Just because you are or have been a monk, nun, abbot, high priest, imam, lama, rinpoche, sensei, roshi, guru, swami, yogi, sadhu, mystic or shaman – doesn't mean that you've ever attained any
true spiritual wisdom.
However, the vast majority of novice seekers believe that most Buddhist monks for example, have attained enlightenment or at least some true spiritual wisdom. These are simply projections of the mind.
The holy names and robes make the monks seem superhuman and therefore we quite naturally presume they're enlightened.
Leading a holy life can be a blessing though. There are a handful of benefits to living in a spiritual community – even in the short-term. For one, full-time seekers generally make speedier progress than part-timers.
It's not a prerequisite to be enlightened to teach yoga or meditation +_+
Signs Of True Wisdom
It's next to impossible to characterize an authentic spiritual teacher. However, I'll try to give you a general idea of what we're talking about here by highlighting the following characteristics:
- Warmth
- Patience
- Kindness
- Joyfulness
- Equanimity
- Humbleness
- Selflessness
- Deeply-rooted presence
- Refers to personal experiences as opposed to textbook knowledge
Fake Spiritual Teachers
Some fake spiritual teachers take advantage of their followers financially or even sexually. Common sense applies to worldly and spiritual matter alike, so whenever your guru makes you feel uncomfortable or you're in doubt about his intentions – say no! To find out more about these forms of manipulation read my article
Spiritual Corruption.
Best of luck!
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