The real test that one has taken the association of one's spiritual master and has benefited from that association comes in one's ability to associate with those who are connected with his or her spiritual master. The example given in this connection is that if one is far from a large mountain, such as Mt. Everest, one will see only the mountain and not all the smaller hills, valleys, vegetation and variety that is associated with the larger mountain. But as one gets closer to the mountain, then one can see all that is in proximity to the mountain. Similarly, if all we can see and appreciate is the spiritual master, and cannot appreciate those who are more closely associated with the spiritual master, it means that we are still very far away. Those who are closer to him are those who have surrendered to molding their lives around the order of the spiritual master and teachings of the previous acaryas.
(Collected Letters to My Disciples, Vol 3, Pg 77, 3rd Paragraph)