– If I join you, what can I expect? – the question came, squarely aimed at the teacher, from a man in his prime who had arrived with many doubts, great expectations and cautious reservations. A well-to-do, forceful personality, he radiated success and resolve.
– What can you expect? – the teacher asked musingly, unmoved by this elegant yet forceful display of a successful life. He had seen a great deal, and he was especially wary of the pull of influential company. At the same time, he recognised his own questions, put into words decades ago. – Everyone gets what he deserves. Or rather, no, everyone gets something a little better than that. Indeed, I would say that everyone can receive what he is seeking.
‘One question, three answers…’ – our friend pondered, giving himself time to weigh what he had heard, and the teacher time to pursue his thoughts.
– The human path runs from contentment to contentment – the teacher went on calmly, and our friend’s eyes widened: ‘How so? Why would anyone who is content set out on a path? Then again, I have set out too, it seems… so am I content, or not? I don’t feel that I am…’
– Most people are ignorant – the teacher continued – and content with it too, so they seek nothing new. When they think they are embarking on something new, they are really only chewing again what they have already chewed once, repeating the same thing with some slight alteration.
Our friend recognised himself: ‘Hm, that is really what I have been doing too! The new was always the old…’
– Then there are the malcontents. They are a large crowd. They are discontented, but they do not seek, they are unwilling to change. They grumble endlessly, nothing is ever right for them…
‘Confound it, he is talking about me!’ – our friend went on with his monologue.
– Fortunately, there is the one whom discontent spurs to seek: he seeks and seeks, but has not yet found. The intention is there, but either his need is shallow, or he strays into a dead end, or he is impatient and cannot wait until he recognises that only one more step remains for him to take. He who perseveres and seeks will find. Of course, this is also a matter of good fortune.
– Good fortune? – our friend broke in. – That’s an uncertainty factor! Isn’t everything preordained, doesn’t a man get what he deserves?
– Very much so! Fortune is really providence at work. You can lead a horse to water, but it has to drink for itself. Life leads everyone to the water, but not everyone drinks. But he who seeks, and finds, and is able to step further, commits himself.
‘What? Commit myself? I know what I want, nobody is going to meddle in my life!’ – once again protest spoke up in our friend.
– It is to truth that one must commit. Many fear for their freedom… – ‘As if he could read my mind!’ – …yet only one who commits becomes a practitioner, then a follower, a disciple… A disciple is one who gives his master the chance to teach him.
‘Confound it, but that is just what is happening now!’
– Here the path branches in many directions. A person may be well informed, may possess spiritual knowledge. Knowledge is information, but wisdom is transformation, and the qualified sage begins actively gathering power.
‘And which should I choose? So far I have recognised myself, but this step still lies ahead of me.’
– He who has gathered enough power may pass on the information, and may become a teacher who spreads knowledge. He who takes responsibility for others is a spiritual father, a spiritual guide. – ‘That is certainly not me any more… but him? Which category does he belong to, I wonder?’
– And is there more beyond? – our friend asked, to hide his real question, though he sensed that from the teacher there were no secrets.
– Of course. If such a teacher’s power ripens further, he will be able to awaken light in others too. I believe the good master is the one who shows us where to look, but does not spoon-feed us what to see.
‘Well, I’ll be…! That seems true!’ – our friend said to himself approvingly. He did not even notice that the independence he had cherished until then was melting away.
– And from here only one step remains… – the teacher paused a moment for effect – …the truly great soul is simply magnetic. Its radiance says everything, and in its company sincere people arrive at weighty insights.
‘What a train of thought!’ – the inner monologue went on. – ‘Strictly speaking, he did not even talk about my question, yet he gave the answer. This man knows…’
– Something like this is what a serious aspirant may expect. From ignorant contentment he may reach the contentment of enlightenment.
Now the teacher, too, kept silent, together with our friend. He pondered his own path, trying to work out where on this scale he might place himself. Only a single unspoken question kept stirring within him: Adept, what has the master made of you?