When looking for a spiritual teacher, there are seven things to look for. 7 Points to Consider When Selecting a Spiritual Teacher
Before You Continue...
Do you know what is your soul number? Take this quick quiz to find out! Get a personalized numerology report, and discover how you can unlock your fullest spiritual potential. Start the quiz now!
What is a spiritual teacher called?
Shaykhs or Sufi teachers, Gurus (including Hindu Gurus, Sant Mat Gurus, and Sikh Gurus), Buddhist teachers, including Tibetan Lamas (which is really just the Tibetan word for Guru), and Mahasiddhas (who may be claimed by both Buddhist and Hindu traditions) are some of the subcategories of spiritual teachers.
Many Western spiritual teachers exist, some of whom claim a spiritual ancestry from the East and others who do not.
The phrase “spiritual teacher” originates in Western tradition and refers to a broader understanding of spirituality.
What does a spiritual teacher teach?
A person tasked with teaching a human or universal being what they need to know, study, and understand on a spiritual level in order to contribute to their soul agreement, soul purpose, or spiritual progress.
A spiritual teacher could be anyone we recognize and know, as long as we have a long-term or lifetime relationship with them.
How do you start a spiritual awakening?
The spiritual journeyand the resulting “spiritual awakening” we seekalways appears to take place in some exotic location or following a spectacular incident.
Perhaps you believe you need to travel to Peru to drink ayahuasca or leave your spouse to get the spiritual awakening you seek?
From the comfort of your own home, you may connect with your spirituality and awaken to the lessons that are meant for you over and over again throughout your life.
What does a spiritual coach do?
A spiritual coach, also known as a spiritual life coach, looks at the deeper connections that people have with the Universe. They assist people in gaining a new or deeper awareness of the world they live in, as well as the energies that run through it. A spiritual coach will employ a variety of healing modalities to assist their clients on their travels. They serve as a guidance for instilling self-confidence and compassion in others.
People hire spiritual coaches for a variety of reasons. The following are some of the most common areas in which spiritual coaches work with clients:
People frequently inquire about whether or not they must be religious to work with or become a spiritual coach. No, that is not the case. Spirituality, unlike religion, does not come with a set of rules or concepts. It's all about feeling a part of something bigger than ourselves. People can nurture feelings of love, compassion, and awareness by recognizing and honoring that connection. A spiritual coach will always respect the religious views of their clients.
How do I become a guru?
While reading the new Inc cover article on Tim Ferriss, whose 4-Hour Workweek business has turned him into the ultimate Silicon Valley lifestyle guru, I was thinking about this. Then there's Suze Orman and a slew of other personal finance experts, all of whom offer identical advise but have personalities large enough to attract followers and fans.
Of course, there's a lot of luck involved, as well as a lot of hard work unfortunately, more than 4 hours per week. However, here are a few suggestions that appear to be helpful.
1. Establish your brand. Gurus require a subject. After all, only a few people can become experts in a variety of fields. Anne Lamott creates great fiction, but it's her religious work that gets her welcomed to churches, where she's greeted by loving followers. What subject do you have control over? It should ideally be broad, but not too cluttered with other gurus. Even if it is, you can carve out a niche for yourself (finance for millennials; time management for entrepreneurs; exercise for the 50+ set).
2. Tell an excellent tale. You don't need a degree to be a guru, but you do need a cause for others to pay attention to you. This is frequently a conversion story the kind of St. Paul on the road to Damascus story that humans instinctively enjoy. I used to be terrible with money, and this is what I've learned since then! I used to work 24 hours a day, but then I discovered how to outsource everything!
Can anyone be a guru?
The benefits of being a trickster guru are numerous. There is wealth and power, but nothing beats the satisfactions of being a self-contained performer who transforms “actual life” into a drama. Furthermore, it is not a criminal offense to sell shares in non-existent organizations, impersonate a doctor, or forge checks. There are no recognized or official credentials for being a guru, though with several colleges now offering meditation and Kundalini Yoga courses, membership in the United States Fraternity of Gurus may soon be required. A very good trickster, on the other hand, might get around all of that by developing a totally new discipline that is outside and beyond all known kinds of esoteric teaching.
The trickster guru fulfills a real need and provides a legitimate public service, which must be realized from the start. Millions of individuals are looking for a true father-Magician, especially at a time when the clergy and doctors seem to lack the bravery of their convictions or dreams. Perhaps they've lost their nerve because they place too much value on the virtue of honesty, as if a painter felt obligated to give his landscapes the same level of authenticity as pictures. The trickster guru must have nerve above everything else in order to fulfill his loving mission. He must also be well-versed in mystical and occult literature, both that which is historically accurate and scholarly sound, as well as that which is more dubious, such as H.P. Blavatsky, P.D. Ouspensky, and Aleister Crowley's writings. It's not good to be taken off guard by details that are now widely known.
Following such preliminary investigations, the first step is to frequent those circles where gurus are particularly sought, such as numerous cult groups that follow oriental faiths or unusual kinds of psychotherapy, or simply the intellectual and artistic milieux of any major metropolis. Be relatively isolated and quiet. Never ask questions; instead, periodically give a brief comment to what someone else has said. Volunteer no details about your personal life, but add a few names here and there to imply that you've traveled extensively and spent time in Turkestan. Avoid being questioned too closely by creating the appearance that travel is a minor issue hardly worth discussing, and that your true interests are much deeper.



