"Sir," I asked,
"What stage must one have reached to be called a Master?"
 "He must have attained Christ consciousness. 
"The stages of enlightenment," he continu
ed, 
"are first, to be conscious 
of the AUM vibration throughout the body. 
"Next, one's consciousness becomes identified 
with that AUM vibration beyond his body, 
and gradually throughout the universe. 
"One then becomes
 conscious of the Christ consciousness within the AUM  vibration 
- first
 in the physical body, 
then gradually in the whole universe. 
"When you 
achieve oneness 
with that vibration-less consciousness everywhere, 
you 
have achieved Christ Consciousness.
 "That final stage lies beyond vibration itself,
in oneness with God the
 Father, the Creator beyond the universe.  
"When, still in that highest 
state of consciousness, 
you can return to the body without losing your 
inner sense of oneness with God,
that is complete freedom. 
"All true 
masters, 
even those who are not yet fully liberated, 
live in that 
nirbikalpa samadhi state. 
"That is what Jesus Christ had.
It was what he 
meant by perfection, in saying, 
'Be ye therefore perfect, even as your 
Father which is in heaven is perfect. (Matthew 5:48)
To be Christlike master, one 
must have attained that state."
 
 ~ 
Conversations with Yoganandaby Swami Kriyananda (J. Donald Walters)
 #95, pg 119