Guidelines by Gurudev about my future line of action 1

Gurudev further said, "Like us you have also to perform a very important task through your astral body. By way of rehearsal you will have to learn how long and in which part of the Himalayas your physical body could stay in fit condition to enable you to devote your wholehearted attention to the spiritual mastery and strength needed for the attainment of the aspired ends."

He continued, "In temperate climate the system is not subjected to the rigors of extremes of heat and cold, and all normal facilities for leading a normal, comfortable life are easily available. On the  contrary, to live calmly and unperturbed, with minimal facilities, in the high Himalayan regions, with extreme cold and no creature comforts whatever, is a challenge and an opportunity to learn the difficult art of living. This itself is Sadhana. One is required to master the body like an acrobat, subsist on leaves and edible roots and learn to live fearlessly with requisite precautions for the safety of life and limb amongst ferocious wild animals.

"These inconveniences are there, so long as there is a physical body. All this comes to an end when one withdraws into the astral body. Then there is no botheration for safety from cold and heat, hunger and thirst, sleep and exhaustion. Physically a man can walk only up to a limited distance but a soul in an astral body can instantly reach anywhere and convey its message to the minds of thousands of persons at a time and thus its capacity to help humanity increases manifold. Illumined souls, therefore, work through their astral bodies. Their Sadhanas are also different from those done physically.

"Physical body has its limitations. Its energy is mostly spent in satisfying physical needs and worrying about weakness, sickness, old age etc. Its advantage, however, is that direct physical acts on the material plane, mutual communication and physical contacts are possible only through a physical body. When physical body becomes old and descript, it has to be cast off and tasks initiated through it remain unfinished. That is why those who are divinely. Willed to effectively work on the material plane for extended periods of time , far beyond the normal human life span, to guide, inspire and empower the chosen few in the vanguard of humanity's upward and inward towards Godhead, have to withdraw into their astral bodies and upon this world with far greater force and effect from that realm.

"Your physical body will continue functioning until it has outlived its utility. You will then have to leave it and enter then astral body. Your sadhana will then be different and the range of effectiveness of yours powers extraordinary far-reaching. You will have contacts with special souls and will accomplish an epoch-changing task.