Master is a word that is used in many ways. For those seeking a spiritual path there are two legitimate, plus those who would confuse one with the other.
The first meaning of Master is that a person has achieved a level of proficiency. The are 'Masters' in areas such as Reiki or other forms of massage manipulation or anything requiring manual techniques. In seafaring there is the 'Master Mariner', who is to be respected for the level and skill they have achieved. This is the same concept.
This does not mean that a Master in this sense deserves to be credited with any higher spiritual achievements because of their manual skills. They are good at their job.
The other form of 'Master' is someone who has achieved a degree of spiritual progress that lifts him/her above the other seekers. This is a quality that cannot be defined. One thing that you can count on is that if someone tells you that they are a master they are not.
One of the attributes of a master that comes through from old spiritual philosophies such as Tao is that a Master is without judgement. As soon as someone makes the judgement that they are a master then they cannot be.
So how do you know if you meet a master? You probably never will. But here are some clues.
A Master teaches without teaching. Have you ever been with someone and had an intuitive understanding without them telling you? A master will know that the only learning of value will be the learning you have taught yourself.
Knowing comes from the head. Understanding comes from the heart. Understanding is felt. A Master will help you feel the answer rather than tell you the answer.
A Master does not force things to happen. A Master works with what is in the present moment. Live is to be guided not forced. Going with the flow does not mean doing nothing. It means understanding what can be done and what cannot be done.
A master understands that this moment is all there is. If there is something that needs to be done now, then do it. If it does not need to be done now, then leave it a lone. A Master never does something simply because he/she can.
A very small movement can back a big change when it multiplies. A master can change everything by seemingly doing nothing. They have done something but it was too small to notice.
The problem with recognising a master is that they are not always a Master. Teaching without teaching is something that very delicate. Sometimes it can be done and sometimes it misses. When it works you are a Master. When it doesn't you are not. For anyone to claim that they can achieve this level all the time is arrogance. It cannot be achieved in human form. If we achieved it we would no longer be human.
All of us are Masters some of the time, none of us all the time. The best we can achieve if we aspire to follow a spiritual path is to learn to do what we can when we can, and recognise when to do nothing. And in some moments we will be Masters. That is enough for one lifetime.
David Young.