November 7, 2025
Have you noticed how common it is to idealize spiritual figures? In the case of spiritual masters, I see that many people place them in an unreachable position, expecting them to be perfect, to solve every problem, to say everything that needs to be done…
This idealization, however subtle, can become a great trap on the spiritual path. And that’s what I want to talk to you about now.
In the East—especially in India—the figure of the master is seen as something natural, an integral part of the culture itself. In the West, however, the phenomenon of the spiritual master is still unfamiliar to many and often distorted by the lens of idealization or mistrust.
The idea has been created that the master is a kind of superhero—always available, never failing, embodying the image of the ideal father, the savior, the healer. He’s expected to save seekers without them having to take responsibility for their own evolutionary journey.
But the true role of the master is not to carry you. It’s to teach you to walk on your own two feet.
At the beginning of the journey, every seeker naturally needs support. Just as a child uses training wheels to learn how to ride a bicycle, the seeker too needs the presence, the guidance, the loving gaze that sustains their first steps.
But there comes a moment when the training wheels must come off. In other words, you must find the master within yourself.
And this can be challenging, because it means letting go of the fantasy of the savior and facing the reality that the master—no matter how wise, loving, and realized—cannot walk the path for you.
The true spiritual master is not here to meet your expectations; he is here to lead you to God. He is an antenna of Grace, transmitting the light that helps you rediscover your essence.
Every projection placed upon the master, deep down, is an attempt at control. This idealization happens because there’s still a desire for security; the master is put on a pedestal because there’s still fear of facing one’s own shadows.
If you expect your master to be perfect, it’s because you haven’t yet accepted your own humanity. Authentic spirituality is a path of deconstruction—especially of the image you’ve created of yourself and of others.
The truth is, there comes a time when all idealization must fall. And that can hurt. But this pain is part of spiritual maturity.
When you approach a true master, everything you’re identified with begins to dissolve—the masks, the roles, the beliefs, the spiritual pride. Everything that once seemed solid begins to crumble. That’s precisely when the real work begins.
Often, the relationship with the master is based on unconscious expectations. People expect him to always be accessible, to provide immediate answers, to solve all problems.
But the master is guided by the voice of Truth—by divine will, not by the whims of the ego. As the seeker matures, they come to understand that the master’s presence isn’t limited to physical proximity; it’s eternally available within their own heart.
The master’s presence lives within you. What he came to offer is something much deeper: he points you toward freedom, guiding you to rediscover your inner master. But for him to fulfill this mission, he must be free to follow the flow of existence—to serve in whatever way life calls.
True surrender to the spiritual master is not blind submission but deep trust. It’s understanding that his mission is not to please you but to free you from illusion.
To surrender to the master is to offer your support to the mission of Light, of Truth, of Grace. It’s to be in service of something greater than the desires of the ego. And that might simply mean sweeping the floor with love, serving a meal with mindfulness, or holding the silence necessary for the work to unfold.
Real surrender happens when you can even accept the master’s “no”—when you understand that, no matter how much he may go against your expectations, he’s always saying “yes” to your soul.
The spiritual path is a continual movement from the false to the real. It’s a process of disidentification from everything you are not, so that your true Self may emerge.
This requires courage, humility, and silence. It requires consistent practice—japa, meditation, the study of sacred texts—all of which strengthen your connection to the center of life within you.
The closer you get to your Self, the more freedom you feel—more spontaneity, more lightness, more clarity—and less need to seek outside what has always been within.
That’s why the spiritual master is not a superhero. He’s not here to fulfill your fantasies or carry the weight of your evolution.
He’s here to show you the way back home.
And sometimes, that means letting go of the images you’ve created so that Truth can be born.
When you truly understand this, your relationship with the master transforms. It ceases to be one of dependence and becomes a silent, mature, living communion.
And then what was once a search becomes an encounter.
What was once projection becomes presence.
And the master who seemed outside reveals himself within you.Namaste
Prem Baba
