God is our inner guide

February 1882: M.'s second visit to the Master

God is the real teacher and our inner guide:
M: Sir, suppose one believes in God with form. Certainly He is not the clay image!
MASTER (interrupting): But why clay? It is an image of Spirit.

M. could not quite understand the significance of this "image of Spirit".
But, sir, he said to the Master, one should explain to those who worship the clay image that it is not God, and that, while worshipping it, they should have God in view and not the clay image. One should not worship clay.

MASTER (sharply): That's the one hobby of you Calcutta people – giving lectures and bringing others to the light! Nobody ever stops to consider how to get the light himself. Who are you to teach others? He who is the Lord of the Universe will teach everyone. He alone teaches us, who has created this universe; who has made the sun and moon, men and beasts, and all other beings; who has provided means for their sustenance; who has given children parents and endowed them with love to bring them up. The Lord has done so many things – will He not show people the way to worship Him? If they need teaching, then He will be the Teacher. He is our Inner Guide.

Suppose there is an error in worshipping the clay image; doesn't God know that through it He alone is being invoked? He will he pleased with that very worship. Why should you get a headache over it? You had better try for knowledge and devotion yourself.