Spiritual Teachers

[CosmicValet]

Who do you consider to be an exceptional Spiritual Teacher? Though my favorite would be Alan Watts, he would probably consider himself more of a philosopher than a guru.

Although I feel that any person that claims to be a teacher is fooling themselves and others to a degree . But with that said I will say that I agree with you about Allen Watts
i keep finding myself agreeing with the view point that Allen Watts had .
He was ahead of his time for sure

[ocean breeze]

Whoopi Goldberg in Sister Act 2

[Starman]

I have been in front of lots of spiritual teachers, and the one’s I felt strongly about were the one’s who could transform you without saying a word. They would come and sit in front of and audience and that auidance was in bliss before they even started talking. They could literally give you and out-of-body experience or and experience of overwhelming love and bliss, just by their presence. Their presence could be felt by thousands of people sitting in front of them in and auditorium.

These teachers offered “darshan” which is a spiritual experience which many in India, and elsewhere, have experienced. I used to be a darshan junkie, and would go and see a teacher not for what they had to say but for the transcendent experience that they would impart to a crowd of thousands. Everything else to me was just mental construction and talk. If you did meditation before going to see one of these teachers your experience of meditation was greatly enhanced.

I experienced many of these type of teachers back in the 1970’s and 1980’s, people like Osho, Swami Sat Chit Ananda, and others who are just not around anymore. Back then it was free to go and see them, they held spiritual retreats and festivals all over the world back then, and millions of people would go to see them. They are what started me on a mystical path, far removed from words and explanations. It was a different kind of teaching; one that I often reminisce about.

Those who have had darshan know what I am talking about. It is and incredible spiritual experience, far beyond words and thoughts, and it is given by a person of true self-mastery on a very deep level. But make no mistake, these master teachers had their human faults as well. These teachers were not on TV and the only way you might know of them was through someone else who had seen them. The 1970’s and 1980’s were a period in time like no other I have experienced since. But not everyone who lived during that time was aware of these teachers, it was a blessing that I was aware of them, and able to partake in their offerings, as others did. There is a big difference between spiritual teachers and religious teachers.

[Miss Hepburn]

Originally Posted by Starman

Those who have had darshan know what I am talking about.

It is and incredible spiritual experience, far beyond words and thoughts, and it is given by a person
of true self-mastery on a very deep level.

We are on the same page there.

What a high!

[Starman]

Originally Posted by Miss Hepburn

We are on the same page there.

What a high!

I miss darshan. But you know I have also experienced darshan while meditating in the same room
with a bunch of other people. Physically with a group of people all meditating on silence together
can be such and incredible experience. A very blissful experience.

Matthew 18:20 "For where two or three are gathered together in my name, there am I in the midst of them."
Some say "when two or more are gathered in my name there I will be also." I think the name referred to
is a "holy" name, a name that can not be spoken in words but can be felt in quiet meditation.

[Miss Hepburn]

Originally Posted by Starman

I miss darshan. But you know I have also experienced darshan while meditating in the same room
with a bunch of other people. Physically with a group of people all meditating on silence together
can be such and incredible experience. A very blissful experience.

Matthew 18:20 "For where two or three are gathered together in my name, there am I in the midst of them."
Some say "when two or more are gathered in my name there I will be also." I think the name referred to
is a "holy" name, a name that can not be spoken in words but can be felt in quiet meditation.

YES, the power of a group meditating was surprising to me - I went for over a year
1-2 times a week with the SRF group -
Yogananda for those new to this world, ha.
(But, I could not take the cold any longer - 10 degrees outside and they 'had' to open a window cuz
the Master said to ---who lived in Southern Calif!) Too crazy for me, freezing was such a distraction ...but love the people.
But, oh my, my inner experiences excelled!!!!
I have posted about the Holy Name or Sat Naam, the Word so many times for yrs - no one is interested. *shrug*

[Miss Hepburn]

Originally Posted by ocean breeze

Whoopi Goldberg in Sister Act 2

Everything I learned was from Joni Mitchell.

The list of teachers that are EXCEPTIONAL is just too long. And aren't we lucky for that!
The New Thought authors alone would fill this page, and all the yogis and gurus and -
the the Native Americans quoted, then the Great teachers Jesus, Buddha, Krishna, Lao Tzu, and Shakespeare!
The ecstatic poets from Mirabai to Catherine of Sienna, the mystics from every religion from Rumi to Theresa of Avila and
many many more.
Then, the Alan Wattses and Ram Dasses and Wayne Dyer types...and so many of them!!

[ocean breeze]

I like the ones that whack people over the head with a stick if you don't know what is the sound of one hand clapping.

[John32241]

Hi,

Our best answers are found within the self. In my mind the best spiritual teacher would guide us on self discovery and never tell us what is best.

John