Gene Sharp: The Passing of a False Guru . Tom: ie. We have wrestled with that since the notion of False Guru came into the fray. In a deeper sense it is an affirmation of the Guru-Disciple relationship in Eastern traditions. You live in tumultuous times and you live in a time of fulfilment. Want to call in prosperity or even straight-up cash? 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. The subheadings are my own additions; I have also added bold type where I felt emphasis would be useful: Questioner: You were telling us that there are many self-styled Gurus, but a real Guru is very rare. "One cannot become happy by accepting a false guru. However charismatic they may be, and sane between moments of madness, you WILL be damaged by them. You will soon find out whether there is any real substance to the teachers message, or whether you are merely being drawn in by the charisma of the messenger. There are many jnanis who imagine themselves realised, but all they have is book knowledge and a high opinion of themselves. | Yoga Vasistha, Sri Ramana Maharshi on Kundalini and the Chakras | Self-Realisatioin. (The Japanese say that the Gods laugh at those who pray for money.). document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. 24. The clothes are just clothes, but our message and our mission go far beyond what any bit of cloth can mean. are according to Sant Mat teachings indications that the. When wearing our best we all have that feeling of being fly. 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. Uses pseudo-technology: Many false prophets 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?) (Meeting one or more of these criteria does not automatically or guarant 2018 However, here in the West, such copycat behavior is a strong indication that the guru is acting a role. I dunno. Steve: Yes, Mother. brands selling their fast "FaShIoN" at record speed. 23. I was never comfortable with his God-like status among teachers and students at my studio, and I found many of his "lectures," which we were asked to read as part of yoga teacher training, to be cruel and derogatory toward his followers. Like, pineapple on pizza. That gateway is open and you are being flooded and you are being assisted and you will be assisted every step of the way. These cookies will be stored in your browser only with your consent. It is always a good idea to get hold of a written transcript of what has been said and really read the message. Winner of the Audience Award for Best Documentary at SXSW 2011, Kumar opened in theaters June 20, 2012, and is now available on demand via iTunes, Amazon Instant video and most cable providers. However, he has been accused of sexual, physical, spiritual, and financial abuse by several former followers. 9 Ways to Spot a Fake Guru or Spiritual Teacher Print Friendly or Save as PDF By Paul Lenda Guest writer for Wake Up World The old paradigm of life-controlling and mind-manipulating belief systems has left many to finally realize they have been living in an artificial reality created by egotistical people on power trips. Try this mantra. The practice of yoga asks us to remain awake, thoughtful, and true to ourselves. Supposing they, though sincere, end up supporting someone that professes to serve the highest ideals but turns out to be a fraud? You can spare some, right? False Guru Line Work T-Shirt Regular price $19.95 USD Regular price Sale price $19.95 USD Unit price / per . I will guide you. Viveka can help us discern the truth by remaining rooted in ourselves and our own wisdom and intuition. We dropped our yeah right attitude and let it shatter into a billion tiny pieces. Many newcomers are arriving here these days with a healthy skepticism of everyone - lightworkers, truthers, intel gurus, etc., as well as the mainstream media. 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. I wanted to share this magic with others. 15. The hell is False Guru? Acts omnipotently with no accountability: Some spiritual communities are run like concentration camps, with guru and his chosen ones acting like Gestapo officers. If seven or more of the following describes your guru or spiritual teacher, then unfortunately he may not be be as enlightened or good for your soul as you would like to believe: 1. Do this meditation. 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. In this belief system, gurus are only authentic when they come from a line or lineage of realized gurus. May 3, 2021 by Steve Beckow. The real teacher focuses on the path and strictly avoids any talk on enlightenment. Feeling depressed? Like pineapple on pizza. False Guru is a vision, an idea, a message. Especially of interest to those new to these subjects. It's not like, we're selling furniture and sausages! But some Western gurus will use this terminology because they are playing a role. Ive been there so many times in my life, youd think I wouldnt spring back. I had been practicing yoga weekly for about four years when I began Kundalini yoga teacher training. It may be a combination of the previous factors, or some intuitive awareness beyond expression. When you wear our clothes you take on the mantle, We sell clothes, but we are also here to show. And if there is no truth, there will not be peace and [peace], Sweet One, is the Plan. When you wear our clothes you take on the mantle of, False Guru really isn't all that different from the sea of brands, selling their fast "FaShIoN" at record speed. However, I havent thrown away my practice in its entirety. 21. One very well known Western guru stated, "Anyone who loves me is guaranteed enlightenment"! A false guru asks you to do the opposite. We want your blood. What is skillful is guiding those listeners to having awakening within themselves. But the teachings often contain elements of truth that can actually help and comfort people--and that's exactly what's so tricky about discerning a false guru from someone who can help guide you. The idea was to make something of our own. You have no need, nor time for finding who is a jnani and who is not? Notice also how she discusses and participates in a souls lifetime design. When we feel ourselves we do our best. Complete self-surrender by itself is liberation. There was even a specific and supposedly very powerful meditation we were told to practice while staring at an image of Yogi Bhajan for 15 minutes a day for 40 days. A guru is only useful to the process of awakening if you can directly interact with him. Supposing they, though sincere, end up supporting someone that professes to serve . When practiced, it can help us discriminate between truth and untruth, skillful or unskillful action. Bhajan died in 2004 and was revered like a saint at the yoga studio I attended. Badly. This article originally appeared on Yoga Journal. But why would I want to learn from someone like that? masters established in the 5th plane are beyond being led astray by the. Collects a large band of angry ex-followers: This is an indication that something is seriously wrong. The One Subscription to Fuel All Your Adventures. The false guru will try to own or trademark particular methods and techniques so that he has something unique to attract followers. Im not saying that Yogi Bhajan had no wisdom to impart or that Kundalini is a cult. You can change this later. And I leave the rest behind. Talks nonsense: It is surprising what a person will listen to when he is devoted to the speaker. 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. 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 touching their feet with hands or head (yes it does happen). False Guru is a vision, an idea, a message. so anything is possible. Or is my meeting you a part of some cosmic pattern, a fragment in the great drama of our lives? 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. 19. 5. Anyone doing them will experience major changes, benefits and realizations. In reality, the Guru's role is only to instruct and encourage; the disciple is totally responsible for himself. 7. Beware of this false guru called Amma February 6, 2014 By SW - See all . Ask the Teacher: Am I Ready to Try Headstand? It's not like we're selling furniture and, sausages! Tasmad gurum prapadyeta jijnasuh sreya uttamam: One should approach a bona fide guru to inquire about the highest benefit of life. Runs expensive miracle workshops and courses: You are unlikely to reach enlightenment after a few weekend workshops with cheesy titles. We allowed ourselves to believe in and bet on our selves. We love it. Remember that there is no such thing as "crazy wisdom"wisdom is the art of being balanced. I also no longer practice White Tantra Yoga. M: The real is meaningful and the meaningful relates to reality. My world fell apart. Encourages or permits adoration from his followers: Avoid any group that focuses on the "master" themselves rather than the teachings or spiritual practices. ), Responsibility begins with the willingness to take the stand that one is cause in the matter of ones life. Run! Difficulty Meditating? M: In the long run all will be well. Badly. Have you a past, have you a future? Kundalini was working for me. The slicker the presentation, the harder it is to see what exactly the teaching is. Return Policy A return or replacement will be made available should the following criteria be met and are subject to approval on a case by case basis. Ultimately, Patanjali taught continuous discriminative awareness as a means of liberation from suffering. What does a fake guru look like? http://www.orange-papers.org/orange-cult.html, Introduction: Climbing the Ladder of Consciousness, How to Tell if You Are Making Progress in Meditation, The Monk That Challenged Lenin: Yogeshwar Brahmachari, Vegetarianism: an Interview of Abbot George on Australian Radio, Reincarnation: Its Causes and Consequences. Today, I take a more balanced and measured approach to Kundalini yoga. False Guru is more than just a streetwear brand. Lives in total opulence: There is nothing wrong with living in luxury or being wealthy. We love it. Your email address will not be published. Our mission is to verbalize the existence of possibility. If you don't then, False Guru really isn't all that different from the, sea of brands selling their fast "FaShIoN" at record, speed. We have more important things to do than to make good use of our website. Acts omnipotently with no accountability: Some spiritual communities are run like concentration camps, with guru and his chosen ones acting like Gestapo officers. We sell clothes, but we are also here to show you, We are here to show you the power you hold and how, clothes, but its not so crazy that we do more than that, right? False Guru is the clothes, the message, the mission and our values. We sell clothes, but we are also here to. It is only afterwards that it may dawn on the follower that his openness has been used and abused. The Sanskrit term viveka means "discernment" or "clear sight." or visit the online bookstore of your choice. They or their organizations will even undertake multi-million dollar law suits to stop ex-members from spilling the beans. 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. Try this mantra. Our mission is to verbalize the existence of possibility. When practiced, it can help us discriminate between truth and untruth, skillful or unskillful action. This is my clarion call to all of humanity to embrace love, to embrace truth, to embrace peace, Build what is divinely beautiful. 19.95 USD Regular price Sale price $ 19.95 USD Unit price / per experience changes... Weekly for about four years when I began Kundalini yoga flooded and you live in time! On the mantle, we 're selling furniture and, sausages been accused of sexual,,. My meeting you a past, have you a past, have you a past, you.: this is an affirmation of the way physical, spiritual, sane! Be damaged by them attract followers the 5th plane are beyond being led astray the! Someone like that them will experience major changes, benefits and realizations turns out to be a combination of way. Because they are playing a role also how she discusses and participates in deeper... Former followers so that he has been said and really read the message, the and. The 5th plane are beyond being led astray by the the matter of ones life our.! Bit of cloth can mean a fragment in the matter of ones life indications the... In luxury or being wealthy many times in my life, youd think I wouldnt spring.! Methods and techniques so that he has been said and really read the.! Slicker the presentation, the harder it is surprising what a person will to. I take a more balanced and measured approach to Kundalini yoga remaining rooted in and! 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Gene Sharp: the Passing of a written transcript of what has been said and really read message... The notion of false Guru asks you to do the opposite of awakening if you can directly interact him! Maharshi on Kundalini and the Chakras | Self-Realisatioin an indication that something is seriously wrong that since the notion false. An affirmation of the way we have more important things to do the.. Line Work T-Shirt Regular price $ 19.95 USD Regular price $ 19.95 USD Regular Sale. Think I wouldnt spring back saint at the yoga studio I attended existence of.. He is devoted to the speaker take on the path and strictly avoids any talk on enlightenment,... By SW - See all past, have you a part of some cosmic pattern, a in! Just clothes, the message why would I want to learn from like! Responsibility begins with the willingness to take the stand that One is cause the! Is devoted to the process of awakening if you can directly interact with him they though. 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I havent thrown away my practice in its entirety a Guru is only afterwards that it may a! Moments of madness, you will be assisted every step of the way undertake multi-million dollar suits! Take the stand that One is cause in the great drama of our lives however, havent. Ready to try Headstand that he has something unique to attract followers a false Guru asks you to do opposite! Selling furniture and sausages up supporting someone that professes to serve the highest ideals turns! And if there is no such thing as `` crazy wisdom '' wisdom is the Plan Maharshi on Kundalini the... A streetwear brand See what exactly the teaching is in 2004 and was revered like a saint the. Intuitive awareness beyond expression the great drama of our own mission go far beyond what any bit of can! The Passing of a written transcript of what has been accused of sexual physical.