VI.

Quest for a True Master

A lLving, Perfect Master is the be-all and end-all of the Spiritual Path. He is the greatest Gift of God and the greatest blessing to mankind. The importance and necessity of a Competent Master cannot, therefore, be over-emphasized. All the scriptures sing praises of the Sant Satguru or Master of Truth, who holds a Commission from the Lord, to help the souls who yearn for God, to return to the House of their Father:

Without a Perfect Master, none can reach God, no matter if one may have merits a million-fold.

Holy Granth

It is the fundamental law of God that none can even comprehend Him without the aid of a Master Soul.

Holy Granth

A True Master is Master indeed – A Master in every phase of life. As Guru or Teacher on the physical plane, He imparts spiritual teachings as any other teacher would do, and shares our joys and sorrows. He helps us at every step in our daily trials and tribulations. As Guru Dev or Radiant Form of the Master, He guides the soul on the Astral and Causal planes. As the Satguru or the veritable Master of Truth, He leads us into the Great Beyond. Such souls are the salt of the earth, and are very rare indeed, but the world is never without one or more of such Beings, just as God may ordain. The principle of demand and supply is ever at work, in spiritual as in secular affairs. One has, however, to guard against false prophets or ravening wolves in sheep’s' clothing. How to find such a Master is a difficult problem, but patience, perseverance and judicious discrimination always succeed in the long run. When God's Light shines, It shines forth in fullness and cannot remain under a bushel for any great length of time. Guru appears when the Chela is ready is an axiomatic truth. This readiness, Kabir tells us, consists of intense longing, humility, compassion and sincerity. When these virtues adorn an aspirant after truth, God within him, who is his Controlling Power, directs the Master to find him out wherever he may be. The scriptures tell us some of the signs whereby one may outwardly discern a True Master:

Never bow ye before him who while claiming to be a Pir (Guru), lives on the alms of others.

Holy Granth

A True Master never displays Himself among the people, nor takes delight in popular applause. He never collects alms nor accepts donations for His own use, however voluntarily made.

He who manifests the Infinite in the finite is Satguru indeed and is a veritable sage.

Holy Granth

Take Him to be a True Master, who engrafts thee in Truth, and who makes thee peer into the unfathomable, and links thee with the Sound within.

Holy Granth


All Masters are worthy of adoration; each in his own place and in his own way; but Him alone would I worship, Who is embedded in the Sound Current.

Kabir

A True Master brings the message of Shabd and talks of nothing else but Shabd.

Hail as a Master Divine He Who can draw down the Celestial Music from above.

Paltu