DISCOURSES Volume II - Avatar Meher Baba Trust

THE PLACE OF OCCULTISM IN SPIRITUAL LIFE: II 95mere revolving of ideas and reaches out to the Master through theinner planes and establishes contact with him. Such mental contactwith the Master is often as fruitful and effective as his physicaldarshana. The inward repetition of such mental contacts is likeconstructing a channel between Master and aspirant, who becomesthereby the recipient of the grace, love and light which areconstantly flowing from the Master in spite of the apparentdistance between them. Thus, the help of the Master goes out notonly to those who happen to be in his physical presence but also toothers who establish mental contact with him.The Master devotes careful attention to the individual needsof the disciple and the first thing he does is to protect the disciplefrom influences that will divert his attention from the Path or inter-Special precautionsindicated by certainoccult conditionsfere with his progress. Often the Master requiresthe disciple to accept some kind oftemporary isolation so that his mind isguarded against impacts which mightimpede his spiritual progress. The ancient yogis, under instructionsfrom their Masters, prepared their own food and did not allowanyone to remain present at the time of eating it. The reason was toavoid impressions of evil from the glance of bad persons. Adisciple is also likely to catch the impressions of another's lust justas a clean cloth may be readily soiled by dirt. In the earlier stagesthe aspirant must guard against any complications which mightarise through association with others who are not on the Path. Butthe Master gives special instructions for the severance oravoidance of certain connections and contacts only when they arespecially indicated for the special case. In most cases, however, allthat is necessary is secured merely by the constant