The empty rhetoric of so-called "spiritual" gurus...

It’s not about spiritual teachers... it’s about those "spiritual" types... 🙂

Adam Ross4 said:Sure, maybe... but I'm talking about those self-proclaimed "gurus" who just prey on people and do whatever it takes to exploit them...

they’re always "blackmailing" their followers by dangling enlightenment in front of them like some kind of carrot... 😉

Hmm, yeah... that's basically a bonding tactic used to keep people trapped.
Because, honestly, almost every "follower" eventually reaches a point where they want to walk away. If a "guru" starts using every dirty trick in the book to hold onto them, then you know exactly what kind of situation you're dealing with.

restlessmarlin6 said:If his "guru" is fighting this hard to keep him around, then we all know exactly where things stand.

👍

It seems like Adam Ross4 is the only one here actually capable of using logic and common sense—everyone else is just living in a dream world.

Adam Ross4... where on earth did you get that idea? 😲 😍
I mean, how else could it possibly be?

The truth is, anyone who actually knows what they're talking about always ends up agreeing with me. 😁 😉

PS. Does this mean we aren't just born with a default setting of "common sense" floating around in our heads? unknown 😢

shadowtiger said:Only Adam Ross4 actually uses logic and common sense here; everyone else is just daydreaming.

thanks 😳 😬

p.s. Jason Johnson4, come back down to Earth already... 😬

Now, in all seriousness...

@shadowtiger : what I wrote here is based on my own past cultish (🙄) experiences mixed with a little logic... though much of it is actually just echoing sentiments from other specific users on this subforum... 😉

So, if you actually bother to read this section more closely, you'll find plenty of other solid, "common sense" posts. 😉

Adam Ross4 said:thanks 😳 😬

p.s. Jason Johnson4—get your head out of the clouds already...

all joking aside...

@shadowtiger: what I wrote here is based on my own past cultish (🙄) experiences and a bit of logic... though honestly, much of it is just echoing certain other users on this subforum... 😉

so, if you actually bother to read through this board, you'll find plenty of other solid and "common sense" posts 😉

Oh please, don't be so modest—I'm sure you've fallen for some "Indigo" generation nonsense yourself 😉 😁 🙏
not everyone can see things the way you do 😁😁

Adam Ross4, you still hanging out with some cult, or what?

So, which neighborhood were you hanging out in? Was it near the old downtown area? 😈 😁

bluemason3 said:What cult were you running with? Was it some fringe group out in the Midwest? 😈 😁

Look, unlike you, I’ve never joined some basement cult or lost my mind over India and those self-proclaimed prophets. Honestly, you really ought to walk away from all this. It’s honestly painful to see how much nonsense you’ve dumped on this forum—just constant quoting and endless rambling about various sects and philosophies. It seems like you haven't learned a single thing despite all that "enlightened" data you've stuffed your head with.

All that information won't stick, believe me. You aren't going to achieve anything with it.

shadowtiger said:Adam Ross4, you still part of some cult?

I've got my own little cult now... 😬

p.s. I'm not 😉

Adam Ross4 said:Ryan Wilson2 mentioned he had something extra to add... 🙂

Your description was quite vivid, but tell me: why do you assume your rhetoric holds more weight than theirs?

If I truly believe I possess a quality product that can benefit people, then I see no issue with promoting it to ensure it reaches those who need it. As for all this talk of determination, esoteric theories, and claims regarding higher planes of existence—those are merely frameworks that some choose to embrace while others disregard entirely.

Perhaps I am mistaken, but it seems to me you haven't delved deeply enough into spiritual leadership, practical application, or the rigorous study of sacred texts. Had you done so, you might have identified the far more insidious methods of indoctrination used by certain spiritualists. Before tackling those complexities, however, I would strongly suggest picking up a few foundational books on psychology and empirical science. 😉

One doesn't necessarily need twenty years of meditation to see results; two years of dedicated practice is often sufficient to trigger significant shifts. Of course, that assumes one actually has the time...

Wasn't Christ viewed as just some "madman" prophet?

Brainwashing isn't actually the issue here. There’s no such thing as a neutral, untouched mental state. We’re all constantly absorbing perspectives from somewhere—mostly just junk food media and Hollywood garbage 🤣

Just like how training for a sport shapes your body to perform specific movements, a spiritual discipline or tradition builds a framework of values and beliefs to support that path. It’s necessary, really. Since we possess minds, logic, and intellect, we have to "tame" and direct them, giving them a structured container to work within for any real spiritual growth.

The real challenge lies in choosing the right goal, finding a legitimate path to get there, and deciding if a particular system—whether it's a guru or an organization—is actually credible. The problem isn't that our brains get "washed"; honestly, a little cleaning out is usually needed. The question is whether that process serves an individual's progress, or if it's being exploited for some shallow agenda by an organization, or if it's just poorly executed, effectively swapping one set of biases for another. 😁

My concern lies specifically with the potential for brainwashing to be weaponized; because, if we are being honest and following your logic, some level of indoctrination seems to be an absolute prerequisite for any meaningful progress or collective productivity to take place.

Ryan Wilson2 said:Nice description. But why assume your rhetoric holds more weight than theirs?

I’m not claiming to be right, 😳
just sharing my current perspective based on what I've lived through. Anyone interested is welcome to push back... 😉
But there's a distinction. Certain "spiritual gurus" act as if they possess the absolute truth and are fully "enlightened." That's the difference...

Ryan Wilson2 said:If you believe you have a solid product that benefits people, then marketing it to make it accessible seems fine. Concepts like determinism, various theories, or claims about higher planes are just teachings—some follow them, some don't.

The issue is they weaponize those ideas for manipulation and exploitation...

Ryan Wilson2 said:Maybe I'm wrong, but it seems you haven't delved deeply enough into spiritual leadership, practice, or studying sacred texts to notice the much more insidious brainwashing techniques these types employ. Before tackling that, I'd suggest picking up a few psychology and science books first.😉

Fine. Go ahead. Give me an example of one of these brainwashing methods... 😉

Ryan Wilson2 said:You don't need twenty years of meditation; two years is enough to start seeing shifts. Provided you actually have the time, of course...

I've done a little over a year of daily meditation. Sure, changes happen. But I don't see any connection to this supposed "spiritual progress" they're all peddling...

I’m with bluemason3 on this one. It feels like our brains are being constantly "reprogrammed," whether it's through religion, science, or just about anything else...

funky Daemon said:the issue is they use them to manipulate and exploit people...

Anything can be misused. Even spirituality can become nothing more than a tool for gaining power in the material world, whether through controlling others or simply generating profit.