http://energygrid.com/spirit/ap-falsegurutest.html

1.      States his or her own enlightenment: The wisest masters tend not
to state their own enlightenment or perfection for they know that it
is both unhelpful to themselves and to their students. The false
teachers often make this claim because they have little else on offer
to attract followers.
         
2.      Is unable to take criticism: False teachers strongly dislike
either personal criticism or criticism of their teaching; they do not
take kindly to ordinary unenlightened individuals questioning them.
They or their organisations will even undertake multi-million dollar
law suits to stop ex-members from spilling the beans.
         
3.      Acts omnipotently with no accountability: Some spiritual
communities are run like concentration camps, with guru and his chosen
ones acting like Gestapo officers. Unjust or outrageous behaviour by
the guru is passed off as what is needed to help the followers grow
(how kind). These are the dangerous gurus who have often severely
damaged their students. A real master respects your will even if he or
she understands that your particular decisions may not be in your
interest, and he or she will act accountably to an ethical code of
conduct.
         
4.      Focuses on enlightenment itself rather than teaching the path
leading to it: It is amazing how much false gurus have to say about
enlightenment. They argue their points in the same way that the
scholars in the middle ages argued how many angels could sit on the
head of a pin. Any fool can talk about the end goal because what is
said is irrefutable to most of your listeners. What is skillful is
guiding those listeners to having awakening within themselves. The
real teacher focuses on the path and strictly avoids any talk on
enlightenment.
         
5.      Does not practice what is preached: Contrary to spiritual myth,
you don't reach a point of realization whereby you can then start
acting mindlessly. If a teacher preaches love and forgiveness, then he
should act that way, at least most of the time, showing suitable
regret for any lapses). If he teaches meditation, he should meditate.
If he insists that his followers live in austere conditions, so should he.
         
6.      Takes the credit for a particular meditative or healing technique:
The fact is that meditation and guided visualisation work. Anyone
doing them will experience major changes, benefits and realizations.
The false guru will try to own or trademark particular methods and
techniques so that she has something unique to attract followers. And
she will hijack the effects of meditation as the guru's blessing
rather than each individuals natural potential. Often the students or
followers are forbidden from divulging the techniques to maintain a
sort of intellectual property right, usually under the guise of
needing the technique to be taught correctly.
        
7.      Specifically gives satsang or darshan when it is not part of his
culture: Darshan is when the disciples or students of a master line up
and to pass their master, who is usually seated, with either a bow or
traditionally kissing their feet (yes it does happen). In the East,
this is part of their culture and a normal thing to do to show respect
and reverence (even children will kiss the feet of their fathers).
However, here in the West, such copycat behaviour is a strong
indication that the guru is acting a role. Satsang, on the other hand,
means literally "the company of the Truth". In a deeper sense it is an
affirmation of the Guru-Disciple relationship in Eastern traditions.
But some Western gurus will use this terminology because they are
playing a role.
         
8.      Lives in total opulence: There is nothing wrong with living in
luxury or being wealthy. But when that luxury turns to unnecessary
opulence using funds that were not explicity donated for that purpose
then you are probably dealing with a false guru. Money is collected
from followers usually in the form of donations, and those donations
are given as an act of love, appreciation and to help spread the
influence of the master. However, a genuine master is more likely to
use such wealth to lessen the suffering in this world, not to buy
another yacht, private jet or Rolls Royce.
         
9.      Encourages or permits adoration from his followers: Avoid any
group that focuses on the "master" themselves rather than the
teachings or spiritual practices. This will be a hindrance to your
self-realisation for your focus will be drawn outside of yourself, and
usually indicates that there is not a lot more on offer than guru worship.
         
10.     Presents himself or herself overly fashionably and glamorously:
Beware of masters who present glamour photographs of themselves and
dress overly fashionably (whilst proclaiming that they have no ego and
leading ego-death retreats). Yes it does happen!
        
11.     Demands love and devotion from their students: Keep clear of any
master who demands love and devotion. One very well known Western guru
stated, "Anyone who loves me is guaranteed enlightenment"! Real love
and devotion is earned over time when we begin to really know the
whole person and not their public image.
         
12.     Speaks with an Indian accent or vernacular when he is in fact a
Westerner: Not sure how much this happens now but there are some high
profile Western gurus who have (or had) Indian accents, mannerisms and
vernacular. This indicates that they are playing in their ego.
         
13.     Runs expensive miracle workshops and courses: You are unlikely to
reach enlightenment after a few weekend workshops with cheesy titles.
In our society of "must have now", we want to be able to purchase
spiritual development with minimal fuss. Also, avoid meaningless
accreditation — it is often used merely to encourage followers to do
more courses.
         
14.     Takes sexual advantage of his or her followers: This happens much
more than many believe. It is not being prudish to include this one
because when a follower falls under the spell of a guru he or she is
likely to do anything for the Chosen One. It is only afterwards that
it may dawn on the follower that his or her openness has been used and
abused. This can be very psychologically scaring.
         
15.     Flatters you and treats you as very special: Sure we are all
special in some ways, but this is one of the things that a false guru
may do to hook a potential follower or to get a current follower to do
a particular task. Nothing can be more intoxicating to the ego than to
be selected by the master or leader (or any high profile person). A
real master will stand back and allow you to make your decision
whether to accept his or her teachings without trying to influence the
process.
        
16.     Talks bollocks: It is surprising what a person will listen to
when he or she is devoted to the speaker. It is always a good idea to
get hold of a written transcript of what has been said and really read
the message. Then tell an open-minded friend who is not a follower
what their opinion is purely on the strength of the words. You will
soon find out whether there is any real substance to the teacher's
message, or whether you are merely being drawn in by the charisma of
the messenger.
         
17.     Overly relies on slick presentation: Slick presentation can often
mask poor content, and so it is important for you to look past the
lovely music and video shows at the actual message. The slicker the
presentation, the harder it is to see what eactly the teaching is.
         
18.     Gives him or herself outrageous titles: Not satisfied by being
"merely" an enlightened being, many false gurus give themselves titles
(or allow their followers to do so) to indicate that they are
literally God-Incarnate, the reincarnation of the Buddha or Christ, or
THE chosen one. Some continually change their names, to keep pace with
their burgeoning egos.
         
19.     Runs abundance workshops: A guru or master is there to help us
find an authentic life. This is nothing to do with becoming more
successful at work or making more money, although this may or may not
follow from being more authentic. There is nothing wrong with
abundance weekends, but if we mistake spirituality for increased
business success, then we are guilty of spiritual materialism and we
find ourselves deeper in the illusion. (The Japanese say that the Gods
laugh at those who pray for money.)
         
20.     Is not interested in you personally: If a teacher or guru does
not have time to interact with you personally, then you may as well
read his teaching from a book, because merely being in his presence
doesn't help you find realization inside you. You may model some of
his spiritual characteristics, but that often only places you deeper
in illusion.
         
21.     Allows his followers to set up a hierarchy of access: A guru must
be accessible. If he is not, or if he allows his followers to block
your access, then he is playing the role of a king and not a spiritual
guide. A guru is only useful to the process of awakening if you can
directly interact with him.
        
22.     Makes false claims of lineage: Many mistakenly believe that
realisation can only happen under the guidance of a realized master.
In this belief system, gurus are only authentic when they come from a
line or lineage of realized gurus. Desperate not to be left out, some
gurus claim a false lineage of enlightened masters to bolster their
authority to teach. Another pseudo form of "lineage" is to recount a
miracle that once happened to them (maybe they cured themselves of
some disease or God spoke to them personally) which infers that they
are "chosen" and therefore have the authority to set themselves up as
teachers and gurus.
         
23.     Presents themselves as non-profit whilst raking in the millions:
Often, the false prophet will present her teachings for free, whilst
strongly encouraging her devotees to make large donations. In this way
she can appear above money considerations, whilst maintaining her
greed and opulence.
         
24.     Collects a large band of angry ex-followers: This is an
indication that something is seriously wrong. If she has used kindness
and love in her interactions with her students, and has discouraged
them from projecting denied spiritual characteristics onto the guru
(rather than encouraging their integration into the self), then it is
extremely unlikely that there would be more than a few disheartened
ex's. Many might drift away and feel they have wasted their time, but
they are only likely to have the great anger if they have put their
teacher on a pedestal, given him their power, and later realized that
he was never worthy of such adoration. Contrary to what some believe,
it is actually the teacher's responsibility to strongly discourage
students from putting them on pedestals, for this is counterproductive
to finding realisation inside.
         
25.     Uses pseudo-technology: Many false profits and organisations base
themselves around pseudo-technology in the effort to appear scientific
— special meters, communication devices (do you really expect the
aliens to use a mobile?) and energy clearing instruments and pendants
that involve crystals and copper wire. Once again, this is to distract
the unwary from the poor quality of the actual teaching.
         
26.     Acts like a complete paranoid mad person: If your Precious One
acts like a complete paranoid schizophrenic or psychotic then he or
she probably is. Run! Remember that there is no such thing as "crazy
wisdom"—wisdom is the art of being balanced. However charismatic they
may be, and sane between moments of madness, you WILL be damaged by them





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