The above words are by Satprem from the Mother’s Agenda, October 16, 1963
The gods in their working, those that we know today, operate in the lower nature from Matter till the Mind. They do not cross the borders of the Ignorance as that would exceed the limits of their function. Within this lower nature they help mankind, inspire him with hope, intervene where needed. At most they can prepare for nirvana. But by themselves they cannot liberate us from ignorance, let alone transform us. Hence being under their influence is to stay in the circle of ignorance. This is what all the great teachings say.
But when it comes to transformation, then things become more serious. The gods who belong to the Overmind and below keep human beings tied as a cattle, as the Upanishads say. They keep us moving in the duality of pleasure and pain, joy and sorrow, good and evil, reward and punishment (because if you call in one, the other will come as its shadow) and hence tied to Ignorance. Even the Gita asks us to go beyond the gods, however good and helpful they may be.
Of course Satprem is a little too harsh upon them due to his revolting nature. But the principle is correct. To be pulled to the gods as well as the yoga of transformation is to have divided loyalty and thereby delay or complicate the process as certain gods may pull us in contrary direction.
Affectionately,
Alok Da