COUNTLESS are the duties and responsibilities of a Master. His first and foremost work is to link once again the created with the Creator; to win for him the Kingdom of God and restore him to his ancient and forgotten lineage and heritage. This he does by means of Shabd or Word, which carries the spirit to its native
Home.
    Like electromagnetic waves, the Shabd or Word is vibrating everywhere, but, unfortunately, through the overpowering density and weight of matter on the physical plane we are unable to feel it and harness it to our benefit.
    A Master, by his personal guidance, frees the spirit from the dead weight of matter, disengages it from the sensory organs, withdraws its ever spreading rays and collects them at its center, behind the two eyebrows, thereby enabling it to experience a little of the Light of God and to hear Shabd, the Voice of God; both of which by continuing practice can be developed in course of time.
    The jiva then finds himself attracted by that magnetic power, the Sound Principle, which carries him step by step to his ultimate goal. A mere knowledge of the science of the Masters cannot be of any avail, and intellectualism by itself, however keen, cannot be of any aid.
    An ethical life is a stepping stone to spirituality. Cleanliness is said to be next to Godliness. A Master, therefore, begins his work with man-making. Cleanliness in thought, word and deed is an essential which cannot be over-emphasized. As self-knowledge precedes God-Knowledge, a Master has first to impart in theory and practice the knowledge of the spirit, to liberate it from the shackles of mind and body.
    Gradually the spirit is enabled to cast off the various coverings or sheaths with which it is enshrouded, until it becomes spirit clean, untrammeled and unalloyed, and exultantly cries out, "I am Spirit!"
    After this comes training in God-Knowledge, which is the climax and the crest jewel in the science of spirituality, and enables the spirit to attain Godhead.
    Once the shepherd takes charge of a lost sheep and brings it to his fold, he takes over the entire responsibility. Once a Master, always a Master, is a well- known dictum. Master on earth, he is Master in the various regions, subtle, causal, and beyond. He does not rest until a spirit is safely escorted back to the Father's mansion in Heaven.
    The process of home-going and progress on the path is entirely at his discretion, and he is the sole judge for the time and measure of each step Godward.
    From the time the spirit crosses over to the astral plane and comes face to face with the self-luminous form of the Master, the jiva has nothing more to do and strive for. It is the Master's job henceforth.
    Apart from this a Master is a child of Light, and like a lighthouse over tempestuous seas sheds his kindly Light throughout the world. Like the good shepherd he has to look after and tend many sheep. Whoever has anything to do with a Master Soul is ultimately to be prepared for the path and helped through in his probation and apprenticeship.