Chapter XI

Characteristics of a Master

1. The Master is born in a particular country, and yet he belongs to the people of all the countries.

   Because he has a certain form, he belongs to a particular country, but he is free from the bondage of body. He can travel in the higher regions at his pleasure. He is a Master and a manifestation of the Shabd. He belongs to all. He is one with the Lord. He is present everywhere. He remains constantly with the disciple and helps him. He reveals himself within the disciple.

   The Master is One with the Lord; He pervades all things.

   Sri Rag M5, 53-5

   The Master is always with me; He frees me both here and hereafter.

   Vadhans M4, 588-2

   The beneficent form of the Master is in my forehead; wherever I look I see it with me.

   Dev Gandhari M5, 535-15

2. The Master is immortal. He is the helper of the helpless and supporter of the supportless.

   Eternal is the Lord; eternal is the Master; eternal is the True Wisdom. He is the Lord of gods; He is the Lord of men; He is the helper of the helpless; He looks after those who have no other support.

   Ramkali M1, 934-10

3. The Lord Himself knows His mysterious ways. The Master knows them also.

   I pay homage to the Creator of the world; He is unborn; His laws and justice are perfect and fair. The Creator Himself knows the reasons for creation; the other one who knows is the mighty Master.

   Ramkali M5, 930-5

4. The Master is unerring. All human beings make mistakes. It is a part of their nature. But the Master is human in form only. Inwardly he is one with the Lord. Like the Lord, he is faultless.

   All commit mistakes, except the Lord and the Master.

   Sri Rag M1, 61-7

5. It may be said without any doubt that the Master can lead us to union (with God). He accompanies us on our inward and upward journey, and shows us all the regions, whether subtle or causal, and takes us to the original Home.

   The Master was kind to me; He showed me the land of death. He showed me the under-world. He showed me the subtle world. He is 'Brahma'; He is unborn; He is; He shall be. He is found in the heart.

   Sorath M1, 597-19

6. The Master is the greatest of the great. There is no one higher than him. He can do whatever he wishes.

   Oh mind, dwell on the Master; no one is equal to him. I know no one else; the Master unites us with the Lord.

   Sri Rag M5, 49-15

   The Master is the creator; the Master is the sustainer. His words are true, and nothing is beyond his power. Whatever He wills, happens according to His wish.

   Sri Rag M5, 52-13

7. The Lord redeems all the disciples of the Perfect Master.

   Knowledge is the Master's weapon; devotion is His sword and coat-of-arms; therewith He vanquishes Kal, the devouring monster. The Lord is the protector of the Master, and the Lord redeems all, when the Master so desires.

   Gauri M4, 312-14

8. He is the true King. He is the Lord of amrit, nectar of immortality, and devotion.

   The Lord is the treasure-house of devotion and ambrosia, and He dwells in the Master. The Master is the True Lord of treasury; He fills the coffers of His disciples with the wealth of Godliness.

   Asa M4, 449-16

9. The Master is a jeweller. The Master is the great jeweller; the ruby of Naam is his stock-in-trade. He can manifest Naam and thus redeem the disciple.

   The Lord’s Naam is both a ruby and a diamond; the Master manifests it. The self-seekers are unfortunate indeed, not to know what a treasure lies hidden in the straw (human body).

   Ramkali M4, 880-15

   He who reflects on the self, recognises the diamond. The Perfect Master gives a single glance, and thereby redeems the disciple. The disciple accepts the Master; and his mind is stilled. Such is our Master, of royal state, and a perfect connoisseur of jewels, that at a single loving glance He discerns the jewel within us and redeems it.

   Asa M1, 413-16

10. The Master has the key to the temple of God.

    I see nothing but is clothed in beauty, bright and joyous; I see none but is a part of myself, not apart; for by the Grace of the Master all doors have been opened to me.

    Sri Rag M5, 80-13

    Where there is no Shabd, darkness abounds. Nothing is gained there, and coming and going do not cease. The Master has the key; no one else can open the door. When one is fortunate, one meets a Master.

    Majh M3, 124-14

    The Master has the key; the mind is a room; the body is the ceiling. No one but a Master can open the door, for no one else has the key.

    Sarang Var M2, 1237-10

11. The Master is the true place of pilgrimage.

    The Master is the true place of pilgrimage; He constantly meditates on the Lord's Name.

    Majh Var M4, 140-4

    There is no place of pilgrimage equal to a Master; for a true Master is the Lord Himself.

    Asa M1, 437-3

    The Master is a river of purity, and bathing in it rids one of sins. When one meets the Master, He gets the holy Name; the animal is tamed; and turns into a god.

    Prabhati M1, 1329-1

12. The Master is the pool and source of the nectar of immortal life.

    The Master is a Pool of Nectar, the fountain of truth. When a crow bathes in it, he turns into a swan.

    Gujri M4, 493-2

    The Master is a pool of nectar, and the fortunate ones bathe in it. The seekers come to the Master, as swans come to the pool.

    Suhi M3, 751-1

    The Master is the Pool of Nectar. His depths are infinite.

    Gauri M5, 250-4

13. The Master is the philosopher’s stone.

    We are vile and sinful men of ego, suffering from the illusion of duality; but when we meet the Master, who is the philosopher’s stone, we are turned into gold, and the infinite, pure light fills us.

    Asa M3, 427-2

    The Master is the philosopher’s stone. The rusted, iron-like mind turned into gold after meeting him.

    Sorath M3, 638-14

    When iron contacts the philosopher’s stone, it acquires its qualities, and turns into gold. The Master is the philosopher’s stone; he who meets Him is benefited. Prahlad benefited by the Master's words. For the Master protects the honour of His devotees.

    Kanara M4, 1311-11

14. The Master has controlled the five enemies, namely: lust, anger, greed, worldly attachment and pride or ego.

    Being one with the Lord, the Master becomes free from all mental defects.

    The Master meditates on Truth; Truth and the Master are One. He is the Perfect Master, who has controlled the five senses.

    Gauri Var M5, 304-4

15. The Master is free from enmity. He is above pain and pleasure, good and evil. Like the Lord Himself, he is without ill-will and wishes well to all.

    The Master is free from enmity; He sees the Lord in all. He seeks the good of everyone; and wishes ill to none.

    Garui Var M4, 302-3

    The Master is free from enmity; He treats all as God's sons. He removes our defects, and purifies our bodies.

    Ramkali Var M5, 960-18

    He is not grieved by suffering; he is not elated by happiness. He remains unperturbed. He transcends pain and pleasure and remains immersed in Naam. Poison or nectar, whatever comes in his contact, is filled with his sweetness; they do not affect him.

16. The Master is always merciful.

    The Master is merciful and bountiful; He is always compassionate. The Master is free from enmity; He sees the Lord in all.

    Gauri Var M5, 302

    The Master is always merciful. We get nothing but what we deserve. He looks after all with the same kindness; and we receive His Grace according to the measure of our love.

    Sorath M3, 602-6

    The True Guru cherishes His Sikh (disciple). The Guru is always merciful to His servant.

    Gauri M5, 286-14

17. The Master forgives the sinners and backbiters.

    Without the Master there is no release; He is an old, old lover of the Lord. By His Grace He grants release, and forgives the sinner.

    Maru M1, 1027-18

    To those who meet the Master, all sins are forgiven.

    Gauri Var M4, 310-17

    Even if someone slanders the men of God, they do not forsake their virtues.

    Berari M4, 720-1

    He who slanders the Master, but later takes shelter with Him, is forgiven for his sin. The Master admits him to His Holy Company.

    Bilawal Var M4, 854-18

18. He is the Lord's intermediary. He unites the separated souls with the Lord.

    May I be a sacrifice unto the friend, by meeting whom I meet the Lord.

    Ramkali Var M5, 964-4

    As I had heard about the Master, so I found Him to be. He unites the separated souls with the Lord; He intercedes for them.

    Ramkali Var M5, 957-2

19. The Master is the driver of the elephant-like mind of the disciple.

    The mind is the elephant, and the Master is the driver. His wisdom is the goad, and the mind does as He directs. The mind needs the goad always; for without the goad, it strays.

    Gujri Var M3, 516-18

    Oh Kabir, the body is like a forest, and the mind is like an elephant in rut. Wisdom is the goad, and the driver is the Saint.

    Kabir, Shalok 1376-13

20. The Master is the great boat.

    The True Guru is the boat; the Word of the Shabd will carry them across. There is neither wind nor fire, neither water nor form there.

    Maru M1, 1009-13

    The True Guru is the boat, but few are those who realize this. Granting His Grace, He carries them across.

    Asa Var M1, 470-11

21. The Master is one with Naam. He is the ocean of Naam and gives away Naam liberally.

    The True Guru is imbued with the Naam, the Name of the Lord; He is the boat in this Dark Age of Kali Yuga.

    Bihagara Var M3, 552-9

    The Master is the Ocean of Naam; I long to see Him. I cannot live without Him even for a moment; I will die if I do not see Him.

    Suhi M4, 758-19

    The Master gives the Naam of the Lord. He unites us with the Lord.

    Sri Rag M4, 39-18

22. The Master gives the disciple the gift of divine life and directs him to take to devotion.

    The Masters are above birth and death; They come to the world to do good to others. They bless us with Divine Life and devotion, and unite us with the Lord.

    Suhi M5, 749-2

23. The Master has eternal love for the disciple. He looks after him carefully. He cares for him like a mother. He helps him both here and hereafter.

    When a mother looks after her son, she keeps him always in view; she feeds him constantly, and caresses him every moment. So does the Master treat the disciple; He keeps him absorbed in the Love of the Lord.

    Gauri M4, 168-1

    The mother is happy when the son feeds himself; the fish is happy when it swims in the water; the Master is happy when the disciple heeds His words.

    Gauri M4, 164-10

    The Master helps the disciple; He redeems him here and hereafter. The Master loves the disciple, and protects him fully.

    Gauri M5, 286-16

24. In the case of the disciple who practises according to the Master’s directions, the Master comes at the time of the disciple's death and takes charge of him.

    Serve a True Master; for He gives protection. He comes at the time of death, and takes one along with Him.

    Maru Var M1, 1284-10

_______________

Footnote: