I bet someplace, somewhere, there's a jivan mukta blazing in the brilliance of Brahman who would miserably fail this "test."
--- 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 === message truncated === __________________________________________________ Do You Yahoo!? Tired of spam? Yahoo! Mail has the best spam protection around http://mail.yahoo.com ------------------------ Yahoo! Groups Sponsor --------------------~--> Does he tell you he loves you when he hits you? Abuse. Narrated by Halle Berry. http://us.click.yahoo.com/HcoraC/rbOLAA/d1hLAA/0NYolB/TM --------------------------------------------------------------------~-> To subscribe, send a message to: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Or go to: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/FairfieldLife/ and click 'Join This Group!' Yahoo! 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