Reflections on Gurus, Devotional Love, Spiritual Authority, and Abuse
JOAN TOLLIFSON·SUNDAY, FEBRUARY 10, 2019 ... (about Mooji)
…But the guru format, especially when it includes a strong devotional component, can certainly make it more likely. I’ve always been extremely wary of turning individual human beings, however enlightened they may be, into spiritual idols or authority figures. This seems to me to be an approach laden with dangers, particularly if the teacher or guru is charismatic and has not fully dealt with their own shadow side. And no one, as I’ve said in my most recent posts (1/29/19 and 2/1/19), has ever completely worked through their shadow side and removed all their blind spots. No human being is above delusion. And yet, some gurus and teachers believe and/or pretend otherwise. One very popular guru about whom many rumors have swirled has recently posted a statement on his Facebook page insisting these rumors are all untrue and saying, “My heart has always been clean. I have never done anything to harm anyone and I never will…God would not uphold and support anyone who is taking advantage of His children.” Really?! Can anyone after six or seven decades of life actually claim they have never harmed anyone, and can anyone actually believe that God allows no harm, given all the popular and well-supported gurus whose abuses have been well-documented? This guru ended his statement of innocence by urging everyone to “keep benefiting from the wonderful interactions you’ve had with me over the years.” I can’t imagine saying that either, any more than I can imagine selling photos of myself at my events or letting people kiss my feet. I’m not saying this teacher is guilty of anything—I don’t know—but I found some of his denial a bit questionable….
[www.facebook.com]
(Mooji made a huge mistake with his statement, as the result of it, much more people from different mainstream discussion forums, Buddha at the gas pump, and other online journalists noticed it and start wondering who actually is Moojibaba and his sanghas, I think that Moojibaba failed the test).
JOAN TOLLIFSON·SUNDAY, FEBRUARY 10, 2019 ... (about Mooji)
…But the guru format, especially when it includes a strong devotional component, can certainly make it more likely. I’ve always been extremely wary of turning individual human beings, however enlightened they may be, into spiritual idols or authority figures. This seems to me to be an approach laden with dangers, particularly if the teacher or guru is charismatic and has not fully dealt with their own shadow side. And no one, as I’ve said in my most recent posts (1/29/19 and 2/1/19), has ever completely worked through their shadow side and removed all their blind spots. No human being is above delusion. And yet, some gurus and teachers believe and/or pretend otherwise. One very popular guru about whom many rumors have swirled has recently posted a statement on his Facebook page insisting these rumors are all untrue and saying, “My heart has always been clean. I have never done anything to harm anyone and I never will…God would not uphold and support anyone who is taking advantage of His children.” Really?! Can anyone after six or seven decades of life actually claim they have never harmed anyone, and can anyone actually believe that God allows no harm, given all the popular and well-supported gurus whose abuses have been well-documented? This guru ended his statement of innocence by urging everyone to “keep benefiting from the wonderful interactions you’ve had with me over the years.” I can’t imagine saying that either, any more than I can imagine selling photos of myself at my events or letting people kiss my feet. I’m not saying this teacher is guilty of anything—I don’t know—but I found some of his denial a bit questionable….
[www.facebook.com]
(Mooji made a huge mistake with his statement, as the result of it, much more people from different mainstream discussion forums, Buddha at the gas pump, and other online journalists noticed it and start wondering who actually is Moojibaba and his sanghas, I think that Moojibaba failed the test).