Qualities of a True Saint
The Naam has the desired effect for the seeker only when it is provided by a true saint. Thus it is necessary that the seeker chooses his Guru with care. Even though it is the saint who finds the seeker and not the other way round, religious scriptures give the following characteristics of a true saint for the benefit of the seeker:
* In the Kaliyug or the age of degeneration, the true saint preaches only the Naam as a means of salvation as it is the easiest and yet the most powerful of means.
* True saints are not hateful towards anyone under any circumstances. They practice the same love and goodwill for all, as their very nature is such.
* They are free from the evils of lust, anger, greed, infatuation and egotism.
* The true saint comes to unite people. For him all humankind are the children of God. Thus he does not discriminate among people on the basis of religion, caste, race, language, nation, etc.
* The true saint does not ask for monetary offerings from the seeker as by nature he is free from greed.
* The true saint preaches that there is only one God even though people call Him by different names depending on their religion and language.
