Who are the real gurus?

casualtiger2 said:Thich Nhat Hanh

"Love is something that helps you suffer less."

The art of Being Peace | dharma talk by Thich Nhat Hanh, 2008 05 13

Just another guru selling smoke—though, to be fair, he actually left a mark for the better. It wasn't just about peddling Buddhist meditation techniques and lofty teachings,
but his actual, boots-on-the-ground social activism.

<3

If anyone actually wants to wrap their head around what a "true guru" really means—beyond just the buzzword—you can clear things up right here

THE POPE - SADGURU

Paul Rogers94 said:At one point, he tells a student—roughly this: once you leave here, do whatever you want. Smoke, drink, screw around... there’s zero risk of those things touching your true self. However, living within that "self" is what puts your habits at risk.

Essentially, virtue is just a natural byproduct—the scent, if you will—of actual insight. Simply mimicking virtue—forcing it—leads absolutely nowhere regarding true realization...

To start off, we should focus on "imitating" what the teacher provides for the mind to model. Basically, figure out what the teacher actually intended when they gave you a task—just do the absolute best you can with it. That's all there is to it. No problem.

Michael Gonzalez77 said:To start off, we should focus on "imitating" what the teacher provides for the mind to model. Basically, figure out what the teacher actually intended when they gave you a task—just do the absolute best you can with it. That's all there is to it. No problem.

Pure love for the self burns away all the 'impurities'... a person can't achieve anything through their own will alone, without some sort of 'grace or help from above.'

Paul Rogers94 said:Pure love for the self burns away all the 'impurities'... a person can't achieve anything through their own will alone, without some sort of 'grace or help from above.'

So, what you're saying is there's one main parasite? 🤦

frozenstag9 said:So, what you're saying is there's one main parasite? 🤦

The whole work ethic ideology is basically one of the four horsemen of the apocalypse—sitting right alongside nationalism, religion, and the concept of family.😉

Paul Rogers94 said:The whole work ethic ideology is basically one of the four horsemen of the apocalypse—sitting right alongside nationalism, religion, and the concept of family.😉

Well, I guess that’s how it looks from a parasite's perspective!
Once you actually have to work to provide for a child, you start to realize what it truly means to give back—which is a pretty massive difference compared to those parasites who just want to live off everyone else.

frozenstag9 said:Well, I guess that’s how it looks from a parasite's perspective!
Once you actually have to work to provide for a child, you start to realize what it truly means to give back—which is a pretty massive difference compared to those parasites who just want to live off everyone else.

You're just proving how much ignorance and malice is in that statement.
It's a shame that basically any kind of lowlife can have kids these days.🕺
I highly suggest you go find some therapy elsewhere to deal with your issues.

Paul Rogers94 said:You're just proving how much ignorance and malice is in that statement.
It's a shame that basically any kind of lowlife can have kids these days.🕺
I highly suggest you go find some therapy elsewhere to deal with your issues.

You totally twisted my points, and honestly, you're being way too dramatic with your wording.
At the end of the day, your opinion is your right.

I'm a total follower of Markikin! Buahauhu

Paul Rogers94 said:Pure love for the self burns away all the 'impurities'... a person can't achieve anything through their own will alone, without some sort of 'grace or help from above.'

I agree, but even that Love is a form of grace—and you don't get it for free.

Michael Gonzalez77 said:I agree, but even that Love is a form of grace—and you don't get it for free.

Grace isn't something you can hustle for—if it were, it would just be a transaction. You can't "earn" grace. First, you gain an actual understanding of how reality works, and then you naturally gravitate toward truth—sort of like how sunflowers track the sun. Call it Love if that's your thing. Even if it looks like you worked hard to get there, those very efforts are actually driven by grace itself. None of this is your credit or your choice. It’s not some trophy won through sheer willpower; you can't "achieve" anything like this through grit alone. Still, it feels like there needs to be some sort of inherent maturity or readiness beforehand. Your only real job is to stop getting in your own way with all your theories... enlightenment isn't a prize waiting at the finish line of some spiritual marathon.

Paul Rogers94 said:Grace isn't something you can hustle for—if it were, it would just be a transaction. You can't "earn" grace. First, you gain an actual understanding of how reality works, and then you naturally gravitate toward truth—sort of like how sunflowers track the sun. Call it Love if that's your thing. Even if it looks like you worked hard to get there, those very efforts are actually driven by grace itself. None of this is your credit or your choice. It’s not some trophy won through sheer willpower; you can't "achieve" anything like this through grit alone. Still, it feels like there needs to be some sort of inherent maturity or readiness beforehand. Your only real job is to stop getting in your own way with all your theories... enlightenment isn't a prize waiting at the finish line of some spiritual marathon.

No matter how we frame it, we're talking about the same thing. It is grace, yet it is also earned—not through some transaction, but through spiritual effort. Ultimately, that effort is itself supported by grace. Standard logic doesn't apply here, so there's no point in trying to force it into a box.

Guess who!