PROS AND CONS OF
SELECTING SPIRITUAL GUIDES AND GURUS
---------
SPIRITUAL GUIDES: PASS OR FAIL?
PRESENTED BY
the Wanderling
Although guidelines have been proposed by several religious groups to help would-be seekers decide which path or guru is the highest, almost all of them suffer from a clear case of what sociologists and anthropologists now call ethnocentrism (the tendency to see other people, cultures, religions, solely in terms of one's own world view). Surely, no critical guide will be exempt from a certain
amount of prejudice or bias, but it can be minimized if the template we employ to appraise masters and new movements is drawn from transcultural sources and is interdisciplinary in scope.
To accomplish this aim, the following test was complied from five distinct "schools:" 1) Transpersonal Psychology (Ken
Wilber, John Welwood, et al.); 2) Advaita Vedanta (Sri Ramana Maharshi, Nisargadatta Maharaj, et al.); 3) Sant Mat (Sawan Singh, Julian P. Johnson, et al); and 4) Christianity
(Mother Teresa, Nicholas of Cusa, et al.); 5) Shamanism (various North American indigenous and related cultural sources, et al). Naturally, not all of these schools are in exact agreement with each other, but taken together they do provide a substantial framework
with which interested practitioners can measure the claims of their respective guru, mentor, spiritual leader, and path. Each of the headings will contain examples of individuals or groups who have
either embodied the ideal principle or who have gone far astray from it. All of the examples cited are based upon documented research.
1. Does Your Guru/Path Charge Money For Membership or Particpation?
Perhaps the easiest question to ask and have answered by a spiritual guru/path is whether or not their organization charges money for membership or participation. If the answer is yes, it is a clear sign for the "buyer to beware," as almost all groups which assign a fee for their teachings are suspect. Although Self-Realization may entail many requirements, such as giving up ego, greed, lust, and so forth, offering up your wallet or life savings is not one of them.
In America there is a tendency to make a commodity out of anything, even spirituality. Not only is making salvation a marketable item absurd ("Sorry, you don't qualify for the highest, blissful heaven." - "Why not?" - "You forgot to pay last month's subscription dues for soul discourses"), but it allows for a number of unscrupulous individuals to make huge sums of money off naive seekers.
Although money is necessary to keep movements functioning (the publishing of books, etc.), there is a distinct line between obligatory payments -- even if they are disguised as "love offerings," and unsolicited donations; the latter has justifiable reasons behind it, whereas the former makes
religion a business enterprise, with a very lucrative tax shelter.
"Real Masters never charge for their services, nor do
they accept payment in any form or any sort of material
benefits for their instructions. This is a universal
law among Masters, and yet it is an amazing fact that
thousands of eager seekers in America and elsewhere, go
on paying large sums of money for "spiritual instruction.". Masters are always self-sustaining. They are never supported by their students or by public charity."
---- Julian P. Johnson, The Path of the Masters (1939) ----
"Papaji was famous for refusing all financial support, and refusing any ashrams or formal spiritual communities, but warning against them repeatedly. He repeatedly taught that any spiritual teacher who charges money for their Darshan and instruction was a fraud, with no exceptions. He learned this by example from Ramana Maharshi, who would never allow people to solicit money in his name."
--- Conrad Goehausen The Broken Yogi ---
"A Wise One like me should not charge for her services....The one who charges is a liar. The wise one is born to cure, not to do business with her knowledge."
---- Maria Sabina, Curandera, Shaman ----
"Real Enlightenment definitely is not on sale at the corner store, it doesn't contain preservatives, and isn't wrapped in plastic. Absolute surrender to God, or the Universe, is the greatest gift, the 'pearl of great price,' and it will never be cheap. That is why one should question the ersatz gems that pseudo-spiritualists so readily sell in their fancy packages. If one wants the real thing, one must learn about counterfeits; otherwise, one is showing off a rhinestone to God, convinced it is the Hope Diamond."
---- Mariana Caplan, Halfway Up the Mountain (1999) ----
"The Guru usually gives the disciple a mantra and a puja (prayer accompanied by a ritual) to practice daily. The healer, instead, recites some mantras, performs divination, or some pujas on behalf of the patient, who has nothing to do but to believe in them. Both guru and healer have learned their art by assisting and watching their teachers for years, and often give their treatment free of charge. Typically healers think that if they accept money from their patients, they will also have to take their bad Karma. Because of this belief, it is not rare for the healers who take money to stop practicing after some years. They interpret some personal or family problems in which they got involved as a consequence of their breach of the rule of not charging for their services."
---- Jacques Vigne, Guru, Shaman, and the Crazy Man ----
All of the above quotes are well and good and all those quoted are of high standards, but almost any promoter or advocate of their own pocketbook belief could search out some reason to circumnavigate their reasoning. However, even the most ardent skeptic would be hard pressed to dismiss the Buddha's own words on the subject as recorded in Anguttara Nikaya V.159, Udayi Sutra, THE BUDDHA AND THE FIVE QUALITIES OF A DHARMA TEACHER:
"The Dharma should be taught with the thought, 'I will speak not for the purpose of material reward.'"
Interestingly, there are comparatively few spiritual
groups which do not charge money for membership. Thus, this first criterion is a rather simple way to ferret out the possibly genuine guru/path from the less valid ones. Check
out the movement's financial situation closely, keeping a close eye on where and to whom most of the money collected is going. If the particular organization is resistant to
giving out such monetary information, then it can be safely assumed that the guru/path in question is more concerned with fiscal matters than with upliftment of the mind and
spirit.
2. Does Your Spiritual Teacher Have A High Standard Of Moral
Conduct?
"Once I was coming to India from Bagdad on my annual
leave. At Makina Camp, I was waiting for the ship for
my homeward journey. As there was yet some time for
the arrival of the ship I thought I would have some
puffs of 'huqqa' (tobacco). So I went to the kitchen
of some labourers to collect fire from their place.
The workmen had left for their earnings after finishing
their meals. A four anna coin was lying near the fireplace. I looked all around (to confirm that nobody was
seeing me,) and picked up the four anna coin, collected
the necessary fire for my 'huqqa' and returned to my
bed. When I reached my place, I thought, 'you receive
500Rs. per month. Why have you picked up this coin so
stealthily?' I repented upon my foolish act and gave
away that coin to someone. It is very easy to preach
and sermonize others, but most difficult to be practical in one's life."
---- Baba Faqir Chand, The Unknowing Sage ----
A truly Enlightened master is by virtue of his attainment a moral human being. For, unlike most of struggling humanity, the realized sage has transcended the ego and its limitations and become consciously aware of his real relationship as an indivisible part of God's Being. As such, an Enlightened master would exhibit ethical qualities far beyond those manifested by even noble worldly souls. In
light of this, it is particularly distressing to note that a large number of so-called gurus are quite unethical in their behavior. This ranges from improper business deals, to sexual misconduct, personal violence, and even criminal activity. As Julian P. Johnson correctly observes:
"If I were looking for a Master, I would first of all
make the most critical inspection of the man's life to
determine if he had any of the ordinary imperfections
of character usually manifested by the average man. If
I found him to be a perfect man, when studied as man, I
would then begin my study of him as a Guru. But if he
failed to pass inspection as a man, I would at once
give up the search of him as Guru, or Master."
However, though some teachers have been known to engage in immoral actions, naive followers try to find ways to justify such behavior. The problem with attempting to give metaphysical explanations for what would otherwise be considered "ordinary" events is that it enables ambitious masters to bypass standard morality in the name of a 'higher'
authority. What is needed in appraising spiritual claims is a religious version of 'Occam's Razor' (the scientific/philosophic rule which requires that the simplest of competing theories be preferred to the more complex, or that explanations of unknown phenomena be sought first in terms of known quantities), wherein seekers have a predisposition for the more logical, common sense interpretation of allegedly transcendent actions. Is it really necessary to "explain away" a guru's lust or misdirected practices as being motivated by the Holy Spirit, God, or Mother Shakti?
Gurus don't hesitate to point out their devotees' weaknesses, nor should disciples be hesitant in criticizing their teacher's faults when they appear. Critical exchange is crucial and healthy for any type of relationship including teacher/student ones.
SEE ALSO: PATIMOKKHA: 227 Rules Observed by the Buddhist Order
-----------------How To Turn the Three Poisons Into Three Pillars
3. Does Your Master Make Claims About His/Her Spiritual
Development, Powers, or Attainment?
"If any man claims to have attained the highest in spiritual development that claim of itself may be taken as
conclusive proof that he has not attained so much."
---- Julian P. Johnson, The Path of the Masters (1939)----
"Good masters might indeed be divine, but they are also
human. Even Christ was said to be one person (Jesus)
with two natures (human and divine). Further, the fact
that a guru has been thoroughly educated in soul and
spirit does not mean he or she has been thoroughly educated in body and mind. I have yet to see a guru run a
four-minute mile with his 'perfect body' or explain the Special Theory of Relativity as laid out by Albert Einstein with his "perfect mind."
---- Ken Wilber, Eye to Eye ----
"It is common to demand entry into Enlightenment through someone else. This
renders it needful to make clear that NOBODY, not even the best of gurus, can bestow final
and lasting realization--a glimpse is the most he can possibly pass on and there are not
many with that capacity. Even in such cases, his disciples must work diligently and win it themselves."
---- Paul Brunton, The Guru-Disciple Relationship ----
Almost all of the world's great religious scriptures
universally acclaim that humility is one of the chief
virtues of an Enlightened human being. Yet, many of the
most popular gurus today speak out quite stridently about
their spiritual attainments. Some, like Sathya Sai Baba of
South India, even claim to be God incarnated. Others,
perhaps less absolutist but nevertheless confident, allege
that they have access to the Supreme Being on a day to day
basis. It is roughly estimated that there are over a million gurus in India, most of whom claim to have direct contact with the highest Reality and Truth. What is the seeker
to do? Whose statements should he/she believe?
None of them. Spirituality, according to true mystics
of all ages, is an experiential science, one which demands
not blind faith and belief, but rigorous practice and application. Indeed, as Ken Wilber points out, authentic mysticism is a provable discipline since it enables a practitioner to see directly higher, transpersonal regions of consciousness. Therefore, the necessity for "belief" in a
teacher's claims is uncalled for. Rather, what is needed is
experimental verification of the path he/she advocates. All
to often, religious seekers become armchair speculators
versus actual practitioners, thereby basing their judgements
on a mere intellectual appraisement of the master and not on
direct interaction with his/her teachings.
If any guru demands belief in his/her status it is
obvious that what they are teaching is not spirituality/mysticism but dogma and conversion. Truly, unless the would-be disciple is already God-Realized, how is
he/she to know the spiritual capabilities of his/her master? Mere allegiance will not suffice, nor will any amount of propaganda about the guru's greatness, only daily spiritual practice will do.
Transculturally and throughout the ages, there have
been a select number of saints who have embodied the very
highest qualities of enlightenment which, contrary to our
notions of "other worldliness," can be manifested in their
everyday lives. "By their fruits, you will know them."
Some beautiful examples in the 20th century are: Ramana
Maharshi, Sawan Singh, and Mother Teresa, each of whom in
their own way have expressed an aspect of the divine
(knowledge, awareness, and love). Such rare individuals
serve as reference points with which to measure the claims
of emerging gurus in North America.
It should be remembered however, that even though it is claimed otherwise by thousands and the above notwithstanding, the Buddha himself, in one of the most overlooked Sutra and passage, but one of the MOST IMPORTANT SUTRAS you will ever read, said flat out in clear, plain language that he was indeed Enlightened:
When the Buddha was walking along the road to Benares following his post-Enlightenment pause he was approached by a wandering ascetic. According to the custom of the time the ascetic greeted him and asked who his teacher was or what doctrine he followed. The Buddha told the wanderling that he was 'the Victor and Conqueror of the World, superior to gods and men, an All-Enlightened One beholden to no teacher.' The wanderling ascetic could see no hint of anything of the Buddha's nature and wandered off as wanderlings are oft to do, mumbling under his breath something like, "If it were only so!"
MAJJHIMA NIKAYA MN-26
It is important to note carefully the above meeting with the Buddha. Here was a wandering ascetic, a religious person in his own right it would seem, coming face to face with a truly Enlightened One, but he did not realize it. Even when the Blessed One openly confessed that he was indeed a Buddha, the ascetic remained skeptical because he was holding fast to the wrong beliefs. In those days as well as today, there are people who follow wrong paths, refuse to believe when they hear about the right method of practice. They show disrespect to and talk disparagingly of those practicing and teaching the right method. Such misjudgments arising out of false impression or opinion should be carefully avoided.
SEE ALSO: ENLIGHTENMENT: Can You Do It?
4. Does Your Guru/Group Proselytize Vigorously For New Converts?
"Any group "out to save the world" is potentially problematic, because it rests on an archaically narcissistic base that looks "altruistic" or "idealistic" but in
fact is very egocentric, very primitive, and very capable of coming to primitive ends by primitive means."
---- Ken Wilber, Eye to Eye, (1983) ----
Regardless of how the proselytization is disguised, any
guru/group which advocates a vigorous program of recruiting
new converts acts as a dividing force in the society, cutting directly into family and relationships. Such conversionary emphasis has a tendency to create factions where
none had existed before: "I am saved; you are still lost." -
"I found it; you haven't", and so on.
Undoubtedly a certain amount of advertisement goes on
in every religious movement, even the ones which are
adamantly opposed to spreading their teachings publicly
(e.g., Soami Bagh and Dayal Bagh in Agra, India). Just the
publication of books, texts, and articles is itself a form
of advertisement, albeit a limited avenue. The fine line,
however is where giving out the message becomes consciously
pushing the truth, as not only an alternative but as a
required necessity. Wilber points out the danger of such a
development:
"Such obsessive drivenness is always open to problematic
occasions, not the least of which is the fact that if
you have the way, then that end will justify virtually
any means, up to and including holy war. And holy war,
of course, isn't a sin, it isn't murder, because the
people you are killing in order to save aren't really
people they're infidels."
If the guru/path really does have a glimpse into the
transcendental truth of the universe, then the concern will
not be with "preaching" that insight but actually exemplifying it. As is well known in parental and teaching circles,
the most accomplished parent/teacher is the one who says the
most not with words but with actions. This simple truth,
though used as a cliche, should be kept in mind whenever
encountering a "new" revelation.
Somewhat different in the scheme of things is Shamanism. It is different than the usual seeking out in that it is considered by followers and practitioners as a calling. How does one know if they have a "calling?" It is not so much YOU that determines such a thing, but the "selection out" that occurs from or by another Shaman that senses an innate ability that is somehow radiated or felt. You yourself may not even know per se' although your whole life you may have had "this feeling." It just needs to be focused and that is what another Shaman can do. A good example is the apprenticeship as outlined by the controversial author Carlos Castaneda writing about the Yaqui Indian shaman-sorcerer Don Juan Matus he allegedly studied under.
"Unlike the medicine man, the Shaman's adoption of his profession is in many cases not voluntary. The future Shaman's experience of being called seems frequently to consist in a compulsive state from which he sees no other means of escape than to 'Shamanize'. It is often clear that the man who is to become a Shaman consciously does not wish to do so at all, but is driven and forced to it by the 'spirits', and finally, in order not to perish, takes the only path open to him and becomes a Shaman. The future Shaman, the young man suited for Shamanizing, cannot escape the demands of the spirits, which drive him deeper and deeper into the illness, although he very often tries to resist. He gets into a situation, into a mental illness, from which he can find no way out but death or the assumption of the office of Shaman (death literally, OR the more fortuitious for the future Shaman,
Symbolic Death)"
---- Lommel Andreas, The World of the Early Hunter ----
5. Who Appointed Your Teacher to Be a Master?
"Cult leaders are often self-styled prophets who have
not studied with great teachers or undergone lengthy
training or discipline themselves. . . Many of the most
dangerous cultic figures of our times have no such stabilizing context of tradition, lineage or transmission,
but are self-proclaimed gurus who sway their followers
through their charismatic talents. . . ."
---- John Welwood, On Spiritual Authority ----
Successorship controversies are some of the most intricate and confusing issues that a spiritual seeker can face.
A number of perplexing questions may arise: "Is my guru
really enlightened?" - "Did my teacher truly receive the mantleship from his master?" - "Why is my movement's history
disputed by outside scholars?" etc. The forthcoming answers
are rarely simple and air-tight. There is always a strange
twist, an odd fact, a peculiar story, which upturns even the
most stalwart of followers.
The only remedy to doubt is not blind belief or dogma,
but the ability to allow the mind to question and to embrace
the paradoxical nature of the world. This kind of recourse
enables the discriminating mind to exist alongside the devotion laden heart. However, certain requirements of historical legitimacy must be met before the seeker can relax into
his/her practice with relative confidence. Most importantly
the guru must have confirmation for his claim of mastership
by outside sources. If this requirement is bypassed then
the neophyte runs the risk of having only his teacher be
able to validate his realizations. Such single source legitimacy, as Wilber terms it, is open to a series of problems,
not the least of which is excessive narcissism on behalf of
the guru, who becomes by virtue of his self-appointment the
final and only authority for spiritual matters. Verification, therefore, is not only helpful in determining the
master's real status, but is necessary in moving religious
endeavors out of isolation, where excessed and ethical
transgressions are more likely to occur. As John Welwood
argues:
"Many of the world's great religious traditions have
Lines of Spiritual Transmission, i.e., a person's realization is tested by his teachers before he is allowed
to represent himself as a master. This is especially
true in all the (major) lineages of Buddhism as well as
in other Asian traditions. The process of testing and
transmission serves as a kind of "quality control" to
insure that a given teacher does not distort the teachings for his own personal gain."
Yet, in the midst of this convoluted myth making, how
is the unsuspecting seeker to know? Therefore, it is of
particular importance that the historical antecedents of any
guru/group be thoroughly investigated. Though the search
may not be easy, it is a must if there is to be any intellectual integrity on the part of the disciple.
6. Are The Central Teachings Of The Guru/Movement Trans-
Rational Or Pre-Rational?
"The aim and object of all religions and of all ancient
seers has been to take the soul, by one means or
another, back to its source. Perfect is he who, by
practice and meditation, lifts his soul to its real
abode, freeing it from all bonds, both internal and
external, gross, subtle, causal, and thus detaches his
mind from the world and its phenomena. The perfect
sadhus, real gyanis, true lovers or devotees of the
Lord, are those only who reach the last stage. They
who only talk of the Perfect Ones, or read their teachings to others without reaching the stage or practicing towards that end are only intellectuals and theorists."
---- Shiv Dayal Singh, Sar Bachan Prose ----
Contrary to what most secular humanists believe, like
Paul Kurtz and Issac Asimov, true religion is a transrational endeavor to achieve higher states of consciousness beyond the verbal mind. Genuine mystics are not concerned
with pre-rational forms of behavior, such as mythic logic, group-think, dogma, obedience without insight, and so forth. These types of thinking work against rather than promote
spiritual Enlightenment. An authentic tradition centers its teachings on direct, personal contact with the Supreme Reality by engaging in day to day meditation, prayer, or Zazen.
Nothing can substitute for the disciple's own effort
and inward progress not vicarious atonement, not the burning
of Karmas by the guru, not God's grace, though all of these
elements have their part. Individual action, though understood in relationship with the Lord's mercy and grace, is stressed above all else by genuine gurus/movements. No true mystic will ever ask a student to believe in him/her blindly or follow the teachings uncritically. Comments Tulsi Sahib, a renowned saint in the Sant Mat tradition who lived in the 19th century:
- "When with my own eyes do I behold, then shall
I accept what the Sat-Guru saith"
- Adds Guru Nanak, the founder of Sikhism, "Until with my own eyes do I see, the
word of the Guru satisfieth me not...".
- And finally writes
Shiv Dayal Singh, "Know thou thyself by thyself; believe not
at all what others say".
What are trans-rational practices? Disciplines which
concentrate on higher, not lower, states of consciousness
and which enable the student to master the lower tendencies
of the mind. Hence, trans-rational engagements do not
squelch critical thinking but actually help the reasoning
process by allowing it to see more fully the vast potential
of human life. As Wilber so clearly indicated, there is a
fundamental difference between a sangat of meditating Zen
monks and a clan of deluded Jim Jones devotees. The former
is trans-rational because the monks take their intelligence
with them into Satori; whereas the latter is pre-rational
because Jonestown members foresook their individuality for
regressive magical-mythic belonging.
7. What Are The Day To Day Results Of Your Interaction With
The Guru/Path?
Devotee: "How can one know whether a particular individual is competent to be a Guru?"
Bhagavan Sri Ramana Maharshi: "By the peace of mind found in his
presence and by the sense of respect you feel for him."
Questioner: "How can I make out whom to follow and whom
to mistrust?"
Sri Nisargadatta Maharaj: "Mistrust all until you are
convinced. The true guru will never humiliate you nor
will he estrange you from yourself. He will constantly
bring you back to the fact of your inherent perfection
and encourage you to seek within. He knows you need
nothing, not even him, and is never tired of reminding
you..."
If the guru/movement is authentic they will help you to better understand yourself, your family, your relationships, and God. Such understanding, however, does not necessarily mean that your worldly life will improve accordingly. For instance, following a spiritual path does not insure one against losing money, facing natural catastrophies, and struggling with domestic problems; it only helps one in coping better with all the various aspects of human existence.
Obviously, the results of your interaction with the
guru/path should be apparent to your close associates: more
openness, kindness, compassion, selflessness, honesty, and
loving devotion. If these qualities are not exhibited it
can be due to two reasons: you are not practicing consistently what the guru/path advocates; or, you are following teachings which place more stress on selfish, prerational, and anti-social behavior. Interestingly, it is
easier to determine a fraudulent message than it is to own
up to your immaturity and lack of discipline.
The effect of the guru on your personal life should be
clearly evident, especially if you feel that your teacher is
God-realized. Thus, there is as much responsibility on the
shoulders of a disciple as there is on a guru. Both must be
willing to surrender to a reality higher than themselves;
the devotee to his master's instructions; the master to the
living presence of God, to whom he has liberated his being. See also The Twelve Year Rule
How To Score Your Answers On The Spiritual Crucible
Scoring your answers on the Spiritual Crucible means, if, after taking all of the guidelines of the above into consideration, and/or including the False Guru Test as well, and you find out
that your guru charges money for membership, lives an
unethical lifestyle, self-proclaims his mastership,
encourages proselytizing, alleges to be God-incarnated,
emphasizes pre-rational practices, and demands total obedience, it can be assumed that you're on the wrong path and
that your guru is a charlatan.
On the other hand, if your guru/path scores positively
in all areas (such an accomplishment, by the way, is rare),
then you are very fortunate to have been led to a beneficial
and legitimate spiritual movement. The responsibility now
shifts to your shoulders, as it is up to you to take advantage of the situation. Enlightenment is a two way process,
the outcome of two interacting forces: God's grace and the
disciple's effort.
Most of the results, however, will be a combination of
positive and negative scores, with some guru/paths meeting
the criterions in three or four sections but missing the
marks in other parts. In this case, it is essential that
the seeker fully weigh the pros and cons to his guru's mission. If one decides to stay in the movement, then it is necessary to discard those elements of the teachings which
do not coincide with his/her best interests However, if one leaves the group, it does not mean that everything has to be forgotten. Rather, those features which are beneficial and helpful should be taken along as guidelines for the journey.
Ultimately, following a spiritual master or path
requires a tremendous amount of maturity, self-control, and
discrimination. To achieve God-Realization is not an overnight affair, or the outcome of feeble effort, it is the
culmination of consistent day to day application of transcendent mystical teachings. In the end, the greatest obstacle of all is not the guru or the movement, it is the disciple.
It is often said that when you truly need a teacher --- or that which will function in lieu of a teacher --- one (or it) will appear. This may due to some inexplicable serendipity. It may be due to the fact that the seeker has searched deeply within himself or herself and determined what sort of instruction seems to be required. It could be swept over him or her like the First Death Experience of the Bhagavan Sri Ramana Maharshi, or the Bhagavan's little known Second Death Experience. Or it could be a spiritual desperation on the part of the seeker, or maybe no more than a successful sales pitch by a teacher (sincere or not). It may be a combination of the previous factors, or some intuitive awareness beyond expression. For whatever the reason, the saying often applies and the coming together of the results of inner and outside forces, some within one's control, some without, can be found most eloquently as they all come together in the following:
SRI RAMANA MAHARSHI: THE LAST AMERICAN DARSHAN
RECOUNTING A YOUNG BOY'S NEARLY INSTANT TRANSFORMATION INTO THE ABSOLUTE DURING HIS ONLY DARSHAN WITH THE MAHARSHI
It should be noted that Adam Osborne, who, as a young boy grew up at the Ramana ashram and the son of one of the foremost Ramana biographers Arthur Osborne, played a prominent role in the Last American Darshan as linked above.
DOING HARD TIME IN A ZEN MONASTERY
Fundamentally, our experience as experienced is not different from the Zen master's. Where
we differ is that we place a fog, a particular kind of conceptual overlay onto that experience
and then make an emotional investment in that overlay, taking it to be "real" in and of itself.
(PLEASE CLICK)
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ENLIGHTENMENT
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THE WANDERLING
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CODE OF ETHICS FOR SPIRITUAL GUIDES
QUALITIES OF A DHARMA TEACHER
THE FALSE GURU TEST
The above excerpted from:
EXPOSING CULTS: WHEN THE SKEPTICAL MIND CONFRONTS THE MYSTICAL,
David C. Lane, PhD, Garland Publishing, Inc.(1994).
Chapter Twelve, THE SPIRITUAL CRUCIBLE
Lane offers at the bottom of his page Neural Surfer: Copyright 1994 & 1995 & 1996 & 1997 & 1998 & 1999
("Just cite what you see.... Everything is Free")
