A Monk's Take on Cults

Someone sent me a link to a monk's response when asked how to spot/protect yourself from a cult. I like hearing what a person that lives a spiritual life (though atypical for an American) thinks about these things. Here are some highlights:

Unfortunately, there are no shortages of gurus, spiritual teachers, self-proclaimed lamas and "enlightened masters" out there, particularly in the West. And although I personally consider the behavior of such individuals as predatory, I also believe that we have to see this for what it is, and realize that the reason such things occur more prevalently in the West is because we expect instant gratification. So we embolden the con-artists, the hucksters and the opportunistic personality-types to do their level best to take us for all we're worth.

In the West, the whole concept of guru is largely misunderstood. A guru is a teacher, not unlike any other spiritual teacher. Despite what they would often like you to believe, few, if any of them, are enlightened. Surely, they may possess a better understanding of the spiritual path, and may have more experience in the practice, but they are not enlightened. So the first piece of advice I will give you is that any time someone tells you that they are going to "give you enlightenment" or "take you to god" with a tap of a peacock feather, a glance or a "magic word", expect that they are entirely full of shit, and get out of there quietly, when the dog and pony show is over. No guru has the ability to "take you to god" or give you enlightenment, because it's not theirs to "give". Such absurd acts are born out of a delusional and dualistic mindset. All that you need, you already possess. No one can unlock it but you.

A true teacher will not demand anything of his or her students, without demanding the same or more of themselves... and not just when it's convenient for a photo opp, but when no one else seems to be looking! If a teacher expects one to submit wholly to their control, don't wait until a convenient time to walk away... get up immediately and run, dragging anyone else who will come with you out of that dangerous environment! Love is never controlling, and whatever is not love is not sacred.

If a spiritual teacher tells you, or if their "inner circle" tells you, that outside of that teaching, people are lost, asleep, dead or damned. They are completely delusional as well. Get out before you find out that the "lost" ones are the ones who are susceptible to such cult-like programming.

Interesting, no?