Guest guest Posted September 8, 2001 Report Share Posted September 8, 2001 Many people are now becoming familiar with such things as false gurus, fallen gurus, etc. It has been going on forever. Growing up in India, one runs across so many tricksters and magicians. It is true here too in the U.S and other places as well. Psychic hotlines and people who can make you talk to your dead uncle or great grandfather are now becoming common. I see it sometimes on T.V. They are advertising these things because people love that. Where there is a market for these services there will be providers as well. There is no country, culture, religion or spiritual tradition which is immune from mistaking illusion for Reality. What is it that attracts people to such gurus who promise miracles and magic and producing things out thin air, etc. Is it not something in them as well, either material or spiritual greed? Such disciples and gurus need each other and feed on each other. Water always finds its own level. Of course, it seems like innocent people get hurt as well. What can be done? This is the nature of such things. A devotee who knows the Self cannot be fooled or taken in even by the greatest magicians. His simplicity and perpetual freshness of Self-Realization makes wonderful gifts and riches and promises and miracles appear dry and without any meaning what so ever. The beauty of Self-Realization lies in knowing the stillness with direct clarity. Once Sri Ramana was asked about the fate of disciples of a fallen guru and/or the false guru himself. The Sage said, "Each according to their own merit." That is the simple truth. Love to all Harsha Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted September 8, 2001 Report Share Posted September 8, 2001 Hi Harsha -- Yes! Not to mention ones who rather than simply *be* truth, are invested in convincing people that "I am being truth and will teach you how to be". A subtle dynamic, the sometimes well-concealed sense of investment in getting something from a listener, follower, or devotee. The distinction between being and obtaining. This same distinction between "being" and "seeking to obtain" applies in day to day relationships and work of "ordinary folks". I sense a difference in tone between one who is simply being aware, and one who is seeking to gain others' attention, following, admiration, adoration. And, many tricksters as well as charistmatic teachers, leaders, speakers and writers fall into that category. Peace, Dan --- Harsha <harsha-hkl wrote: > Many people are now becoming familiar with such > things as false gurus, > fallen gurus, etc. It has been going on forever. > Growing up in India, one > runs across so many tricksters and magicians. It is > true here too in the U.S > and other places as well. Psychic hotlines and > people who can make you talk > to your dead uncle or great grandfather are now > becoming common. I see it > sometimes on T.V. They are advertising these things > because people love > that. Where there is a market for these services > there will be providers as > well. There is no country, culture, religion or > spiritual tradition which is > immune from mistaking illusion for Reality. > > What is it that attracts people to such gurus who > promise miracles and magic > and producing things out thin air, etc. Is it not > something in them as well, > either material or spiritual greed? Such disciples > and gurus need each other > and feed on each other. Water always finds its own > level. > > Of course, it seems like innocent people get hurt as > well. What can be done? > This is the nature of such things. > > A devotee who knows the Self cannot be fooled or > taken in even by the > greatest magicians. His simplicity and perpetual > freshness of > Self-Realization makes wonderful gifts and riches > and promises and miracles > appear dry and without any meaning what so ever. > > The beauty of Self-Realization lies in knowing the > stillness with direct > clarity. > > Once Sri Ramana was asked about the fate of > disciples of a fallen guru > and/or the false guru himself. The Sage said, "Each > according to their own > merit." That is the simple truth. > > Love to all > Harsha > > > > > > > Get email alerts & NEW webcam video instant messaging with Messenger http://im. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted September 8, 2001 Report Share Posted September 8, 2001 Harsha & Friends, Well, Harsha, we can't always agree on everything, can we? "A devotee who knows the Self cannot be fooled or taken in even by the greatest magicians. His simplicity and perpetual freshness of Self-Realization makes wonderful gifts and riches and promises and miracles appear dry and without any meaning what so ever." Isn't the devotee you are positing here, not a devotee at all, but rather a Realized being? What devotee "knows the Self?" In my estimation, all devotees "can be fooled or taken in even by the greatest magicians". It is why we all, secretly, fear becoming a devotee. We know that there is a world "out there", where we will be taken advantage of simply because, in answer to the requests of God/Guru we will be exposed in our desire to "see God in each other". I don't think you are crediting "God" with the deviousness that is truly God's due. It is always good to remember the truth; we seek God because God hides himself/herself from us. If it were not so, god's leela wouldn't inspire any "takers". yours in the bonds, eric , "Harsha" <harsha-hkl@h...> wrote: > Many people are now becoming familiar with such things as false gurus, > fallen gurus, etc. It has been going on forever. Growing up in India, one > runs across so many tricksters and magicians. It is true here too in the U.S > and other places as well. Psychic hotlines and people who can make you talk > to your dead uncle or great grandfather are now becoming common. I see it > sometimes on T.V. They are advertising these things because people love > that. Where there is a market for these services there will be providers as > well. There is no country, culture, religion or spiritual tradition which is > immune from mistaking illusion for Reality. > > What is it that attracts people to such gurus who promise miracles and magic > and producing things out thin air, etc. Is it not something in them as well, > either material or spiritual greed? Such disciples and gurus need each other > and feed on each other. Water always finds its own level. > > Of course, it seems like innocent people get hurt as well. What can be done? > This is the nature of such things. > > A devotee who knows the Self cannot be fooled or taken in even by the > greatest magicians. His simplicity and perpetual freshness of > Self-Realization makes wonderful gifts and riches and promises and miracles > appear dry and without any meaning what so ever. > > The beauty of Self-Realization lies in knowing the stillness with direct > clarity. > > Once Sri Ramana was asked about the fate of disciples of a fallen guru > and/or the false guru himself. The Sage said, "Each according to their own > merit." That is the simple truth. > > Love to all > Harsha Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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