: use this para as the key to rewriting essay on spiritual self!relian#e,*
601
>e shoul #onstantly look forwar to the ti(e when he will be inepenent enough to
steer his own #ourse, .t is not (eant that he shoul be left with nothing but his
ignoran#e an weakness to guie hi(% nor that he shoul fa#e all his perple$ities by
hi(self% but that he shoul fa#e (any or (ost of the( as he #an an that he shoul #arry
to the tea#her only those whi#h see( too har to unerstan or bear, "he tea#her (ay
o##asionally intervene to help on his own initiative but only if an when he ee(s it
esirable an ne#essary to o so, .n this way the ob&e#t will be fulfille of leaing the
is#iple to in#reasingly #orre#t thinking an (ore #areful behaviour,
600
.t is naturally strongly repugnant to a evelope (in to allow another to have su#h
great power over his own% whereas it is strongly attra#tive to an unevelope one,
601
-$#essive guru!worship provokes a rea#tion% a #riti#al% so(eti(es s#epti#al attitue
fro( whi#h there (ust also be a re#oil, Only after that #an an honourable% honest% an
true relationship be establishe, >e shoul rather ob&e#t to anyone6s (aking a #ult out of
hi(, 4hy not respe#t his wish an let hi( re(ain what he is!!a resear#her2
603
7or anyone to try to lose his personality in so(eone else6s% even in a guru6s% is a
esertion of his own ivine powers, Nevertheless% in the #ase of beginners it #annot be
helpe!!where they are seeking a guru6s assistan#e, But the sooner the guru (akes the(
reay or instru#ts the( to stop this pra#ti#e an to lose their personality in their own
higher self% the better for the(, .t is a <uestion of ire#tion, .n (erging in so(eone
else6s personality they are going outsie of the(selves+ in (erging in their own higher
being they are going insie,
605
"hose whose te(pera(ent is innately sub(issive an epenent (ake better is#iples
than the others, But they are less likely to avan#e farther than the others,
606
But if the tea#her (ust have the #apa#ity to point out the right way% the stuent% in his
turn% (ust have the #apa#ity to travel every step of it in thought with hi(,
60;
"here are so(e tre(enously iffi#ult proble(s involve in the highest Quest, "he key
to these proble(s (ust be pla#e in his hans by the tea#her, "he wisest plan for hi(%
therefore% is to work out in etail an patiently the few hints given by the tea#her% to
stuy the books suggeste an to plo on the path oggely% thinking of it as a perio of
patient preparation for the kar(i# ti(e when he will assurely re#eive what he is
seeking, "his he will get if he has the right (ental e<uip(ent% if he has e$presse the
esire for guian#e in the right <uarters% an also if he re#ogni'es the ne#essity of
serving hu(anity,
60?
.f a tea#her (ust put into finite phrases every #o((uni#ation fro( his inner being to a
pupil% if he (ust use (aterial (eans for every trans(ission of his own thought% then the
(an is not yet reay to be a is#iple,
60@
"he is#iple who has to epen on #onstantly re#eiving letters fro( his tea#her is reay
only for inferior tea#hers, "he is#iple who i(agines that% be#ause the tea#her has not
written hi( for two or three years% he is no longer intereste in helping the is#iple or
has forgotten hi( or is isappointe in hi( is utterly (istaken,
61A
.f he be#o(es so epenent that every proble( as it arises is at on#e put before the
tea#her for solution% the #onse<uen#e will eventually be an utter helplessness before all
proble(s, "he #apa#ities for inepenent &uge(ent% for taking the initiative% for
showing #reativeness an for(ing e#isions% will e#ay an even isappear,
611
Be#o(ing a satellite an revolving aroun a guru (ay be benefi#ial to a (an, But the
har( begins when this revolution be#o(es a per(anent one% so that he is never again
able to (ove into a fresh orbit an fulfil the evolutionary intention se#rete within his
own being,
610
.t is absolutely inispensable for the is#iples to learn how to live their own lives,
611
.t is better to have a few earnest stuents who willingly work har for their self!
i(prove(ent than a (ass of stuents who o nothing (ore than rea books an talk
a(ong the(selves,
613
=Dare is the true is#iple%= says an ol 9siati# te$t,
615
"he guie (ust not only be #o(petent to o what he proposes to o% but the is#iple
also (ust be <ualifie to take avantage of it,
616
"he kin of stuent he likes to see% but unfortunately rarely oes see% blens a fine
(oral #hara#ter with goo intelligen#e an soun pra#ti#ality% all toppe by profoun
(ysti#al intuition an a proper sense of reveren#e, Su#h a one is thoroughly epenable
an reliable% his wors are not the (ere froth of e(otion to be <ui#kly forgotten,
61;
4hen a seeker6s eter(ination to follow the <uest be#o(es tough enough not to be
eviate by aversity or by lu$ury% he is reay for a tea#her,
61?
"his eagerness to be#o(e a is#iple an learn truth is the first ne#essary <ualifi#ation,
4ithout it nothing #an be one+ with it everything will #o(e naturally in auto(ati#
response fro( the Overself,
61@
.t is not enough that the woul!be pupil is ripe, >e (ust also be able easily to enter
#o(pletely into sy(patheti# relationship with the parti#ular tea#her to who( he applies,
63A
Deveren#e for the (aster is base on the belief that the Overself is working through
hi(, 9ny la#k of this <uality eprives the is#iple of available help,
631
>e (ust first feel hu(ble before the (aster6s high a#hieve(ent,
630
"he woul!be is#iple (ust supply faith an loyalty% obeien#e an pra#ti#e% along with
the aspiration whi#h brings hi( to the tea#her,
631
.f a hearer re#eives the (aster6s wors with &oy% that is one ini#ation that he is reay,
633
4hen he entrusts hi(self to a tea#her6s #are he shoul #ultivate patien#e an not seek
i((eiate results, .t is a serious (atter to break away fro( a tea#her an it shoul not
be one in haste or it (ay bring ba results,
635
.t is not ne#essary to isplay fren'ie fervour in orer to be a evote is#iple,
636
.f the is#iple feels personally hu(iliate or be#o(es hysteri#ally tearful at the tea#her6s
well!(eant fair an #onstru#tive #riti#is(s% he is not only suffering neelessly but also
re&e#ting the e$pert help for whi#h he #a(e to the tea#her% even though the for( it takes
is une$pe#te an isagreeable, 8oo avi#e is still goo even when unpalatable,
63;
Noboy nee re(ain long pu''le if he will #o(e hu(bly an #onverse frankly with
his tea#her in any iffi#ulty% instea of proposing to regar hi(self as fit an <ualifie to
sit in &uge(ent upon his tea#her, >is hu(ility will always be (et by kinness an his
frankness by an e<ual frankness, "he tea#her is ever reay to help hi( #lear up these
iffi#ulties% but he is not reay to assist any to the slightest egree who #o(e with a
(in alreay pre&ui#e to istrust% or who o not #o(e at all but assu(e their fitness to
unerstan the tea#her or his o#trine prior to initiation an a##eptan#e,
63?
9 genuine tea#her who is sin#ere% #o(petent% kinly% an illu(ine will know this
truth!!that groups of the sa(e grae rein#arnate together!!an% knowing it% will hi(self
e$pe#t an a##ept only his =own,= 7or if% through senti(ental soft!hearteness% he yiels
to the i(portunities of those who are not in inner har(ony with hi(% then either the
flow of events or the ishar(ony of the stuent will break the relation an separate
the(, Si(ilarly% an earnest aspirant who feels that his inner life belongs to a parti#ular
tea#her will% if he is wise% esist fro( (aking e$peri(ents or fro( wanering to other
hearths% an re(ain loyal to this tea#her, 7or if% through e(otional enthusias(s or
through (isunerstanings arising fro( his own li(itations% he strays elsewhere% then
the ulti(ate sense of inner issatisfa#tion or the une$pe#te pressure of outer
isillusion(ent will turn his feet ho(ewar again,
63@
"he seeker who has foun the path proper to hi( an the tea#her in affinity with hi(
shoul waste no (ore ti(e in the e$peri(ental investigations of other paths% other
tea#hings% an other tea#hers, .f he is to get the full benefit of his asso#iation he (ust
re(ain absolutely loyal to his guie, .f he is to (ake the <ui#kest progress in the
shortest ti(e% he (ust #ease wanering about an re(ain on the #hosen path until he
arrives at its goal,
65A
.f in the beginning he is to #ast his net so wiely as to sear#h for truth in every #orner% in
the (ile of his #ourse he is to narrow his worl until he has no ear for anyone else
e$#ept his tea#her, Only so #an #on#entration be a#hieve, .n the beginning% with+ in
the (ile% epth,
651
"he belief of ignorant seekers that by visiting a nu(ber of tea#hers they will a##u(ulate
a sto#k of knowlege an help% is sheer self!e#eption: on the #ontrary% they will en in
#onfusion, 9 is#iple (ay stuy the tea#hings an follow the pra#ti#es of (asters other
than his own without har( provie first% that they are not is#orant with the latter6s
an se#on% that his sense of personal loyalty is not weakene,
650
.t is per(issible to have various tea#hers for lesser sub&e#ts% in#luing Boga% but is
i(per(issible to follow (ore than one :aster in the Quest of >igher "ruth,
651
.f it be true that a (an #annot esert this Quest without being for#e ba#k onto it by life
itself sooner or later% it is also true that he #annot esert the :aster of the Quest without
having to return to hi( sooner or later, 7or &ust as pursuan#e of the Quest will be#o(e
inseparable fro( the happiness that he seeks% so evotion to the :aster will be#o(e
inseparable fro( the salvation upon whi#h that happiness epens, 4hy this shoul be
so is one of the (ysterious workings of Cestiny whi#h #an only be illu(inate when
an if it be possible to illu(inate the earth lives of his far past,
653
"he :aster says to a straying one: =. take you into (y heart, Bou are now (y a##epte
pupil, But profit by the lessons of the past (istakes (ae by you an re(ain resolutely
with (e, 4hether you return only in heart or also in boy% is not of (aterial
#onse<uen#e to (e% but it will be to you,=
655
9lthough guian#e an tea#hing fro( other sour#es shoul be glaly wel#o(e as
enri#h(ent or supple(ent% as #o(pletion or rouning!out% the inner affinity is so
personal% so inti(ate% so eeply felt% that no one else is really able to take the pla#e of
the kar(i#ally estine guru,
656
"he aspirant (ust not seek #ounsel fro( anyone other than the tea#her% or he (ay be
unwittingly le to a path whi#h% while per(issible for others% woul be inavisable for
hi(,
65;
:any aspirants are volatile in their loyalty an (er#urial in their beliefs, "hey #hange
gurus as they #hange #lothes an enue the(selves of earlier tea#hings when new ones
appear, >owever there (ay be so(e goo in this as well as ba, .f they #hange fro( an
inferior to a (ore avan#e guru% or fro( an i(poster to a knowlegeable person% or
fro( a #o((onpla#e platituinous belief to a superior an original one% obviously the
#hange is for the better, .n this way they (ay in the en an uring (any years stuy
several fa#ets of the truth, Others si(ply (ove fro( one phantasy to another,
65?
4here a tea#her genuinely erives his authority fro( the higher self% reveren#e an
obeien#e% love an respe#t shoul surely be his eserts,
65@
Of all the (any for(s of work whi#h a (an #an fin to o% of all the several ways in
whi#h his a#tive fun#tions #an e$press the(selves% there is none higher than this% that he
guie (en out of illusion into reality, .t is not wrong therefore to give his offi#e great
reveren#e an hi(self great evotion,
66A
Our ebt to these spiritual tea#hers is unpayable, "his is be#ause that whi#h ire#ts the
boy is (ore i(portant in the en than the boy itself,
661
4e ought to be grateful an respe#tful to all those great lights of the ra#e who brought it
truth% whether they be ea or alive% O##iental or Oriental, Bet at the sa(e ti(e we
ought to be spe#ially grateful an spe#ially respe#tful to the parti#ular one who brought
us to see the truth (ore than any other i,
660
"he <uality whi#h will enear hi( (ost to the tea#her% an whi#h will #arry hi( farthest
on the Quest% is loyalty, Bet this sa(e goo <uality will be the biggest obsta#le in the
way of the seeker who is so gullible% so superfi#ial% an so poor in &uge(ent as to
atta#h hi(self to an unworthy or in#o(petent tea#her,
661
7ew are reay to pay the entran#e fee of lifelong loyalty an steafast servi#e whi#h are
e(ane% for this pay(ent (ust be (ae in a#tual pra#ti#e an not in lip (ove(ents
alone,
663
"he is#iple shoul trust an walk unwaveringly at the :aster6s sie even when
unerstaning #annot keep pa#e% an his fine loyalty shoul shine out like Sirius in the
sky,
665
"he Eery Deveren 4,D, .nge has rightly pointe out that Christ #hose his twelve
apostles not only be#ause they were naturally an e$tre(ely religious (en but also
be#ause they were loyal enough an brave enough to live an ie for their :aster,
666
"o fin (any #aniates for is#ipleship is easy but to fin a few is#iples is har,
"here is (u#h enthusias( over a newly gaine (aster% but little sustaine loyalty to an
ol one,
66;
Hnthinking (ysti#s still praise this <uality of servile obeien#e whi#h pri(itive gurus
e(ane fro( their followers, "houghtful (ysti#s no longer o so,
66?
9 guie who #an unerstan his is#iple6s #hara#ter an sti(ulate his intelligen#e% who
#an open to hi( the gates of higher worls an newer views% oes not nee to hol hi(
by the bons of blin obeien#e,
66@
4ithout a passive an hu(ble attitue of the (in% a evotional an reverent feeling of
the heart% the profits of (eeting a (an who has #o(e #lose to the soul are largely
(isse, Criti#is( ere#ts a barrier,
6;A
"o listen properly to a guru% is not to bring in the ego with its interpretations, "o rea
#orre#tly fro( an inspire guru6s book is to keep out the #o((on tenen#y to put in
one6s own personal (eanings, .n short% let the (in Be Still an know the "ruthF
6;1
.t woul be useless to pla#e oneself uner the guian#e of a tea#her if one were not
prepare to obey hi(,
6;0
=Bou are full of your own opinions%= sai a (oern Gapanese (aster to an in<uiring
intelle#tual, =>ow #an . show you Ren2 7irst e(pty your #up,=
6;1
.f the (aster6s e$posure of his weaknesses is offensive to hi(% then he unfits hi(self for
further is#ipleship an will re#eive no further avi#e,
6;3
.f a (an is strongly egoisti# an arrogantly self!opinionate% if he la#ks hu(ility even
when he approa#hes a :aster% then not only #an he not follow the path but he (ust
#ir#le aroun looking for its gate, Su#h a (an% uneu#able an untea#hable% is unfit for
the path of is#ipleship, /ife is the only tea#her he is reay for, .t is intelligent enough
to bring hi( e$a#tly the kin of e$perien#es he nees!!#rushing isappoint(ents%
frustrations% hu(iliations% an isasters,
6;5
.f this sti(ulation by #onta#t with a (aster (akes hi( assert his little ego% be#ause he
thinks he has be#o(e (ore =spiritual= than others% then the goo one hi( an the
inspiration given hi( are enangere by the #on#eit bre in hi(,
6;6
4hen a (an who is still in his pupilage ee(s hi(self to be wiser than his (aster% he is
being le astray by the #unning flattery of his ego,
6;;
.f the is#iple oes not obey the regi(e lai own by the tea#her but follows his own
ieas as to what he ought to o% then he is not truly surrenering his ego% but is thereby
showing his atta#h(ent to the ego, Conse<uently he will not get the hope!for results,
4hen isappoint(ent follows he shoul not bla(e the ineffe#tiveness of his tea#her for
this but rather his own obstinate egotis(,
6;?
"he tea#her has an i((ense task when he is aske by the orinary seeker to a##ept hi(
as a personal pupil, 7or the latter un#ons#iously seeks #onfir(ation of what he alreay
believes an therefore has #o(e to tea#h the tea#herF Conse<uently the (aster is
#o(pelle to refuse hi(, 7or the seeker #o(es to hi( fille with his own ieas of what
#onstitutes truth an in what ire#tion the path leas% what the tea#her ought to say an
how behave, 9ll these (oes of thought are (ere en#u(bran#es fro( the tea#her6s
stanpoint% an all these pre&ui#es are heavy sha#kles, "o ask the seeker to abanon
these obsessions with the past i((eiately will (eet with failure in al(ost every #ase!!
only in the rarest type of seeker is there likely to be an i((eiate obeien#e, 4ith
others there is not even the esire for release fro( these intelle#tual an e(otional
patterns whi#h i(prison the (an% these habit!(e#hanis(s in whi#h he has allowe
hi(self to be #aught,
6;@
4hile waiting to fin a trustworthy spiritual guie% the best thing to o in the (eanti(e
is to #onstantly is#ipline his #hara#ter an eneavour to gain inner tran<uillity so as to
provie i(prove #onitions for the re#eption of 8ra#e, /et hi( sear#h out the efe#ts
of #hara#ter an e$ert hi(self to get ri of the(, /et hi( e$a(ine his life every ay an
see where he has one well an where he has faile in this (atter,
6?A
"oo (any aspirants waste their ti(e in trying to follow the path of is#ipleship when
they possess too little <ualifi#ation even to per(it their entry, "hey are unprepare, .t
woul be (ore profitable for the( to bestow upon the i(prove(ent of their own psy#he
the thought they bestow upon the <uest of a (aster,
6?1
.f a (an insists on asking for the attentions of a personal tea#her before he is
suffi#iently prepare to benefit by the(% then his rash i(portunity will be punishe, 7or
he will fin a false tea#her% a guie to untruth an arkness rather than to reality an
light, -nough work shoul have been one on hi(self an by hi(self in (ental an
e(otional is#ipline% in (oral striving% in intelle#tual preparation% an in (eitational
pra#ti#e to &ustify his re<uest for instru#tion, Otherwise he (ay be really a#tuate by
egoisti# a(bitions whi#h are se#retly hiing beneath his spiritual aspirations% or he (ay
be too unbalan#e e(otionally to a##ept in his heart the serene i(personal wiso( even
when it is proffere hi(,
6?0
-ven if there are no aepts who #oul give the ne#essary inner assistan#e to <ui#ker
progress on the Path% this nee not eter hi( fro( #ontinuing efforts towars spiritual
reali'ation an thus (aking hi(self reay for a guie when Cestiny per(its hi( to have
one, "he inner work whi#h he alone #an perfor( #onsists in the unre(itting efforts to
evelop a high (oral #hara#ter% together with religious aspiration an (ysti#al
#onte(plation, "he ieal of altruisti# servi#e shoul also be hel in (in% #o(bine
with intelligent &uge(ent an pra#ti#ality,
6?1
Cespite the absen#e of a tea#her% it is still possible to intensify his efforts, >is
surrounings offer part of the (aterial for stuy+ his personal history #an be e$plore
for a greater awareness of the (eanings of his past an present e$perien#es+ an every
situation offers an opportunity for a (ore ob&e#tive observation of hi(self,
6?3
Stuents who fail to o the work on the(selves yet look for a (aster% waste their ti(e,
6?5
.nstea of sear#hing vainly for a tea#her or waiting ily for one% he shoul take the
tea#hing he alreay has% follow the in&un#tions alreay lai own% use the knowlege
alreay available,
6?6
Continuous an honest effort in self!stuy an self!observation% an ob&e#tive analysis of
past an present e$perien#es when sub&e#te to the light of higher unerstaning% aily
pra#ti#e in (eitation% an an ever!present attitue of faith an evotion #ertainly will
i(prove the stuent6s possibilities for the opportunity of (eeting with the :aster,
6?;
4ork on oneself is (ost i(portant, 4hen one has purifie his #hara#ter% #ultivate
is#ri(ination% a#hieve so(e (easure of balan#e% finally unerstoo the lessons of
past e$perien#e% a#<uire a #ertain egree of self!#ontrol!!(ental% (oral% an physi#al!!
an evelope the ne#essary aspiration to lea a truly spiritual life% then% an then only%
will he be in a position to benefit fro( instru#tion fro( a :aster,
6??
.t woul be well if young aspirants woul take a suffi#iently long ti(e in a general
survey #ourse in #o(parative religion an (etaphysi#s before they settle own to so(e
kin of a #hoi#e, "hey shoul first #o(e to su#h a #learness,
6?@
"he baly balan#e% the willy hysteri#al% the una&uste an unintegrate personality%
the neuroti#ally self!#entere% shoul not trouble a tea#her for higher evelop(ent when
they have yet to atten to% an finish% their orinary evelop(ent as hu(an beings, "hey
have not the right to #lai( entry on a path whi#h e(ans so (u#h #hara#ter an
#apa#ity fro( its very beginning,
6@A
:ost of the aspirants who want to asso#iate the(selves with a (aster o so
pre(aturely, Conse<uently they fail to fin hi( or else fin only pseuo!(asters, 4hat
they really nee is to asso#iate the(selves with a psy#hologi#al #ounsellor or with a
broa!(ine wise #lergy(an% with so(eone who has effe#te a goo solution of his
own personal% e(otional% an relational proble(s an is #o(petent to help the( solve
theirs, Only after his work is one% only after he has #leare the way for a higher
a#tivity% only after he has prepare the( to respon reaily to the guian#e of a (aster%
shoul they seek su#h a one,
6@1
.t is neeful at ti(es to re(in a (an that he!!an not those to who( he has entruste
his soul an spiritual estiny!!is responsible for it, "he belief that he has passe on its
#are is illusory,
6@0
.t is not the tea#her who #an sever the is#iple6s atta#h(ent to worlly life% for a (an6s
heart is his own (ost inti(ate% (ost private possession, "he is#iple (ust o it for
hi(self, .t is he who (ust reali'e the ne#essity of renun#iation an it is he alone who
(ust #hange his feelings a##oringly, Su#h a #hange re<uires #onstant thinking about
values an in#essant is#iplining of tenen#ies, 4ho else but the is#iple is to think
these thoughts an e$er#ise this will if the result is to be shown in his #hara#ter2 "he
tea#her #annot really help hi( in any vi#arious sense% #annot save hi( fro( the stern
task of working upon hi(self,
6@1
"he reason why the (aster #annot re(ake another (an (ira#ulously is be#ause no (an
#an think for another one, -a#h #an o it for hi(self alone,
6@3
4e (ust gain our avan#e(ent through our own personal efforts an by our own
(erits, No (aster #an o our walking for us nor hie our weaknesses fro( the
ine$orable laws whi#h govern the <uest, 7lattery helps little, .t is the uty of the guie
#learly to per#eive an frankly to e$pose to the is#iple the evil parts of his #hara#ter
an the weak pla#es of his #ons#iousness,
6@5
>e (ay give the #orre#t te#hni<ue but he #annot give its ineffable result, "hat% you (ust
earn for an by yourself, >e #annot even pro(ise you a su##essful out#o(e of your own
eneavours, "hat is bestowe only by the gra#e of 8o,
6@6
=No one #an purify another%= asserte the Buha,
6@;
No (aster #an or will o for a (an what he is <uite unwilling to o for hi(self,
6@?
No (aster #an take away fro( a is#iple his failings an weaknesses,
6@@
No (an #an really be responsible for another (an: ea#h (akes% an (ust a##ept% his
own kar(a,
;AA
-ven in the an#ient -gyptian (ysteries% the is#iple who attene the #ollege te(ple
after having su##essfully passe the initial test whi#h gave hi( entry ha to learn this
sa(e lesson of self!relian#e, -ouar S#hure% the 7ren#h writer on this sub&e#t% says:
=>e was left (u#h to hi(self% so that he (ight become rather than (erely know% an so
he was often surprise at his tea#her6s #olness an inifferen#e, "o his an$ious <ueries
#a(e the reply: J4ait an work,6 Coubts #a(e to hi( at ti(es% frightful suspi#ions of
his tea#hers% but they woul pass,=
;A1
.t is i(possible for any pro#lai(e (aster to give lasting illu(ination to any is#iple%
however fervent% sin#e it is i(possible for the latter to establish #o(pleteness of
evelop(ent an the balan#e whi#h follows it auto(ati#ally% e$#ept by his own inner
a#tivity,
;A0
Cespite all elusions to the #ontrary% no (aster #an pi#k up a is#iple an transfer hi(
at a &u(p to the goal!!per(anently,
;A1
.n the presen#e of an illu(ine (an% we have the #han#e to be#o(e ifferent for a
while% to refle#t so(e of his light into ourselves, But the refle#te light% being borrowe%
will fae away, 4e #annot fin e$e(ption fro( the labours ne#essary to generate our
own (erely be#ause we have foun asso#iation with so(eone whose own labours are
finishe,
;A3
No one #an tea#h you how to reali'e your own true being% that is% no one e$#ept
yourself% for the reali'ation has to be yours, "he revelation leaing to it will have to be
yours% too% an the unerstaning whi#h will lea up to the revelation #o(es fro( your
own effort, "his is why . often say that it is an e$aggeration on the part of the .nians to
say that salvation is i(possible without a (aster, >e (ay help us to #orre#t our
thinking% en#ourage an inspire us% but the work has to be one by ourselves, No (aster
#an give the full reali'ation to another person!!i(possible,
;A5
Spiritual awareness is not like a lane estate whi#h #an be hane own as an heirloo(
to another, "hose who want it (ust #reate it for the(selves,
;A6
"his #ons#iousness #annot be got fro( another (an by transfer )although its presen#e in
hi( (ay be felt by sensitivity* but only by one6s own har toil,
;A;
.t is the #o((on way to e(an entry into enlighten(ent through so(eone else, "his
reners it neeful to (ake #lear that noboy% not even the best of gurus% #an bestow final
an lasting reali'ation!!a gli(pse is the (ost he #an possibly pass on an there are not
(any with that #apa#ity, -ven in su#h #ases% his is#iples (ust work iligently an win
it the(selves,
;A?
People approa#h the saint!type pri(arily to get what is #alle in .nia a darshan, "his
(ay be variously translate as a gli(pse% a spoken blessing% a sight% a view% an
initiation% or a silent benei#tion, >e is a pheno(enon an they stan at a istan#e to
ga'e at hi(% to a(ire hi(% or to be overwhel(e with awe by hi(, "he few (inutes or
ays or weeks or (onths or years taken up!!the uration is i((aterial for e$tension in
ti(e oes not #hange the nature of the happening!!leave the evotee with the sa(e
#hara#ter% the sa(e #ons#iousness that he ha before the (eeting, .ts servi#e is to
portray the goal% not to bring hi( nearer to perfe#tion in any way, "he elusion that the
longer they stay with hi( the farther they travel on the roa to perfe#tion re(ains a
elusion still, "he darshan leaves the( with their weaknesses an faults% their egois(
an ani(ality untou#he, "he work of getting ri of these things is theirs to unertake
an no darshan!(agi# #an be a substitute for it,
;A@
"he belief that a guru will o for hi( on#e an for all what in the en he has to o for
hi(self belongs to the untutore (asses an the se#tarian (ysti# #ir#les,
;1A
Only the self!e#eive or the #harlatani# will offer to save you, 9ll others will offer
only to guie you, =Bou (ust labour for yourselves%= warne the Buha, ="he Buhas
are only tea#hers,=
;11
"he right a#tion one in the wrong way be#o(es wrong in itself, 9lthough it is right to
look towars a tea#her for guian#e an inspiration throughout the #ourse of his <uest% it
is wrong to be#o(e over!epenent on that tea#her,
;10
"he servi#es of a spiritual ire#tor in #orre#ting errors% proviing instru#tion%
sti(ulating aspiration% an fostering intuition are i((ense+ but they are only a prelue
to the servi#es a stuent (ust rener to hi(self,
;11
"hose who leave their spiritual future totally in the hans of their guie% lose the years
whi#h #oul be spent in eveloping the(selves,
;13
"he tea#her #an only help one to help hi(self, Ultimately it will be by his own efforts
alone that the stuent un#overs the wiso( an beauty he is seeking!!an whi#h are
even now within hi(, Su#h efforts% in orer to be su##essful% (ust be #ourageous an
#ontinuous: repeate failures shoul serve only to sti(ulate eeper eter(ination,
;15
.t is the guie6s uty to hol up a la(p on a ark path but the is#iple (ust e#ie for
hi(self the spee an istan#e of the &ourney along that path, No #o((an is lai upon
hi(% for it is he who (ust esti(ate the strength within hi( an the opportunity without,
>e is given full freeo( in (aking his e#ision, .t is unfortunately the #ase that (any
e(otionally unstable persons are attra#te to (ysti#is(% with the result that they spen
years with their rea(s of (ysti#al a#hieve(ents but o nothing to #onvert those
rea(s into realities% or else flit fro( one rea( to another,
;16
.f the stuent respons suffi#iently to the hints given hi( or the #ounsel bestowe on
hi(% the tea#her will be en#ourage to go farther,
;1;
.t is not enough to re#eive a tea#hing fro( so(eone else, "he truth of the tea#hing (ust
be teste by personal e$perien#e% the worth of it shoul be (easure by personal
knowlege,
;1?
.n the en ea#h seeker has to be#o(e his own tea#her by putting all his e$perien#e% his
beliefs% his ieas% to the test,
;1@
.t is possible to bring this truth within the (in6s sight but not within the will6s rea#h+ in
this (atter ea#h (an (ust o his own work, 4hoever offers hi( a free ree(ption
plays 8o,
;0A
"he is#iple will learn in the en% by e$perien#e% that he (ust look to hi(self alone for
salvation, "he last wors of the ying Buha% aresse though they were to his own
is#iples% have been a useful guie to (e: =/ook not for refuge to anyone besies
yourselves,=
;01
Co not be satisfie with being a is#iple, "ry to be#o(e like the (aster,
;00
.f you wish% #all it self!(aking!!this pro#ess of using one6s own (ental powers% one6s
own e(otional energies% to a#tuali'e the new being that is his best self, .t oes not seek
like a (eni#ant for free transfor(ation by another person% a guru, .t (akes use of the
highest kin of i(agination% a eeply rela$e suggestive visuali'ation, 4hatever is
#alle for to bring on enlighten(ent e$ists within hi(self alreay% but it is latent an
unevelope, By stuy% e$er#ise% an pra#ti#e the aspirant #an be his own tea#her,
Sooner or later he will have to take this work into his own hans, "he notion that
so(eone else #an or will o it all for hi( is elusory% the belief that a guru #an absolve
his uty is aoles#ent wishful thinking, .f the result is to have any lasting value% it (ust
be self!wrought or in the en the aspirant will have to start again% use this approa#h% an
throw away the negative thought that he is helpless without so(eone else who (ust be
sought an foun, "he kin of tea#her who is really useful will put no e(phasis upon
hi(self but upon the aspirant6s own work% an then see hi( at intervals only, On#e the
(aterials neee are pointe out% the stuent shoul tea#h hi(self+ an this he #an o
only through self!pra#ti#e,
;01
Bou (ust play the tea#her to yourself, >e #annot trea the path for you: you (ust walk
an work by your own effort, "he (other #annot grow up on behalf of the #hil% no
(atter how greatly she loves it, "he aept #annot o your growing!up for you, Nature6s
laws (ust prevail, >e has shown you the way: use your will to follow it, But evote a
little ti(e ea#h ay to keeping open the #hannel of #o((uni#ation with hi( an thus
re#eive his i(petus% his inspiration to help you, So although you (ust strive by your
own use of free will% o not i(agine that you nee strive unaie,
;03
4orking along the line that the tea#her foun suitable for hi(self% slavishly an
artifi#ially trying to prou#e a #opy of hi(% will in the en not even prou#e that but a
#ari#ature instea, 7or only the tea#her6s boily a#ts will be i(itate+ his Spirit is
invisible an therefore #annot be i(itate,
;05
4hy shoul any one #opy another6s artwork2 4hy shoul 4histler paint pi#tures in the
sa(e way that 8ainsborough i2 4histler re(aine loyal to his own #on#eptions, 4hy
then% going further% #opy another6s lifestyle2 4e (ay honour a (aster6s inspiration but
yet e$press our own in our iniviual way,
;06
.t is true that followers have no right to buren the tea#her with their personal proble(s%
that they shoul learn (anfully to shouler their iffi#ulties an not pass the( on to
hi(, Bet hu(an nature is weak% the tea#her kinly, 4hat they (ay o without ta$ing his
strength is to pla#e the proble( before hi( in a prayer% thought% or (eitation silently%
an not in letter or interview, .f they will keep their istresses% troubles% or ine#isions to
the(selves in this way% su#h reti#en#e will not be to their loss, .t is inee a sign of
neuroti#is( when an aspirant plagues a tea#her too fre<uently or on too trivial (atters,
Su#h #onu#t is <uite suite to #hilren but not to aults, .t reveals too ego#entri# a
person% one who is unwilling to bring the stage of novi#e to an en be#ause the
epenen#e on another person is (ore #o(forting an (u#h easier than eneavouring
to settle his own little proble(s,
;0;
"oo (any is#iples #o((it the fault of being too e(aning an too possessive in their
attitue towars the tea#her, .n the en they be#o(e a buren% a liability% or even a
nuisan#e to hi(, "hey ought to give hi( evotion% yes+ they ought to think often of hi(
for inspiration an guian#e+ but they ought not to turn the(selves into e(otional
parasites who are unable to live on their own vitality at all,
;0?
"he eagerness to surrener every responsibility% every e#ision% every #are to a spiritual
guie!!whi#h is so pro(inent in .nia!!is only praiseworthy in so(e #ases, .n others% it
is neuroti# an infantile% an atte(pt to se#ure inulgent pity% prote#tion% an gregarious
support espite the fa#t that #hilhoo has been physi#ally outgrown, "o take it as a sign
of avan#e(ent% an to use it as an e$#use to evae pressing work of self!refor( an
self!is#ipline% is eplorable,
;0@
9 #al( trust in the (an6s leaership is one thing% but a hysteri#al #linging evotion to
his personality is another,
;1A
>e who turns hi(self into a buren to his tea#her by shirking his own responsibilities
an throwing the( on his tea#her% is being selfish as well as weak,
;11
4hoever oes not unerstan that the guie (ust lea hi( to where he will seek his
own way% will go on enlessly looking for tea#hers% one after the other% or else be#o(e a
spiritual hypo#honria#% a se(i!invali neeing the guru!o#tor to an#e #onstantly in
attenan#e on his ego!#entere sy(pto(s,
;10
.t (ay be that the effort to i(itate his (aster will enable the is#iple to e$#el hi(self,
;11
.f you are willing to a##ept the gift of 8ra#e% whi#h a true tea#her is forever bearing%
through your prior willingness to give hi( your faith an evotion% an to give it not
be#ause he wants it or anything else for hi(self but be#ause he is a purifie #hannel for
your own Overself6s power% then you (ay e$pe#t to see the past wipe out as sins are
forgiven an the future (ae brighter as new energies are born in you,
(ultivating the inner link
;13
"he way of is#ipleship (eans that there is to be #onstant eneavour to live in the
(aster6s (ental at(osphere, Of #ourse this #an be one very feebly an only
o##asionally at first, Su##ess epens not only on the pressure of perseveran#e but also
on the sensitivity to thought!transferen#e,
;15
"he aspirant who #o(es into the presen#e of so(eone who fun#tions on a high (oral
an (ysti#al or philosophi#al level!!an feels the attra#tion% #har(% spell% influen#e% or
for#e of his personality!!#an% after a suffi#ient ti(e or asso#iation% be sti(ulate in
evelop(ent <uite (arkely, .t is the #ase not only of benefiting by the other (an6s
wors an #opying his e$a(ple% but also of ire#tly e$perien#ing the telepathi# working
of (in upon (in,
;16
.f they believe in the genuineness an reality of telepathy!!as they (ust if they believe
in philosophy at all!!then they (ust a##ept our e#laration that inner #o((union
reners unne#essary the outer #o((union% that the sense of inner presen#e of the guie
reners unne#essary his letters% visits% an other e$ternal signs,
;1;
4e know that the (in #an both pro&e#t an re#eive thoughts, "elepathy be#o(es (ore
an (ore a s#ientifi#ally re#ogni'e fa#t, 4here affinity har(ony an preparation e$ist%
the spiritual guie #an pro&e#t #al(ing% uplifting% an spirituali'ing (ental waves to the
spiritual aspirant,
;1?
"he silent worless an unprepare hypnosis of a sub&e#t is a fa#tual pointer to the
unerstaning of the silent worless an telepathi# influen#e of a is#iple by his guie,
9s the power of suggestion be#o(es yna(i# in the hypnotist% so its higher o#tave% the
power of gra#e% be#o(es yna(i# in the spiritual guie,
;1@
"hat (ental waves #an be trans(itte fro( (aster to is#iple% that spiritual pea#e #an
be refle#te fro( the (in of one to the (in of the other% is not (erely a new theory
but really an ol pra#ti#e, .t has been known an one in the Orient for thousans of
years,
;3A
"he (aster6s work is #arrie on by wor!of!(outh% by written state(ent% an by
personal e$a(ple, But it #annot en with these (ethos% for they are all e$ternal ones,
So it is #ontinue by telepathi# i(pulses% by inspirational i(pa#t% an by (ental
os(osis, "hese are internal ones,
;31
Su#h #o((uni#ation between the tea#her an stuent (ight be #alle ="ele(entation,=
;30
"he :aster (ay a his spiritual vitality or inspiration te(porarily to the is#iple6s by
(erely wishing hi( well, .f this is one uring the :aster6s prayer or (eitation% the
is#iple6s sub#ons#ious will spontaneously pi#k up the telepathi#ally pro&e#te flow an
sooner or later bring it into #ons#iousness, .f% however% so(ething (ore pre#ise an
(ore positive is re<uire% he (ay #ons#iously will an fo#us it to the is#iple while
both are in a state of (eitation at the sa(e ti(e,
;31
"he pro&e#te ieas an #on#entrate thoughts of a (an who has (ae a per(anent
#onne#tion with his Overself are powerful enough to affe#t benefi#ently the inner life of
other (en, But even here nature re<uires the latter to establish their own inner
#onne#tion with hi( in turn, 9n this #an be one only by the right (ental attitue of
trust an evotion,
;33
"he #ons#ious personal (in of the tea#her (ay know nothing of the help that is
raiating fro( hi( to one who silently #alls on hi( fro( a long istan#e% yet the reality
of that help re(ains,
;35
"his internal <ui#kening an intense telepathy between the (aster an the is#iple #an
only o##ur if the re<uisite #onitions e$ist,
;36
/ike the (essage of the Overself to a (eitating (ysti#% the help whi#h #o(es fro(
su#h a tea#her is above thinking but it translates itself into ter(s of thinking, .n this
pro#ess of translation% it is sei'e on by the ego an interfere with,
;3;
9gain an again the novi#e falls into (istakes about the telepathi# #o((uni#ations
whi#h he feels he is re#eiving fro( the (aster, >e regars the( as su#h when they are
nothing of the sort% or he interprets the( in too (aterial or too egoisti# a (anner, "he
(aster sens a thought!#urrent to hi( whi#h is intene to lift hi( up to a iviner%
hen#e (ore i(personal level, >e% however% rags it own to a lower% (ore ego#entri#
level,
;3?
"he telepathi# i(pulses whi#h he sens out to others uring these ti(es of prayer or
(eitation are (ost often re#eive <uite sub#ons#iously, Only later is their effe#t felt or
their origin suspe#te, >is is#iples (ay not be aware of any new re#eption of truth or
beatitue at the ti(e, But in#reasing #larifi#ation or growing liberation (ay slowly
#hange their #ourse,
;3@
.t is also possible to take any revere person as a (aster an% in one6s own (in% (ake
hi( the tea#her, -ven though no (eeting on the physi#al level (ay o##ur% one6s attitue
of attention an evotion in (eitation will raw fro( hi( a rea#tion whi#h will
telepathi#ally give whatever guian#e is neee at the ti(e,
;5A
Gust as the glan#e% the tou#h% or the spoken wor (ay #arry the arour of (utual esire
fro( (an to wo(an so (ay it also #arry the initiatory blessing or the spiritual gift fro(
(aster to is#iple,
;51
-ven at the beginning of probation the seeker will often be given a hint of what awaits
hi( later through (ysti#al e$perien#e resulting out of the #onta#t with the tea#her, But
whether he gets it or not% fro( the (o(ent of a##eptan#e there will #o(e to every
stuent a sense of pea#e% an above all% an inner stability an #ertitue whi#h will
be#o(e one of the greatest assets in his life,
;50
"he guie (ay sen his blessing telepathi#ally only on#e but if it is powerful enough it
(ay work itself out through a hunre ifferent e$perien#es e$tening over several
years, Be#ause he ientifies hi(self with the ti(eless spa#eless soul% his blessing (ay
e$press itself anywhere in spa#e an anywhen in ti(e, :oreover he (ay for(ulate it in
a general way but it (ay take pre#ise shapes un#ons#iously fashione by an suite to
the re#ipient6s own (entality an egree of evelop(ent,
;51
So(e #riti#s re&e#t the iea of 8ra#e an e#lare its i(possibility in a worl governe
by stri#t #ause an effe#t, "he (eaning of the wor suggests so(ething or anything of
an i((aterial (oral or (aterial nature that is given to (an, 4hy shoul not the :aster
who has attaine a higher strength wiso( an (oral #hara#ter than that whi#h is
#o((on to the hu(an ra#e% give ai freely out of his benefi#ent #o(passion for others
struggling to #li(b the peak he has sur(ounte2 >e #ertainly #annot trans(it his own
inner life to another person in its fullness, But he #an #ertainly i(part so(ething of its
<uality an flavour to one who is re#eptive% sensitive% an in inwar affinity with hi(, .f
this too is enie then let the ob&e#tor e$plain why both the feeling of an the sense of
the :aster6s presen#e pervae the is#iple6s e$isten#e for (any years after his initiation%
if not for the rest of his life,
;53
"he (aster% by a pro#ess of telepathi# transfer% enables the is#iple to get a gli(pse of
what the reali'ation of his own spiritual possibilities #an lea to,
;55
"he pupil who has been allowe to sit in (eitation with a (aster shoul be able to
#arry on with this i(petus% even though it happene only on#e, .t is really an initiation,
;56
Curing this initiation (eitation% the is#iple (ay a#tually feel a strea( of power
flowing out to hi( fro( the (aster% but it is not essential that he o so,
;5;
4hat the (aster refle#ts an raiates into the is#iple6s eeper (in at this sitting% will
ne#essarily in#ubate for a perio of ti(e whi#h (ay be (easurable in (inutes% ays%
(onths% or even years, No one #an prei#t how long it will be% for not only are the
is#iple6s reainess% #apa#ity% an affinity eter(ining fa#tors but also his estiny, Nor
#an anyone prei#t whether the result will appear slowly% gently% little by little% or
suenly% with violent &olting for#e,
;5?
"he (aster is forever after present in the is#iple6s heart% whether the is#iple sees hi(
again or not,
;5@
7ro( the hour of this initiation the (aster will be (u#h in his thoughts an the sense of
affinity will be often in his heart,
;6A
"he e$perien#e whi#h the #aniate has at the initiatory (eitation with the (aster is
often )but not always* a heral an token of his possibilities of later attain(ent uner
this parti#ular (aster,
;61
>e (ust work harer than ever on his #hara#ter an% by #rushing his ego% sensiti'e his
(in for the re#eption of the spiritual 8ra#e that is to #o(e uring initiation,
;60
.t see(s as if the :aster has #o(e into his #ons#iousness an thereby #hange its
<uality an area, .f the #hange is ne#essarily for a brief while only% it is still a
(e(orable one,
;61
"he nu(ber of (eetings neee with the initiator into (eitation will naturally iffer in
ifferent #ases,
;63
4hen he tells the #aniate of so(e great truth% looking straight into his fa#e%
so(ething (ay happen over an behin the (ere wors,
;65
9 look fro( Gesus was enough to (ake so(e (en renoun#e their worlly lives an
follow hi(, Su#h is initiation through the glan#e,
;66
"he power whi#h lies in a pen is only intelle#tual% thought #arrie fro( one (in to
another, But the power whi#h shone out of his eyes was spiritual% beyon thought, 8a'e
(et ga'e throughout that perio+ (ine blinking an fli#kering often% the rishee6s never
on#e faltering, "here are so(e lines of an 9(eri#an Seer whi#h . woul like to win
aroun this evening of whi#h . a( writing, "hey o##ur in the essay on =Behavior= by
the inspire 9(eri#an opti(ist, -(erson6s wors run: ="he eyes ini#ate the anti<uity
of the soul, 4hat inunation of life an thought is is#harge fro( one soul into
another% through the(, "he glan#e is natural (agi#, "he (ysterious #o((uni#ation
establishe a#ross a house between two entire strangers% (oves all the springs of
woner, , , , "he eyes will not lie but (ake faithful #onfession what inhabitant is there,=
. verifie the truth of these sage wors to the full, 9n sin#e (ine was a feeble an
stunte growth% it gave way an was overpowere by that of the other (an,
;6;
"he aspirant who wishes to be#o(e the stuent of a parti#ular tea#her (ust re(e(ber
that% shoul he be a##epte% he will re#eive no for(al outward a#knowleg(ent of the
fa#t, "his is be#ause the way to fin a :aster is invariably an inner pro#ess, 4hen the
stuent has evelope the ne#essary (oral <ualifi#ations an (ental re#eptivity% the
:aster6s presen#e will be inwarly felt an re#ogni'e, On#e this has been e$perien#e%
he will fin that si(ple evotion an aheren#e to the path the :aster points out!!an to
hi(self as a sy(bol of that path!!is all that is neee to ensure progress, "hus% the
stuent finally reali'es that all outer tea#hers% all paths an initiations are (ere theatri#s
#o(pare with this,
;6?
"he true (aster oes not #all is#iples to resie in any ashra( but to unite with hi(self,
9n he is% in his own sight% a (ental an not a physi#al being, >en#e they #an fin an
(eet hi( in thought anywhere, "he ne#essity of living in an ashra( with hi( is an
illusory one, 9ll that is re<uisite is a single (eeting between hi( an the is#iple,
Physi#ally su#h a (eeting #an a#hieve its purpose in a few (inutes, "hereafter both
(ay re(ain per(anently apart physi#ally an yet the inner work #an #ontinue to
evelop all the sa(e, 7or the relation between the( is pri(arily a (ental% not a physi#al
one, -ven in orinary life we see that true frienship an true love is (ental affinity an
not a (ere neighbourhoo of fleshly boies, "he is#iple6s intense faith in an
e(otional veneration for the (aster% however far istant they (ay be fro( ea#h other%
plus the ne#essary (ysti#al ripeness% will telepathi#ally #reate true asso#iation, But
without the(% his gra#e is like a spark falling on stone% not on tiner, 7urther(ore% by
the higher powers of his (in% the aept #an really help evotees at a istan#e even
though they (ay never atten his ashra(, "hose who live in an ashra( #an get fro(
hi( only what they #an absorb in their inner being, But pre#isely the sa(e #an be one
by those who o not live in one, >is thought!presen#e will be foun by the( to be &ust
as effe#tual as his boily presen#e,
;6@
.n the en% the only way the earnest seeker #an fin a tea#her is to fin hi(self, "he
eeper he penetrates into the (ysterious re#esses of his own spiritual being% the #loser
he #o(es to the ever!present (aster within!!the higher self, "he longer he looks% the
(ore powerful will be its attra#tion% the (ore (agneti# its spell over hi(, "his is true
for all stuents generally% but it is espe#ially true for those stuents who have ha the
goo fortune of #o(ing into personal #onta#t with a living tea#her, .t is not by their
physi#ally seeing hi( or personally speaking to hi( or #orresponing with hi( that
they enter into real #onta#t with su#h a tea#her% but rather by fining his presen#e within
their hearts in thought% feeling% an i(agination% by responing passively to the intuition
of su#h a presen#e% an by a##epting the guian#e of its pro(pting to a (ore spiritual
e$isten#e, "hus not only is (an6s soul within hi( an (ust be foun there% but even his
living e(boie tea#her is within hi(% too% an (ust be foun there likewise, .t is not
by living in the sa(e house with a tea#her that is#ipleship be#o(es a fa#t, .t is not by
sitting year after year in the sa(e ashra( with hi( that evotion is shown or the path is
followe% but by seeking hi( intuitively an obeying his inwar leaing away fro( the
surfa#e of the ego to the eep #entre of the soul, 4hen this is reali'e% it will be reali'e
that a istan#e of seven or seven thousan (iles will not be long enough to separate a
pupil fro( his (aster, 9n absen#e of seven years will not be enough to weaken the
sense of his presen#e an of inner #onta#t with hi(, "he sooner the aspirant re#ogni'es
this truth% the <ui#ker will he (ake progress,
;;A
"he tie with su#h a (aster sustains hi( in (any a ark e$perien#e,
;;1
9 wise tea#her i(poses no og(as upon his pupils+ the latter (ay believe or oubt as
they wish% so long as they follow the path he has pointe out, Cis#ipleship is really
spiritual union, .t is not a#ae(i# re(e(bran#e of wors, .t is a pla#ing of oneself in
su#h a re#eptive attitue that the spirit of the (aster (ay enter in, No spee#h is
ne#essary to effe#t this an in silen#e it is (ore reaily a#hieve+ anything else is only
giving instru#tion% whi#h is not the sa(e as proffering is#ipleship,
;;0
9s the is#iple is slowly le onwars along this iffi#ult path% #onfien#e in the tea#her
is repla#e by #ons#iousness of the tea#her% that is% he fins as an inner presen#e the
(ental at(osphere of the tea#her an thus #o(es to know hi( (u#h better,
;;1
On#e both the (eeting% however brief% with the (aster an the parting fro( hi( have
taken pla#e% the #aniate6s ne$t an harest task will be set hi(, 9n this is to learn to
a##ept the Idea of the (aster as being not less real than the boy of the (aster, "he
is#iple (ust learn to well (entally in the sa#re presen#e as satisfyingly as if he were
welling physi#ally in it,
;;3
"o take these great (asters into one6s life (erely to worship the( outwarly an not to
worship the( eep in one6s heart as the .eal to be faithfully i(itate% is to fail in
be#o(ing their is#iple,
;;5
.t is not (erely that knowlege is passe on or instru#tion is (e(ori'e, "he stuent is
re<uire to o so(ething (ore, >e has to introvert his attention earnestly an keep
hi(self passive to the subtler feelings whi#h now ten to for( the(selves within hi(%
to sub(it resignely to their sway an to (erge into union with the(,
;;6
"he :aster is always there% behin the is#iple% always reay to give hi( stability%
guian#e% inspiration% pea#e% an strength, .f the is#iple oes not fin these things
#o(ing to hi( fro( the :aster% the fault is in hi(self% the blo#kage is self!#reate% is
so(ewhere between the two% an only he alone #an re(ove it,
;;;
.f the is#iple be#o(es responsive enough% if his (in is har(oni'e with the (aster6s%
there will be a feeling of his presen#e even though a #ontinent6s with separates the(,
"he (aster6s nearness will so(eti(es see( <uite un#anny,
;;?
Bet the eeper we travel% the less nee have we of thoughts an wors% for all
(ultipli#ity #ollapses in this (arvelous unity, 4e #an neither think nor talk of this
subli(e state with any a##ura#y, >en#e the only (eiu( whereby we #an properly
represent it is!!silen#eF
;;@
>en#e the #o(petent tea#her gives his best tea#hing not through le#tures% talks% or
books but through this (agi#al% (ysterious% yet effe#tive silen#e wherein the higher
initiations are wrappe,
;?A
"o sit with su#h a tea#her in the right re#eptive attitue for a single hour of (eitation
(ay bring (ore than ten years of previous self!effort #oul bring, 7or he #an
telepathi#ally #arry the other6s power of attention to a epth in the stillness whi#h is
habitual with hi( but whi#h is rare or unknown to (ost, "hereafter one of the veils is
torn asie an one #an (ore easily penetrate to the sa(e epth alone,
;?1
>e shoul ask hi(self whether he is attra#te by the tea#her6s (in or boy% whether he
is evote to the tea#her6s thought or flesh, .f he #an answer #orre#tly he shoul grant
that real is#ipleship e$ists only when the sense of the tea#her6s physi#al for( is absent
an his spiritual being is present, 9n this inee is the #ase, "he outer relation is only a
beginning% a slight foretaste of the ri#hness possible in this inner relation% this union of
heart an soul, "hen the is#iple fins that the tea#her6s nearness to or istan#e fro(
hi( is not to be (easure in (iles% is not an affair of what #an be seen sensorily% but of
what #an be felt (entally,
;?0
Sat&sang% or inner affiliation with the (aster% is regare as (ore i(portant than outer
asso#iation with hi(,
;?1
Gust as the pro$i(ity of an ele#trifie wire #oil #an inu#e a #urrent of (agnetis( in a
bar of soft iron% so the pro$i(ity of su#h a (an #an inu#e so(e of his own inner
stillness to appear in a is#iple,
;?3
"here are two ways whereby help is given by a (aster to his is#iples, "he first is a
#ons#ious one whereas the se#on is not, 9n it is the se#on% the apparently less
i(portant way% whi#h is really the #o((onest one, Gust as the sun oes not nee to be
aware of every iniviual plant upon whi#h it shes its benefi#ent life!giving growth!
sti(ulating rays% so the (aster oes not nee to be aware of every iniviual is#iple
who uses hi( as a fo#us for his (eitations or as a sy(bol for his worship, Bet ea#h
is#iple will soon reali'e that he is re#eiving fro( su#h a#tivities a vital inwar
sti(ulus% a real guian#e an efinite assistan#e, "his result will evelop the power
un#ons#iously rawn fro( the is#iple6s own higher self% whi#h in turn will utili'e the
(ental i(age of the (aster as a #hannel through whi#h to she its gra#e,
;?5
4hat the (aster gives by way of personal e$a(ple an verbal pre#ept is only the
beginning an not the en of what he #an give, "he silent inwar trans(ission is even
(ore i(portant,
;?6
"o the e$tent that a tea#her helps in the growth of a is#iple6s inner life% he shares in it,
;?;
"ea#her an stuent share ea#h other6s worl,
;??
4hen the i(pa#t of his physi#al presen#e is absent% the power of his spiritual presen#e
(ay be#o(e plainly evient,
;?@
"he gra#ious i(age of the (aster will reappear #onstantly before his eyes, 9n he
woul rather have its (agi#al presen#e% together with the rebuke that (ay #o(e with it%
than not have it at all,
;@A
>e feels vivily at so(e (o(ents% but only faintly at other (o(ents% that the (aster is
in the ba#kgroun of his life,
;@1
>e will not only feel the (aster6s personality as if it were so(ewhere near or #lose
together with hi(% but will also absorb inspiration fro( it an a so(e of its pea#e to
his own,
;@0
>e raws into his very being these noble influen#es e(anating fro( the (aster,
;@1
4herever he (ay be% the intelligent is#iple #an #reate inner #onta#t with his (aster by
fining the latter6s (ental i(age within hi(self as a eep vivi an a#tual presen#e,
;@3
:ysti# Hnion of :aster an Pupil: "he best way to follow a tea#her is to possess
yourself of his spirit, "he rest will take #are of itself, 4hen the is#iple6s (aturity (eets
the tea#her6s gra#e% the path to spiritual attain(ent is really opene up,
;@5
"he is#iple is boun to the guie with a tie of inner attra#tion whi#h% without the
#onsent of estiny or the guie hi(self% he #annot breakF
Master as symbol
;@6
"he soul will lea hi( by stages to itself, >en#e it (ay lea hi( to reveren#e for so(e
s#riptural personage or to evotion towar so(e living (aster an then% when these
have fulfille their purpose% away an beyon the(, 7or the <uest is fro( the worl of
things an (en to the worl of :in6s voi+ fro( thoughts an for(s to the thought!free
for(less Civine,
;@;
"he attra#tion to a tea#her% whi#h often happens involuntarily% is ue in part to the fa#t
that the seeker oes not know 8o an has never seen 8o, But he #an know an see
this hu(an being% the tea#her who oes know 8o,
;@?
"o the groping aspirant% a true :aster (ust ever be both the sy(bol of the ivine
e$isten#e an the #hannel of its power,
;@@
"he .nfinite Power see(s too ina##essible an too e$alte to be (inful of hu(an
nees% whereas the :essenger or Prophet or :aster% being hu(an hi(self% see(s (u#h
nearer an (ore approa#hable% (ore likely an (ore willing to take an interest in those
nees,
?AA
"he notion of pure spirit or even of the higher self is too vague for (ost aspirants% an
hen#e too iffi#ult as a the(e for #on#entration, "he (ental i(age of an inspire (an
gives their thoughts so(ething #on#rete to fasten on an their aspirations so(ething
i((eiately re#ogni'able to turn towars, >ere% then% is a pri(e value of having a
hu(an ieal,
?A1
"he (aster is a visible an (anifeste presen#e an therefore one that he #an (ore
easily re#ogni'e% (ore <ui#kly get help fro(% than the invisible an un(anifeste higher
self within hi(,
?A0
>ere arises the nee of a Sy(bol% to whi#h his heart #an yiel loving evotion an on
whi#h his (in #an pra#tise intense #on#entration,
?A1
Be#ause so few #an even ete#t their true self% or hear its voi#e in #ons#ien#e% or sense
its presen#e in intuition% the infinite wiso( of 8o personifies it in the boy of another
(an for their #onvenien#e% inspiration% an ai,
?A3
"he (aster is the sy(bol of the >igher Power for everyone who feels affinity with hi(,
?A5
"he vivi a#tuality% the personal freshness of a living an on#e!(et Sy(bol #an never
be e<ualle% for (ost people% by the histori# a#tuality of a ea one or the (ental
freshness of a istant but never seen one,
?A6
"he :aster e(boies the is#iple6s #ons#ien#e,
?A;
Gesus es#ribe hi(self as the Coor+ the Bab of Persia referre to hi(self as the 8ate,
4hat i these prophets (ean2 "he average seeker nees a sy(bol% a for( through
whi#h he #an pass to the for(less, Su#h a for( then be#o(es a oor or gate for hi(,
"he (ental i(age of the prophet who (ost attra#ts hi( provies hi( with it,
?A?
9lthough there is no nee to follow the her into fanati#al guru!aulation there is a nee
to regar hi( properly for what he is!!a #hannel for higher for#es% an instru(ent for the
higher power!!an so eserving ho(age an reveren#e,
?A@
"o see what su#h a (an is in bearing an #onu#t is itself a silent for( of instru#tion,
?1A
"he fa#t that the spiritual guie has a hu(an for( gives so(ething for the is#iple6s
i(agination to take hol of an keep fir(ly #on#entrate on, 9 properly #ontrolle%
wisely ire#te i(agination #an be a powerful ai in (ysti#al e$er#ises,
?11
9nother value of a (aster is that in his person we #an verify uner everyay #onitions
the fa#t of a superior state of his an the pra#ti#al i(portan#e of the philosophi# ieal,
?10
.f he has su#h faith in an evotion to his tea#her% he shoul (ake use of this attitue
not to rest until he hi(self is all that his tea#her is, "he latter #an be use as an e$a(ple
of what #an be one by the hu(an being who is eter(ine to live as he is (eant to
live% an to be as he is (eant to be,
?11
>e is to keep the .eal ever before his eyes% an to re#ogni'e that it over!li(ns the
personality of his (aster,
?13
"he pi#ture of the .eal is hel in his sub#ons#ious (in all the ti(e an be#o(es the
pattern to be i(itate% the invisible :aster to be followe with faith an with love,
?15
.t is affiliation to the (aster6s (in% not propin<uity to his boy% that will bring these
benefits, But where both are possible% the result will be better,
?16
.t will not be until a late stage that he will wake up to the reali'ation that the real giver
of 8ra#e% the real helper along this path% the real (aster is not the in#arnate (aster
outsie but the Overself insie his own heart, 4hat the living (aster oes for hi( is
only to arouse his sleeping intuition an awaken his latent aspiration% to give hi( the
initial i(petus an starting guian#e on the new <uest% to point out the obstru#tions to
avan#e(ent in his iniviual #hara#ter an to help hi( eal with the(,
?1;
4hat he feels about the :aster6s power (ay be true but it is a sign of his ele(entary
state that he pla#es it outsie hi(self,
?1?
"he true (eaning of a (aster to the is#iple6s unerstaning shoul be as the presen#e
an for#e% the revelation an voi#e of his own in(ost spiritual being,
?1@
/et us be (ore #on#erne with the <uest of right prin#iples rather than i(pressive
persons% for this will put our attitues to all events on the right plane, Be#ause this
si(ple truis( was forgotten (ost of the religious an (ysti#al (ove(ents have gone
astray,
?0A
"he proper attitue is to regar the :aster as a sy(bol of the higher power% so that the
veneration an evotion proffere are ire#te towars that power, "o look upon hi( as
an inter(eiary% between the is#iple an 8o% is to fall into the error of looking outsie
his own self for that whi#h% when he fins it% will be within hi( an nowhere else,
?01
"hink (ore eeply than the #onventional (ass of guru!followers are to o an you
will #o(e to per#eive that in the en there is only one "ea#her for ea#h (an% his own
Overself+ that all other an outer gurus are (erely #hannels whi#h ." uses, =.t is >e who
lives insie an speaks through the outer guru6s voi#e%= e#lares a "ibetan te$t, 4hy not
go ire#t to the sour#e2
?00
"he higher self is the ulti(ate spiritual guie who( he is to revere an the real spiritual
helper on who( he is to rely,
?01
4hen is#iples follow a tea#her% what is it that they really follow2 Suppose the (aster
avo#ate #ruelty an prea#he selfishness!!woul the is#iples still #ontinue to follow
hi(2 Obviously% they woul not, "his is be#ause their own inwar feeling woul re&e#t
the tea#hing, .t shows that they are really following the tea#her within the(selves% the
voi#e of their own >igher Self, .t is this >igher Self within the( whi#h (akes the(
seek out an respon to a true tea#her% for he is really an outwar e(boi(ent of this
Self,
?03
"he outer ob&e#tifie (aster is not the real one but only a shaow #ast by the sun insie,
>is is#iples too often (ake the (istake of relating the(selves to his boy% an pla#ing
over(u#h e(phasis on that visible relationship% when what really (atters is relating
their (in to his (in, "his #an be one only within the(selves, Only in their own
higher self #an they (eet an know their (aster,
?05
"hose who interest the(selves in personalities take the wrong path, 9 (aster6s ieas are
the best part of hi(, /et stuents take them an not trouble the(selves about his
appearan#e% #areer% traits% an habits,
?06
4e (ust (ake a istin#tion between a o#trinal prin#iple an the hu(an personality
who serves as the vehi#le for su#h a prin#iple, "he prin#iple will live when the
personality is ea, Our absolute loyalty% therefore% (ust be bestowe on what is
i((ortal% not on what is (ortal, "he hu(an isse(inator of the prin#iple shoul
re#eive only a #onitional allegian#e, "he pure .ea (ay in#arnate itself in the (an but
he (ay sully% betray% or pollute it with his hu(an error% pre&ui#e% or selfishness,
?0;
"he e(boie (aster% being hu(an% will have so(e or other of the hu(an
i(perfe#tions, Sooner or later the is#iple will note an be#o(e #riti#al of the( or
isturbe by the(, But the inner /ight is perfe#t an will rouse only a(iration%
evotion% an satisfa#tion,
?0?
. have never sai that the is#iple shoul not feel love for the tea#her% for that inevitably
arises of itself an is inee the basi# for#e that raws the one to the other, 4ithout it
there #oul be no is#ipleship, But it is ne#essary to unerstan that the love is really
felt for the ivine presen#e whi#h is using the tea#her, .t is not felt for the guru )tea#her*
as a person, "hat is the #orre#t #onition, .f% however% it is iverte to the guru6s person%
then it is spoilt% renere i(pure% an the true relationship is broken, .n fa#t% iolatry
sets in, "he e(otions of attra#tion an reveren#e whi#h are felt nee not be given up%
but they shoul be ire#te to the true sour#e% the higher power whi#h is using the
tea#her% an not towars his personality at all,
?0@
"he hu(an sy(bol uner whi#h the evotee re#eives his inspirations an illu(inations
in vision or feeling is% after all% personal to hi(, .t is not a universal one% not for all
(ankin at all ti(es an in all pla#es, Conse<uently his onwar progress will one ay
e(an of hi( that he trans#en it, >owever useful an even inispensable it has been%
it will best fulfil itself when he is able to forget it,
?1A
.t is rarely an relu#tantly that a true (aster will give personal interviews, >e fins that
so (any en<uirers #o(e either with an ieali'e pre#on#eive pi#ture of what he looks
like )or ought to look like* or with #ertain pre&ui#es whi#h are a#tivate when they see
hi(% that in (any #ases the goo work one by his writings (ay be nullifie by the
isappoint(ent #onse<uent on the (eeting, "his is be#ause few persons are suffi#iently
non(aterialisti# to look behin physi#al appearan#es for the (ental reality of the (an
interviewe, :ost #o(e #arrying a pre#on#eive pi#ture of so(e perfe#tly wonerful%
perfe#tly hanso(e% perfe#tly saintlike Perfe#t 7rien, "he ieal is not reali'e, "hey
leave the (eeting isillusione, .t is better for their sakes that he re(ain behin the
barrier of written wors an not let the( (eet hi( fa#e to fa#e, >ow (any prefer
pig(entation to profi#ien#y as a stanar of spiritual wiso(% as shown by the nu(bers
who #annot a##ept a ark!skinne .nian for tea#herF >ow (any are hel prisoners by
their pre#on#eptionsF >ow (any re&e#t both a tea#her an his truth (erely be#ause they
islike the shape of his noseF 4hat hope #oul a bany!legge (aster have to fin any
is#iples2 Of #ourse% the seeker who #onfouns hi( with his boy is really still unfit for
philosophy an ought not be given any interview until life an refle#tion have prepare
hi( to take proper avantage of it, .t is unfortunate that this hu(an weakness is so
#o((on, "his is one of the lesser reasons why the philosophi# is#ipline has to be
i(pose on #aniates for philosophy as a preli(inary to be unergone before its
threshol #an be #rosse, "he real tea#her is har to behol, 7or he #an be seen partly
with the heart% partly with the (in% but rarely with the eye of flesh, >e is the invisible
(an% who( they #an re#ogni'e only by sensing% not by seeing hi(,
?11
"he uty is lai upon a (aster to show the value of his virtue by his #onu#t an to
attra#t (en towars it by his e$a(ple, .t is not the (an that we are to reveren#e but his
noble attributes an his inspire (in,
?10
.n the final re#koning we are not the is#iple of this or that (an but rather the is#iple
of the Overself,
?11
8auta(a saw (u#h evien#e a(ong the >inus of their traitions of guru!worship an
their #ults of personal aulation, "o prevent this arising a(ong those who a##epte his
tea#hing% he #o((ane that his own person was to re(ain unpi#ture in art% ungraven
in i(age, But this was too (u#h to ask of senti(ental% evotional% an e(otional
hu(anity,
?13
Gesus trie to turn the (ins of his followers fro( the (an to Spirit% fro( the boy to
Overself but% like :uha((e% Buha% an Irishna% faile, >e tol the( not even to
#all anyone :aster% nor even to #all hi( Dabbi, But history shows how greatly they
isobeye his instru#tion,
?15
-ven if the Sy(bol were a (an evoi of spiritual power an light% its effe#ts woul
still appear benefi#ially within his life, "his is be#ause he has imagined it to be powerful
an enlightening an the #reative power of his own thought prou#es so(e benefit, .f
however the Sy(bol were an evil an living (an% then the effe#ts woul be (ore or less
har(ful, "his is be#ause a sub#ons#ious telepathi# working e$ists between the two
(ins through the intense evotion an passive sub(ission of one to the other, But if
the Sy(bol were a genuine living (ysti#% then the evotee6s thought #oul draw fro(
hi(!!an without his #ons#ious will or knowlege!!benefits greater than in the first
#ase, .t is possible to get still greater benefits if the seeker atta#hes hi(self to an
be#o(es the is#iple of a living genuine sage, 7or to the above!(entione effe#ts will
be ae the latter6s eliberately given help an blessing,
?16
Cespite popular superstition an wishful thinking it is true that no (aster #an bestow his
own enlighten(ent on others as a per(anent gift, But oes this (ake his attain(ent
valueless to the(2 No% for it proves to the( both that the Overself is an that (an (ay
#o((une with it, "he few who are (ore sensitive or (ore per#eptive gain (ore fro(
personal #onta#t with hi(!!either inspiration for their <uest or% if (ore fortunate% a
(o(entary gli(pse of the far!off goal,
?1;
"he :aster as Sy(bol: 9ll this talk of (aster an is#iple is vain an futile, Bou
yourself% when attra#te to a #ertain (an in who( you have faith% set hi( up as a (aster
in your own (in% keep hi( there for a nu(ber of years% an eventually rop hi( when
you no longer feel the nee of a hu(an sy(bol of the .nfinite, 9ll this ti(e it is your
own higher self whi#h is guiing you% even when it is using the (ental i(age of the
guie you (ay have sele#te for the purpose, 9ll this ti(e you were (oving in the
ire#tion of the is#overy of your Overself inwarly even when you see(e to be
(oving towars an e$ternal (aster, .f you fin 9BC a helpful sy(bol% use hi( as your
(aster% but o not ask hi( to #onfir( this usage for the #hoi#e was yours, No
#onfir(ation fro( hi( is #alle for, 4hy oubt the guian#e of your Overself2 .f you
a##ept the (aster in full faith% by that very a#t you are showing faith in the leaing
given you by the Overself, Bour obeien#e to it is enough, .t has a##epte you or it
woul not be rawing you inwars% as it is, 9BC is one with it, "herefore how #oul the
(aster refuse you2 But o not lose sight of the inwarness of the whole pro#ess by
going to hi( for an outwar sign, Co not (ateriali'e it, :ake use of hi( if you wish to%
an if he is what you believe hi( to be% your faith will not be waste, Bour a#t of (ental
#reation will not lea to hallu#ination so long as you know that the true 9BC is not his
boy but his (in,
?1?
"he hu(ble appeal of the seeking soul ire#t to 8o )or one6s own Overself* will in
ti(e bring ire#t help without the inter(eiary of any hu(an being, .f anyone believes
that he has entere into reali'ation solely through the blessing of a (aster% then there
will surely be a isillusion(ent one ay, "he real uty of a (aster is to point out the
#orre#t path at ea#h ifferent stage of the aspirant6s life% to keep up his faith until he
knows the truth for hi(self an not through so(eboy else6s wors% to inspire hi( by
his own e$a(ple an en#ourage(ent never to esert the <uest an to show that its
benefits are worthwhile% to give his gra#e in the sense of taking a personal interest in the
stuent6s progress an telepathi#ally to keep the stuent within his own #ons#iousness,
?1@
.f is#overy of "ruth is the is#overy of the answer to =4ho 9( .2= then what better
:aster #an there be than the =.= itself!!the unknown Inower rather than the fa(iliar%
known ego2 Bet so few seekers have taken it on trust: nearly all venture it in
epenen#e on so(e other (an, 9n what #an that :aster o in the end better than
tea#h his is#iple to see his own divine fa#e2
?3A
=9 visible :urshi ):aster* is a gateway unto the Hnseen :aster an a portal unto
8o% the Hnknown, But yet% in the en% neither 8o% :aster% nor :urshi appear in the
J. 9(6St=!!:ayat Ihan,
?31
"he argu(ent as to whether a living (aster alone #an =save= (en or whether a ea one
#an also o so% is a falla#ious one, No (an is save by another (an, >is own soul is his
real saviour, 4hen he believes that a (aster% living or ea% is saving hi(% his own soul
is a#tually at work within hi( at the ti(e but is using the (ental i(age of the (aster to
serve as a fo#us!point for his sie!!that is% the self!effort sie!!of the pro#ess, "housans
who never knew the living Gesus have felt the real presen#e an yna(i# power of Gesus
enough to #onvert the( fro( sinful to 8oly lives, .t was the idea of Gesus whi#h they
really knew% not the (an hi(self% as it was gra#e of their Overselves whi#h was the true
presen#e an power they a(ittely felt, "hey #on#entrate their faith on the iea but
the reality behin it was the unknown Overself, "hey neee the iea!!any iea!!as a
point in their own for(!ti(e!an!spa#e personal #ons#iousness where the for(less%
ti(eless% pla#eless% i(personal soul #oul (anifest itself to the(,
?30
"here are hans in every #ountry% a(ong every people% outstret#he to 8o for inwar
help, "he responsibility to answer these prayers rests therefore pri(arily with 8o, 9ny
(an who apparently gives the neee help is only an inter(eiary, Neither the power
nor the wiso( whi#h he (anifests is his own, .f he per#eives that fa#t% he will be
hu(ble by it,
?31
"he true tea#her a#ts by pro$y% as it were% for the aspirant6s Overself until su#h ti(e as
the aspirant hi(self is strong enough to fin his own way, Hntil that (o(ent the tea#her
is a shining la(p% but after it he will withraw be#ause he oes not want to stan
between the seeker an the latter6s own self!light whi#h graually leas the is#iple to
ispense with hi(F
?33
4ith the thought of the higher power% an i(age will spontaneously spring up in his
(in, .t will be the i(age of that (an who (anifests or represents it to hi(,
?35
"he philosophi#ally #orre#t attitue is to #herish the eepest reveren#e for hi(% to
re(e(ber an #o((une often with his kinling interior presen#e% an to #ontrol the
lower self by the ieal pattern he affors,
?36
.f he re&e#ts praise it is be#ause he wants it bestowe where it really belongs% an not
upon hi(self to the enial of that sour#e, .t belongs to his (aster or to the Overself+ the
power behin all his praise a#tivities is not the ego6s, 7or by su#h properly pla#e
#reit% the worl (ay #o(e to know% or believe% there is that higher power,
?3;
=>e who sees the "ea#hing% sees (e,=!!Buha
?3?
:u#h e(otion!born falla#ious writing an #onse<uent belief prevails in 4estern an
Oriental (ysti#al #ir#les, "he <uestion (ust be aske: if a ea (aster is &ust as goo
or% as one South .nian ashra( now #lai(s% even better than a living one% why o any
(asters trouble to rein#arnate at all if they #an e$ert their influen#e or give their training
&ust as effe#tively by staying where they are2 9n this <uestion applies not only to the
(inor lesser!known tea#hers of s(all groups but with e<ual for#e to the (a&or prophets
like Buha an Gesus,
>ere is the point at whi#h part of the #onfusion an (u#h of the falla#y arise, People
generally have been le by so#iety% in#luing their parents% to aopt an follow one of
these (a&or Prophets, "his is one partly in the belief that he is still in tou#h with the(
fro( a heaven!worl% partly out of un<uestioning a##eptan#e of his revelation% an
partly be#ause of the so#ial ne#essity of belonging to the (e(bership of so(e
organi'e #hur#h, "he revelation an the #hur#h #ontinue to survive the prophet6s eath
an thus #ontinue to be available for the help of followers born in later #enturies, But
the vehi#le through whi#h he hi(self was able to #o((uni#ate ire#tly% the intelle#t an
boy!!that is% the ego!!have #ease to e$ist, "here is no further possibility of su#h
#o((uni#ation, 4here it see(s to o##ur% the (ental i(age of the prophet has been
assu(e by the >igher Self of the evotee to satisfy his e(an an nee, "he
usefulness of a living tea#her to those who have no su#h e$perien#e or to those who are
un#o((itte to a e#ease one% is obvious,
?3@
4hen the (aster ies% the is#iple will fin that there is no one to take his pla#e, Su#h
an affinity #annot be upli#ate, But what he gave the is#iple will live on insie hi(,
>ow #an he be like the unthinking hores who yiel to their passions without
#o(pun#tion2
?5A
4hen a (aster is no longer living in flesh an bloo% what will be the effe#t upon his
relations with others2 "hose who are willing to use their reason rather than their
senti(entality upon the (atter #an fall upon the fa#t itself, 7or those who are still in the
ele(entary stages!!whi#h usually (eans the (ass of his followers!!he is no longer
operative,
?51
So(e persons% eprive of their guru by a suen #hange of #ir#u(stan#e% or by eath%
have foun the(selves bewilere% at a loss% or even have #ollapse with a nervous
breakown,
?50
4hat he leaves behin is not hi(self but the revelations he re#eive% the instru#tions he
gave% an the te#hni<ues he favoure,
?51
4hether it is really those who publi#ly an louly pro#lai( how #lose they were to the
:aster who were so% or those who silently an se#retly pra#tise what he taught% the
worl is often in no position to &uge,
?53
.f there is a genuine inner relationship between the(% then he will feel that a part of the
(aster has never left hi(% even though the (aster is hi(self long ea,
?55
.f he is still alive% the personal help of a (aster is #ertainly valuable, .f he is not% his
spirit is too re(ote fro( the physi#al worl to be helpful to the orinary aspirant in any
other than a general i(personal way, >is influen#e is then #arrie by writings left
behin% by the thought!for(s he left uring his lifeti(e in the (ental at(osphere here%
an by the few is#iples #losest to hi( in the inner sense, Otherwise% only an avan#e
yogi% able to raise his #ons#iousness by (eitation to the sa(e plane as the (aster6s%
#oul get any #onta#t at all, .t is as ne#essary to his is#iples that he leave the(
eprive of his guian#e as well as of the #onsolation of his presen#e as it was earlier
ne#essary for the( to have the( while he was still on earth, 9fter all% it is their own
Overself that they are seeking, "hey (ust begin to seek it &ust where it is!!within
the(selves an not in so(eone else, "he ti(e has then #o(e when% if they are to grow
at all% they (ust #ease rawing on his light an strength an begin rawing on their
own, "he very hour of his eparture fro( the( is appointe in their estiny by the
infinite intelligen#e% whi#h has suffi#ient reasons for (aking it then% an not earlier or
later, .f they (ust hen#eforth strive for ire#t tou#h with the .nfinite an no longer lean
on the en#ourage(ent of an inter(eiary% this is be#ause they are at the stage to (ake
better progress that way% whatever their personal e(otions (ay argue to the #ontrary,
?56
.f the life of Gesus be viewe sy(boli#ally!!as the lives of su#h ivine (en often are in
part!!the sa(e ne#essity% at a #ertain ti(e% of physi#al separation fro( is#iples to bring
the( into (ental nearness% appears, Gesus tol the(: =. tell you the truth% it is e$peient
for you that . go away+ for if . go not away% the Co(forter will not #o(e unto you,
4hen >e% the Spirit of "ruth% is #o(e% >e will guie you into all truth,=
Graduation
?5;
"he <uestion whether a re&e#tion of the guru is a ne#essary stage in orer to fin the
"ruth for oneself #an be i((eiately answere, .t is not at all ne#essary for anyone to
re&e#t the guru at any stage, But!!at a #ertain stage it (ay be avisable to withraw
physically fro( hi(, "hat is a (atter for guru or is#iple to e#ie% an also the length
of ti(e for su#h an absen#e,
?5?
=.n ti(e when the relationship is suffi#iently establishe between (aster an pupil the
pupil has to #ontinue on his own%= wrote the Sufi :aster .nsar!.!Ia(il, This is
important but insufficiently known,
?5@
"he tea#her is a support neee by the is#iple to help hi( progress through su##essive
stages of the <uest% as they are stages of thinning illusion, 4hen he stans on the
threshol of reality% then the last an thinnest illusion of all (ust be left behin% the
support of any being outsie hi(self% apart fro( hi(self% for within hi( is the infinite
life!power,
?6A
.t is written in the >inu te$ts that by living in the #o(pany of a guru% saint% or sage one
a#<uires a (easure of his enlighten(ent% holiness% or wiso(, >ow wiely ifferent this
(easure #an be% how ever little an how very large% only e$#eptional personal
e$perien#e or a long% #o(parative stuy of the re#ors #an tell, Sie by sie with this
te$t% to a(plify or #orre#t it% ought to be put% an well (use over% a little in#ient .
on#e observe in South .nia% in whi#h the prin#ipal #hara#ter was a very earnest young
(onk% Swa(i Canapani, >e ha live for five years% on an off% as an offi#e assistant
in the ashra( an as a evote follower of Da(ana :aharshi, One ay he was e$pelle
forthwith an orere to leave within twenty!four hours, 9t night% when everyone ha
retire to sleep% he went to his guru to infor( hi( of the e$pulsion an to take farewell,
9t the en of this o##asion he wept, "he :aharishee restraine hi(: =Con6t be a foolF
Bou shoul know that this physi#al Sat&sang Tpersonal #o(pany in an ashra(U is only
for beginners, 4hen one avan#es to a #ertain stage it is better to go away if further an
real avan#e(ent is to be (ae, 7or then one is #o(pelle to seek% an fin% the inner
guru% within the (in an heart, -ven the little birs have to get away fro( their
parents6 nest when they have grown wings: they #annot stay always in it, So too the
is#iples have to pra#tise away fro( the ashra( what they have learnt here% an fin
there the pea#e they foun here,= . followe the Swa(i6s further history as he was a
goo frien, Bears later he be#a(e a guru in his own turn% a#<uire a nu(ber of
is#iples% an settle in his own native village in his own ashra(, :y own observation%
farther afiel% is that so(e see( to a#<uire nothing at all% whereas others a#<uire a great
eal% fro( Sat&sang, 4hether this a#<uisition #o(es about by a kin of os(osis% or by
instru#tion an is#ussion% or% (ore likely% by a resultant arising fro( all three% the
ne#essity of looking within oneself% working with oneself% an epening on oneself
#annot be evae,
?61
Sri Da(akrishna tol seeking new#o(ers: =Ieep on visiting this pla#e,= But he also tol
the(: =.t is ne#essary in the beginning to #o(e here off an on,= . on#e hear Sri
Da(ana :aharshi tell a young .nian is#iple who wept at being for#e to leave hi(:
=/iving in ashra(s is only for beginners, "he (ore avan#e have to go away an
evelop fro( there, Bou have been here five years, .f you want to progress you #an now
o so best by going away fro( here,=
?60
"he ani(al whi#h at a #ertain age eserts its offspring to for#e the( into self!relian#e is
like the rare guru who tells the overstaye learner it is ti(e to leave,
?61
But the law of life is growth, .s he to re(ain a passive re#eiver of so(eone else6s
tea#hing in perpetuity2 Can he stan still uner another (an6s shaow or is he to e(erge
out of pupilage into the light2
?63
"he true tea#her so evelops his is#iples that they #an #o(e #loser an #loser to the
ti(e when they #an fin their way without hi(, 9ll his servi#e is intene to lea the(
towar grauation% when he hi(self will no longer be neee,
?65
No is#iple oes his (aster ae<uate honour until he hi(self is able to stan an walk
alone,
?66
"he (an in who( intuition is well!evelope or who is able to pra#tise (eitation
suffi#iently to hear the .nterior 4or% #an (anage without a (aster,
?6;
.f he has foun the #orre#t path an has travelle with a tea#her as far as this stage%
then#eforth he (ay travel by hi(self, >e is now free for he is now able to guie
hi(self,
?6?
.n the en he (ust free hi(self inwarly fro( all things an% finally% both fro(
whatever tea#her he has an fro( the <uest itself, "hen only #an he stan alone within
an one with 8o,
?6@
4hether or not it is histori#ally true that there was the battle (entione in the
Bhagavad Gita is uni(portant to us of the twentieth #entury, But the psy#hologi#al
interpretation of it as (eaning that 9r&una was orere to fight not his parents an
relatives but his attachment to the(% is i(portant, .t is the sa(e tea#hing as that of
Gesus6 har saying about the ne#essity of taking up the #ross an enying father an
(other, 9ll this we #an unerstan even where we #annot follow it into pra#ti#e, But it
is bewilering to be tol that a ti(e #o(es in the is#iple6s evelop(ent when
atta#h(ent to the tea#her (ust also be broken, >e (ust free hi(self fro( the very (an
who has shown hi( the path to liberation fro( every other for( of atta#h(ent, >is
liberation is to be#o(e total an absolute,
?;A
.n the last verse spoken by 9r&una in the Gita% he e#lares that all his oubts are gone
an that he has gaine re#ognition of the true Self, >en#e all his <uestions #ease, >is
en<uiry into "ruth has #o(e to an en, Nothing (ore is sai either by hi( or his
tea#her, Both enter into a state of silen#e an this silen#e is reveale as the highest%
be#ause the spirit is beyon both the agitations of intelle#t an the babble of spee#h, .t is
best felt an known% unerstoo an #o((uni#ate% through su#h inner stillness,
?;1
Co not stray into waters that are too eep for you, Co not try to grasp the (ystery of
your (aster, Bou #annot o it an you will never o it% for if ever you #a(e to the very
ege of su##eeing in oing it both you an he woul isappear fro( your ken, Co not
seek to tou#h the untou#hable, .t is better to a##ept hi( for what he is an let it go at
that than to inulge in useless spe#ulations an erroneous fan#ies, .t is not that your are
to repress the fa#ulty of en<uiry% but that you are to e$er#ise it in the right pla#e an at
the right ti(e, Bour task now is to unerstan yourself an to unerstan the worl,
4hen you have #o(e near the #lose of #o(pleting those two tasks% you will then be
fa#e with the further task of #o(prehening the true #hara#ter of your (aster but not
till then, 7or then only will you be able to #o(prehen hi( #orre#tly+ before then you
will only get a wrong notion% whi#h is far worse than no notion at all, "he last lesson of
these wors is: trust hi( where you #annot unerstan+ believe in hi( where yours,
The )otebooks are #opyright V 1@?3!1@?@% "he Paul Brunton Philosophi# 7ounation,