If a man receives sufficient education during his studies under the guidance of a qualified master, his life will be crowned with success. He can easily cross the ocean of ignorance and overcome the hold of illusory energy. Each one must hold his father for his first master, because by the mercy of the father one obtains this body. The father is therefore the natural tutor. The next guide is the spiritual master, the one who initiates us into absolute knowledge, and he is to be worshiped just like Me. The person of the spiritual master is not necessarily unique. They both represent Me. Several spiritual masters can teach the same disciple, but only one should initiate him. The human being who knows how to take advantage of these guides and who, having received adequate knowledge from their lips, crosses the ocean of material existence, this man will be said to have made good use of his human form. He tangibly realizes that the ultimate interest of existence, perceptible only through the human form, is to achieve spiritual perfection so that we can be promoted to the Kingdom of God, in our original home.

I am the Supreme Soul (also called Holy Spirit) located in the heart of each one, and it is My express will that men observe the principles of the four divisions of society according to the natural functions fulfilled there by its members, wise learned spiritual guides, administrators, traders or farmers and workers. Balance and harmony in society depend on respecting these four universal divisions. As I taught in the Bhagavad-gita, (Words of Krishna, Christ, God, the Supreme Person) the society must be divided into four Divisions or social classes, according to the attributes and actions of each. Likewise, each man must divide his life into four parts.

The first will be devoted to studies, the student having to qualify by the assimilation of adequate knowledge and the observance of the vow of celibacy and continence, all entirely devoted to the service of the spiritual master and renouncing the pleasures of the senses. The postulant must lead a life of austerity and penance. The second phase of life is that of family life, of married life, which allows one to enjoy the pleasures of this world in a restricted way. But that does not mean that anyone should spend the third quarter of their life with the family; it is then necessary to resume the austerities practiced during celibacy, and thus cut off one's ties to family life. Then, once released from these material ties, one must enter the fourth phase of existence, and accept the total renunciation of all family and social life in order to fully master the senses and the mind, and to engage fully in the service of God.

As the Supreme Soul of all beings, seated in their hearts, I observe their every act at every stage of their life. Whatever the condition in which he is, the one whom I see fulfilling with seriousness and sincerity the duties designated by his spiritual master, and thus dedicating his existence to serving him, this one becomes infinitely dear to Me. As for the period of celibacy, if one can settle there under the direction of the spiritual master, that is an excellent thing; but if the postulant make the call of the flesh, he must take leave of his spiritual master after having satisfied him according to his noble desires. According to Vedic custom, a present is then offered to the spiritual