If he sees himself appointed to lead a spiritual movement or in the limelight at the centre of a large group of fervent followers, he ought to exercise extreme prudence. For it may be nothing more than his own fantasy, the play of his own secret ambition. The need for protection against his own vanity is essential. The temptation of self-exaltation is a common trap for unwary occultists. The way to keep out of it is to keep humble: let others oppose him and criticize him or belittle his mystic experiences and ridicule them; if he can bear this without anger, without resentment, and with coolness, he will not fall into the trap and exploit the manifestation to glorify himself. So important is this virtue of humility that it may be labelled both first and final. The asserted spirituality which lacks this quality but which makes its own personality occupy a prominent position ought to be regarded with suspicion. That is why upon those who really do aspire to the very highest there descends the dread phenomenon of the dark night of the soul. When later they emerge from this awful experience, they emerge with all vanity ground down to powder and all pride burnt down to ash: it is better in the frail state of human nature to have nothing to burn, to hide our occult experiences from the knowledge of others.
-- Notebooks Category 16: The Sensitives > Chapter 5 : Pseudo and Imperfect Teachers > # 100
