by Izad Ithnin

Everything that is transient is not necessarily divine. Not all powers contribute to a righteous path. Astral travel, levitation, channeling of spirits, healing through entities and other similar feats can be dangerous. They are all possible, but they do not lead us to God. They empower us temporarily. They make our ego believe that we are special. But all these powers eventually will sour, cause illness, distress, depression and left you with more questions than answers. They are detours that confuse, if not destroy our true seeking.

The path to spiritual realization runs through treacherous territory. In short, there are very real forces which constantly attempt to persuade individuals, in one way or another, to either cease and desist spiritual activity or to adopt a ‘way’ which is, in truth, a cul-de-sac - that is, a spiritual dead-end. Although awareness, up to a point, can help an individual distinguish between truth and falsehood, there comes a time and place on the spiritual path when awareness must be illumined by, and supported through, the light of trans-rational forms of understanding, guidance, intuition, faith and wisdom.

A true spiritual guide never wants his student to become an occultist or a great psychic or a man with great power. This does not mean that he will not become powerful (if God wills), but the responsibility of the guide is to help the student to purify his self, heart and soul so that it may reflect God, that it may show God's qualities; and when that is done then the responsibility of the guide is over. Ultimately, spirituality is about returning home to God, not about obtaining psychic abilities, etc. This is just a by-product, something which can be obtained by anyone but it doesn't reflect at all about the person's spiritual station. Even those working with the dark side also have clairvoyant, clairaudience and clairsentience abilities.

When choosing a SPIRITUAL GUIDE, ask the following questions:

1. Is money taken at any time? (the truth cannot be owned, nor can it be bought or sold).

2. Do your spiritual guide pressure you like a salesman do?

3. Do your spiritual guide feed your ego? Ego-based spirituality won't take you anywhere, leaving you in a limbo and worse still, if they are charging you a lot of money to 'awaken' you, it left a hole in your pockets.

4. Do your spiritual guide has a habit of comparing you with other students? A true master does not make comparisons among his students since everyone is undergoing their own spiritual journey.

5. Can you, yourself, feel the effect of the technique? (do not be satisfied that you will be in an “inner circle” at some time in the distant future).

6. Do your spiritual guide practice what he preached all the time?

7. Are the members of the circle, especially the guide, people you can trust? Are you comfortable with them? Do they display pure love and joy? Is their warmth genuine? This of course can be very deceiving. We have to be aware of what is underneath the smile, the show of affection and love, etc. After all, love can also be implanted into a person but it is not real. You have to peel that mask of theirs, however long it may takes you to do so. Ask God to give you the clarity to see what it is. After all, nowadays there are many people masquerading as spiritual masters who are actually more interested in making money than your personal well-being and spiritual growth. A true spiritual guide does not need you (since he don't need your money). He doesn't need to sell you his courses and certificates. In spirituality, paper qualification means nothing. It only appeals to the logical mind but does not in any way reflects his spiritual station. A true guide will nurture you beyond warmth, love and money.

8. Do you have the freedom of choice to leave or continue? (follow your heart, not your ego. If you have fears or misgivings, give them heed. If you are in doubt or under duress, leave. Do not be bullied or pressured at any time)

9. Have your spiritual guide achieved real enlightenment by arriving at complete knowledge of the Self? The spiritual guide must know the extraordinary vast horizon of the Self. Whoever knows his Self, truly knows his Lord. One way to know is through dreams. If you ever dream that your spiritual guide looks like a devil, etc, then you know that your guide have not reach the high spiritual station yet and is far from being a spiritual master, regardless of whether he called himself one.

In today’s world, we can't deny that there are many charlatans and self-appointed spiritual masters around out there. For those who have just started to embark on a spiritual journey, be aware of the spiritual illusions that one may experience.

Sometimes, it is only by the grace of God that one trips over certain pieces of evidence through which the whole charade begins to unravel…

The seeker of knowledge and gnosis has to follow the path under the guidance of a true spiritual guide until he reach the Divine Presence. He will take the hand of the student and walk him through each station, making the way easy for him, guiding him from the darkness to the light. There are many stations, beginning with seven stations of the ego-self, seven stations of the heart, seven stations of the soul, and seven stations of the secret. In everything, in every station, you begin to return to be with the Source. If someone says that he does not need a spiritual guide at all, then he will live under the tyranny of the ego.

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