Excellent list. Could be used for major and minor "gurus". --- In FairfieldLife@yahoogroups.com, "markmeredith2002" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote: > > 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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