Perfect Master
The term Perfect Master has different meanings and connotations in various religions and movements, mainly denoting high spiritual mastery.
Divine Light Mission
In the Divine Light Mission, Hans Ji Maharaj was known as the Perfect Master.[1] After his death, the title passed to his youngest son Guru Maharaj Ji (Prem Rawat).[2] Following a split between the Indian and Western branches of the movement, the title was also used by the eldest son, Bal Bhagwan Ji (Satpal Rawat).[3]
Ismailis
The Ismailis call their perfect spiritual master Murshid-i-Kamil (in Persian).[4]
Meher Baba
Meher Baba used the term "perfect master" starting in 1926 [5] to denote what he syncretized in his system with sadguru (Vedanta) and qutub (Sufism). A Perfect Master, according to Baba, is a God-realized person (one whose limited individualized consciousness has merged with God) who can use his Divine attributes of "Infinite Power, Knowledge and Bliss" for the spiritual upliftment of others.[6] In describing Baba's use of the term C. B. Purdom writes "The title ‘Perfect Master’ [...] means one who has himself reached the goal to which he directs others: one who, pointing to God, has himself realized God." [7]
According to Meher Baba there are three types of God-realized people:
- A "Perfect One" or Kamil who has become conscious of himself as God and enjoys His divine attributes of Infinite Power, Knowledge and Bliss, but remains completely unconscious of Creation.
- A "Most Perfect One" or Akmal who becomes conscious of himself as God and retains consciousness of Creation but does not use His divine attributes in it.
- A "Perfect Master" or Mukammil who becomes conscious of himself as God and uses His divine attributes for the spiritual advancement of others. [8]
One of the aspects that Baba says demarcates the Perfect Master from the Kamil or Akmal is that the Perfect Master has disciples and is responsible for their liberation, while the Kamil and Akmal do not. Also Baba says that a Perfect Master can make like himself any number of souls or even the whole of creation, while the Kamil can only make one soul like himself and an Akmal many. However, Baba emphasizes that the consciousness of these souls is absolutely One and the same. To explain this apparent contradiction he likens the difference between these two classifications of God-realized souls to a difference in the 'office' of the God-realized person.[9]
Meher Baba said that Babajan was one of the five Perfect Masters of her time. Meher Baba contacted four additional spiritual figures whom, along with Hazrat Babajan, he called "the five perfect masters." He spent seven years in spiritual training with one of them, Upasni Maharaj.
Scottish Rite
In the Masonic fraternity the Scottish Rite, a Perfect Master (French: Maître Parfait) is the title of the 5th rank of the 33rd degrees.[10] Its symbolic color is green, to remind the Master that "being dead in vice, he must hope to revive in virtue", and his symbol is a compass extended in sixty degrees to remind him that he should act within measure and justice.[11]
Sikhism
In Sikhism, the Perfect Master is called pūran Parmesar. The Adi Granth refers to the Perfect Master, as the transcendent Lord (pārbrahm).[12]
Sufism
In Sufism, a Perfect Master or Qutub (Arabic قطب) (literally, pole, tower, lighthouse) is the shaykh who provides a focus for spiritual teachings, and a word used to denote the highest form of master.[13] Other terms include Pir and Sarkar.
Surat Shad Yoga, Sant Mat, Advait Mat
In Surat Shabd Yoga, Sant Mat and Advait Mat the living Perfect Master is considered the path to God-realization.[14]
Tibetan Buddhism
In Tibetan Buddhism, the Perfect Master is the one that achieved Buddhahood and who is "thoroughly conversant with the noble truth of self-realisation".[15]
Vedanta
In Vedanta, the Perfect Master is called a Satguru or Sadguru, which means true guru. (Sanskrit सदगुरू sat=true), literally: true teacher. The term satguru distinguishes itself from other forms of gurus, such as musical instructors, scriptural teachers, parents, and so on. The satguru is a title given specifically only to an enlightened rishi whose life's purpose is to guide initiated sishya along the spiritual path, the summation of which is the realization of the Self.
References
- ^ Melton, Gordon J. Encyclopedic Handbook of Cults in America, (1986), pp.141-2 Garland Publishing, ISBN 0-8240-9036-5
- ^ Aldridge, Alan (2007). Religion in the Contemporary World. Cambridge, UK: Polity. pp. p.58.
{{cite book}}:|pages=has extra text (help) - ^ Price, Maeve (1979): "The Divine Light Mission as a social organization". Sociological Review, 27, Page 279-296
- ^ Daftary, Farhad. The Isma'Ilis: Their History and Doctrines, Cambridge University Press, ISBN 0-521-42974-9
- ^ Infinite Intelligence, Meher Baba, Sheriar Press, 2005, p. 117
- ^ Meher Baba, The Awakener, Charles Haynes, Ph.D., The Avatar Foundation, Inc., 1989, p. 21
- ^ The God-Man: The Life, Journeys & Work of Meher Baba with an Interpretation of His Silence & Spiritual Teaching, C. B. Purdom, George Allen & Unwin, London, 1964, p. 9
- ^ God Speaks, The Theme of Creation and Its Purpose, Meher Baba, Dodd, Mead and Company, 1973, Sec. Ed. p. 148
- ^ God Speaks, The Theme of Creation and Its Purpose, Meher Baba, Dodd, Mead and Company, 1973, Sec. Ed. pp. 148-149
- ^ Pike, Albert, Morals and Dogma of the Ancient and Accepted Scottish Rite of Freemasonry (1874), pp.114-118, Masonic Publishing Company
- ^ An Encyclopædia of Freemasonry and Its Kindred Sciences (1912) p.554, The Masonic history company
- ^ Guru Arjan Dev, Ādi Granth 209, M
- ^ Ahmed, Nazeer. Islam in Global History: From the Death of Prophet Muhammed to the First World War, Xlibris Corporation, ISBN 0-7388-5966-4
- ^ Lewis, James R. Seeking the Light, p.62. Mandeville Press, ISBN 0-914829-42-4
- ^ Goddard, D. A Buddhist Bible, Beacon Press; Reprint edition (April 1, 1994), ISBN 0-8070-5911-0