A false guru asks you to do the opposite. Ultimately, Patanjali taught continuous discriminative awareness as a means of liberation from suffering. 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. They also promote rituals, idols & charms); 2) The Promotion of Blind Faith (not allowing the questioning/validating of what one is taught, or fobbing off sincere enquiries); There's a kriya for that. As much as I like him and am torn about it, I have to blame Tim . 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. Whereas Kundalini yoga as taught by Yogi Bhajan was incredibly rigid, the Kundalini yoga I now teach is more fluid and intuitive-I call it Kundalini-inspired yoga. When you wear our clothes you share our mission. And she will hijack the effects of meditation as the guru's blessing rather than each individuals natural potential. This site presents the path of meditation and practical spiritual life and is a service of Light of the Spirit Monastery (Atma Jyoti Ashram), which is located in Cedar Crest, New Mexico, USA. I wasnt comfortable with the deification of Yogi Bhajan. Click to share on Twitter (Opens in new window), Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window), Click to share on Pinterest (Opens in new window). Notice how aware she is of the life of each of us. If you don't then you can get your own pizza. 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. However charismatic they may be, and sane between moments of madness, you WILL be damaged by them. Or is my meeting you a part of some cosmic pattern, a fragment in the great drama of our lives? However, I was experiencing complicated feelings about the "father and founder" of Kundalini yoga in the West, Yogi Bhajan. or visit the online bookstore of your choice. Create a personalized feed and bookmark your favorites. False Guru is the clothes, the message, the mission and our values. However, I was experiencing complicated feelings about the father and founder of Kundalini yoga in the West, Yogi Bhajan. Divine Mother: You have reached this place of clarity. We do stuff! We practiced White Tantra Yoga, which was designed by Yogi Bhajan and required us to spend 8- or 10-hour days meditating or chanting while dressed in white, heads wrapped in turbans. 17. 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. When wearing our best we all have that feeling of being fly. Steve: Yes, Mother. M: The real is meaningful and the meaningful relates to reality. All we had at first was a bunch of not so great ideas for designs. In retrospect, both of these time-intensive practices seem, to me, like exercises in control, used as a means to keep you from getting sufficient rest or personal time. Tasmad gurum prapadyeta jijnasuh sreya uttamam: One should approach a bona fide guru to inquire about the highest benefit of life. 6. Is Your Yoga Practice Stealing From Religion. However charismatic they may be, and sane between moments of madness, you WILL be damaged by them. Worse, he makes them lose all their money and even go as far as to hypnotize them. If he teaches meditation, he should meditate. 23. When you wear our clothes you take on the mantle, We sell clothes, but we are also here to show. 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. 1. it is not easy to spot a fake guru as well as to find a real guru. 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. Like pineapple on pizza. Today, I take a more balanced and measured approach to Kundalini yoga. document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. SourceLight Seeing you home I still love chanting and mantra and probably always will, and I usually find a way to bring it into each class I teach. 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. In this belief system, gurus are only authentic when they come from a line or lineage of realized gurus. brands selling their fast "FaShIoN" at record speed. Im a writer who wishes to share his views with you on subjects of mutual interest and listen to yours as lightworker equals and spiritual adults. This can be very psychologically scarring. Whoever may be the Guru, if he is pure of heart and acts in good faith, he will do his disciples no harm. Our recommendations on other lightworker sites. Bhajan died in 2004 and was revered like a saint at the yoga studio I attended. Restrained Mufti. You are bringing to light what needs to be revealed so it doesnt destroy the fiber of your society. Choosing a selection results in a full page refresh. If he insists that his followers live in austere conditions, so should he. What does a fake guru look like? 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. We are here to show you the power you hold and how to capture it. Encourages or permits adoration from his followers: Avoid any group that focuses on the master rather than the teachings or spiritual practices. Q: How can I make out who is a real saint and who is not? I felt less overwhelmed, more grounded, and capable of sound decision-making. scams, bad business opportunities, and fake gurus are subjective terms that mean different things to different people. Something bigger than our tiny little bodies and the span of our week and its end. Any criticism and critical thinking are actively discouraged and followers typically undergo a process of thought reform or "brainwashing." and energy clearing instruments and pendants that involve crystals and copper wire. Acts omnipotently with no accountability: Some spiritual communities are run like concentration camps, with guru and his chosen ones acting like Gestapo officers. 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. Theres a kriya for that. We love it. 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. Now, dearest heart, this is exactly what I am talking about in terms of your divine knowing. States his 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. And he will hijack the effects of meditation as the gurus blessing rather than each individuals natural potential. Unless they have genuinely spent considerable time in other cultures, they are probably playing out a role. When you see the shadow, it defines the light. DM: You always have. 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). Remembering, embodying, and expressing your true Self. Does the world appearance exist after liberation? 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. Acts omnipotently with no accountability: Some spiritual communities are run like concentration camps, with guru and his chosen ones acting like Gestapo officers. 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. and energy clearing instruments and pendants that involve crystals and copper wire. I think someone who promises $100K/month for an upfront fee of $2K is a scam. 2. In a deeper sense it is an affirmation of the Guru-Disciple relationship in Eastern traditions. Members are often exploited spiritually, economically, and/or sexually, and former members are demonized and excommunicated. One very well known Western guru stated, "Anyone who loves me is guaranteed enlightenment"! 21. You have no need, nor time for finding who is a jnani and who is not? Problems such as substance abuse, succumbing to sexual temptation, theft, lying, etc. Follow her on Instagram@jennifurious. Then tell an open-minded friend who is not a follower what their opinion is purely on the strength of the words. We want your blood. I no longer lead morning sadhana, the requisite two and a half hours of yoga and chanting that Yogi Bhajan prescribed to his devout followers, nor do I even have the desire to rise at 4 a.m. to practice it at home. Stream Mufti feat. We love it. 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 doesnt help you find realization inside you. But opting out of some of these cookies may have an effect on your browsing experience. For such Gurus, it is said: 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. His image hung on studio walls and his lectures were regularly quoted to students. Filed Under: False Guru/Cause, Steve Beckow. Satsang, on the other hand, means literally "the company of the Truth". In reality, the Gurus role is only to instruct and encourage; the disciple is totally responsible for himself. Until It Wasnt, Going Viral on Instagram Taught Me to Change My Assumptions About Yoga Influencers. Makes false claims of lineage: Many mistakenly believe that realization can only happen under the guidance of a realized master. Our View of Dharma as Saint Thomas Christians, Basic Beliefs of Saint Thomas Christianity, Robe of Light: An Esoteric Christian Cosmology, Gnosis of the Ten Commandments and the Beatitudes, Illusions Produced by Delusive Meditation and How to Be Free from Them, The Yoga Life: What It Is, and How to Live It, Brahmacharya: The Benefit of Control and Continence, Key Concepts of Indian Philosophy and Yoga. I asked the Divine Mother this question and her answer resolved my dissonance. masters established in the 5th plane are beyond being led astray by the. 9. Kundalini seemed prescriptive. But some Western gurus will use this terminology because they are playing a role. Uses pseudo-technology: Many false prophets and organizations base themselves around pseudo-technology in the effort to appear scientificspecial meters, communication devices (do you really expect the aliens to use a mobile?) Len Satov It's not like we're selling furniture and. Jennifer Davis-Flynn is awriter and yoga teacherbased in Boulder, Colorado. Like, pineapple on pizza. In 2020, an independent investigation by an organization called Olive Branch determined that the allegations of sexual, physical, and spiritual misconduct were most likely true. 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. (Archangel Michael: Do not Get Caught in the Drama of White Hats or Black Hats, Nov. 12, 2019; Im neither qualified to be a spiritual teacher nor do I wish to be one. Steve Beckow: Mother, Im operating on the principle and please correct me if Im mistaken here that I serve Archangel Michael, period. We dropped our yeah right attitude and let it shatter into a billion tiny pieces. Beloved ones, do not allow yourselves to be distracted, yes, by the chaos. In this video, I'm sharing 5 tips with you that will help you stop being broke all the time. In fact, Yogi Bhajan was careful to not assert himself as a "guru" and famously stated that "the true guru is within.". We are here to show you the power you hold and how to capture it. Takes sexual advantage of his followers: This happens much more than many believe. False Guru is more than just a streetwear brand. If you don't then you, False Guru really isn't all that different from the sea of. Any fool can talk about the end goal because what is said is irrefutable to most of your listeners. However, I havent thrown away my practice in its entirety. False Guru : NPR False Guru April 18, 20141:40 PM ET Heard on Snap Judgment Listen Listen Playlist Download Embed Transcript Filmmaker Vikram Gandhi, a New Jersey native, wanted to prove the. This website uses cookies to improve your experience while you navigate through the website. We practiced White Tantra Yoga, which was designed by Yogi Bhajan and required us to spend 8- or 10-hour days meditating or chanting while dressed in white, heads wrapped in turbans. When practiced, it can help us discriminate between truth and untruth, skillful or unskillful action. https://goldenageofgaia.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/12/LEAKED-22Project-Pandora22-Multiple-Presidents-KILLED-to-Keep-this-HIDDEN.mp4, https://goldenageofgaia.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/02/Cities-across-Canada-join-the-movement-1.mp4, https://goldenageofgaia.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/02/telegram-cloud-document-1-4915997293301204030-1-1.mp4. The slicker the presentation, the harder it is to see what exactly the teaching is. It is always a good idea to get hold of a written transcript of what has been said and really read the message. But the teachings often contain elements of truth that can actually help and comfort peopleand thats exactly whats so tricky about discerning a false guru from someone who can help guide you. However, here in the West, such copycat behavior is a strong indication that the guru is acting a role. 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