Last week I discovered an online book called ‘Stripping the Gurus’ Sex, violence, abuse and enlightenment by Geoffrey D. Falk.

Mr Falk lifts the veil on corrupt spiritual teachers and organizations with an eye opening look the dark side of supposedly enlightened leaders. He takes the expected shots at the Roman Catholic church and the Scientologists but he also deconstructs some interesting names within the navel gazing and mantra slinging communities. Names like Maharishi, Dass, Rajneesh and Trungpa.

Other tantalizing chapters include:

Zen and the art of sex and violence

To a nunnery

Cockroach yoga

Deconstructing Ken Wilber

I have not read the book in it’s entirety but I am working on it. It is very interesting and it showcases some of the abuses that people may be setting themselves up for when giving themselves and their money over to a specific guru or path.

These are some prime examples of how an apparently wise and spiritually advanced teacher can misrepresent their own level of development. They preach one thing, yet do another. Vice and frailty is part of being human but some of these egomaniacs are deeply flawed individuals projecting themselves as holier than thou whilst sinning against the people they are supposedly trying to reach.

These exposures and critique pieces are good reminders of what happens when you over take on the mantel of teacher or leader. These serve as warnings as well.

Reading articles and pieces that denounce and expose the ideas or lifestyles of the spiritual teachers has had an effect on my own ideas and possible plans for teaching.

I can choose now, to some degree, how I want to present my own teachings. I don’t want to be drop kicked off a pedestal by disillusioned former students so I will wage my own campaign of making sure you have not been led to believe I have some kind of vaunted level of enlightenment or special powers. I don’t want to be a chapter in Mr Ward’s second edition printing, nor do I want to find myself being mocked at James Randi Educational Foundation for my untestable or unprovable claims to sidhis or powers.

I would not want to be considered one of the Unenlightened Pseudomasters that con and cheat genuine well meaning spiritual seekers.

Geoffrey’s comment at the bottom of the index page sums the attitude up nicely. Pay attention Micheal B.

“Being *God,* after all, means never having to say you’re sorry.”