I did a little comparison exercice between 2 modern spiritual teachers, Mooji and Byron Katie:
1) Both have built up a big business and worldwide network "family" on the enlightenment market with help of modern technology.
2) Both have based their teaching method on their own individual awakening experience and teach a "new" kind of method: the Work for Byron Katie, the Invitation for Mooji. Byron Katie does not claim any lineage.
Just note that this is not at all the case in traditional teaching of Advaita Vedanta (which Mooji is claimed to be a representative). That one is based on careful study of ancient scriptures which are said to be revealed and unchanged age-old elaborate successful methodology. This does not mean that a Vedanta teacher will not share a personal experience but it is incidental, not the foundation of the teaching which are given scriptures.
3) Both have a big following, but Byron Katie is not worshipped or is object of a personality cult.
4) Byron Katie speaks very openly and candidly about her husband and the way they interact with other: it is a lovely refreshing testimonial. As such she lives an exemplary life, IMO.
I never heard Mooji talking openly in satsang about a partner, past or present. This seems to be kept secret or very vague in his declarations which makes one wonder why as a public figure he would do that. I share what Sahara is suggesting on that point.
5) Both have a Mars in Scorpio in their natal astrological chart. I have observed that this can be expressed as quite overt or covert aggressive behaviour unless this imprint is mastered correctly.
In a question/answer session, you as enquirer may find yourself being cornered, not heard properly, made feel as if you are stupid and small since anyway the teacher knows best and what you share has lesser value in comparison to their method, view or insight; you may leave feeling you need to work harder with their given method to "get" it.
Now just compare this with the way Ramana Maharshi (who was more of a sage than a teacher in the strict traditional Vedanta sense) behaved with people who would come to him. At the time there was no internet, yet people came to him from all over the world. He did not behave like he was someone special, there was no hugging session, he was simply himself, people would sit around him. From the many testimonials i have read he seemed to have the ability to identify with individuals, know where they were at and then respond exactly at their level of understanding. Sometimes a mere look would settle a burning question or pain for one person and they would leave and never come back, having received what was needed for them at that time. The argument that a dead master can no longer challenge your ego personally (as if this was absolute necessity) is anti-Advaitic by definition for if you have accepted Advaita teaching there is no death for the true Self. Ramana is still an inspiration for many regardless of time and place.
Just food for thought. Byron Katie encourages her audience to inquire into stressful thoughts. Mooji might disregard this as just useless mind stuff!...
1) Both have built up a big business and worldwide network "family" on the enlightenment market with help of modern technology.
2) Both have based their teaching method on their own individual awakening experience and teach a "new" kind of method: the Work for Byron Katie, the Invitation for Mooji. Byron Katie does not claim any lineage.
Just note that this is not at all the case in traditional teaching of Advaita Vedanta (which Mooji is claimed to be a representative). That one is based on careful study of ancient scriptures which are said to be revealed and unchanged age-old elaborate successful methodology. This does not mean that a Vedanta teacher will not share a personal experience but it is incidental, not the foundation of the teaching which are given scriptures.
3) Both have a big following, but Byron Katie is not worshipped or is object of a personality cult.
4) Byron Katie speaks very openly and candidly about her husband and the way they interact with other: it is a lovely refreshing testimonial. As such she lives an exemplary life, IMO.
I never heard Mooji talking openly in satsang about a partner, past or present. This seems to be kept secret or very vague in his declarations which makes one wonder why as a public figure he would do that. I share what Sahara is suggesting on that point.
5) Both have a Mars in Scorpio in their natal astrological chart. I have observed that this can be expressed as quite overt or covert aggressive behaviour unless this imprint is mastered correctly.
In a question/answer session, you as enquirer may find yourself being cornered, not heard properly, made feel as if you are stupid and small since anyway the teacher knows best and what you share has lesser value in comparison to their method, view or insight; you may leave feeling you need to work harder with their given method to "get" it.
Now just compare this with the way Ramana Maharshi (who was more of a sage than a teacher in the strict traditional Vedanta sense) behaved with people who would come to him. At the time there was no internet, yet people came to him from all over the world. He did not behave like he was someone special, there was no hugging session, he was simply himself, people would sit around him. From the many testimonials i have read he seemed to have the ability to identify with individuals, know where they were at and then respond exactly at their level of understanding. Sometimes a mere look would settle a burning question or pain for one person and they would leave and never come back, having received what was needed for them at that time. The argument that a dead master can no longer challenge your ego personally (as if this was absolute necessity) is anti-Advaitic by definition for if you have accepted Advaita teaching there is no death for the true Self. Ramana is still an inspiration for many regardless of time and place.
Just food for thought. Byron Katie encourages her audience to inquire into stressful thoughts. Mooji might disregard this as just useless mind stuff!...