I’m not just being mean or snarky here. I realize that there is an important distinction in this discussion for us western seekers and lovers of Indian mysticism. Most Indian holy men are fake. This is well known to all Indians. In India these people (mostly men) are known as sadhus. There are many many people who dress up and play the role of sadhus but very few who are actually knowers of wisdom or sadhakas who have attained yoga.
You will find sadhus all over India, usually around Hindu temples or holy places. They are often decorated with lots of Hindu regalia; multiple beaded necklaces, elaborate tilaks (forehead markings), dreadlocks, etc etc. They are usually begging for alms, sometimes they are performing austerities like body piercing or other feats of strength in public. There is a large festival known as the Kumbha Mela where millions of Indian sadhus converge, this has become popular with western spiritual tourists.
There are many Indian sadhus who belong to akharas or sacred lineages who are doing sincere spiritual work. But these are aren’t typically the guys you see posted outside the temple or hanging around trying to attract westerners in Rishikesh. Bonafide sadhus don’t flaunt their powers advertise themselves looking for disciples.
I suppose the word fake is little harsh. Maybe better to say, just because someone is advertising themselves as a holy man doesn’t mean they are holy. Indians know this. They are suspicious of gurus in general and know that there is a longstanding tradition of ordinary guys who pose as sadhus. There is a vagabond kind of lifetstyle that sadhus lead. They often sleep outdoors and beg for alms, temples and Hindu organizations often provide basic needs for them. And then there’s the ganja - not all sadhus partake, but many do. This is another appealing aspect to western yoga backpackers.
Important Confession/Disclaimer
Of course, this whole article is written in a holier-than-tho voice. And I, as a modern spiritual teacher surely have many flaws. Compared with my luminary teachers, my teachings are watered-down soup. I try to do my best to be sincere and continue learning to do justice to the tradition and the teachers that came before me, I try to be as real as I can be. But I am not putting myself out there and an exemplar. Im just a messenger. But this message is important.
So what?
So what if there are phony sadhus? Well, the so-what from the Indian point of view is that among the many fake and ordinary sadhus, phony gurus and cult leaders, there are also really bonafide masters that play a very beloved and important role within sacred Indian culture. The (real) masters are the most beloved treasures from the Indian mystical tradition. That is where the term “satguru” or “sadguru” comes from. It means “true guru”. (Ironically one of the main questionable professional gurus of India these days has named himself Sadhguru”)
They are VERY rare, but there are real sadhus and their example is valuable, their blessings are real and if they are also teaching, their teachings can be priceless. My teachers have been real holy people, and I have met a (small) handful of sadhus on my many trips to India.
It’s also important because, just as the bonafide spiritual practices and teachings that filter down through the ages from bonafide spiritual masters being shared by sincere western spiritual teachers, there are also bogus teachings and practices being shared by modern day bogus western spiritual teachers - and also by modern day sincere western spiritual teachers. Because we don’t have this inoculation that most Indians have, we are prone to believe and follow any Indian guru with charisma or a big following etc. People here in the west just don’t even think to inquire about realness.
The point is, we mustn’t throw the baby out with the bathwater. And also we mustn’t accept bathwater simply because it once contained a baby.
The great masters have given us so much. And if we are sincere, we can still derive so much support from them. I feel an obligation as a white western teacher to expose modern seekers and teachers to legendary (but real) masters. It’s crucial.
Endless Bliss Next week I start the first of several courses I’ll be offering introducing different masters to modern seekers. We’re starting with the root guru of my lineage: Nityananda of Ganeshpuri. He left his body in 1961, but his energy is powerful and his presence is available to us.
He was the realest of the real. A guru of gurus. He was the teacher of my teacher’s teacher. I know and have met many devotees who met him and received his blessings directly. We’ll learn stories about his life, and study his teachings. We’ll also learn deep meditation practices to help us directly connect with him on an energetic level.
CLICK HERE TO LEARN MORE ABOUT THE COURSE AND SIGN UP
Course starts next week!!!