A spiritual master can be compared to a mountain guide who must lead his party, connected to each other by ropes, to the summit

"A spiritual master can be compared to a mountain guide who must lead his party, connected to each other by ropes, to the summit. It is a heavy responsibility and requires a great deal of discipline. During the climb, the guide must not stop on the path and turn to chat with those he is leading, or smile at them or slap them on the shoulder as a friendly gesture; he must fix his sights on the goal to be reached and head straight for it.

Since the spiritual life is like the ascent of a high peak, neither should the disciples of a master ask him to turn towards them. Their salvation depends on this, because if he turns around in order to please them, he will miss his footing and the entire party will fall. On the plains, that is to say in everyday life, it is different, but when we are climbing a mountain, the rules are hard and fast. What is more, the disciples must ask heaven to help their master keep his attention on the ascent, so that he may lead the entire party to the top. Yes, this is what disciples must pray for, instead of trying everything possible to attract their master's attention, because if they succeed in doing so, everyone will suffer. You see, disciples do not yet know how to treat their master. "