Where does a guru get his power from?

Where does a guru get his power from? For me, the answer is simple: from all those who give away their power to him. This power is then abused by the guru to further trap and manipulate his devotees and garner even more power.

While researching internet on this subject, I came across the article below that you may also find interesting. And before you tell me that a good guru wouldn’t abuse power, I have to say a good guru wouldn’t want your power in the first place! What use or need an enlightened Master would have for other people’s power?

Some of you may have been surprised or even shocked by the kind of attention our blog has received from SriSri and his agents, esp. Sad Swami’s vicious attacks on those presumed to be the bloggers. Why would SriSri be so worried about our blog that he has ordered so many attacks on it and the creation of so many counter-blogs? What madness caused him to dictate that letter to Sad. Swami and sending it to all AOL groups? Aren’t you surprised that they are so worried about 5-6 negative bloggers (according to Sad. Swami himself) ? Doesn’t SriSri often say that the less devotees he has the less work for him. So why does he worry about few devotees leaving him?

The fact of the matter is that SriSri doesn’t have any power of his own. He feeds off the power that his devotees surrender to him. Each person that wakes up and reclaims his/her own power back is reducing SriSri’s base of power. This monster’s power base is reducing, so he is lashing out.

Those of you who attended the recent TRM in European Ashram, heard with your own ears how worried SriSri is about our blog. You heard with your own ears the comments he made about the alleged blogger (followed by Swami’s vicious letter). Such an insecure guru and do you still keep giving away your power to him? What does it take to wake you up, to see that this guru has nothing to give to you, that he is dependent on you for his power?

Not only you are giving away your power, but also you are trapping other innocent people to feed your guru’s insatiable thirst for power. To me, that is a crime. Wake up and free yourself. If you prefer the security of your slavery/dependence on SriSri, that is fine, but at least stop deceiving the innocent seekers. One day, not too long from now, they will confront you and you can no longer say you didn’t know!

http://www.onenesswebsite.com/speak.html

Extracts from August 2007 post

…..At the same time, you might ask yourself “what’s the harm in it, as far as I’m concerned? Energy is being transmitted through “deeksha.” That has to be good. Right?” This question opened up an entirely different avenue of exploration. And the information I uncovered in delving into it, proved to be equally fascinating.

When a “guru” establishes a connection with a spiritual aspirant, through the imparting of energy …often accompanied by a secret mantra …a spiritual cord is established through which, in theory, the “guru” can continue to feed the student with energy. This is part of the timeless tradition of “guru” and disciple. And when practiced with integrity, it can supply the aspiring student with an abundant energy-boost that can greatly accelerate the process of spiritual transformation. It is for this reason that so many feel guided to seek to affiliate with an Indian “guru”, to receive “deeksha” or “shaktipat”, or simply to be in the physical presence of such a one, whose vibration is extremely high.

What we often don’t suspect, is that the spiritual cord which the “guru” establishes with his student through these practices, is able to carry energy both ways. When the “guru” has dubious connections himself, or has motives that are rooted in ego and spiritual empire-building, the cord can be used to direct the energy-flow the other way and literally “vacuum-out” the unsuspecting student, vibrationally. This could explain why, after being in the presence of certain “gurus”, what may have started-out feeling quite nice, suddenly doesn’t feel good at all.

Initially, in these unscrupulous practices, the student is given a little dose of energy. At first. In this way, any doubts or concerns one may have had are soothed. And we become open …and trusting. It is only later that the tap is re-directed, and the energy begins to flow the other way …from the student to the “guru.”

In cases where the integrity of the “guru” and his organization is further compromised by an affiliation with a Black Tantric practitioner, the unsuspecting student’s energy is actually sucked through the “guru” and filtered directly to feed the Black Tantric individuals who stand behind the entire “spiritual” super-structure.

In cases where certain individuals have received an initiation and are declared to be qualified to be giving so-called “deeksha” energy to others, a spiritual cord has been well established within them, to the extent that they would be able to function as mediums for the guru. And through these people, the energy of others can be drained. In this way, the insidious practice of energy piracy can be practiced clandestinely by certain so-called Indian “gurus”, while couched in lovely, believable-sounding spiritual jargon calculated to ensnare the hearts …and wallets …of sincere and financially affluent seekers in the West.

It turns out that this is a practice that is actually quite widespread in India …and elsewhere. And according to the information I uncovered, this could well explain the mysterious symptoms so many have been reporting. Who would ever have suspected it?

So, what is the message to all of us, in revealing this perhaps astounding information? I would say to you that the lesson here is discernment. As western spiritual seekers, we are often naive and trusting where “gurus” …and where anyone sporting a little amped-up energy …is concerned. We are often far too quick to give our power away and serve ourselves up on a platter, which we then place at the feet of someone whose affiliations may be questionable.

The opportunity in these times of mass spiritual awakening and inner re-directedness, is to become spiritually “street smart.” Everything coming down the spiritual pike is not necessarily Divinely-inspired. There are all sorts of scams, fronted by individuals who are parading around as “Divinity incarnate”, in these times. It is for those of us who are sincerely God-focused, to be extremely careful in selecting those who will help us on our own personalized path to the Divine inner-connection I’ve come to know as “Oneness.”

The message I documented in the name of that Source is a message of Self-empowerment. The teachings of Oneness guide us in sourcing the experience of the Divinity harbored within our own inner depths, without getting ensnared in the trappings of a spiritual hierarchy or a religious organization. Should we feel that the guidance of an incarnate teacher is desired, Oneness helps us to take care in selecting him or her.

The message in bringing the foregoing information to light is to encourage each of us to do our homework. Resources abound in these times that support us in investigating thoroughly those whom we may be considering as candidates for guiding us into the sacred ground that awaits us within. The internet is brimming with firsthand stories of those who have blazed the trail before us with virtually any “guru” you may be considering. Google them …freely! You may find that by adding a word like “scam” to names you might wish to investigate, the Google results become particularly eye-opening.

I have hesitated a thousand times before choosing to come forth with the results of my own investigation into the dynamics of “guru-dom.” Some may wonder if I have personal motives for doing so. I can tell you, in all honesty, that I do not. My only hope, in presenting this information to you, is to spur you on to investigate for yourself, and to draw your own conclusions. Rasha

**************************

My open letter to you all, printed above, and the choice to come forth with it at this time, was inspired by the following passages, received from Oneness a few days ago. I am including the communication here, in its entirety, as the August selection of “Oneness Speaks.”

…..When one encounters a teacher, a path or a book that rings true, it is as though one has happened upon the ultimate word in spiritual expression. In that particular set of eyes, all else pales by comparison. And blinders are donned, from that point forth that could prevent the spiritual aspirant from becoming distracted by anything else that might beckon for one’s attention. What is less apparent is the extent to which others are having similar or identical experiences, albeit via a different avenue. The diversity in expression within the human populace presently making this journey attests to the individualized nature in which the collective unites, one heart at a time, into the embrace of Oneness.

There are those one encounters along the way who have devised methods that appeal to those seeking short-cuts and an effortless route to spiritual awakening. These tricksters and their methods are as timeless as the human quest for the Divine itself. Elaborate schemes are designed, and anointed with sacred-sounding jargon, that would lure the unsuspecting seeker into a false sense of security. It is through these compromised energies that many receive their very first taste of augmented vibration, and they are easily misled into believing that they have experienced Divinity made manifest at the hands of these individuals and the organizations they represent.

Many, unwittingly have lent their own hands to the perpetuation of spiritual scams that are essentially little more than financial empire building with a spiritual twist. Certain timeless spiritual truisms may be sprinkled liberally through their format, in order to win the public’s trust and attention. And in this way, the unshielded individual is able to be exploited, not only financially but divested of his resources of energy, in the process.

Many such scams have arisen in these times which are built on foundations of questionable motives and compromised practices. It is for the spiritual seeker to exercise discernment with regard to what is imbibed in the name of Divine Light energy. For, all that can be perceived as “energy” is not necessarily something that will speed you on your way to your rendezvous with Divinity.

Much that abounds in the spiritual marketplace in these times is energy that quite literally has “strings attached.” The token sampling of energies with which you are initially gifted, and which may seem harmless enough at first, may well come complete with energy lines, commonly referred to as spiritual “cords” through which your energies may continue to be drained over the course of time. Initially, you may well experience the feeling of elation or joy during these introductory sessions. Yet, as time goes by, you discover that you are not feeling at all blissful …and that your circumstances have begun to deteriorate. Sometimes, when the practice of receiving these energy “treatments” has not been continued, it is difficult to make the correlation between the downward spiral one begins to experience and the initial, so-called energy “blessing” one may have received somewhere along the way.

The “cord”, by then would be well in place and would be serving those who have created these systems with an ever expanding source of energy with which to attract new followers. The largely unsuspecting givers of these energies are serving as mediums through which the life force of others can be filtered into a central core, through which escalating power and mind-control tactics can then be orchestrated.

It is your responsibility in these times, which are so ripe for the exploits of the spiritual opportunist, that you become discerning in what you choose to believe and what you choose to imbibe vibrationally. “Instant enlightenment” is not something bestowed upon seekers for a fee, hefty or otherwise …regardless of what may have been claimed. And those who might have you believe that jumping on their bandwagon will get you an effortless ride to Self-Realization have given you something to question, rather than something to be automatically snapped-up.

The foundation of the teachings of this Source is Self-empowerment. The energies that others may be touting are the spiritual birthright of everyone in human form. This phenomenon of radiating “Divine Light” through the hands is not something new. And no organization has a trademark on it. As you elevate your vibration through your own conscientious, self-styled spiritual practice, you will discover that these energies flow through you as naturally as breath, in response to the focus of your attention. You are not required to declare your devotion to anyone in human form for this to manifest. It is a natural part of the human condition and has been so since humankind’s humblest beginnings. What differentiates those earlier populations from the one at hand is the widespread awareness of the spiritual awakened amongst you that this is so.

It is in the highest interests of anyone who considers himself to be on the journey to Oneness to be selective in what one chooses to receive in the name of that Divine Source. For the journey that some have packaged and will attempt to market to the sincerely trusting and the unsuspecting amongst you, is not one that needs to be delivered to you from another being …at any price. It is something that is readily available to you …absolutely free of charge …from the Divinity that waits within your very own being. That connection is best made within the sanctity of one’s own sacred self and doesn’t require fanfare, the trappings of methodology and complicated systems of man-made dogma.

It is all so simple. So pure. And so readily available …when you cease seeking it from the world outside you …and in the sanctity of your own Inner Stillness you recognize the Divine touch you yearn for as something that’s already there. And has been all along. You Are the Oneness that is sought. And you will realize the experience of it when you transcend the need to believe it. And allow yourself the grace to simply know it.