Quotes by Corboy about gurus like Chris Butler
* Inability to enjoy peer to peer adult relationships
* Overriding need to control people and people's perceptions of self
* Ambition
* Family members who profit
* Creation of glamorous backstory, stories may change, books, literature
and websites documenting earlier backstories may be suppressed
* Presents as confident and charming; hides a long history of
studying various methods of social manipulation
* Early career often spent teaching, in some
as a monk or junior clergy
* May study methods of trance induction, takes care to conceal this
* May rationalize abuse as necessary for spiritual growth - crazy wisdom.
.Charismatic and Accessible During Early Career
* Often handsome and slim, while young
* Gift of gab
* Offers free meditation classes
* May set up yoga centers, sponsor vegetarian or vegan restaurants, food products, cooking classes,
* Creates a charity and political projects to distract from spending bulk of funds on self and on enriching extended family
* May talent spot and pay some promising disciples to go through school and professional training as therapists,political candidates , health care professionals who then become
"owned" by the guru,
* Guru and disciples say they are apolitical but acquire property, which means they will be very political, especially when dealing with neighbors
* Becomes expert or hires experts in PR, real estate, finance, website design, social media marketing, search engine optimization, hospitality and event planning.
* Generates excitement by announcing plans for an ashram,or political positions solicits funds and donated labor
* Recycles material from other gurus and does not give credit
* Uses same few quotes from Bhagavad Gita
* Uses silences, jokes, insults giggles when cannot answer questions
* Gets disciples to laugh at anyone who asks awkward questions
* Atmosphere around the early career guru is often free and delightful, lots of improvisation. Easy to socialize with the guru
* Enforcers appear - senior disciples who issue reprimands, run disciplinary meetings Disciples begin to fear them
* Stories told of the guru now have fear components. There is now dark talk of critics and former disciples having bad outcomes -
* Disciples disappear and no one says why or they are blamed for disloyalty
* Increasingly surrounded by and screened by an entourage
* Increasingly surrounded by people who look and act the same,
* The guru plays favorites, with an inner select circle of favored disciples,
secret elite gatherings, other less favored disciples excluded.
* Taste in decor emphasizes throne like padded chairs on raised platforms, often has a vase of flowers alongside. Flowers in vase may be used as a prop for talks.
* Demands more from disciples, simple path no longer simple
* Harder for disciples to have access to guru
* Pictures of guru become more prevalent
* Increasingly fussy about food
* Temper flares and worsens - character deteriorates due to flattery,
social isolation, lack of opportunities to exercise patience
* Ingratitude for wealth and fame given by trustful disciples
* Photographs of guru are usually from the younger years
* Travels less frequently, increasingly gives retreats or satsangs over Skype
* Rageful yet pathetically dependent upon a few trusted disciples, often rageful at same disciples
* Disciples may be assaulted verbally behind closed doors by guru or by guru's favorites or both.
* Disciples who donated years of their time and much labor are often
ignored or ejected
* Paranoia as increasing number of former disciples instigate discussions online
* Volunteer donated labor from disciples, no need for payroll or workman's compensation -- how simple!
* Getting waited on by an entourage, meals, laundry, housing, appointments all
taken care of
* Get to stay in swank hotels and rich disciple's pays for it
* Chose only companions who are interesting and entertaining, kick them out when
bored
* Influence national politics and have politicians courting you so you'll tell
their disciples to vote for you
* Nonstop adulation and luxury get boring, guru needs more and yet more
adulation and luxury to get any sort of mood enhancement - just like a junkie
who needs to shoot more and yet more dope
* Increased scrutiny from adverse media coverage leads to paranoia
* Inability to enjoy peer to peer adult relationships
* Overriding need to control people and people's perceptions of self
* Ambition
* Family members who profit
* Creation of glamorous backstory, stories may change, books, literature
and websites documenting earlier backstories may be suppressed
* Presents as confident and charming; hides a long history of
studying various methods of social manipulation
* Early career often spent teaching, in some
as a monk or junior clergy
* May study methods of trance induction, takes care to conceal this
* May rationalize abuse as necessary for spiritual growth - crazy wisdom.
.Charismatic and Accessible During Early Career
* Often handsome and slim, while young
* Gift of gab
* Offers free meditation classes
* May set up yoga centers, sponsor vegetarian or vegan restaurants, food products, cooking classes,
* Creates a charity and political projects to distract from spending bulk of funds on self and on enriching extended family
* May talent spot and pay some promising disciples to go through school and professional training as therapists,political candidates , health care professionals who then become
"owned" by the guru,
* Guru and disciples say they are apolitical but acquire property, which means they will be very political, especially when dealing with neighbors
* Becomes expert or hires experts in PR, real estate, finance, website design, social media marketing, search engine optimization, hospitality and event planning.
* Generates excitement by announcing plans for an ashram,or political positions solicits funds and donated labor
* Recycles material from other gurus and does not give credit
* Uses same few quotes from Bhagavad Gita
* Uses silences, jokes, insults giggles when cannot answer questions
* Gets disciples to laugh at anyone who asks awkward questions
* Atmosphere around the early career guru is often free and delightful, lots of improvisation. Easy to socialize with the guru
* Enforcers appear - senior disciples who issue reprimands, run disciplinary meetings Disciples begin to fear them
* Stories told of the guru now have fear components. There is now dark talk of critics and former disciples having bad outcomes -
* Disciples disappear and no one says why or they are blamed for disloyalty
* Increasingly surrounded by and screened by an entourage
* Increasingly surrounded by people who look and act the same,
* The guru plays favorites, with an inner select circle of favored disciples,
secret elite gatherings, other less favored disciples excluded.
* Taste in decor emphasizes throne like padded chairs on raised platforms, often has a vase of flowers alongside. Flowers in vase may be used as a prop for talks.
* Demands more from disciples, simple path no longer simple
* Harder for disciples to have access to guru
* Pictures of guru become more prevalent
* Increasingly fussy about food
* Temper flares and worsens - character deteriorates due to flattery,
social isolation, lack of opportunities to exercise patience
* Ingratitude for wealth and fame given by trustful disciples
* Photographs of guru are usually from the younger years
* Travels less frequently, increasingly gives retreats or satsangs over Skype
* Rageful yet pathetically dependent upon a few trusted disciples, often rageful at same disciples
* Disciples may be assaulted verbally behind closed doors by guru or by guru's favorites or both.
* Disciples who donated years of their time and much labor are often
ignored or ejected
* Paranoia as increasing number of former disciples instigate discussions online
* Volunteer donated labor from disciples, no need for payroll or workman's compensation -- how simple!
* Getting waited on by an entourage, meals, laundry, housing, appointments all
taken care of
* Get to stay in swank hotels and rich disciple's pays for it
* Chose only companions who are interesting and entertaining, kick them out when
bored
* Influence national politics and have politicians courting you so you'll tell
their disciples to vote for you
* Nonstop adulation and luxury get boring, guru needs more and yet more
adulation and luxury to get any sort of mood enhancement - just like a junkie
who needs to shoot more and yet more dope
* Increased scrutiny from adverse media coverage leads to paranoia