In this day and age, we have so many people claiming to be spiritual masters and so many more following them, that its very difficult to discern who is real and who isn’t. But then again, I’ve asked myself, have I grown enough spiritually to be able to discern the wheat from the chaff? The answer is a very simple “No”. I don’t have any answers, only a lot of questions. Ultimately, I think each Guru has a “something” that resonates with certain people but may not resonate with certain others. So, to each his own. Just because you don’t believe or do not vibe with a certain “Guru” is not sufficient reason to conclude that he or she is fake. He/she just may not be right for you, that’s all. On the other hand, there are certain others who do take advantage of unsuspecting, innocent followers in ways that would put even a criminal to shame! At all times, with all people, in all situations, I think the golden rule is to quiet your mind, be still, and reach within to your own inner voice, your own inner “guru”, as all the answers are already within. Then why, you may ask, do you need an outer guru? Maybe just to awaken the guru within!!
Here’s something I read recently, that made a lot of sense (there’s just one point I disagree with, the one on transference of power). The writer is “anonymous”, so I can’t give credit where it’s due.
Characteristics of a “Master”
* A Master never directs attention to himself. He is egoless.
* A Master’s very presence radiates power.
* Unconditional love is a basic quality of a Master. A Master never judges, is always impersonal, detached and yet compassionate.
* A Master, though possessing some or all spiritual and psychic powers renounces their use except for emergencies and urgencies. He, therefore will hardly ever reveal to anyone that he has them.
* A Master never commands he simply suggests, he never instills fear but awakens courage. He never makes you feel bad about yourself; on the contrary, he helps you build self-esteem.
* As a rule, a Master never predicts a person’s future and he never flatters the human ego.
* A Master is universal and non-sectarian in his attitudes. He sees all men as an expression of the Supreme, regardless of their religious leanings, their color, race, sex, etc.
* A true Master is creatively original. Being enlightened by his own divine essence a Master would teach or even write books directly from his heart and own experience. He would never plagiarize the work of another or teach things that are outmoded.
* Masters do not argue. They know that no amount of argument would convince the skeptic, and to those who are true seekers no argument would be necessary.
* A true Master does not hasten a student’s psychic growth prematurely by any “transference” of power. He always predominately concentrates upon raising the consciousness, improving character, spirituality, and increasing the wisdom and the understanding of his students.
* Perhaps one of the most outstanding and admirable characteristics of Spiritual Masters is that they do not consider themselves Masters. This is their humility. They know that they still have a considerable amount of things to master and learn. They are so aware that they are still undergoing the learning process that they are embarrassed to call themselves “Masters” or have anyone else call them that. In performing their divine and spiritual duties Spiritual Masters declare: “It is not I that works, but the ‘God’ within me.”
