Teachers are one thing, masters are another. Teachers present us with lessons, and we can learn from them. There are professional teachers such as college professors and anonymous ones like the stranger who tests our patience. Masters (or gurus) may also teach, but they can do more than that.

On the human level, masters have positive and negative traits just as anyone else. The difference is that they are somewhat consistent channels of spiritual and metaphysical energies. Masters are evolutionary agents — paranormal phenomena — here to co-create Heaven on Earth with other masters.

The whole master/student dynamic is in the state of flux. More and more people wake up — becoming spiritually aware — and they are doing so in increasing numbers. Because of this, the need for such relationships has, ironically, become more important, yet is diminishing. As our species progresses in consciousness, spiritually oriented people are heading in the direction of becoming masters. Eventually, we will become a species of masters. Until then, though, people who embody the “master” level of consciousness can be a big help. As long as there are humans, some will be more aware than others.

   

Paradox
Science has already acknowledged the existence of many other dimensions beyond the material plane. Most of their knowledge and explanations are based on mathematical models, such as the shape of a fourth-dimensional object like the simple pentatope. Science is not in the business of discovering how other dimensions interact (through consciousness) with the material plane, much less about the life forms that live there. To the materialistic mind, it's all numbers. It's like trying to describe New York City by saying, “40° N 47' N;  73° W 58'.”

For some people, the “problem” with masters is that their divine and human natures present such striking contrasts — a contrast of “dimensional natures” if you will. Gurus are often remarkably normal — telling jokes, driving too fast, complaining about something, or whatever their character does. Suddenly though, they can be beaming spiritual energy, like the bright sun breaking through a layer of gray clouds. Because of these radical fluctuations, people often mistake them for either frauds (skeptics who don’t see the divine aspect will do this) or gods (followers who miss or ignore the human qualities can do this). Most masters live between the extremes of god and human. None are perfect (unless you are a master who sees all creation as perfect or are a true believer).

For example, some masters or gurus serve millions around the world. However, they may use their position at one time or another to take advantage of their vulnerable followers. A mistake perhaps. Yet, even then, thousands of followers will testify how that guru helped bring happiness, love, and wisdom into their lives.

Buffers
There is another aspect that has to be dealt with sometimes, although it’s not directly related to the master. When a master becomes even a little famous, a shell-like bureaucracy of dedicated followers forms around him or her. Good intentioned though they are, they can be overzealous, creating their own rules, and projecting their views onto the master’s teaching and vision. A popular example is the Church, which has unleashed countless horrors in the name of Jesus, the enlightened master whose core teaching was “Love one another.” The point is, if you judge a master by the organization that hardens around him, you may miss his energy or learning from his teachings.

   

Staying in Integrity
Searching the Internet you can find scandals, criticisms and praise about most gurus. Everyone has their detractors and supporters. While some of this information about them may be useful, it's more important to know how to relate to them.

Being in the presence of a true master is a spiritual opportunity. Some are fountains of spiritual energy that help us to grow in consciousness. By being with a master, we have the opportunity to receive this energy. You can feel the alchemy working inside you as the energy interacts with your etheric body.

Sometimes, though, power can seduce a master. When that happens they can ask for and take your resources and use them selfishly. They could take advantage of you physically or use you for some questionable political end. Fortunately, not all masters are that manipulative. Indeed, this group constitutes a different level of masters, which we will discuss soon.

To avoid getting taken advantage of by a fallen or false leader, it is best not to surrender your integrity or fortune when dealing with them, even though you may receive “out of this world” benefits. On the other hand, receiving implies giving, so you shouldn't leave that part out of the equation altogether. Basically, the whole master/devotee relationship can be tricky, mainly because the tendency of some spiritual seekers is to surrender totally to the master. Combine this with the temptations of power for the master, and you have the formula for something unpleasant, at least.  

If the master is in his integrity, then both can benefit from that relationship, especially if the seeker is surrendering only his ego. Surrendering one’s ego is different from surrendering one's integrity though. The trick is to know the difference between the ego and integrity. The good news is that if someone does take advantage of you in one of these relationships, you can turn it be learning from it and being grateful for that experience. You may have suffered or lost something, but you will have grown.

   

The Good, the Bad, and the Questionable
In the field of metaphysics you can find all kinds of practitioners. On one side we have materialistic con men and an assortment of “questionable” masters. On the other side we have saints and other beings whose only quest its to help humanity evolve. Usually you can weed out the negative ones by observing their works and the fruits of their intentions.  Being in their presence may also help — you can learn about them by feeling them energetically. An astute emotional body can often sort the positive from the negative ones. If you feel nothing, they still could be a good teacher. If the “vibes are creepy” though, it's time to leave.

Masters and Entities
Masters come in three flavors: Light Masters, Twilight Masters, and Dark Masters. Light Masters serve the light. They are open to entities and energies from the high astral plane and the dimensions above the astral. Dark Masters serve the darkness of the lower astral plane. They channel entities that spread falsehoods, which strengthen the ego's natural sense of separation and instill fear. Twilight Masters are in transition. They serve the light sometimes and darkness at others. These are the questionable ones. Materialistic con men may have charisma, but no spiritual powers. They want to use you.

Dark and Twilight Masters can channel forces and entities of the lower astral plane that are not “for the Light.” Entities of the lower astral plane are “of the Light” of course because everything is. However, there is a big difference between being “for the light” and being “of the Light” when you are dealing with these entities. Lower astral plane entities promote and maintain the illusion of separation (even though they are of the Light).

Some of these entities are skilled at causing disturbances. Maybe it’s their nature. Maybe it’s their job.  Maybe they’re just miserable (and misery loves company). They feed off negative human energy. When a master is channeling,be aware of the energy status.

   

Some channeled entities can impress you by reading your mind, emotions, and aura. They may use this information to appear wise and benevolent. They know the right things to say. At the source of it, though, you can find ego and pride in the entity that the master is channeling (and in the master, as well). These entities play on the ego of the master and on the weaknesses of the followers.

Light Masters can read your mind, emotions, and aura too, so that ability isn’t a reliable indicator as to whether someone is positive or negative. What's important is how they use that power.

From a higher perspective, Dark and Twilight Masters serve the light (perhaps unintentionally) by giving us an opportunity to sharpen our discernment and by testing our spiritual progress. By testing us, these entities act as gatekeepers. One will often appear to test us when we are ready to take our next evolutionary step. The entity rarely appears in physical form, but channels through other people. The host — the person who is being used by the entity — is often unaware that he/she is being used or “possessed” by the entity. (These are “mini possessions” and may last a few minutes. They’re not anything like what’s in “The Exorcist.”) If we fail the test, we will not advance at this time.

The Dimension Next Door
Learning about the powers and entities of the astral plane is relatively easy, because that plane is the closest to the material plane. Psychic powers are examples of the overlapping of the two dimensions. Some laws or abilities are understandable, like ESP, although it's not easy to comprehend how the mechanisms work. Dimensionally, as you go higher — especially into the dimensions above the astral plane — it becomes more difficult for the mind to understand what's going on. That's because the natural laws there are radically different from the ones here. For the most part, they are beyond the grasp of our dualistic mind.

   

Some Positive Uses of Powers and Phenomena

Group Work
Masters can energetically work on a group of people at once. He or she can be speaking about any subject, even the most mundane. Suddenly, the atmosphere changes and everyone in the room becomes entranced, something akin to suspended animation. In the more intense psychic environments you can feel as if you are under water. The talking continues, the Work is done, and the atmosphere returns to normal, although the energy is high and still. Everyone feels somehow refreshed, peaceful, and lighter.

Ectoplasm
Sometimes during these or other sessions, ectoplasm may appear. While no scientific proof of this substance exists, it is real nonetheless. Ectoplasm appears mysteriously, literally out of thin air. Like a sea of glimmering opaque “tongues” less than an inch long, they spring into existence, “wave” for the briefest moment, only to dissolve back into the ‘nothing” from where they arose. Thousands of them come and go in a few seconds. Sometimes a room can be so densely packed with them that it's hard to see through the “fog.”

Meta-Communication
Another phenomenon is meta-communication, the ability to commune with many people at once beyond normal speech. Although he is addressing a group, it’s as if the master is talking personally to each individual. Meta-communication takes place psychically in the mind of each individual, addressing specific personal issues. In Christian theology, the Holy Spirit, which appears as a flame above the Crown Chakra, gives the speaker this ability or something similar. Healing can happen as well. They aren’t usually direct physical healings, although this can happen. Instead, they take place at the psychological and astral levels through the blessing of Grace, which can heal anything on any level.

   

Clearing Pathways
Metaphysically, the world is layered with veils of illusion. Masters, working with followers or other masters, can strip away bits of these veils.

Dream Time
In addition, masters can appear in dreams. They often give instruction (sometimes in the form of symbols) during these visits, but they can perform energy work as well. When this happens, you feel blessed.

Conclusion
There is no way to know for certain if a master is real except perhaps through your own experience. Heart-to-heart love communication, together with an awareness of the fruits that the relationship is bearing, is perhaps one of the best indications of a real one. If you can feel this from a master, then you have probably found a real one. But even then, it can be hard to know for sure. By staying in integrity, though, you can protect against abuse and enhance the benefits of such a relationship.

The truth is this: what we are looking for is the Master within. Everyone has this, or more accurately, is this. Whether or not everyone can or will allow it to express itself in this life is another story. If we are awake to that part, then we are conscious of the Force of Evolution, which is life itself, as it flows through us.

Masters help us in ways that we cannot help ourselves. They mirror our divine aspect — and sometimes lovingly point out our blind spots — which helps awaken us to the Master within. We learn to powerfully co-create Heaven on Earth with one another, and we contribute to the evolutionary process of the human race, the planet, and the universe. Being a master is not a job or even a mission. It’s a position of consciousness and a way of life.