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"Do you see spiritual potential in me?"

Well, since every human being has a built-in, inherent spiritual potential by the virtue of having been born human (however unrealized that potential may be), the yearning concealed in this question is perhaps best expressed in the question, "How can I realize my spiritual potential?"

The latter is a hard question to answer because it depends on you, on your teacher, and most importantly on Divine Grace. There is a well-known statement that an aspirant contributes twenty five percent, his or her teacher another twenty five percent, and God contributes the rest. While I can usually predict the outcome of the first few years of meditation for a person, I had been surprised many times when a beginner exhibited unexpected perseverance or unexpected laziness. I tend to be an optimist and as such I think better of people. Yet, many frequently do not even follow the cardinal rule of success, which consists of just showing up. Likewise, evidence of consistent spiritual inquiry in the past or successful completion of any formal endeavor (such as college graduation) is a good indicator of future spiritual results.

A non-trivial understanding of our specific cultural conditioning and, particularly, our capacity for correcting such cultural indoctrination are also good indicators of our potential for spiritual realization. Every culture holds certain "truths" to be "self-evident" and subtly (and not so subtly) encourages its constituents to believe in them. Those "truths" present perhaps the most difficult hurdle to overcome because of our blindness to them. As spiritual aspirants, we hope to break out of our self-imposed ideological jail and reach for freedom and happiness, which cannot happen if we subscribe to any ideology, however sublime it may be. Being open to exploring every corner of our life -- even if that means abandoning cherished but false notions and embracing real change -- is both the requirement for and a part of spiritual work. Although we may already know that we are in jail and although we may believe we want to break out, that is not the same as the capacity to cut the bars.

But cutting the bars and escaping is amazingly easy provided the aspirant is mature, diligent, insightful and courageous. (Various cultures, however, tend to condition us to lack one or another of these qualities, which we must develop in order to succeed.) Maturity is important to take the spiritual path seriously and is quite an uncommon quality nowadays. Diligence is the water that cuts stones and is not encouraged by our consumer culture that preaches easy, but bogus, happiness. Insight, while it can be cultivated through meditation, is a gift developed through lifetimes. Courage is a learned quality; it is an ability to live with fear, which is always present when ego is present -- and ego dies only when the body dies.

One of the signs of maturity is lack of self-centeredness. Yet, Western culture promotes selfishness and even narcissism. Most Westerners, especially when young, presume that they deserve to be taught -- regardless of their qualifications to learn. Spiritual life is guided by God, Who offers His Grace because He does -- not because we "deserve" anything. Thus, even though spiritual teachings are being sold left and right nowadays, they cannot be bought. They have to be earned through humility. A consumer approach to the spiritual path is an error. (And Western ways are hungrily adopted in the East -- so we are all cooking in the same stew.)

In seeming contradiction to the previous thought, it is an error to presume that spiritual teaching is free. While spiritual teachings should be and are usually offered freely, they are not really free. Those who want something for nothing ignore the debt they incur to their teacher -- whether they accept him or her as such or not. Unless the receiver of teachings knows how to deflect creation of karma (as always happens in any exchange), such aspirant needs to ensure that the bill is paid -- and that is done with selfless service, particularly to the cause his or her teacher espouses. The best approach is to give yourself freely in service to your teacher. A cash donation alone is a sign of neutral non-commitment. The least we can do is to offer a sincere prayer of thanks to the teacher for being there for you. 

Hence, the best and perhaps the final way to "test" potential disciples is on their willingness to serve. (And one can easily "pre-test" oneself, as well -- our willingness to serve can quite easily be self-examined.) A mature soul knows intuitively about the play of karma because its mind is no longer densely clouded by layers of sam'ska'ra (karma). Such a person will not want any further debts to form and will be very reluctant to disappear without paying up immediately. A mature soul also knows that narcissism, hope, promises, and credit are not acceptable tender in the karma-driven universe. The tantric "name of the game" is action-driven commitment to Love, Most High, and Truth.

Are you committed? Do you know what love is? Are you ready to do or die? That is where the answer to your inquiry begins...

— Anatole