Yoga - Fake Gurus? Share your stories

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Fake Gurus? Share your stories

lallous

2006-05-07, 1:26 pm

Hello group.

1) Can you refer me to stories about fake gurus, how they work, how they
make their herd?
2) How can one tell whether a Guru is real or not?

I'll share a story with you, w/o naming anyone specific, cause my
conclusions might be wrong due to some deficiencies in me, or my conclusions
might be right due to the fake nature of the Guru.

A guru, whose followers and himself claim to be enlightened, keeps on
visiting my country to conduct yoga programs and teach meditation
techniques.
From the first time I took the program, during initiations, meditations and
such, we were asked to close our eyes, then later he used to clasp his hands
or make a "shhh" sound, then suddenly, we would start hearing random people
shouting, screaming, or weeping.
I am in knowledge of energy systems and possibility of manifestation of high
energy through emotional release and stuff and it might cause the person to
react in certain manners, so the cries, weeping and such sounded natural for
me when I heard them.

I kept attending courses, volunteering, etc... whenever I got the chance to
see that guru, and the same things happens:
"shh" or hand clasps, directly followed by people shouting or crying...I
could estimate around 5 or 7 people doing that...I also started to know who
are the people doing that sounds, and surprisingly they are the same people.

Times and times, his programs claims to make one experience a reality beyond
the physical body, etc etc...that beautiful talk that would cause the
curious ones, like myself, to hope for such an experience...that's why I
kept going, to know another reality.

Nothing happened to me, I never experienced anything substantial, or
anything that I can say that was related to his contribution.....

One day, I fed up, and started to doubt his credibility....
Maybe he's fake? He got some implanted followers to do certain sounds when
he makes a certain gesture?

I could not find anything on the internet that talks negatively about him,
and I don't want to be considered as giving a negative account about him,
but my doubts had grown to a point to question as to whether he's a normal
person with charisma or he's a real guru and my energy system is not ready
to experience anything....
Why then should I get teachings from him and not from any other one, as long
as he didn't do anything special with me so that I can acknowledge him.

I truly believe that even Jesus Christ himself, if he just taught w/o making
any miracles, He wouldn't be as famous and alive till now.

All I can say now, that after this whole incident, I feel more lost, and
don't know who to trust...and maybe have some fears to walk this path by
myself....maybe the whole thing is not real? maybe we experience what we
believe in?

Please share your thoughts.

--
Elias

howdydave

2006-05-08, 1:29 am

Howdy Elias!

First: I would have MAJOR doubts about anybody who carrys out a
publicity campaign.

Second: I would have serious doubts about anybody who PROCLAIMS
him/herself to be enlightened.

Third: I would have serious doubts about "group transferrance
sessions".

A guru above all else is a TEACHER.

A guru customizes instructions for each deciple.

If MONEY is one of the prelimenary topics of discussion, walk away.

IMO: Yoga should be free (or very close to it.)

Dave

howdydave

2006-05-08, 1:29 am

As I understand it, in the Indian tradition
when a seeker presents him/herself to
a potential guru the only things that s/he
brings are a willingness to learn and an
armfull of firewood.

Enlightenment is not the objective.
It is not even discussed in most cases.
When it is, it's only after YEARS of training.

Dave

howdydave

2006-05-08, 1:29 am

In the Indian tradition, a potential deciple
goes to a potential guru and the only things
that he brings with him are a willingness
to learn and an armfull of firewood.

Enlightenment is not the primary objective.
In most cases is is not even discussed.
When it is, it's only after YEARS of training.

Dave

howdydave

2006-05-08, 1:29 am

As I understand it, in the Indian tradition
when a seeker presents him/herself to
a potential guru the only things that s/he
brings are a willingness to learn and an
armfull of firewood.

The kind of person you are talking about
sounds like either a charlatan or a cult leader.

A charlatan (bunk artist) is in it for the money.
A cult leader is on a power trip.

Dave

tech-yogi

2006-05-08, 6:27 pm

Hi Dave and others,

Please correct me if I am wrong.

My understanding of the word Guru
is that in Sanskrit Language, it means
"heavy" like a tree heavy with fruit.

Guru has arrived, Guru has knowledge.
But Guru may or may not like to teach,
may not have an inclination, or ability.

A teacher loves teaching and has the ability.
Teacher need not neccessarily be a Guru,
but can help create one.

Thanks....tech-yogi

howdydave

2006-05-09, 1:25 pm

Howdy tech-yogi!

I'm a linguistics & semantics fan myself!

You are talking about word origins and
that (IMO) is not the issue at hand.

It does not matter how much knowledge
and/or wisdom a person posseses...
If (s)he has neither the inclination nor
the ability to teach then (IMO) that person
is not, and can not be, a guru.

Do your examples: "Guru has arrived,
Guru has knowledge" come from the
eastern concept or from the modern
western use of the word?

The primary function of a guru is to
pass that knowledge and wisdom on
to other people!

A tree heavy with fruit does not do
any good unless the fruit is consumed
and the nutrition obtained therefrom
assists people in their growth process.

Dave