A disciple is one who enjoys and experiences fully and totally his Master's job. The aim of a Master is only to make bliss flower in an individual.
I was in a discussion with some college students in Salem. Then, suddenly a youngster rose up and started asking some questions. His aim was to corner me by asking some question. I understood his intention as soon as I watched the manner in which he rose up and asked the question.
The question that the youngster asked me was this: 'Have you seen God?'
Laughingly I asked him. 'Are you asking me in the same way Vivekananda asked Ramakrishna?''
The youngster replied, 'Yes.'
'When Vivekananda asked Ramakrishna whether he had seen God, Ramakrishna told him, 'I have seen. I can show you also. If you want to see God. follow me.' Ramakrishna had said.
Without having any doubt about the words of the Master, Vivekananda simply followed him.
There was a ray of pride along with a smile on the face of that student with the thought, 'Oh, see, what sort of sensational question I have asked!', until I told him, 'I have seen God. With these two eyes and even beyond that, I have seen God, enjoyed and also became enlightened.'
But the youngster was shaken somewhat for the next question I asked him. 'Come with me. I will show you God. Are you ready to come?' His pride gave way and he became confused. Unable to bear the shock, he went away and merged with the crowd and ultimately disappeared.
All of us are again and again examining the capacity, maturity and wisdom of those persons around us. The doubt we have about the Master only makes us test him again. But we never even once test or analyze our own capacity or maturity. When we worry so much about the dirt on the back of others, we never bother about the glaring dirt present on our own face.
When we search for a capable Master, we do not remain as a deserving disciple. Leave aside your attempts at assessing the grades of your Master and try to observe your own true colors. Utilize them. There will be benefits. When we really change as a deserving disciple, God must and will surely send a competent and able Master to us. He will send him for certain.
Thousands of people had seen Ramakrishna when he was alive. But only a few hundred had realized his true greatness and powers and also felt that he was a form of God.
Only matured disciples can know and understand fully their Master. So, it is enough if our whole attention is concentrated on enriching our maturity. A Master will appear and reach us by himself.
The student who asked me 'Have you seen God?' had, in their hearts, no real intention or thought about knowing God.
Nowadays, there are many in number, who, after reading one or two books on spirituality, and without any real urge or sincerity about searching for God, just wish to show others their own expertise and knowledge of these matters. It is sad that the number of such people is increasing day by day. If God is to be seen, very many great sacrifices have to be made. God is not just instant coffee or tea to come to the table as soon as you pay some money for it.
It is important, before testing the capacity of a good Master, to test and examine whether we are really true and good disciples. If you are a good disciple, even a stone will become God and show you the path of light in your life. Otherwise, even if God appears in person, we will ask him, 'From where are you coming? Show me your identity card. What is the proof you have for me to believe that you are God.' God is one who is within ourselves and not outside.
We need not worry too much about the Master. Our sincerity and earnestness itself will show us the way to God. Because God is sincerity personified. If we search with all our hearts, we will get what we search for.