This project is currently under construction and in the midst of reorganisation...
"So long as it's not exclusive, that is, so long as the man or woman (whoever they are), the guru, doesn't come and say, "I alone am the Truth" (meaning the others don't know, I alone know), so long as they're not like that, it's quite all right. And when they're enlightened enough to tell you, "Yes, I've caught hold of one little bit, I am giving it to you, but all other little bits are good" ... But even if you put all the bits together, you are still far from the Truth."
Types of Gurus
Every guru, religious or sectarian or cult leader, esotericist, spiritual master, or adept, has something unusual or extraordianry abut them. Even the total fakes and con-artists. If they didbn't, they would never acquire a following!
Materialism looks to explanations in the wiring ofg the brain as to why people wanty to follow gurus or authority figures. Devotees uncritically accept their own guru as a worldteacher, supremely enlightened one, or avatar of this age. I would rather adopt a third position, based on occult and esoteric analysis, between uncritical scepticismn and uncritical belief.
It is my thesis that both genuine and false Gurus and Spiritual Masters and Teachers can be understood according to a number of parameters or qualities. Obviously, sometimes several qualities will be present at the same time. The following list (as is this entire topic, or even this entire website) is intended to be suggestive only, hopefully to encourage individual interpretations, and not intended as exhaustive or dogmatic.
Characteristics of True and False Gurus and Adepts:
(in no order of importance other than alphabetical)
- Abusive - abuses the trust placed in them by their deveottees. A sign that the guru is not authentically Enlightened, although he/she may or may not be genuinely Intermediate Zone
- Avataric - the Divine incarnated in human (or other) form. Includes Fully Enlightenment
- Charismatic - an otherwise ordinary (or not) person with a magnetic orexic quality that attracts others. Note, here applies to non-daimonic, non-enlightened, non-hypnotic, non-intermediate zone charismatic "gurus", since those other attributes generally provide charisma in any case
- Daimonic - may be an otherwise ordinary (or not) person, but backed by a powerful orexic entity or attractor (a daimon). The daimonic figure has superhuman abilities on the occult level, may be associated with miracles, profound experiences by devotees, etc. Includes Charisma.
- Erratic - a partially (Intermediate Zone) or Fully (Liberated) Enlightened guru who behaves in an eccentric manner. Includes "Crazy Wisdom". May be the result of an authentic action, but more often means a weakness of the adhar, or in other words a lack of Self-Mastery.
- Fully Enlightened/Liberated - has totally transcended all selfishness, narcissism, kleshas, separation (from others and from the Supreme) etc. There are actually degrees of Enlightenment, including states beyond even traditional nondual Enlightenment. Includes Charisma, Saintliness and Self-Mastery
- Hypnotic - not Daimonic, Enlightened or Intermediate Zone, but nevertheless has a sense of control or power over devotees. Includes Charisma. To non-devotees this may appear ridiculous.
- Intermediate Zone - aka Partial Enlightenment - refers to those states between ordinary consciousness and complete Enlightenment. Includes many extraordinary and profound experiences, abilities, realisations and powers; the guru may or may not themseves consider they have reached the goal. Often able to confer profound experiences on devotees. Includes Charisma
- Saintly - an otherwise ordinary (or not) person with exceedingly highly developed selflessness, compassion, principles, etc. Note, here applies to non-enlightened gurus, since Fully Enlightenment provides saintliness in any case.
- Self-Mastery - an otherwise ordinary (or not) person with exceedingly highly developed powers of will. Self-Mastery may involve mastery of desires, likes and dislikes, control of thoughts and consciousness, mastery of the body, and so on. Note, here applies to non-enlightened gurus, since Fully Enlightenment provides self-mastery in any case.
Note on this topic:
This topic contains some material originally written some seven or eight years ago. Yjis no longer reflects my current understanding. So the relevant sections have to be rewritten or deleted
Some of these pages are no doubt very biased or opinionated, i am only writing about things as I see and understand them. Others are more neutral. See this disclaimer
Unless otherwise attributed or quoted, all material on this page authored by myself is licensed under a
Creative Commons Attribution Non-Commercial license version 1.0 and version 2.0.
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M.Alan Kazlev
page uploaded 15 September 1999, last modified 1 June 2008
