“Just as a cow lets down her milk the moment she sees her calf, the disciple must bring it about that the moment the guru sees him, the guru gives the milk that is his grace. The disciple must be truly humble and teachable. If he is, the guru will bless him as a magnet draws clean iron. Brother-in-law! Did you think I am speaking only of the disciple's qualifications? No, no. Here the disciple too has to examine the fitness of the guru. Otherwise, there are thousands upon thousands of gurus in the world: gurus who teach, gurus who torment, and gurus of many other names. So what you need is gurus who teach; you have no business with the rest. Brother-in-law, listen. I shall also explain the marks a guru must have. Chiefly, along with the marks of Jñāna, he must also have the knowledge of experience. He must be a knower of tattva and steadfast in Brahman. Knowledge of the śāstras helps only towards bhukti; it cannot give Mukti. There are also some gurus who, with no knowledge of the śāstras at all, have attained the experience of tattva and become muktas for themselves. Such ones cannot care for the disciples who take refuge in them; they cannot carry them across. So only those who have both, knowledge of the śāstras and the knowledge of experience, are fit to give the upadeśa of Jñāna. In name there are gurus by the lakh: all who put on ochre are gurus, all who smoke ganja are gurus, all who give lectures are gurus, all who write books are gurus! Alas! What disgrace to the word 'guru'! Touring the country and learning to talk does not make one fit to be a guru. Full of all power, he must care for the one who has taken refuge in him, in the form of experience. He must train him in the sādhanas the śāstras prescribe. Arguing with clever words is of no use. Whatever he does or says must accord with the śāstras.”