Once,

people desired knowledge and as a consequence became doctors,

people desired to sing and as a byproduct became famous,

people desired to help and as a matter of course became spiritual teachers.

Nowadays,

people desire to become doctors, to become famous, to become spiritual teachers.

The difference is evasive but unfortunately enormous.

The difference is of course in terms of quality.

Speedy university degrees, American Idol, New Age.

This is the new contemporary culture. We cannot change it. We therefore have to accept it...

and to hope for the rare genuine fortunes: truly-knowledgeable people, truly-talented singers, truly-enlightened gurus...

and to remember that quality will ultimately prevail. There's no other way.