Daily Meditation: Thursday, June 29, 2006

When a master’s disciples ask him for advice, he does not …

06/29/2006

When a master’s disciples ask him for advice, he does not give the same response to everyone, because he takes each person’s nature and situation into account. Let’s take health as a very simple example. If you are well, the master will tell you that it will suffice for you to lead a pure, intelligent, sensible life. But if you are ill, he will of course tell you that your way of life is important, but also that you must see a doctor, agree to take medication, or even have surgery. As for the question of marriage, he will say to those who are unmarried: ‘Keep your freedom as long as possible, pay attention, think carefully, don’t commit yourself prematurely.’ But when married men or women come to him and complain of feeling tied down and oppressed, he will respond that since they have made commitments they must do everything possible to honour them. A master is conscious of his responsibilities and gives advice suitable to the mentality, the needs and the current circumstances of his disciples.