Do you have a spiritual mentor, and how much of an impact do they have on your life?

In Hinduism, the spiritual guru is basically everything—the alpha and the omega. You just follow whatever they tell you to do, no questions asked.
Some folks argue that unless you have the grace of a pure servant of God, there’s zero chance of getting into the Kingdom of Heaven.
It kind of brings to mind that whole idea where Jesus says the only way to the Father is through him; it's like God only lets in the people that Jesus lets in, which ends up being the same crowd any other spiritual leader would vouch for.

Now, looking at Christianity, a priest is definitely a big deal—they’re the ones giving the directions and setting the tone—but honestly, you can get by without one if you have to.

So, what about you guys? Do you actually follow some spiritual mentor, and how much has that person actually shaped the way you live your life?

David Vaughn75 said:In Hinduism, the spiritual guru is basically everything—the alpha and the omega. You just follow whatever they tell you to do, no questions asked.
Some folks argue that unless you have the grace of a pure servant of God, there’s zero chance of getting into the Kingdom of Heaven.
It kind of brings to mind that whole idea where Jesus says the only way to the Father is through him; it's like God only lets in the people that Jesus lets in, which ends up being the same crowd any other spiritual leader would vouch for.

Now, looking at Christianity, a priest is definitely a big deal—they’re the ones giving the directions and setting the tone—but honestly, you can get by without one if you have to.

So, what about you guys? Do you actually follow some spiritual mentor, and how much has that person actually shaped the way you live your life?

It’s not about those that Jesus lets in—it’s about the ones who let Jesus into their hearts. The bear within you holds all the answers.

swifttiger75 said:It’s not about those that Jesus lets in—it’s about the ones who let Jesus into their hearts. The bear within you holds all the answers.

Honestly, I have zero clue what "letting Jesus into your heart" even means. Like, scientifically speaking, the heart is just an organ that pumps blood...

David Vaughn75 said:In Hinduism, the spiritual guru is basically everything—the alpha and the omega. You just follow whatever they tell you to do, no questions asked.
Some folks argue that unless you have the grace of a pure servant of God, there’s zero chance of getting into the Kingdom of Heaven.
It kind of brings to mind that whole idea where Jesus says the only way to the Father is through him; it's like God only lets in the people that Jesus lets in, which ends up being the same crowd any other spiritual leader would vouch for.

Now, looking at Christianity, a priest is definitely a big deal—they’re the ones giving the directions and setting the tone—but honestly, you can get by without one if you have to.

So, what about you guys? Do you actually follow some spiritual mentor, and how much has that person actually shaped the way you live your life?

That’s like asking how much the sun shapes life on Earth...

(Everything exists because of the sun's merciful light and warmth—but does it actually "shape" anyone's life in any specific way?)

An authentic guru is like the sun—he brings the dead back to life in the heart without distinction or conditionality. He doesn't even have an interest in such things; he just shines, much like the sun warms without any ulterior motive.

With an authentic guru, you don't even matter to him as an individual.

The rest are just cult leaders—they're interested in *you* and your problems, and they think they know what's best for you.

David Vaughn75 said:In Hinduism, the spiritual guru is basically everything—the alpha and the omega. You just follow whatever they tell you to do, no questions asked.
Some folks argue that unless you have the grace of a pure servant of God, there’s zero chance of getting into the Kingdom of Heaven.
It kind of brings to mind that whole idea where Jesus says the only way to the Father is through him; it's like God only lets in the people that Jesus lets in, which ends up being the same crowd any other spiritual leader would vouch for.

Now, looking at Christianity, a priest is definitely a big deal—they’re the ones giving the directions and setting the tone—but honestly, you can get by without one if you have to.

So, what about you guys? Do you actually follow some spiritual mentor, and how much has that person actually shaped the way you live your life?

For me, learning happens naturally and spontaneously. 🙂

David Vaughn75 said:In Hinduism, the spiritual guru is basically everything—the alpha and the omega. You just follow whatever they tell you to do, no questions asked.
Some folks argue that unless you have the grace of a pure servant of God, there’s zero chance of getting into the Kingdom of Heaven.
It kind of brings to mind that whole idea where Jesus says the only way to the Father is through him; it's like God only lets in the people that Jesus lets in, which ends up being the same crowd any other spiritual leader would vouch for.

Now, looking at Christianity, a priest is definitely a big deal—they’re the ones giving the directions and setting the tone—but honestly, you can get by without one if you have to.

So, what about you guys? Do you actually follow some spiritual mentor, and how much has that person actually shaped the way you live your life?

We could be even more specific and say this is primarily a hallmark of Tantra.

As such, the defining feature of the largest body of modern (heavily Tantric) Hinduism—mostly comprised of cults established during medieval reforms, along with a smaller portion of younger Tantric Buddhism (specifically in Tibet) from that same era.

I view this as a long-term unhealthy religious phenomenon. It pushes the already exaggerated psychological regressiveness found in many religious groups to an extreme, keeping people trapped in a perpetual illusion of security through a childlike relationship with pseudo-parental figures. Ultimately, it prevents anyone from ever reaching true maturity or taking real responsibility.

Every self-proclaimed "spiritual teacher" out there tries to sell you their own version of a religion, but let’s be honest: religion is generally just a safety net for people who are terrified of ending up in hell. Spirituality is for those who have already been through the fire and survived. 🙂

I honestly feel like my spiritual guide is my energy healer... she’s someone who truly incarnated into this world just to help people. You can actually feel that deep wisdom whenever she's around...

mistybison said:For me, learning happens naturally and spontaneously. 🙂

There is no teacher, no student, and no learning at all. 😁

Paul Rogers94 said:There is no teacher, no student, and no learning at all. 😁

That’s also a pretty great way to look at my bank account balance🧐

bluemason3 said:That’s also a pretty great way to look at my bank account balance🧐

If there's no person, there's no Social Security number. And if there's no ID, there isn't even an account. 😁

Joseph Bailey41 said:If there's no person, there's no Social Security number. And if there's no ID, there isn't even an account. 😁

Good luck trying to explain that to the IRS. 🤣

mistybison said:For me, learning happens naturally and spontaneously. 🙂

Look, when you’re "learning" like that, there might be a tiny chance you actually pick up something useful, but honestly? The odds are astronomically low.

bluemason3 said:We could be even more specific and say this is primarily a hallmark of Tantra.

As such, the defining feature of the largest body of modern (heavily Tantric) Hinduism—mostly comprised of cults established during medieval reforms, along with a smaller portion of younger Tantric Buddhism (specifically in Tibet) from that same era.

I view this as a long-term unhealthy religious phenomenon. It pushes the already exaggerated psychological regressiveness found in many religious groups to an extreme, keeping people trapped in a perpetual illusion of security through a childlike relationship with pseudo-parental figures. Ultimately, it prevents anyone from ever reaching true maturity or taking real responsibility.

And please, don't lecture me—gurus have existed in Hinduism since forever.

I believe this is a long-term unhealthy religious phenomenon. It pushes the psychological regressiveness already found in religious groups to an extreme, trapping people in a perpetual illusion of security through a childish relationship with pseudo-parental figures, which ultimately prevents them from reaching full maturity and responsibility.

Seriously, why would anyone walk away from a warm, loving home where everything is perfect just to go chase some spiritual teacher?

No kid in their right mind would ever do that.

Rachel Kern5 said:Every self-proclaimed "spiritual teacher" out there tries to sell you their own version of a religion, but let’s be honest: religion is generally just a safety net for people who are terrified of ending up in hell. Spirituality is for those who have already been through the fire and survived. 🙂

Wait, so what? You're saying hell is actually a great place and we shouldn't be scared of it, but instead we should head down there to find spirituality? That theory is a massive stretch.

To me, it just makes sense that someone passes on their own knowledge; they aren't going to pass on someone else's.

My guru is Makaj.
Unfortunately, I’m one of those subpar students—
so I don't even really know how much he actually means to me.

David Vaughn75 said:Look, when you’re "learning" like that, there might be a tiny chance you actually pick up something useful, but honestly? The odds are astronomically low.

And please, don't lecture me—gurus have existed in Hinduism since forever.

I believe this is a long-term unhealthy religious phenomenon. It pushes the psychological regressiveness already found in religious groups to an extreme, trapping people in a perpetual illusion of security through a childish relationship with pseudo-parental figures, which ultimately prevents them from reaching full maturity and responsibility.

Seriously, why would anyone walk away from a warm, loving home where everything is perfect just to go chase some spiritual teacher?

No kid in their right mind would ever do that.

Wait, so what? You're saying hell is actually a great place and we shouldn't be scared of it, but instead we should head down there to find spirituality? That theory is a massive stretch.

To me, it just makes sense that someone passes on their own knowledge; they aren't going to pass on someone else's.

Right, because those Purani stories basically just rewrite history however they feel like it.😁

Why would anyone walk away from a cozy, perfect home just to follow some spiritual teacher?

Because:

a) there isn't a "cozy" home, just a dysfunctional one, so they're hunting for surrogate parents.

b) they left home physically, but mentally they haven't grown up yet, so they're still looking for surrogate parents.

David Vaughn75 said:Look, when you’re "learning" like that, there might be a tiny chance you actually pick up something useful, but honestly? The odds are astronomically low.

And please, don't lecture me—gurus have existed in Hinduism since forever.

I believe this is a long-term unhealthy religious phenomenon. It pushes the psychological regressiveness already found in religious groups to an extreme, trapping people in a perpetual illusion of security through a childish relationship with pseudo-parental figures, which ultimately prevents them from reaching full maturity and responsibility.

Seriously, why would anyone walk away from a warm, loving home where everything is perfect just to go chase some spiritual teacher?

No kid in their right mind would ever do that.

Wait, so what? You're saying hell is actually a great place and we shouldn't be scared of it, but instead we should head down there to find spirituality? That theory is a massive stretch.

To me, it just makes sense that someone passes on their own knowledge; they aren't going to pass on someone else's.

Everything I have learned up to this point was correct—for that specific moment in time.

However, reality is fluid, and what holds true now can easily change later. We shouldn't cling too tightly to any single piece of knowledge or formal study.

Knowledge is much like a Russian nesting doll; within every layer, there is another one waiting to be found, endlessly. Every small thing we discover shifts our perception, changing how we see the world and, ultimately, who we are.

There are endless ways to learn. You can study books or people, but you can also learn from every experience and every person you encounter. If you choose that path, anyone or anything—be it a person, a plant, or an animal—can become your teacher.

Of course, we are discussing spirituality here, not basic multiplication tables. 😁

It makes sense to me that someone would pass on their own knowledge rather than just repeating someone else's.

In reality, many people do exactly that—they pass along what others realized, interpreted through their own understanding. On the other hand, our collective knowledge is simply a collection of all our experiences, shaped by countless individuals and the teachers they passed their wisdom down to. We are all walking encyclopedias of information, even at a surface level, carrying knowledge that stretches back through generations.

Here’s an excerpt from Srimad Bhagavata about how nature acts as the 'supreme guru':

When responding to the king, guru Shri Datta explains that "nature" is essentially the "supreme guru" of the universe. He goes on to describe the 24 different teachers from which he drew his wisdom:

1. Earth, 2. Air, 3. Space, 4. Water, 5. Fire, 6. The Sun, 7. The Moon, 8. A Pigeon, 9. A Python, 10. The Sea – the Ocean, 11. A Mosquito, 12. A Black Bee, 13. An Elephant, 14. A Honey Gatherer, 15. A Deer, 16. A Fish, 17. A Courtesan, 18. A Crow, 19. A Child, 20. A Young Woman, 21. A Snake, 22. A Blacksmith, 23. A Spider, 24. An Insect and a Worm.

Check this link for a deep dive into each of those 24 teachers.
Obviously, we can pick anything and find a lesson in it... just find some trait in a being or object and learn from it.

Life is structured so that everyone ends up in circumstances perfect for their own growth. You could call it God's grace.
Life forces tasks and obstacles on everyone to overcome, making evolution and progress feel completely natural.

I remember talking to a friend who was a world-class violinist once. He told me that without a teacher, you'll never reach mastery. I started teaching myself classical guitar and ended up picking up technical flaws that were nearly impossible to fix once I finally joined a music school. It wasn't easy for me, or for the instructor. I still play solo today, and I know it would be much easier if I had a mentor. A teacher gives you drills, etudes, and actual advice. Even just being around them matters—you see them play and suddenly you want to hit that level too. They call it 'mirror neurons.' We just say 'you are who you hang out with.'

We can apply all of this to 'spiritual' life, though I don't really see much difference.
Looking at what's written above, the only thing I'd say is that it's always good to have someone there to help and offer solid advice.

Krishna said in the Bhagavad Gita that whatever people do, they should follow my path. This implies that spirituality doesn't really exist as a separate thing; life itself is the teacher, and we are constantly progressing through everything we do. Of course, following dharma—the natural laws, the path of righteousness—is vital.

A teacher should be like a best friend, not some dictator... like Lao said, 'the best rulers are barely noticed.'

I’ve been thinking lately... I really feel the need to find a spiritual teacher, someone who actually understands the nuances of an energy system. 😒

stormyskipper5 said:I’ve been thinking lately... I really feel the need to find a spiritual teacher, someone who actually understands the nuances of an energy system. 😒

Duke Energy? 🤔

David Vaughn75 said:Look, when you’re "learning" like that, there might be a tiny chance you actually pick up something useful, but honestly? The odds are astronomically low.

And please, don't lecture me—gurus have existed in Hinduism since forever.

I believe this is a long-term unhealthy religious phenomenon. It pushes the psychological regressiveness already found in religious groups to an extreme, trapping people in a perpetual illusion of security through a childish relationship with pseudo-parental figures, which ultimately prevents them from reaching full maturity and responsibility.

Seriously, why would anyone walk away from a warm, loving home where everything is perfect just to go chase some spiritual teacher?

No kid in their right mind would ever do that.

Wait, so what? You're saying hell is actually a great place and we shouldn't be scared of it, but instead we should head down there to find spirituality? That theory is a massive stretch.

To me, it just makes sense that someone passes on their own knowledge; they aren't going to pass on someone else's.

Look, it's not about some literal underworld. It's more that life itself likes to throw us into a living hell sometimes. If we manage to crawl our way out of those messes on our own—without leaning on "gurus" or hand-holding mentors—we build actual self-confidence and self-respect. That's what ultimately paves the way toward a deeper, more authentic spiritual path.
Quincy:

It makes sense to me that someone would pass down their own knowledge, rather than just parroting what someone else said.

The thing is, you can't just "learn" how to be spiritual. You can't study it from a textbook. It only happens after you've had those raw, unfiltered collisions with reality—you know, actually *living* life. Those experiences are what eventually forge a life that feels both fulfilled and spiritually grounded.