I'm sorry, I really am for this will be a long read but I assure you it's worth it, please please read through the entire thing, it took me forever to type up. it's almost a whole chapter, i feel it’s worth sharing, I urge you to have patience and read the entirety of this.

This I am pulling from The Children of the Law of One's teachings for they say it better than I could remember:

An ascended master is essentially a true teacher who has left the Earth plane and gone on to the next plane - a paradise where all who dwell there have achieved the same consciousness of Unselfish Love, Light, and Oneness. Because of their release from the consciousness limitations of the physical plane, they do have greater consciousness. But because of their non-physical state, and their choice to leave this plane and not reincarnate, their greater consciousness has limited applications and usefulness for those of us here on the Earth plane. Thus, they cannot fulfill the duties of, or replace the necessity for, a true teacher.

Early on the path, there are legitimate reasons for some interest in the ascended ones. People often begin their spiritual quests with a search for truth that brings them to many things, including information about ascended masters. There are books about ascended masters with good and inspiring ideas. But they are only books, and can only do so much for you before you must actually do more with your life.

Why can't they be as good as true teacher in the body?

It is good to emulate the example set by the lives of any true teacher, including those who have left this plane. Such 'masters' and 'saints' have left us a history that can help us in our own journeys. They left their footprints on the path through the roses and thorns. But when people take the concept of ascended masters further, and consider them to be their teachers on this physical plane, and follow what they can only believe to be their teachings, it leaves openings for many problems. In fact, there are serious problems with trying to follow a being that is not in a physical body.

But if they may actually have greater consciousness, what could be a problem?

Some people also take spiritual advice from disincarnate 'guides'. Others have Gurus that they never see, never live in the presence of. These situations are similar to having an 'ascended' teacher, in that none of the guiding beings are in your physical presence on the physical plane. And unless you are already enlightened, even truly knowing anything about the realities of someone who is not in physical form (let alone knowing their wishes for your guidance) is not really possible with any amount of true clarity. And true, precise clarity is a must in such situations as disincarnate guidance, let alone a teacher/student relationship.

Following an ascended teacher, or even one who is out of physical contact, leaves many opportunities for self-deception. It is popular though, primarily because it also provides the perfect rationalization for avoiding real spiritual growth.

How does it do that?

Because you can seem to be totally involved in spirituality, but still deceive yourself and not face your real issues, your real blocks to separation with the One...How?

Because there is room for 'self-interpretation' because they are not before you in the flesh, TELLING you what you need to know with words you, or other witnesses, cannot avoid hearing with your ears, GUIDING you in such a way that you cannot possibly fool yourself about. That's why 'following' a teacher that is not in an Earthly body is much more desirable to the selfish separate self - you don't have to face up to things you don't want to, and you can interpret their alleged teachings to suit your self. Just look at the variations of claims made about what the bible says or what Jesus 'meant'. Or Mohammed 'meant'. People have burned other people alive, in Jesus' name - do you think he meant for them to do so? Of course not. And even if you believe you are in communication with an out of body being such as an ascended master, you cannot be certain what you are letting yourself 'hear', unless you are already free from your selfish separate self. In fact, the separate self would consider that a perfect 'set up'. You think you are following a spiritual teacher, but the separate self 'censors' the 'teachings' and remains in control. How could it be otherwise when the separate self controls your subconscious mind, and most everything else in your life and mind?

I guess it couldn't.

See, that makes my point. 'You guess' it couldn't. When you are actually in the presence of a teacher, 'in the flesh', your separate self can't get away with self deceptions. There is no guessing, no interpretation, no lack of clarity. When you are in the physical presence of such a One, the teacher actively penetrates and exposes your illusions, saying the truths you need to hear right to your face, clarifying it if the self tries to cloud the issue, leaving no room for misinterpretation and leaving you no room for ignoring, or hiding from, the truth. When a teacher is physically before you, they will always clearly tell you when you are not being true to your Inner Being - that cannot be said for an ascended master, guide or a 'long-distance astral' master!

__________________
without love I won't survive...

There is a cat in a box suspended in superposition, just hanging there untill we get it.
She told us to overlook semantic superstition of this and that,
Chill the constant chatter as words debilitates will into concepts of matter,
Sensory reciprocality will usher in the void of we.