‘Although the idea of a spiritual Master is becoming more and more familiar to the general public, his nature and role are still poorly understood, even by those who claim to be disciples. It is important not to delude oneself about spiritual realities. It is true that a Master is a prodigious being who can lead men to the highest summits of the spirit, but for him as well as for his disciples, this sublime venture can succeed only if it is accompanied by a rigorous inner adherence to truth and selflessness.’

The Master provided a number of criteria for recognising a true Spiritual Master which are published in one of his books, What is a Spiritual Master?

Click on the image to ‘Flip Through’ the book.

 

 

 

Here are some extracts…

A Spiritual Master, what to look for in one

“So often people seek a Master without knowing what to expect from one! To put it briefly, you could say that a true Master is a being who has worked for thousands of years to conquer all human passions. And so he emanates something bright and pure, and by coming to him and listening to his word his disciples receive a small particle of his aliveness and evolve much quicker. Otherwise, what use do you think a Master can be to you? He is not concerned with giving you riches, or a job, or a wife or husband. His concern is to impart particles of a higher nature that resonate in harmony with heaven. And if you can receive those particles, if you can preserve them and even develop them, you will sense in time that your thoughts, as well as your feelings and even your health, are improving. All you should seek from a Master are the right conditions for living the divine life.”

A Spiritual Master is first and foremost an example

“You can see from the way the word ‘master’ is used in everyday life that it can have several meanings. There is the master who passes on knowledge to his pupils, the master who exercises power over servants or slaves, the master who excels in a discipline, who masters a subject, whether physical, intellectual or artistic. But a Spiritual Master does not seek to become an expert in any subject. He seeks to control, to master, only himself, as his own subject, whether physically or psychically. He does not impose himself on his disciples; he is content to be what he is. It is up to the disciples to find out how to obtain his friendship, his protection and his light, for he is never far from them; he walks beside them and speaks to each one in a language they can understand. What language is that? The language of example. He says, ‘Love’, and he himself gives the example of selfless love. He says, ‘Work’, and he himself works. He says, ‘Bear suffering’, and he himself accepts all the pains of soul and body without rebelling. If he is persecuted or unjustly accused, he does not seek revenge. He responds to evil with goodness.”