I have been searching and meeting few gurus, but I am always very concerned about their honesty and being genuine and true enlightened spiritual master. We read so many bad things about certain gurus and is difficult to trust. Any comment on Swami Vishwananada, Swami Atmachaithanya, Guruji Sri Vast and Sri Sathya Sai Baba ?
Thanks a lot for sharing
Ferro
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a true guru
Hi kamaferro,
see A cheat sheet to recognize a bogus guru. There are valuable advices there.
Also you can look at the comments and opinions in the guru profiles.
Specifically, from your list I know only Sri Sathya Sai Baba and I'm not sure he passes the tests in the above mentioned cheat sheet :-)
What if?
What if you don't actually need to find an enlightened master. What if it's just a cultural idea that you were conditioned into believing?
and what if not
Since I cannot be sure of this, I will keep on being open to flesh-and-blood gurus.
I suspect there are some upfront advantages to such a guru - he/she can be an entity to identify and then counter my mind's tricks which I have no way to see, he/she can serve as an authority when I am skeptical as to what I "hear" from my inner guru, he/she might have experience that is valuable for me...
I have gained so much from Nisargadatta's and Ramana's and Meher Baba's books that if I stumble upon a book of a living guru with the same caliber I will make all effort to go and see him. But I haven't yet... and maybe I am belittling those who are alive (ego matters)...
Actually, many of the people here sometimes serve for me as virtual gurus... the discussions are usually enlightening and are free from the common new-age bullshits... I am sometimes pondering about some dilemma and then I enter here and boom... Someone happens to discuss the very same issue at the very same time and creative insights are provided...
When the student is ready.........
"Actually, many of the people here sometimes serve for me as virtual gurus... the discussions are usually enlightening and are free from the common new-age bullshits... I am sometimes pondering about some dilemma and then I enter here and boom... Someone happens to discuss the very same issue at the very same time and creative insights are provided..."
Yup. This is what is meant by 'When the student is ready, the teacher will appear.' This happens because your focus is a creative one, literally forming your experiences. I've been exploring the way you describe for years, and it has been very useful.
It happens because...
"This happens because your focus is a creative one, literally forming your experiences."
It happens because there is neither me nor you in truth, but oneness, unity, co-arising of phenomena. The guru is looking for you, and you are looking (ready) for the guru. 'Inner' and 'outer' are really not-two.
http://www.omkaradatta.info
Yes, and it's helpful to pay
Yes, and it's helpful to pay attention to this and notice it happening so that we don't keep dismissing where we are in search of the better place or a the right guru. We're always exactly where we need to be doing exactly what we need to be doing because there's nobody here to throw a monkey wrench into perfection, and no monkey wrench.
true guru
why are you much concerned about true and false guru.
if your search is really true then you will defiantly get a true guru or a true guru himself recognize you.
OM
Why I am concerned
I am concerned about a truer and honest guru because I met few and I always hear and read many negatives comments on the net. I can see that when they come to the West to attract devotees they have quite a good life when we know they come from humble beginnings.
I have the same concern as if I had to choose a teacher of Mathematic to clear my doubts, I will try to choose an experienced and reputable one. The spiritual growth is not easy so a honest, true realized soul should be the right choice.
My search I hope is a true one, what do you mean by true ? I open my heart and pray God to guide me to meet the right master. What else should I do or change in my behaviour ??
If I can rely as a guidance in a person with a pure heart and not in search of popularity just because he has siddhi powers.
Which living gurus would anyone recommend for your personal experience ?
I am frightened when I see gurus so famous and with big organization.
OM NAMAH SHIVAYA
Sounds like a plan
Hi Kamaferro
Assuming you're looking for a living guru, I heard enough of Ramesh Balsekar to have no doubts about him, though I'm not personally drawn to him. I have a preference for western teachers, and the less glitz and glamour, the better. Many gurus will tell you enlightenement is a very ordinary, simple thing, after all. Just our true nature beyond all the nonsense.
In the west, I like Mooji best of all because of his directness, simplicity and humor. Adyashanti is also very cool, and Tony Parsons and Jeff Foster are amusing after a few cups of coffee. I could mention a few others I have faith in, but my coffee isn't strong enough to allow me to listen to em. None of them are out to scam you and they all see the same thing from the same mountaintop and have their own ways of talking about what they see. Simple, obvious, direct pointing without any side trips.
Not only living, but...
In my view, it doesn't matter if a guru is living or not, unless you're going to have living contact with him/her. Isn't it the 'personal' attention that counts? Otherwise you're just reading words, watching videos, enjoying vicariously the talks with others. Is this really what 'having a guru' is about?
I call Nisargadatta my guru, because his words have been incredibly helpful here (and I was always very self-oriented, self-directed on the spiritual path). But I think most would want the living attention, some pointings tailored to one's specific situation.
http://www.omkaradatta.info
Thsnks. Gurus not alive
Thsnks. Gurus not alive there are many who are great ones, but I feel in my humble opinion that a living one could help you better, communicating with a saint is much more beneficial.
Ciao
Thanks fo reply. I don't
Thanks fo reply. I don't know whay but I am more attracted to Indian/Oriental gurus, maybe because of my long years spent in Asia. My ex wife is Indian, so my kids. Nothing againsta westeners, but they miss something, they don't have that oriental culture and depth.
I agree that simpler a guru is the better attracts me, I am scared of big organizations and behaviour like movie stars. Do you know any other Indian guru who has simplicity and guide you in your path ?
OM NAMAH SHIVAYA
i agree with you
most of the western gurus I have encountered turned to be a disappointment (there were exceptions though such as Eckhart Tolle and Shlomo Kalo).
On the other hand, there are also many Indian gurus that are not genuine but as there are so many there are also splendid ones and I also prefer those to the westerners.
I think basically it is the different basic conditionings of the eastern ones which are more of trust, belief and the heart by default while the basic conditionings of the western ones are more of skepticism and intellectual analysis.
And maybe it is because I'm superwoman and as such I am very picky... seriously, maybe it's us: there is a saying in the bible that goes something like "there can be no prophet in his hometown"...
No problem for SW
Seems like superwoman should be able to find the best guru. Hehe. Don't you have a magic lasso or something for getting to the truth? :)~
Identity Crisis
You are WonderWoman, don't you remember the seventies?
My Self is superwoman, my
My Self is superwoman, my "I" is wonderwoman.
Wonder "I"
Exactly. So it wouldn't be superwoman who is picky, would it?
Don't be silly...
Your Self isn't male or female ;-).
http://www.omkaradatta.info
HI SW, can you share if you
HI SW, can you share if you have met so far a reliable guru from the East ?ùù
Ciao
Reliable gurus from the east
Of course a judgment whether a certain guru is reliable or not is subjective.
Thinking about it now, this is a very good question - there is only one I can say I'm confident about his reliability: Nisargadatta Maharaj - although i didn't meet him physically, it feels like i did.
GURU
People are just curious only at the surface to find a GURU,but unfortunately there is no thirst in there souls for that.To find a GURU is not a childish play one has to bet each and every thing to get HIM.In this jet age people want a GURU like a computer, handy to them.To find a GURU you need a deep search and soul shattering desire.If you are genuine by heart,then lets see why you are not able to meet your GURU.GURU is always available but not disciple/truth seeker.
Do not search for GURU search for you disciple hood and you will find GURU in front of you.
OM