March 12, 2025

Your Inner Guru: Finding Truth Beyond Fallible Teachers

Your Inner Guru: Finding Truth Beyond Fallible Teachers
The player is loading ...
Your Inner Guru: Finding Truth Beyond Fallible Teachers

Send us a text

The spiritual path requires discernment when allegations arise against gurus, as blind faith contradicts the principles of Advaita Vedanta which emphasizes self-inquiry and ethical conduct from spiritual teachers.

• Distinguishing between teachings and teachers when misconduct allegations surface
• Using vivek (discernment) rather than blind devotion when evaluating guru behavior
• Understanding that dharma and accountability apply to everyone, including spiritual leaders
• Recognizing that the Guru Tattva (principle) transcends any individual teacher
• Protecting the vulnerable takes precedence over preserving a guru's reputation
• Examining what scriptures say about teacher requirements (Shrotriya and Brahmanishta)
• Acknowledging that a guru's actions and embodiment matter as much as their words
• Trusting your inner guidance when something feels wrong with a teacher's conduct
• Following the highest authority—your own Self—rather than potentially flawed individuals

If a spiritual teacher has helped you but faces allegations of misconduct, you can appreciate their teachings while still holding them accountable. Remember that your true guru is within, and no enlightened path requires blind obedience or excusing harmful behavior.


Support the show

Chapters

00:00 - Introduction to Guru Misconduct Topic

06:44 - Advaita Vedanta's View on Guru Allegations

14:29 - Accountability and Dharmic Principles

23:06 - Finding Truth When Gurus Fall

30:54 - Scriptural Guidance on Teacher Ethics

37:09 - Conclusion and Ways Forward

Transcript
WEBVTT

00:00:00.020 --> 00:00:06.974
Hello and welcome to another episode of the Bearded Mystic podcast, and I'm your host, rahul N Singh.

00:00:06.974 --> 00:00:12.528
Today we will be talking about something interesting.

00:00:12.528 --> 00:00:14.874
Let's just say that.

00:00:14.874 --> 00:00:36.619
And the reason I want to discuss this because it is becoming pretty obvious that this seems to be a big problem, especially with gurus that become popular and these matters should be taken seriously.

00:00:36.619 --> 00:00:51.801
But I want to see things from an Advaita Vedanta lens lens.

00:00:51.801 --> 00:01:01.320
So, as you know, recently, base girl field, who has done reports on investigation, reports on amma muji, I think, andrew cohen, a few of these non-dual teachers or gurus in general.

00:01:01.320 --> 00:01:10.022
She's done investigative reports on them and she just recently did one on Sadhguru Jagivasudev.

00:01:10.022 --> 00:01:19.825
Now, obviously, sadhguru is a very popular guru, probably the most popular one on YouTube today in terms of Indian spirituality.

00:01:19.825 --> 00:01:26.295
You know his number of views and number of subscribers is immense.

00:01:26.295 --> 00:01:31.524
He definitely has inspired a lot of people on the spiritual path.

00:01:32.525 --> 00:01:55.272
But when someone is, when somebody has and again this is for people who are over 18, or you know, if you and if you have any previous history of sexual harassment, um, please, you know there's caution now that if you don't listen, you know you can, you don't have to.

00:01:55.272 --> 00:02:02.569
So I want to discuss those allegations, but more so not necessarily if they're true or not.

00:02:02.569 --> 00:02:07.516
But what do we do when there has been allegations?

00:02:07.516 --> 00:02:15.433
How should someone who's on the path of Advaita Vedanta or non-duality, how are they meant to deal with this?

00:02:15.433 --> 00:02:17.081
What do the scriptures say?

00:02:17.081 --> 00:02:20.948
What does our teacher say?

00:02:20.948 --> 00:02:22.830
What does Adi Shankaraji say?

00:02:22.830 --> 00:02:24.552
So we're going to look into that.

00:02:24.552 --> 00:02:35.962
So first of all, you know, one important thing is Advaita Vedanta fully believes that one should first of all practice self-inquiry.

00:02:35.962 --> 00:02:45.290
So, atma Vichara, that is your highest teaching you should have discernment, vivek, about what is right and what is wrong.

00:02:45.290 --> 00:02:47.286
One should uphold dharma.

00:02:47.286 --> 00:02:49.567
Then there's detachment.

00:02:49.567 --> 00:02:56.948
So one shouldn't be too attached to the guru that if allegations come out, you just outright disbelieve it.

00:02:56.948 --> 00:03:09.489
There has to be some discernment and some detachment in order to allow these investigations to follow through, and all these are essential for spiritual growth.

00:03:10.480 --> 00:03:32.829
Now, when a guru is accused of any type of misconduct and whether they're true or not, yeah, and that's including sexual harassment Advaita Vedanta actually tells us that we need to encourage careful analysis rather than blind faith that, oh, my guru can do no wrong.

00:03:32.829 --> 00:03:37.080
You know, that type of mentality means it's blind faith.

00:03:37.080 --> 00:03:42.346
You don't really know what you believe in, it's just a matter of why you believe in this, and that's it.

00:03:42.346 --> 00:04:04.253
There's no discussion if there is allegations of such and mind you, sadhguru not just only has allegations in general with consenting or adult women, it's also in minors, and so this is where it gets concerning for me.

00:04:04.253 --> 00:04:08.099
It's also in minors, and so this is where it gets concerning for me.

00:04:09.620 --> 00:04:17.454
Now, I fundamentally believe that I cannot promote anybody that is, you know, accused of such misconduct.

00:04:17.454 --> 00:04:24.723
You know especially, you know there's no way does it say, these things are consensual.

00:04:24.723 --> 00:04:34.194
So wherever there's misconduct of sexual nature, I believe that that's where I draw the line personally.

00:04:34.194 --> 00:04:40.062
That's just me and my personal preference.

00:04:40.062 --> 00:04:53.315
A lot of people don't really care, but that's not my concern, and I believe that we should hold people to the highest, you know, kind of accountability, especially if they're a teacher.

00:04:53.315 --> 00:05:08.848
So again, this is less to do with sadhgur, more to do with what do we do when we know of a teacher who has been accused of such things?

00:05:08.848 --> 00:05:09.730
And, you know, can we still learn from them?

00:05:09.730 --> 00:05:12.658
You know those gray areas where they could be a good teacher, but obviously their behavior says something else.

00:05:12.658 --> 00:05:20.706
So Advaita Vedanta actually has ways of dealing with that, so one you do have to distinguish between the teaching teachings from the teacher.

00:05:20.706 --> 00:05:22.850
You know that's utilizing your vivek.

00:05:23.391 --> 00:05:30.608
Now we know that, brahman, this absolute truth, this absolute reality, is impersonal and beyond individuals.

00:05:30.608 --> 00:05:32.512
You know it does not belong.

00:05:32.512 --> 00:05:35.285
This truth does not belong to one person.

00:05:35.285 --> 00:05:44.730
Yeah, not one person holds the key to the whole universe and and they should be seen as the highest on the pedestal.

00:05:44.730 --> 00:05:51.528
I'm sorry, if you think your guru is the best, everyone else thinks their guru is the best.

00:05:51.528 --> 00:05:54.007
So what you're saying is nothing special.

00:05:54.007 --> 00:05:57.285
It may be special in your own eyes, but it doesn't mean anything.

00:05:57.285 --> 00:06:10.225
Yeah, in fact, I think it's more from ego that we say such things, because if we say that my guru is better than yours, then literally that's just a game of ego.

00:06:11.567 --> 00:06:20.184
Um, the teachings and the truth remain valid, regardless of if the individual fails to embody it.

00:06:20.184 --> 00:06:27.752
And again, like if certain teachers are, they have allegations of misconduct.

00:06:27.752 --> 00:06:30.915
Then we have to separate the teachings from the teacher.

00:06:30.915 --> 00:06:40.927
We have to say look, it may be that they have great meditation practices, great yogic practices, great knowledge, they explain the scriptures so well.

00:06:40.927 --> 00:06:55.112
That may be so, but the fact is there is misconduct and therefore, um, they have failed to embody what they claim to teach and, uh, what?

00:06:55.112 --> 00:06:58.721
What is expected from them as, as you know, gurus?

00:06:58.721 --> 00:06:59.862
Uh, so to speak.

00:06:59.862 --> 00:07:03.569
So this does not excuse the teacher's misconduct.

00:07:03.569 --> 00:07:11.009
One can appreciate the teachings but at the same time, that doesn't mean that we need to hold the teacher in high regard.

00:07:11.009 --> 00:07:19.591
Yeah, the teaching should be given more importance and yes, in Advaita Vedanta, a guru's integrity matters.

00:07:19.591 --> 00:07:22.168
It is important.

00:07:23.120 --> 00:07:29.447
In the Upanishads and Adi Shankaraji, they both emphasize that a guru should be well-versed in the scriptures.

00:07:29.447 --> 00:07:31.064
So that's the number one thing.

00:07:31.064 --> 00:07:38.187
If they're not, I would say knowing Sanskrit is a minor thing, but they should know the essence of the scriptures.

00:07:38.187 --> 00:07:40.949
They should know how to explain the scriptures.

00:07:40.949 --> 00:07:44.704
They should be a good representation of the scriptures.

00:07:44.704 --> 00:07:47.589
So this is why what this does is Explain the scriptures.

00:07:47.589 --> 00:07:49.052
They should be A good representation Of the scriptures.

00:07:49.052 --> 00:07:55.163
So this is why what this does is it gives you A foundation To assess whether A guru should be followed.

00:07:55.163 --> 00:07:59.692
Yeah, if they can't explain the scriptures very well, then should you follow them.

00:07:59.692 --> 00:08:02.612
What are they going to give you?

00:08:02.612 --> 00:08:05.463
Yeah, all the wisdom that needs to be discussed Is in the scriptures.

00:08:05.524 --> 00:08:11.387
Anyway, the thing is, a teacher, through their embodiment, shows you the practical way of living it.

00:08:11.387 --> 00:08:25.307
So if they're not well versed in the scripture, not just in terms of explaining but embodying also, then it makes this value in the teacher and this should be established in Brahman.

00:08:25.307 --> 00:08:40.870
This should be established in the highest nature, and so if a guru exhibits or shows any type of adharmic, unrighteous, irreligious behavior, then they simply aren't fit to guide seekers.

00:08:40.870 --> 00:08:43.267
It's as clear as that.

00:08:43.267 --> 00:08:45.764
You have to embody what you say.

00:08:45.764 --> 00:08:59.128
Yeah, now it may be that the person has kind of rectified their behavior and and that should also be considered that, you know, have they committed misconduct in the past?

00:08:59.128 --> 00:09:08.330
Okay, for that, you know the due, the due process needs to be followed, like if a criminal investigation needs to occur.

00:09:08.330 --> 00:09:11.809
But at the same time we have to see has it been?

00:09:11.809 --> 00:09:13.687
Is there remorse in what they've done?

00:09:13.687 --> 00:09:20.399
Are they regretful and do they accept that they've done wrong and they're looking to improve themselves?

00:09:20.399 --> 00:09:25.244
But if they're trying to escape it, then you know there's something not right there too, you know.

00:09:25.244 --> 00:09:31.955
Um, so again, a person's realization should reflect in their conduct.

00:09:31.955 --> 00:09:44.847
So, if you think about it, misconduct of any kind, especially of a sexual nature, would be, you know kind of what is a massive contradiction to the scriptures.

00:09:44.847 --> 00:09:49.840
So embodiment is very important, uh, in this, in this sense.

00:09:50.701 --> 00:09:58.760
Uh, now, when it comes to accountability and dharma, as you know the, the shatria spirit, so to speak.

00:09:58.760 --> 00:10:04.566
Uh, you know hindu tradition, obviously Vedantic tradition, includes accountability.

00:10:04.566 --> 00:10:16.576
So you know whether you're a king, whether you're a rishi, whenever and you can see this in the Mahabharata and Ramayana if you did anything wrong, you were challenged.

00:10:16.576 --> 00:10:19.124
You were challenged.

00:10:19.124 --> 00:10:24.537
You have to deal with those challenges.

00:10:24.537 --> 00:10:27.714
If you're accused of something, you have to deal with it.

00:10:27.714 --> 00:10:29.691
You have to deal with that karma.

00:10:29.691 --> 00:10:40.114
And so trying to escape accountability is another way of saying that you think that you are beyond these things.

00:10:40.114 --> 00:10:45.618
You know, and that's not the true embodiment of realization.

00:10:47.403 --> 00:10:51.495
So it's very important to understand that accountability is necessary here.

00:10:51.495 --> 00:10:57.509
And you know righteous action, dharma, it requires protecting the vulnerable.

00:10:57.509 --> 00:11:00.332
So, um it's.

00:11:00.332 --> 00:11:16.071
You know, being there for the vulnerable is more important than one's own individual status, even if you may call yourself the highest guru, but if your conduct is not to help the vulnerable, then what are you for?

00:11:16.071 --> 00:11:28.809
If you think about it, the whole reason why Sri Krishna was even okay with the war with the Mahabharata was because he knew that, for the people, this was necessary.

00:11:28.809 --> 00:11:39.615
They needed a righteous king and Arjuna was the righteous king and so or the Pandavas were the rightful kind of owners of the kingdom.

00:11:39.615 --> 00:11:58.538
So this is what you have to understand that protecting the vulnerable, protecting poor, protecting the people who need society's help the most, is what a guru's kind of conduct should be about living a wonderful lifestyle.

00:11:58.538 --> 00:12:10.635
I'm sorry, but you know, as far as I know, yes, I'm not saying that gurus should not have luxury.

00:12:10.635 --> 00:12:13.427
I'm not saying that.

00:12:13.427 --> 00:12:16.796
But what I'm saying is that that luxury shouldn't come at a cost.

00:12:16.796 --> 00:12:22.253
You know, there should be more done for the poor, there should be more given back to society.

00:12:24.190 --> 00:12:39.616
In my opinion, and again, if these allegations are credible, you know of any person, you know it's his adharma to act rather than enable abuse under the guise of divine grace.

00:12:39.616 --> 00:12:43.554
You know, or it's a tantric process or it's an occult practice.

00:12:43.554 --> 00:12:45.852
No, that's just nonsense.

00:12:45.852 --> 00:12:57.636
If one is doing such things, then you know, in my opinion, it's against dharma to do so.

00:12:57.636 --> 00:13:03.586
And again, there's no grace in this, there's no divinity in this, you know.

00:13:03.586 --> 00:13:10.176
You can pretend there is, you can pretend it's spiritual, but all it is is superstitious rituals that you're doing.

00:13:10.176 --> 00:13:23.418
It doesn't matter what you've consecrated either, like how does that matter, if your actions are not aligned to the tradition.

00:13:23.664 --> 00:13:26.799
Again, in yoga, the niyamas and yamas are important.

00:13:26.799 --> 00:13:28.066
You can't escape them.

00:13:28.066 --> 00:13:32.918
Same thing in vidanta the yamas and niyamas are important if you follow the bhagavad gita.

00:13:32.918 --> 00:13:43.014
Shri krishan says you have to follow.

00:13:43.014 --> 00:13:46.519
Yeah, from a spiritual level is very important.

00:13:46.519 --> 00:13:59.046
So, again, I don't care whether you build so many temples or you are to be held, uh, you know, accountable for any wrongdoing.

00:13:59.046 --> 00:14:18.491
You know anything and every allegation should be taken seriously, regardless whether it's financial misconduct, worker misconduct, volunteer misconduct or sexual misconduct, anything like that should be carefully investigated, uh, with unbiased people.

00:14:18.491 --> 00:14:25.760
Um, and that, and that's very important, it all needs to be objective, okay.

00:14:26.806 --> 00:14:39.176
And then, you know, if we're in jnana, which is obviously Advaita, vedanta is more jnana-focused, then there should be, you know, should one have blind devotion or should one have true inquiry?

00:14:39.176 --> 00:14:48.432
And you know, in my opinion, true Vedanta discourages, you know, blind guru worship and that's bhakti without vivek.

00:14:48.432 --> 00:14:58.091
If you're just worshipping a guru despite knowing how much wrong they've done, then I'm sorry, that's not bhakti, that's fanaticism.

00:14:58.091 --> 00:15:08.693
You know, that is not true devotion, that's not true worship If one thinks the guru can do no wrong.

00:15:08.693 --> 00:15:13.096
First of all, making such a statement is stupid.

00:15:13.096 --> 00:15:21.739
One should just say that the Guru has to follow a certain set of code of conduct.

00:15:21.739 --> 00:15:23.631
It's what's expected.

00:15:23.631 --> 00:15:29.927
I think that's really important.

00:15:29.966 --> 00:15:40.111
And and you know shankaracharya, he, he warned against charlatans, he warned against false teachers who will exploit seekers for their money, for their status, you know, for whatever reason.

00:15:40.111 --> 00:15:57.004
Uh, you know any guru that tries to exploit you by saying you know, my thing is my biggest test that I say to anyone, if you follow any guru is how many people have they made enlightened?

00:15:57.004 --> 00:16:19.128
And if you can't say that, you know, if you consider the following if they haven't made 10 percent enlightened I know it sounds like a weird, like percentage, but at least 10 percent, I think that's a fair number um, if they haven't made 10 percent of the people enlightened, of their followers, the true disciples, then I'm sorry.

00:16:19.128 --> 00:16:34.673
Uh, you know there's Either either the methods aren't working or that teacher doesn't know what they're doing and they're just taking you for a ride, and they're, and they're riding the wave, they're surfing the waves themselves.

00:16:34.673 --> 00:16:35.756
You know they're not really.

00:16:35.756 --> 00:16:40.309
Um, you know they know that they can make a fool out of you.

00:16:40.309 --> 00:16:43.254
So why, you know?

00:16:43.254 --> 00:16:51.448
So think about it, think about this logically and as students of spirituality.

00:16:51.448 --> 00:16:58.865
You should ask do these people live by the principles of advaita or vidanta in general, or yoga in general?

00:16:58.865 --> 00:17:04.670
I don't think one should refrain from doing that questioning.

00:17:06.230 --> 00:17:22.121
So okay, if you find out that your guru is a fraud, if you find out that fraud is a harsh word, they didn't embody their teachings, yeah, they didn't embody the ethics required.

00:17:22.121 --> 00:17:24.042
So what do we do?

00:17:24.042 --> 00:17:30.472
Well, first of all, we must understand that the Guru Tattva, the Guru principle, is greater than any individual.

00:17:30.472 --> 00:17:36.412
So the Guru is that which represents your true nature.

00:17:36.412 --> 00:17:48.318
So that can be the scriptures, that can be other realized beings, yeah, that can be one's own self-inquiry, one's own Atma-Vichaya, once you realize that you're formless awareness, that is a Guru Tattva.

00:17:48.318 --> 00:17:51.554
So Guru Tattva is most important.

00:17:51.554 --> 00:17:56.777
The Guru as the individual name and form is not so important.

00:17:56.777 --> 00:18:15.452
Yeah, what the Guru represents is more important, and that representation is the highest teaching of the scriptures, the highest embodiment of the scriptures and teachings, and also they are fully immersed in that non-dual awareness that is most important.

00:18:18.619 --> 00:18:23.232
So what would I say then to somebody that has a problematic teacher?

00:18:23.232 --> 00:18:24.799
Is you know what?

00:18:24.799 --> 00:18:26.506
Distance yourself from them.

00:18:26.506 --> 00:18:36.632
It's okay to don't feel bad, you know, and you can still be committed to the path of spirituality, of Advaita Vedanta, of yoga.

00:18:36.632 --> 00:18:49.380
You know you don't have to ditch yoga or ditch non-duality or ditch Advaita Vedanta or ditch the scriptures because of someone not embodying them.

00:18:49.380 --> 00:18:50.670
That person failed.

00:18:50.670 --> 00:18:52.490
The teachings didn't fail.

00:18:53.705 --> 00:18:59.652
If somebody practiced it then failed, then you can question but obviously they're not practicing it.

00:18:59.652 --> 00:19:04.071
If they practiced it they wouldn't do such things, they wouldn't even be accused of such things.

00:19:04.071 --> 00:19:09.333
Someone can turn around and say it's conspiracy, but there's no smoke without fire.

00:19:09.333 --> 00:19:17.894
And you know whether that's even the Guru's inability to stop the misconduct.

00:19:17.894 --> 00:19:22.476
You know they're still to be blamed for that.

00:19:22.476 --> 00:19:24.999
They could have stopped the misconduct, but they didn't, and that should be a for that.

00:19:24.999 --> 00:19:25.428
They could have stopped the misconduct but they didn't.

00:19:25.428 --> 00:19:32.769
And and and that should be a choice that they have to reckon with and the mistake that they've made and they have to accept it.

00:19:32.769 --> 00:19:35.474
Yeah, that okay, I didn't do anything.

00:19:35.474 --> 00:19:40.029
But going forward, it's not going to happen again, like if one just owns up to it.

00:19:40.029 --> 00:19:42.753
It'd be a lot better and it's just.

00:19:43.776 --> 00:19:55.278
But if one keeps denying, denying, and if it's true, it's worse, because then you kind of you're kind of trying to lead the blind over.

00:19:55.278 --> 00:19:56.986
The blind is what you're trying to do.

00:19:56.986 --> 00:19:59.692
You're trying to put wool over people's eyes, sorry, uh.

00:19:59.692 --> 00:20:13.650
So the conclusion here is for me you know and we'll look at some scriptures to kind of back us up you know, advaita Vedanta is very clear that your true self, this formless awareness, is your true guru.

00:20:13.650 --> 00:20:15.314
That's the real guru, that's the inner guru.

00:20:15.314 --> 00:20:18.530
Everyone said that, ramana Maharishi, every guru has said that.

00:20:18.530 --> 00:20:19.775
The guru is within.

00:20:19.775 --> 00:20:22.332
It's not a fallible human.

00:20:22.332 --> 00:20:27.704
You'll find many errors with human beings, but the Guru Tattva is most important.

00:20:29.131 --> 00:20:37.664
Now, if a Guru is accused of serious misconduct and this is just accused, yeah, it's wise to investigate.

00:20:37.664 --> 00:20:40.394
I would say it's very important that we do that.

00:20:40.394 --> 00:20:41.865
Hold them accountable.

00:20:41.865 --> 00:20:49.770
So, even if they deny it, have they shown you proof that they, they have things in place to stop this from happening?

00:20:49.770 --> 00:20:55.351
You know, do they have things in place to say you know, none of this has happened?

00:20:55.351 --> 00:20:59.105
You know we have evidence that none of this has happened?

00:20:59.105 --> 00:21:05.909
Yeah, and if needed, move on rather than defending them blindly.

00:21:05.909 --> 00:21:15.153
Because you know, by defending them blindly, all you're doing is actually accepting that those misconducts are OK, even for you to do.

00:21:15.153 --> 00:21:18.801
Yet you're okay with it.

00:21:18.801 --> 00:21:33.808
And that's when it's cultish behavior and that's when you know probably you should take a step back.

00:21:35.316 --> 00:21:48.931
So for me and for anyone else, I think protecting dharma is most important and protecting seekers is always more important than preserving an institution or a personality.

00:21:48.931 --> 00:21:57.429
I'm sorry, but even like for my own podcast, what I teach on the podcast is going to be the most important thing.

00:21:57.429 --> 00:22:00.522
Me as a personality is not important.

00:22:00.522 --> 00:22:03.363
Me being enlightened is not important.

00:22:03.363 --> 00:22:11.409
What's more important is am I benefiting you and am I helping you reach where you want to be?

00:22:11.409 --> 00:22:16.435
And if you want to be enlightened, am I helping you on the journey or am I not helping you on the journey?

00:22:16.435 --> 00:22:24.250
Is my conduct against what I say on the podcast or is it aligned with the podcast?

00:22:24.775 --> 00:22:27.183
You know I'm a householder, so I live a family life.

00:22:27.183 --> 00:22:31.986
Um, I go through very, uh, I go through challenges.

00:22:31.986 --> 00:22:33.656
Uh, I.

00:22:33.656 --> 00:22:36.705
I also have arguments with my wife.

00:22:36.705 --> 00:22:40.246
I, you know, I can get annoyed with my little son.

00:22:40.246 --> 00:22:41.541
All these things happen.

00:22:41.541 --> 00:22:42.373
These vasanas come up and I have to deal with those vas son.

00:22:42.373 --> 00:22:42.507
All these things happen.

00:22:42.507 --> 00:22:45.901
These vasanas come up and I have to deal with those vasanas.

00:22:45.901 --> 00:22:46.923
That's the whole point.

00:22:46.923 --> 00:22:49.864
No enlightened person can escape such things.

00:22:49.864 --> 00:22:53.805
So, whether you're a seeker or you're enlightened.

00:22:53.805 --> 00:22:56.320
We all have to go through the same thing.

00:22:56.320 --> 00:22:59.682
Yeah, as they say, before enlightenment chopping wood, fetching water.

00:22:59.682 --> 00:23:02.355
After enlightenment chopping wood, fetching water.

00:23:02.355 --> 00:23:05.221
After enlightenment, chopping wood fetching water.

00:23:05.221 --> 00:23:06.465
Nothing changes.

00:23:07.494 --> 00:23:16.315
So when it comes to scriptures, the Mundaka Upanishad says the Guru should be learned and ethical.

00:23:16.315 --> 00:23:27.270
So to know that imperishable one must go to a teacher who is shotriya, well-versed in scriptures and brahmanishta, established in Brahman.

00:23:27.270 --> 00:23:33.729
So if a teacher lacks ethical conduct, I'm sorry, but even their realization should be questionable.

00:23:33.729 --> 00:23:37.884
And a guru must live the truth, not just speak it.

00:23:37.884 --> 00:23:44.127
Then one should say well, that guru is a good orator, but not necessarily a good teacher.

00:23:44.127 --> 00:23:50.063
Yeah, they're a good orator, they're a good speaker, but a teacher maybe not, you know.

00:23:50.063 --> 00:23:55.400
So we can be happy with a good speaker, a good orator, there's nothing wrong with that.

00:23:55.400 --> 00:24:00.006
But a teacher is of a higher standard, okay.

00:24:00.006 --> 00:24:11.125
And yes, a guru's actions matter, because even in the Gita Sri Krishna says whatever a great person does, others follow.

00:24:11.125 --> 00:24:14.525
Whatever standards they set, the world follows.

00:24:14.525 --> 00:24:18.526
So a guru is expected to embody their teachings.

00:24:19.654 --> 00:24:41.858
And so if they are engaging in misconduct like sexual harassment, they're setting a dangerous precedent, and that's why I think that's, that's why I draw the line on that and I refuse to say that such a person, from this day forward, that they're a good teacher because of those misconduct allegations.

00:24:41.858 --> 00:24:49.247
Until they are proven to be in court, those allegations aren't true.

00:24:49.247 --> 00:24:51.548
Until then it's true.

00:24:51.548 --> 00:24:56.795
And people may not like that, they may be like that's so woke, but you know what?

00:24:56.795 --> 00:25:01.547
I'd rather be woke than be blind and be ignorant.

00:25:01.547 --> 00:25:06.136
For me that's more important.

00:25:06.136 --> 00:25:09.102
More important may not be your values, that's, that's up to you.

00:25:09.102 --> 00:25:19.002
Um, and then Adi Shankaraji also says in Viveka Jodhmanee that a false teacher is like a blind man leading the blind.

00:25:19.743 --> 00:25:22.509
He neither knows a path nor can he help others.

00:25:22.509 --> 00:25:27.683
A true guru must have direct realization and impeccable conduct.

00:25:27.683 --> 00:25:32.444
One needs to be in that awareness all the time.

00:25:32.444 --> 00:25:42.298
So if a guru exploits students and yes, that's happened they should not be followed Again.

00:25:42.298 --> 00:25:48.766
You can still learn from what they say, but they don't have to be your guru.

00:25:48.766 --> 00:25:53.003
I want us to understand the fine line here.

00:25:53.003 --> 00:25:56.404
It's a very nuanced point, but it's important to understand that.

00:25:56.404 --> 00:26:00.779
Because, remember, blind faith is not Advaita, because, remember, blind faith is not Advaita.

00:26:00.779 --> 00:26:07.308
Advaita does not at all, in any shape or form, accept blind faith.

00:26:07.308 --> 00:26:19.113
You may have it in other bhakti traditions, but certainly in Advaita Vedanta.

00:26:19.113 --> 00:26:19.535
It's not acceptable.

00:26:22.174 --> 00:26:29.448
And even in the Mahabharata it is said that if a teacher strays from dharma he is to be abandoned like an impure vessel.

00:26:29.448 --> 00:26:32.515
So dharma is above individuals.

00:26:32.515 --> 00:26:37.153
So you follow dharma.

00:26:37.153 --> 00:26:48.701
And if a guru engages in a dharmic behavior, in anti-dharmic behavior, the right course of action is to walk away from them.

00:26:48.701 --> 00:26:52.810
Yeah, you can say, look you, you teach good things, but I'm not going to follow you.

00:26:52.810 --> 00:26:57.824
I'm going to follow what you teach because I can match you with the scriptures.

00:26:57.824 --> 00:27:01.307
If you don't match you with the scriptures, abandon that teaching too.

00:27:02.653 --> 00:27:07.502
You never know how, uh kind of cunning someone can be to lead you more in ignorance.

00:27:07.502 --> 00:27:31.301
You know, like I said, it's always a test if, if a guru to make you enlightened, um, and obviously in yog vashisht is very clear what the guru is.

00:27:31.301 --> 00:27:36.236
He says do not rely on words alone, seek direct experience.

00:27:36.236 --> 00:27:41.484
The highest guru is your own inquiry into the self, into the Atman.

00:27:41.484 --> 00:27:48.329
So if you find that a guru is questionable, trust the scriptures and your own vivek, your own discernment.

00:27:48.329 --> 00:27:53.000
If your gut is saying something is not right, then just follow your gut.

00:27:53.000 --> 00:28:02.449
You're not going to go to hell or lose on liberation if you don't follow that teacher, you may.

00:28:02.449 --> 00:28:11.958
You most likely will still be enlightened because you're following your gut, you're following your intuition, your discernment and you're trusting the scriptures.

00:28:14.520 --> 00:28:27.346
Uh, and then the next quote, the final quote is if a person's knowledge must be judged by their actions, if their conduct is immoral, their wisdom is superficial.

00:28:27.346 --> 00:28:31.145
This is in the Adi Shankaraji's commentary in the Brahma Sutras.

00:28:31.145 --> 00:28:42.326
So, even if somebody speaks Vedanta very well, if their actions contradict Dharma, they should not be considered a true realized, being a true jnani.

00:28:42.326 --> 00:28:51.023
They can be a good speaker, like I said, nothing wrong with being a good speaker, but that's all.

00:28:51.023 --> 00:28:53.962
Their skill is they can't lead you to enlightenment.

00:28:53.962 --> 00:28:57.683
Yeah, a blind person can only make you blind.

00:28:57.683 --> 00:29:01.223
An ignorant person will only make you more ignorant.

00:29:01.223 --> 00:29:11.509
Only someone who knows the truth, realizes the truth, embodies the truth, can bring you to the truth, and that directly, instantaneously.

00:29:11.509 --> 00:29:17.654
And the reason why I say this is I'll give you the example of Adi Shankaraji.

00:29:17.654 --> 00:29:34.102
Shankaraji, he at least, started four mats, four places, you know, four centres of spirituality, and each of those had four acharyas.

00:29:34.102 --> 00:29:36.375
They were also referred to as Shankaracharya.

00:29:36.375 --> 00:29:44.886
So that's what I mean by Advaita has the way to lead you to divinity straight away.

00:29:46.496 --> 00:29:54.974
So I'll conclude here that a guru is just a guide, not an unquestionable authority.

00:29:54.974 --> 00:30:11.746
If you feel they're unquestionable, I'm sorry you're following a cult leader or you're following blindly and therefore you may get fooled and you know for you ignorance is bliss, then don't expect enlightenment.

00:30:11.746 --> 00:30:16.618
If a teacher is accused of misconduct, they must be held accountable.

00:30:16.618 --> 00:30:18.561
I think that's that's natural.

00:30:18.561 --> 00:30:32.586
If you do anything that puts anybody in danger, then I'm sorry, you are a dangerous person and you should be treated like a dangerous person.

00:30:32.586 --> 00:30:42.535
If somebody doesn't have high ethics, they should not be teaching anyone or guiding anyone.

00:30:44.640 --> 00:30:51.255
And and I say this because the scriptures they emphasize discernment vivek over blind obedience.

00:30:51.255 --> 00:31:12.086
We have to discern what's right and wrong in the long term and the short term and see what does the greatest amount of good over harm and and that's what's more important not obedience to some authority that actually is questionable, that is causing harm and is ignorant themselves.

00:31:12.086 --> 00:31:29.099
So again, I'm not saying that any of the gurus that I mentioned earlier that they are in that category, but there's been no evidence of any of the allegations being shown untrue in court right now.

00:31:29.099 --> 00:31:35.136
So obviously they may be going through legal process right now, so that's possible.

00:31:35.136 --> 00:31:52.563
But whenever allegations like this come out and it's been investigated, like from the guardian or even base goldfield, because she has been, she has written for the guardian they should be held with some level of truth until proven guilty.

00:31:52.563 --> 00:32:05.356
I know we believe in this innocence before proven guilty, but such allegations, especially in sexual misconduct, they're very serious and I feel that such teachers shouldn't be promoted.

00:32:06.419 --> 00:32:08.944
Um, you can still appreciate the teachings.

00:32:08.944 --> 00:32:11.355
I don't think there's anything wrong with that.

00:32:11.355 --> 00:32:25.259
But you know, in my opinion, if you want to stay safe, if you want to be protected, if you want to really advance in spirituality, follow what I've mentioned in today's video and I hope this helps you.

00:32:25.259 --> 00:32:40.163
And again, like I know some people may follow Sadhguru, amma, mooji, andrew Cohen, so on Osho, so on Osho.

00:32:40.963 --> 00:32:51.609
But at the end of the day, if somebody does bad, if somebody does misconduct, they have to be held accountable, whether they're dead or alive.

00:32:51.609 --> 00:33:11.775
One can appreciate what they've said, one can appreciate their teachings, one can appreciate their meditation practices and the yoga practices, of course, but just remember that the highest authority is your own self and if somebody takes that away from you, they're not a guru, trust me.

00:33:11.775 --> 00:33:16.483
A guru never takes away your authority and if they do.

00:33:16.483 --> 00:33:23.906
You're following a cult leader and you need to take a deep look within whether you want to still follow that person.

00:33:23.906 --> 00:33:26.641
That's all I've got to say.

00:33:26.641 --> 00:33:29.663
But yeah, if you want to challenge me, I'm open to the comments.

00:33:29.663 --> 00:33:34.727
And if you feel that this has helped you, please like this video and please share it.

00:33:34.727 --> 00:33:43.289
I mean, it can help somebody from following a false teacher, or at least a teacher that has been accused of misconduct.

00:33:44.215 --> 00:33:50.075
We live in a day of the internet and where misinformation and disinformation can be wild.

00:33:50.075 --> 00:34:01.770
But with such allegations, anyone that puts an article like that is open to defamation lawsuits.

00:34:01.770 --> 00:34:06.721
So it can be highly damaging for them if they put something that's untrue.

00:34:06.721 --> 00:34:12.742
So it's only if there is some element of truth do these allegations come out.

00:34:12.742 --> 00:34:16.023
But again, people can be shady.

00:34:16.023 --> 00:34:20.423
So keep an open mind, but remember you are your highest authority.

00:34:20.423 --> 00:34:22.934
Okay, thank you very much for listening.

00:34:22.934 --> 00:34:24.744
Take care, namaste.