What I call the "guru trap" is one of the most successful systems of exploiting people, often having a very positive and convincing facade, behind which there is almost always a concealed desire for power over others, fame, money and the unhindered satisfaction of the guru's human desires. The same themes are used to control and gain power over others, whether with kind or selfish intent, but their presentation and use varies from the simplistic to the very most sophisticated and subtle kinds of indoctrination, up to outright ?brainwashing?. There is no guarantee that an intellectual sceptic or a scientist will see through the many-layered ideology and phenomena which can be involved. An august line-up of scientists and other intellectual workers have been drawn to many gurus. Fortunately, after many years of adherence, some have disaffiliated themselves, having gone through the charade and seen it for what it is.
The likenesses between most competing masters and gurus, their teachings and methods of instruction, are often so striking that there can be little doubt that they draw upon a common culture which holds beliefs and skills which serve to control and exploit people to the guru's advantage. This culture has been developed and extended in certain religions over milennia, most often originating in India, where the guru-devotee relationship is so ancient and widespread.
THE BAIT IN THE TRAP
The guru-trap is always baited with the attraction of personal spiritual development, transformational and transcendental experiences and teachings beyond conventional education of any kind. It is invariably presented as eternal (but hidden) wisdom direct from the source of all knowledge, especially the kind of illumination that cannot be conveyed by mere words and study. Insights handed down by word-of-mouth via a guru figure have accumulated many methods of control and manipulation of persons. These reach back to an ancient Indian priesthood and the ideology entwined with esoteric texts regarded as scriptures. This tradition does enable acolytes to experience things they would otherwise very seldom do, and perhaps to attain certain unusual powers of the mind and body. The master is a person who knows how to treat each individual to advantage, to mold each kind of psyche towards specified ends (often his own). The student or disciple must thus - through protracted experience - become free of all doubts about and full of respect for him or her. As one's insight into the spiritual life apparently develops through the guru's grace (i.e. His Grace, God's grace direct from - or via - the master) - one should learn to worship him unreservedly. The techniques of suggestion, psyche-manipulation, emotional-mental brainwashing, hypnosis, and the use of rewards and punishments are part of the master's armory. Knowledge of unusual states of mind and body are employed, including what are called 'para-psychological' phenomena. Such phenomena are reported so extremely widely throughout history and human cultures - and especially within Hinduism - that they cannot be denied as such, but the explanation of how the various states come about may be quite non-mystical. Here I take no definitive standpoint on this broad issue, but withhold judgement, while observing that the latest genuinely scientific researches are beginning to explain the most unusual states of mind, from waking visions (UFOs, abductions etc.) to thought transference (also in dreams) and so-called 'healing' powers.
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To investigate this in depth, go to my main web page at http://www.saibaba-x.org.uk/
where there is a wealth of materials illumining many aspects of gurus - especially Sathya Sai Baba, one of the least penetrable deceivers among the many. I up-date regular news on developments and related views at my blog http://robertpriddy.wordpress.com/
