THE TOUCH OF A MASTER

 
The veil with which the Avatar descends in the human form is placed upon him by the five Perfect Masters who bring him down from his formless being. In the Avataric periods, the five masters always put this veil upon the infinite consciousness of the Avatar, because if he were to be brought without such a veil into the world of forms, the existing balance between reality and illusion would be profoundly disturbed. However, when the five Perfect Masters think that the moment is ripe, they remove this veil which they have placed on the Avataric consciousness. From that moment the Avatar consciously starts his role as the Avatar.

The incarnation of the Avatar does not take place unless it is precipitated by the five Perfect Masters of the cycle. In all of his incarnations except the first, even the Avatar needs a master in order to come into his own eternal and infinite consciousness. He does not become an exception to the rule that a "touch" of a master is necessary for God-realization. However, the "touch" of a Perfect Master does not necessarily mean physical touch.

When we say that we are "touched" by music, or a poem or story, the touch has deeper significance. Far more truly is this so when it is a question of spiritual "touch". In the case of the master, this deeper spiritual touch is often transmitted through the physical touch.