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The life and conduct of a perfect Master single him out as a
unique personality apart from the rest of mankind.
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He is always a bestower of gifts and
never a recipient. He never wishes for the slightest
service from his following. He earns his own living
and is never a burden upon anyone. All his personal
savings, if any, he spends on the relief of the
needy.
“Touch ye not the feet of one who makes his
living out of the offerings of the people; O Nanak! he who
earns his own bread and helps the needy knows the path.” -
Gurbani
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He does not charge any fees for
imparting spiritual instructions. On the contrary,
he bestows spirituality as a free gift like any
other gift of God, such as light, air, water and so
forth.
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He is a living embodiment of
humility. With all his powers and greatness co-equal
with God, he never claims credit for anything, but
attributes everything to God or to his own Master.
Like a fruit-laden branch of a tree, he bows to the
lowest, and moves about in simple dignity peculiar
to him alone.
He who regards himself as the lowest is in
fact the highest.
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He is at peace with all and is angry
with none. He smilingly forgives all who talk ill of
him, and does not pick flaws in others. His love
embraces all humanity. Christ-like, he proclaims and
practices the cardinal truth, "Love thine enemies."
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Purity, Godliness and Spirituality
flow from him like shining springs of cool and
refreshing waters, bringing life to the parched and
and hearts of the aspirants who joyfully move along
the Spiritual Path under his able guidance.
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He does not wear any conspicuous form
of dress. He adopts just an easy middle path. His
Grand Trunk Road bypasses austerities on the one
hand, and forms and formalities on the other. His
teaching consists of enunciating natural truths
which sink into the soul, and everyone irrespective
of sex and age can practice the spiritual discipline
enjoined by him.
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He never believes in nor performs
miracles for attracting people and gaining their
credence, as a juggler would do. He keeps his
treasures well concealed in the deepest recesses
within him. He may, if ecessity demands, make use of
his powers on some special occasion. The disciples,
of course, everyday feel the hidden hand of the
Master working for their welfare and advancement.
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Regarding Gurus and Masters, it may be
remembered that everything seeming similar is not
the same. Masters abound and from among those highly
thought of or talked about preachers, the majority
of them will not be found talking of self-
experience, though they are able to express the
theory side in a thousand different ways with the
sweetest words possible. The only criterion for
judging is one's own inner ascent to Spiritual
Planes, whereby one can see for himself or herself
and meet all the Masters, past and present, wherever
they may be, in upper or lower planes. If one having
experiences of the lower planes thinks and claims to
be in the eternal Home, 'one with Him' and equal to
those who have reached the Ultimate Goal, and begins
to teach while he or she has much more to learn and
to see, how would you accept him or her? The worst
of it is that lay people are easily deceived by the
acting and posing of such so-called, self-styled
teachers as they are quite clever externally in
talking about spiritual matters of which they have
only a second-hand knowledge through books or
hearsay. Even a loving disposition may be imitated
to a great extent. That is the reason that the world
is full of masters. Christ warns us: "Beware of
false prophets who come in sheep's clothing, but
inwardly are ravening wolves." Those who contact and
talk to the Master within see everything in its true
light; do not enter into fruitless discussions, but
keep silent.
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