Recently, the question came up among a group of people who have heard of Baba, love Baba and are following Him, as to whether or not it would be advisable or even permissible for them—since they have accepted Baba as the Avatar, and their Master — to receive an initiation from S. — (who is at present here in the U.S.A.) and/or one of his disciples. Some felt it would be an act of disloyalty to Baba, while others reasoned that one can love Baba and observe His orders and instructions and at the same time accept the guidance of others on the Path, since all Masters are doing the work of God and leading humanity to the Goal.

An appeal was made to Mani to clarify for those dear ones how Baba regards such a procedure on the part of those who follow Him, as it is of extreme importance that all understand clearly our Master's own wishes in the matter. The following is a beautiful elucidation given by Mani in reply and, since the subject is of general interest to all Baba-lovers everywhere, we have reproduced it for the various groups. It is a subject that has been brought up by Baba devotees in earlier days and was made explicit by Him; therefore Mani felt confident that these explanations are Baba's expressed wishes:

"Time and again there have been in the West as well as the East people who have imagined themselves as spiritual guides of those seeking the Divine Goal. These have not lasted long, ending in disillusionment, for only He who is truly Eternal can disperse the darkness of ignorance. There are others that are genuine and highly advanced (as on the mental plane), who can help others to come up to their own level of advancement. Amongst these latter is S. — who, Baba said, is a highly advanced seeker on the Path. We have other jewels like him in India, some known, others unknown. These Masters of the planes should not be confused with Perfect Masters. The Masters of the planes have different grades of perfection (according to the plane they are on); while all Perfect Masters, who are Supreme Perfection personified, are one in consciousness. The Perfect Master, having reached the goal and having gained Supreme Consciousness, regains the consciousness of the planes and worlds (mental, subtle and gross) in order to help others in the bondage of illusion.

“We are all one, including the Masters. We are all parts of Baba, the Ocean. We, as it were, are the drops; the ones on the subtle planes are the streams; the advanced ones on the mental planes are the rivers—all parts of the shoreless Ocean of Divine Truth.