What is a Spiritual Master? How does someone become recognized as one?

An Enlightened One, also known as the Spiritual Master / Spiritual Leader is One who has a constant awareness of the Self i.e. the Pure Soul.

He is free from anger, pride, deceit, greed, attachment, and abhorrence. In His presence, everyone experiences immense harmony and peace. His words touch people’s hearts, and each one can experience a tremendous result of His said words. A Spiritual Master brings a closure to the problems that come to him by giving answers to the satisfaction of the seeker.
A Spiritual Master is the Supreme Soul in a human form. He is not the owner of His body, mind, or speech, not even for a second. Because of this, He is able to bestow the same experience of the Pure Soul to others too.

A Spiritual Master exhibits the following qualities:
He has a flawless vision which never sees faults in anyone.
He has oneness and unity with everyone.
He is the embodiment of love – the love which never increases or decreases, regardless of positive or negative circumstances.

He is free from expectations, fame, and recognition.
He does not have the slightest ego.
He is free from the bondage of worldly life.
How does someone become recognised as a spiritual master?
Gnani Purush (the Enlightened one) always remains in the bliss of the Self; and only He can bring us in the bliss of the self. No one else can. The One who has swum across (the worldly sea) can help others swim across. How can a drowning man help you swim? – Dada Bhagwan, founder of Akram Vignan, Spiritual Science.

An Enlightened One is not only Self-realised himself, but He also has the spiritual power to enlighten others. Self-realisation can only be acquired through direct contact with a Living Spiritual Master.

Param Pujya Dadashri used to say that there is a big difference between an Enlightened One and a Guru!
A Guru is the one who has not yet realised His Soul but is engaged in merit karmas and is on His way to liberation. He is helpful to mankind seeking a better worldly life. However, for liberation, one will need a Gnani Purush i.e. a Self-Realized being!

Here are a few qualities of Pujya Deepakbhai, the Living Spiritual Master:
His speech, actions and humility is full of compassion which wins us over.
His serene smile makes one forget one's miseries.
He does not have even the slightest ego.
He does not have a drop of intellect (the light of knowledge which comes through the medium of the ego).
He knows the qualities of the Self and the non-Self and so He can separate the two.
He lives His entire life for the salvation of mankind.
He dwells in humility and purity.

If you like what you have read and are interested in finding out more about the Living Gnani Purush and also about how you can attai
Self-realisation too, then please click on the following links respectively:

https://www.dadabhagwan.org/spiritual-masters/pujya-dadashri/qualities/
https://www.dadabhagwan.org/path-to-happiness/spiritual-science/who-am-i-realize-your-true-self/what-is-self-realization/