Part II / III – II
Guru: His Need and Functions
The Master talks with His disciple face to face in all the planes and gives him wise counsel in times of need.
Whenever one happens to be in the presence of a Real Master with an open mind, one finds waves of solace wafting towards him and feels an uplift surge within. His personal aura has its marvellous effect on us. His words, charged as they are, with Divine Spirituality, sink deep into the heart of the listener and never go in vain.
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The Unseen One uses a very selected human Pole, i.e. a person who by dint of his continued, untiring and unending endeavours, unequalled in self-sacrifice and boundless love for Him during life, contacts Him within, becomes His conscious co-worker, and is assigned the Mission of giving solace to afflicted seekers after God; to rescue them from the worries of the world and to unite all such ones to Him, as His Own.
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I did find a Friend for you – a Friend who is even now waiting patiently for you to turn to Him. He is constantly by your side loving you, wanting to share your life, wanting your love, your thoughts and faith. It is you who have drawn a thick screen of various thoughts in between you and your Friend. Try to remove this screen, then you will see a Friend waiting with outstretched arms, to embrace you with love, to stand by you all through this life and thereafter. Do not despair, you are much loved. If only you would shed your negative attitude and be receptive, everything would be yours. He is with you always, extending all feasible help. If we turn our face to Him, He will be constantly with us, perceptibly and imperceptibly. He will be talking to you as in so many other cases in the USA and abroad.
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The bonds of relationship between the Master and the disciple are the strongest in the world. Even death cannot sever them, for they are tied by the Divine and Omnipotent will of God. The Master remains with the disciple wherever he may be. Death and distance are immaterial in the relationship of the Master and the disciple. He is always by his side, here and hereafter.
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I am glad to note you are beginning to realise that the affairs of this earthly life are transitory, and that the life hereafter is lasting. And that we must make the best use of this earthly life and prepare for achievement of the everlasting life which is hereafter.
This is the Goal before us, and if we work upwards bit by bit, under proper guidance, our earthly life becomes peaceful as well as the life which follows. Master is ever with you. He is not the body. He has a body. Body is the Pole at which he works to guide those stuck fast in a physical body, and to help them transcend the body. Master is always helping the seekers far and wide and remains with them wherever they may be. You are always with me. Distance makes no difference, my love flows to you incessantly.
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The Master at the time of initiation lightens the present load so as to give the initiate some experience and warns the initiate to lead an ethical life from then on. The storehouse, as you know, holds the Sanchit Karmas and these may be burned away with the power of Naam, when one becomes a conscious co-worker with the Divine Plan. A Master is the mouthpiece of God and God-Power in Him can work wonders, including the lessening of the duration of suffering.
All is dependent upon the background, the earnestness, the love and devotion that a person will put into the spiritual practices. The Divine treasures are for all, whether rich or poor. Master’s loving help accelerates progress.
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To love, revere, and feel grateful to our fellowmen is to love and revere God. So, too, the love for the visible Master, our closest connecting link with God, is in reality love for the Supreme Father. It has Spirituality as an end and is not idolatry. The atmosphere in which such a genuine Master moves is charged with currents of peace and love which affect those who come into contact with Him. Even letters written by or on behalf of Him carry a current of ecstasy that influence the innermost recesses of hearts. Guru precedes God.
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The Master always speaks with an authority born conviction for He has a first-hand knowledge of everything, which comes from His direct communion with the Universal Cause or Original Source.
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Communion with the holy Naam, the Divine word, together with meditation on His glory, is the open sesame to the realization of the One-Being. Word is the substance and the power by which all life is made. Holy communion with its rapturous strains is a gift that can be attained only through a Living Master. In His company a life of holy inspiration and love of God is followed, and the inner eye is opened to see the presence of God in all things.
A True Master is not a mere human being, but has become One with God, and as such, contains in Himself the powers of all the gods and goddesses. He is veritably the Word made flesh and blood. The one lesson that such a Master teaches his disciples is to meditate always upon the Lord, the Creator of everything, and never to forget Him.
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The Master ever remains with the devotee, wherever he may be. Death and distance are immaterial in the relationship of the Master and the disciple. He is always by his side, here and hereafter.
The holy Sound is always present with you and if you practice it in an accurate way, you will hear it more distinctly with the Grace of the Master.
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At times the disciple may have an experience of transcending the body and traversing into the Beyond as a result of the reaction of past karmas while in concentration. This may also happen in sleep.
The greatness of a Master lies in the fact that when one meets Him, He initiates him into the mysteries of the Beyond and gives Him first-hand experience of being born anew, and then by regular practice the initiate may transcend into the Beyond at will and enjoy the ineffable sweet symphonies of the Word which no ears have heard and no eyes have seen on earth. Enamouring of the sweet intoxication of the Beyond makes all carnal pleasures and enjoyments lose their attraction of him.
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Every initiate has to be put on the Way and will one day reach his True Home in Sach Khand. Those who work earnestly and live according to the commandments of the Master will progress quickly, while others will take more time to reach their Goal.
The journey Home is a long one, but a pleasant one and when one reaches the True Home, he may be selected as a Master. This is, of course, a Commission from God. Anybody who after a little progress, considers that he has become a master, just harms his or her own interest. This is ego and should be avoided.
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It is a great blessing to be under the care of a Competent Master as He may steer you through the stormy sea of the world and guide you to your True Home. I am sorry to hear that … has passed away. This is the way of the flesh. When one’s give and take are over, he has to go. His physical body was cremated, but the soul belonged to the Master and was taken care of.
Blessed are those who devote time to their meditations lovingly and faithfully and progress spiritually from day to day so that they are able to contact, during their physical stay in the world, their Radiant Master within, Who is their constant Companion and will take them to their True Home.
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No one can reach or know God except through His Grace. Whenever one feels a strong desire for Him and strive with all his might to find a way to Him, God showers His Grace on such an aspiring soul and he or she meets a Living Master. God is the subtlest of the subtle and unless we ourselves rise to that level, we cannot see Reality face to face.
A Master-Soul is a conscious co-worker with the Divine Plan and He works in a physical body so that those working on the physical plane may have the opportunity to contact the Unseen within.
He is the Pole at which the Higher Power works and helps to bring the soul up from the physical level and opens his eyes to see that Great Power working within. He is the means to the end.
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Those who will earnestly and lovingly carry on as directed will surely have spiritual success, now, in this life.
The Master-Power overhead is most anxious to see His children come to Him within, and to enjoy the resplendent Divine Peace and Bliss of those regions where they will be conducted by their Charming and Radiant Master within. Let nothing come between the initiate and his or her Master.
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The gracious Master-Power is the constant and nearest Companion of the initiate. He is fully aware of your inner prayers and adoration. Please rest assured, the gracious Master-Power never leaves nor forsakes His children here or hereafter.
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When a disciple comes near a Master, the latter’s atmospheric influence is felt according to the degree of receptivity developed. When he or she has grasped the theory of the teachings of the Saints and has taken up the Way, it may be as an experimental measure at first, and full conviction comes only when he or she sees within. The evidence of others can only give inducement to take up the way, but first-hand experience is convincing, however small it may be.
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It is really an inspiration in this unhappy and confused world to enjoy the guidance of the Master-Power working over the head of each initiate. Like a loving father, He is always working for the benefit of His children, whether they know it or not, although at times they do know and feel it very vividly.
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*Master takes care of and extends protection for all who are dear and near to the disciple and looks after their best interests.
* (This section is adjusted to the First Edition of 1967;
Editor’s Note 2011.)
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With the help of a Competent Master the process of inversion and self-analysis becomes quite easy and natural to practice.
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It is for the disciple’s own benefit to lead a loving, chaste and straight life. This gives peace and helps in quick inner progress. The Master is glad to see everyone behave in a proper way and to progress from day to day.
You have been given the Word. Please keep your face towards the Master. You will receive all necessary help and protection. The Master is always with the initiates. He resides in each one of them. He is always helping them to come within and meet Him face to face.
If the child comes up one step, He comes down a million steps to pick up the child. We are all labourers in the vineyard of the Lord. We should learn to appreciate the good in others. It helps us all around.