The Atma Jyoti Blog

Q: In Gaudiya and other Vaishnava traditions, the view seems to be that the devoted bhakta eventually goes to Vaikuntha to be eternally with the Lord, whereas they believe the lesser, advaita way of doing things will leave the advaitin to merge with “the void/Brahman” instead of enjoying Vaikuntha.

On the other hand, Advaita Vedanta seems to advocate that all will essentially merge with Brahman, regardless of the path. Could you help explain your views on all this? I am feeling somewhat lost in the big city that Hinduism can be.

You are right, Hinduism is “the big city,” but that is because it is all-embracing. Every possible truth and view of that truth was long ago set forth by the sages of India. However in contemporary India we can find a lot of errant nonsense, for some parts of the big city have become slums and others are really outside the city limits even if they appear to be inside.

The truth as set forth in the upanishads and the Bhagavad Gita is the same: the goal of the individual is to unite with Brahman the Absolute. Then, like Brahman they can do/be whatever they like. Just as Brahman is both with and without qualities and both with and without form, so they can be. To say that one is superior or more ultimate than the other is to miss the point: Brahman is beyond such distinctions, for Brahman is absolutely ONE. In fact, Brahman transcends anything that can be said about It. The wise seek the Goal and leave the talk to others. As they say in the American South: “The empty wagon rattles the most.”

The upanishads and Gita affirm the eternal, divine nature of the atman-self. It, too, is part of Brahman. This perspective is essential to right understanding of any philosophical point.

You mention both the personal, and impersonal aspects of God in an article. You say that since Brahman can manifest as the transient universe, then obviously he can manifest as a deity (according to the particular devotee) as well. I certainly agree with you. My only thing is, the existence of the personal god in that way seems dependent upon an individual to perceive and need such a thing.

Again, remember that Brahman and the jiva are really one and inseparable and in a sense interdependent. Consequently as the jiva moves toward the Goal, whatever it needs will come to it or arise in its consciousness.

Are paths like bhakti and the impersonal advaitic path of yoga and meditation, equal? Do they all lead to the same thing?

Certainly, because there is only the One to realize. The Bhagavad Gita affirms this unequivocally.

Are a personal god and the impersonal brahman on the same level, or is one more ultimate than the other?

There is only The One. Our distinctions rise from our limited, unenlightened consciousness.

“Therefore, become a yogi” (Bhagavad Gita 6:46).

More Hidden Gems:

• A Practical Approach to Solving Meditation Problems
• Escaping the Forest of Delusion
• Why Jesus Was Tempted by the Devil: the Cosmic Struggle

[Note: We have been working with our email service, Benchmark, on the problem where the day after a blog post goes out, an empty email is sent. Hopefully this issue is a thing of the past. Thanks for your patience.]

For meditation we sit in a comfortable, upright position. This is for two reasons: so we will not fall asleep, and to facilitate the upward movement of the subtle life force called prana, of which the breath is a manifestation.

It is important that our meditation posture be comfortable and easy to maintain. Though sitting upright, be sure you are always relaxed. Yoga Sutra 2:46 says: “Posture [asana] should be steady and comfortable.” The Yoga Vashishtha (6:1:128) simply says: “He should sit on a soft seat in a comfortable posture conducive to equilibrium.” India’s great yogi-philosopher Shankara comments: “Let him practice a posture in which, when established, his mind and limbs will become steady, and which does not cause pain.” Here relaxation is the key, for Yoga Sutra 2:47 says: “Posture is mastered by relaxation..

If you can sit in a cross-legged position without your legs going to sleep and making you have to shift them frequently, that is very good. There are several cross-legged postures recommended for meditation. You will find them described in books on Hatha Yoga. I especially recommend Yoga Asanas by Swami Sivananda of the Divine Life Society, as it is written from the perspective of spiritual development and also gives many hints to help those who are taking up meditation later in life and whose bodies need special training or compensation.

Some meditators prefer to sit on the floor using a pillow and/or a mat. This, too, is fine if your legs do not go to sleep and distract you. But meditation done in a chair is equally as good. Better to sit at ease in a chair and be aware only of the breath than to sit cross-legged and be mostly aware of your poor, protesting legs.

If you use a chair, it should be comfortable, of moderate height, one that allows you to sit upright with ease while relaxed, with your feet flat on the floor. There is no objection to your back touching the back of the chair, either, as long as your spine will be straight. If you can easily sit upright without any support and prefer to do so, that is all right, too, but be sure you are always relaxed.

If you have any back difficulties, make compensation for them, and do not mind if you cannot sit fully upright. We work with what we have, the whole idea being to sit comfortably and at ease.

Hold your head so the chin is parallel to the ground or, as Shankara directs, “the chin should be held a fist’s breadth away from the chest.” Make a fist, hold it against your neck, and let your chin rest on your curled-together thumb and forefinger. You need not be painfully exact, about this. The idea is to hold your head at such an angle that it will not fall forward when you relax. Otherwise you may be afflicted with what meditators call “the bobs”–the upper body continually falling forward during meditation.

It does not matter how you place or position your hands, just as long as they are comfortable and you can forget about them. There is no need to bother with mudras as they are irrelevant to Breath Meditation practice.

Meditation is not a military exercise, so we need not be hard on ourselves about not moving in meditation. Stretch occasionally if you find it benefits.

The words of Swami Brahmananda, the monastic disciple of Sri Ramakrishna, recorded at a satsang at the Ramakrishna Sevashram in Kankhal, in Northern India where the Ganga emerges from the Himalayas.

Swami Brahmananda: Everyone wants happiness. Who likes to undergo pain and misery? But how to obtain that happiness? Certainly not by running after the fleeting pleasures of the senses and ignoring Him, Who is the abode of all happiness.

He has created many playthings to delude the human mind. Throw away all these and pray to Him, He will then hasten to take you in His arms. I tell you, you have had play enough; it is high time now to give it up and call upon the Mother. When a child is fond of play, the mother gives it toys to while away its time. But the child that does not care for play she carries about with her. Happy is the child that sits in the mother’s lap. It not only enjoys the play but has also the happiness of the mother’s company.

The child that is engaged in play enjoys it no doubt, but also runs the risk of being hurt in its play. It may quarrel with its playmates and get beaten. But the child in the mother’s lap has no such troubles. It is always happy and knows full well that the mother will take care of it and supply all its wants.

The parable of the mango grove told by Sri Ramakrishna is very instructive. “You have come to eat the mangoes. Why do you bother yourself about the number of trees, branches and leaves in the garden? Eat the mangoes and be satisfied.” You have come into this world for the realisation of God. Accomplish this object first of all and fulfil your life’s mission.

Solve your own problem and equip yourself for life’s journey. Struggle hard and become deathless by tasting Immortal Bliss. Pray to Him day and night. Whatever the form in which you think of Him, it will certainly do you good. Whatever form or name appeals to you, take it sincerely and pray to Him. You are sure to get the vision of Him.

Parvati once asked Mahadeva how Satchidananda could be realized. The reply was, “Through faith.” You have been shown the right path. Follow it with faith, patience and perseverance. Waste no more time in discussing the forms and details of your Sadhana. Pray to Him in any way you please, and you are sure to get His blessing.

Sri Ramakrishna used to say, “Sweetened bread will taste sweet in whatever way you begin to eat it.” You are, as it were, sitting under the Kalpataru (wish-yielding tree) and you will get whatever you ask for.

Do not think yourselves too clever. The crow thinks itself very clever, but it lives on filth. Those who are too clever in this world get cheated in the long run. With a faith that knows no wavering, plunge yourselves in deep meditation. Do not get disheartened, if after a little practice you do not realise God. The ocean is full of precious pearls, but you may not get them at the first dive.

My boys, once again I enjoin you, have firm faith in the words of your Guru, and try to get absorbed in deep meditation. Be sure, sooner or later you will have a vision of the Lord. Do not allow your mind to get distracted. Keep steadily and patiently to your Sadhana. His grace will descend on you in due time. Suppose you wish to see a great man. You have first to see and satisfy his attendants. Similarly to obtain the grace of the Lord you have to seek the help of godly men and undergo many spiritual practices.

Knowing Him to be dearer than the dearest, pray to Him with a yearning heart for His grace and vision. Cry unto the Lord like a child. Incessant crying cannot but make the mother run to it. So also with the Lord. He reveals Himself to that one who unceasingly prays for His grace and vision. Shake off your sleep, and seek the grace of the Lord with steadfast devotion.

Make the mind one-pointed like the mariner’s compass. In whatever direction the ship may sail, the compass always points to the north, thus keeping the ship on its course. Even so with the human mind. If it is fixed on God, there will be nothing to fear. If by chance one is thrown into a bad environment, even then his faith and devotion will remain unshaken. The moment he hears any talk about God, he will become mad with Divine Love just as the flint, lying under water for a hundred years, when taken out and struck, emits sparks.

Those who have been favoured with a vision of the Lord have their mind always fixed on Him. They will have no taste for anything except to talk of Him and to seek the company of holy men. Like a fallen leaf tossed to and fro by the wind, be content to remain wherever you are placed by the Lord. Do not have any will or desire of your own. Your mind is now pure and untainted. Try to keep it in this state always.

The spotless mind is like a dry match stick. It ignites the moment you strike it, but it is of no use if it gets wet. You may go on striking it, but it will only break into pieces. Similarly if the mind once becomes soiled, you will find it extremely difficult to restore it to its former purity.

More by Swami Brahmananda:

• The Power of Renunciation
• How to Find True Happiness When Young
• Swami Brahmananda on Meditation and Realization

Part 26 in the Commentary on Patanjali’s Yoga Sutras, by Swami Nirmalananda Giri

Sutra 2:40. From purity [shaucha] arises disgust for one’s own body and disinclination to come in physical contact with others.

This siddhi certainly will not be thought desirable in a body-and-sex-obsessed society that insists on being touched and hugged (and often more) by all and sundry, but the serious yogi should consider it carefully. After all, his intention is to disengage himself from the grinding gears of samsara–the chief of which is body-consciousness.

Not only are human beings obsessed with their own bodies, they compound the problem by incessant contact with those of others. This contact results in the confusion and conflict of their personal energies (prana) by the invasion and admixture of other’s prana with theirs–particularly their psychic energies. Losing the integrity of their energies in this way, their life force become unbalanced, weakened, damaged, and–yes–defiled. This condition manifests as an endless series of physical, mental, and spiritual ills. “I am not myself” becomes a truism in relation to them. But for those who carefully observe shaucha it becomes otherwise.

“When by practicing purity and seeing the defects in the body, he becomes disgusted with his own body, he becomes free from obsession with the body; seeing what the body essentially is, he has no intercourse with others,”

writes Vyasa. The disgust for the body spoken of here is not a hatred or an obsessive aversion for the body, but rather a profound disillusionment with the body springing from awareness of its many defects, not the least of which is its unreliability and inevitable mortality. The body is also seen to be a repository of pain, disease and filth, however fine the present momentary outer appearance may be. It is in fact a treasury of death.

“With the ordinary purification of the physical body we become more sensitive and begin to see things in their true light. Cleanliness is mostly a matter of sensitiveness. What is intolerably disgusting to a person of refined nature and habits is hardly noticed by another person whose nature is coarse and insensitive. So this feeling of disgust towards one’s own body which develops on its purification means nothing more than that we have become sensitive enough to see things as they really are.”

So says I. K. Taimni.

Sutra 2:41. From mental purity arises purity of the inner nature, cheerfulness, one-pointedness, control of the senses, and fitness for the vision of the self.

Nobody has objection to these, I am sure. When the inner bodies are pure they are refined and fluid, capable of the most subtle practice of yoga and reaching the highest states of consciousness. This state of inner purity is particularly accomplished by thought and diet.

For the inwardly pure there is no need for artificial “positive thinking.” Cheerfulness and optimism rise up from within him as a matter of course. And continue arising. Gone forever are mood swings and the “ups and downs” of life. No more valleys or mountaintops: he soars in the sunlit sky of the spirit as naturally as the eagle flies in the air. Whether engaged in outer or inner activity, his mind is intent upon its purpose, no longer scattered or flapping like a flag in the wind. One-pointed meditation becomes effortless for him. No longer does he struggle with the unruly senses and the mind which Krishna says are as hard to tame as the wind. (Bhagavad Gita 6:34)

Previously: Yoga: Judge Only By the Amazing Results
Next: The Siddhis Gained from Yama and Niyama

Further reading:

• The Foundations of Yoga: an in-depth exposition on Yama and Niyama.

This is a continuation of our extracts from Yogananda’s The Second Coming of Christ articles that originally appeared in East-West, Inner Culture, and Self-Realization magazines.

Since God is almighty and knows that we are suffering, why does He, being almighty and eternally blessed, allow weaklings to suffer from the temptations of evil?

The answer is, that after receiving independence, the cosmic delusive force began to fill creation with patterns of imperfections, displacing the perfect patterns of God’s first plan. God then destroyed all creation, as described in Genesis, but seemingly He found Himself illogically using His almighty power in arbitrarily destroying creation. Also, He seemed to be contradicting His own laws, inasmuch as He destroyed the power of Satan after once giving him independence of action.

Then God created again and reinstated the original power of independent free choice which He gave to Satan and to all creation. God could destroy Satan even now and free us at once from the thraldom of earthly miseries, imperfections, broken hearts, and death, by using His almighty material force, but He would not do that because that would be taking away our independence.

Since God gave independence to man and Satan, He can free them only through teaching them the right use of their own power of free choice. God is not enjoying His eternal blessed state in selfish happiness, but He is suffering for our miserable tragic existence, delayed evolution on earth, and belated return to the paradise of all-emancipating wisdom. He is continuously trying to use the superior force of divine love expressed as the parental, friendly, filial, all-surrendering, pure, conjugal love to coax man to forsake his cooperation with evil, which helps and strengthens it to destroy him.

Man Must Make His Own Choice

Man stands in the middle, with God on one side and Satan on the other side, each ready to pull him in whichever direction he wishes to go. It is up to man to signal God or Satan as to which direction he wants to be pulled. Man is perfectly free to act without being influenced by God or Satan, but whenever he does act right, or has a pure ennobling thought, that is the signal to God and he is automatically pulled toward God. But as soon as man thinks or acts evil, he is automatically pulled toward Satan. However, being essentially an image of God, man can never be eternally drowned in the “hell” of evil.

Eternal Hell Is Impossible For Man

No matter how persistently sinful man is, he can never suffer eternal punishment. Evil promises happiness and results only in unhappiness. As soon as man realizes this, then he begins to wish for emancipation and for God. This wish for goodness and freedom serves as a portal through which God is again invited to come into the life of the prodigal son and lead him to the abode of freedom. Even fathomless evil cannot destroy man’s soul, for he is essentially immortal and eternally good.

Evil is a Temporary Parasite

All evil is a passive graft, a temporary parasite on the tree of life, which can be amputated by the knife of wisdom possessed by man. Whenever man initiates good actions, he is proceeding toward a paradise of bliss, hidden in the womb of eternal futurity.

God Coaxes Through All Good–Satan Tempts Through Evil

God is coaxing us with an array of limitless good happenings and is influencing us for our own welfare, whereas Satan is tempting us with pleasant-looking but fleeting happiness-producing patterns of evil. Satan’s patterns are temptations because they are deceptive contrivances created to consciously delude us by promising us good and giving us evil instead.

According to the dual conception of good and evil (God and Satan), it becomes easy to understand why there is so much good, together with so much evil. The sky and earth are full of the productions of God’s patterns of perfection and Satan’s patterns of imperfection to influence man. The beautiful sunshine, clouds, and rain are created by God to benefit man. Cataclysms, earthquakes, and floods were created by Satan to make man uncomfortable.

An eternal display of goodness is materialized in nature and the life of man, proving that God is trying to impress man and influence him to use his free will and return to the abode of bliss. Satan, through deceptive, apparently pleasant contrivances of temporary happiness-yielding acts, greed, and lust is trying to keep man tied to this misery-making limited earth. Jesus, as a manifestation of God, came to speak of the eternal Kingdom of Heaven, upon whose threshold no sorrow can tread. Jesus taught that permanent happiness can only be found in God. Satan deludes man into seeking permanent happiness in impermanent material things.

Visit Amazon to purchase your copy of The Second Coming of Christ: The Resurrection of the Christ Within You (2 Volume Set) for continuous study.

Further Reading:

• The Ocean of Karmas, and the Joys and Sorrows of Life
• The 5 Great Causes of the Miseries in Life
• How to Find True Happiness When Young

The following can be found on several websites, with differing authors being cited. It may not be perfect, but it is wise in the main. Although “he” is used in it, “she” should be understood as being meant as well.

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. 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. The false teachers often make this claim because they have little else on offer to attract followers.
2. 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. They or their organisations will even undertake multi-million dollar law suits to stop ex-members from spilling the beans.
3. Acts omnipotently with no accountability: Some spiritual communities are run like concentration camps, with guru and his chosen ones acting like Gestapo officers. Unjust or outrageous behavior by the guru is passed off as what is needed to help the followers grow (how kind). These are the dangerous gurus who have often severely damaged their students. A real master respects your will even if he understands that your particular decisions may not be in your interest, and he will act accountably to an ethical code of conduct.
4. Focuses on enlightenment itself rather than teaching the path leading to it: It is amazing how much false gurus have to say about enlightenment. 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. Any fool can talk about the end goal because what is said is irrefutable to most of your listeners. What is skillful is guiding those listeners to having awakening within themselves. The real teacher focuses on the path and strictly avoids only talk on enlightenment.
5. 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. If a teacher preaches love and forgiveness, then he should act that way, at least most of the time, showing suitable regret for any lapses. If he teaches meditation, he should meditate. If he insists that his followers live in austere conditions, so should he.
6. Takes the credit for a particular meditative or healing technique: The fact is that meditation and guided visualisation work. Anyone doing them will experience major changes, benefits and realizations. The false guru will try to own or trademark particular methods and techniques so that he has something unique to attract followers. And he will hijack the effects of meditation as the guru’s blessing rather than each individual’s natural potential. 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.
7. 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). In the East, this is part of their culture and a normal thing to do to show respect and reverence (even children will touch the feet of their fathers). However, here in the West, such copycat behavior is a strong indication that the guru is acting a role. Satsang, on the other hand, means literally “the company of the Truth.” In a deeper sense it is an affirmation of the Guru-Disciple relationship in Eastern traditions. But some Western gurus will use this terminology because they are playing a role.
8. Lives in total opulence: There is nothing wrong with living in luxury or being wealthy. But when that luxury turns to unnecessary opulence using funds that were not explicitly donated for that purpose then you are probably dealing with a false guru. Money is collected from followers usually in the form of donations, and those donations are given as an act of love, appreciation and to help spread the influence of the master. 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.
9. Encourages or permits adoration from his followers: Avoid any group that focuses on the “master” rather than the teachings or spiritual practices. This will be a hindrance to your self-realization for your focus will be drawn outside of yourself, and usually indicates that there is not a lot more on offer than guru worship.
10. Presents himself or herself overly fashionably and glamorously: Beware of masters who present glamour photographs of themselves and dress overly fashionably (whilst proclaiming that they have no ego and leading ego-death retreats). Yes it does happen!
11. Demands love and devotion from their students: Keep clear of any master who demands love and devotion. 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.
12. 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. Unless they have genuinely spent considerable time in other cultures, they are probably playing out a role.
13. Runs expensive miracle workshops and courses: You are unlikely to reach enlightenment after a few weekend workshops with cheesy titles. In our society of “must have now,” we want to be able to purchase spiritual development with minimal fuss. Also, avoid meaningless accreditation–it is often used merely to encourage followers to do more courses.
14. Takes sexual advantage of his followers: This happens much more than many believe. It is not being prudish to include this one because when a follower falls under the spell of a guru he is likely to do anything for the Chosen One. It is only afterwards that it may dawn on the follower that his openness has been used and abused. This can be very psychologically scarring.
15. Flatters you and treats you as very special: Sure we are all special in some ways, but this is one of the things that a false guru may do to hook a potential follower or to get a current follower to do a particular task. Nothing can be more intoxicating to the ego than to be selected by the master or leader (or any high profile person). A real master will stand back and allow you to make your decision whether to accept his teachings without trying to influence the process.
16. Talks nonsense: It is surprising what a person will listen to when he is devoted to the speaker. It is always a good idea to get hold of a written transcript of what has been said and really read the message. Then ask an open-minded friend who is not a follower what their opinion is purely on the strength of the words. You will soon find out whether there is any real substance to the teacher’s message, or whether you are merely being drawn in by the charisma of the messenger.
17. Overly relies on slick presentation: Slick presentation can often mask poor content, and so it is important for you to look past the lovely music and video shows at the actual message. The slicker the presentation, the harder it is to see what exactly the teaching is.
18. Gives himself outrageous titles: Not satisfied by being “merely” an enlightened being, many false gurus give themselves titles (or allow their followers to do so) to indicate that they are literally God-Incarnate, the reincarnation of the Buddha or Christ, or THE chosen one. Some continually change their names, to keep pace with their burgeoning egos.
19. Runs abundance workshops: A guru or master is there to help us find an authentic life. 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. 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. (The Japanese say that the gods laugh at those who pray for money.)
20. 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 doesn’t help you find realization inside you. You may model some of his spiritual characteristics, but that often only places you deeper in illusion.
21. Allows his followers to set up a hierarchy of access: A guru must be accessible. If he is not, or if he allows his followers to block your access, then he is playing the role of a king and not a spiritual guide. A guru is only useful to the process of awakening if you can directly interact with him.
22. Makes false claims of lineage: Many mistakenly believe that realization can only happen under the guidance of a realized master. In this belief system, gurus are only authentic when they come from a line or lineage of realized gurus. Desperate not to be left out, some gurus claim a false lineage of enlightened masters to bolster their authority to teach. 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.
23. Presents himself (and his organization) as non-profit whilst raking in the millions: Often, the false prophet will present his teachings for free, whilst strongly encouraging his devotees to make large donations. In this way he can appear above money considerations, whilst maintaining his greed and opulence.
24. Collects a large band of angry ex-followers: This is an indication that something is seriously wrong. If he has used kindness and love in his interactions with his students, and has discouraged them from projecting denied spiritual characteristics onto the guru (rather than encouraging their integration into the self), then it is extremely unlikely that there would be more than a few disheartened ex’s. Many might drift away and feel they have wasted their time, but they are only likely to have the great anger if they have put their teacher on a pedestal, given him their power, and later realized that he was never worthy of such adoration. 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 realization inside.
25. 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?) and energy clearing instruments and pendants that involve crystals and copper wire. Once again, this is to distract the unwary from the poor quality of the actual teaching.
26. Acts like a complete paranoid mad person: If your Precious One acts like a complete paranoid schizophrenic or psychotic then he probably is. Run! Remember that there is no such thing as “crazy wisdom”–wisdom is the art of being balanced. However charismatic they may be, and sane between moments of madness, you WILL be damaged by them.

Further Reading:

• Transcending Market Place Spirituality
• The Pathology of Super-Gurudom
• Paramahansa Nityananda’s Concept of Gurus