The Dangers of Gurus & Spiritual Celebrities

[divinebagofcells]

I do agree with what your saying, however I wonder if you think that different people are on differing levels of this life journey. Meaning that some people can more easily access or become one with truths while others can know them, believe them yet still are unable to become them. and maybe in such cases a spiritual leader/adviser might be the inspiration that some people need to believe in the truth that they can not fully grasp themselves....?

[sherabfri]

love the music and painting

[sherabfri]

A flower, fruit or plant could add the connection factor in the kitchen video frame...life force...or maybe in a tipi...American kitchens are so freaky the same....love your journey

[CarrionSmile]

you rock. thanks for this, and all your other vids.

[moranplano]

Truthfully, I never knew a Master who didn't have a Master starting out. The process starts with a LONGING for something greater. This begins a Search that goes down many winding roads, until the SEEKER meets the MASTER, who can instruct them in the ways of SPIRIT. It's like someone wanting to learn chess or carpentry or physical fitness. They find a Teacher who can instruct them in the best ways to reach their goals, in how to "remove" the obsacles that block their greatest achievements.

[DnbDubJunkie]

Can i ask the name of the song you used at the very beginning?

[EvolvingTruthSeeker]

@herbgardner00 Do you know Alan Watts? Thoughts?

[herbgardner00]

@EvolvingTruthSeeker yeah big fan =]

[TheEffinBongShow]

cool story, bro

[liverawkstar]

Perfect wisdom insight and deconstruction of culture

love it as always Brandon

[IMIaTix]

You speak the TRUTH, always

[Nathgrul]

Good video, this is exactly the point that needs to be brought out into our mainstream culture, although I think that more than half would not fully understand.

[29amandaleigh]

Very important to remember. As always, thanks for the middle ground point-of-view.

[carlmartin333]

Herb -we both know that you are right on with this message. We all want to believe that there is answer to a question that we do not know and that someone else has it. The ONLY thing that one being has or does not have (or we) do not have, is Experience. Peace. Carl

[superthingguy]

good, very good, I was almost starting to cry because, it resonated with me so deeply...

[brwneyesaz]

So true. There has to be a balance for me but I have to see both side of a story etc. Anything too extreme makes me pause and ponder & consider what is actually beneficial for me as a person. Good advice Brandon.

[emakengkau]

Keep away from people who try to belittle your ambitions. Small people always do that, but the really great make you feel that you, too, can become great. · Mark Twain No man is great enough or wise enough for any of us to surrender our destiny to. The only way in which anyone can lead us is to restore to us the belief in our own guidance. · Henry Miller The universe is full of magical things patiently waiting for our wits to grow sharper. · E. Phillpots

[herbgardner00]

@emakengkau =]

[emakengkau]

6 people felt rather uncomfortable upon listening to someone's words of wisdom, or just didn't like Brandon's large hands.

[herbgardner00]

@emakengkau lol, its the hands every time

[xXKillaBGXx]

others. Much like how weight lifting is not the only way to build strength, endurance, and having a built body. There are other exercises such as calisthenics that will also have similar results.

[xXKillaBGXx]

Whether it be listening to music that will alter your emotions, meditating, practicing yoga exercises, or remembering an experience that made you feel good at one point of your life and recreating it to the present moment. This is just one of the many examples to explain how there are numerous ways to the path of awakening and nirvana. One thing about The Buddha is that he didn't want to be idolized because he knew there are many paths. You just have to find your own without depending on

[xXKillaBGXx]

enlightenment will NOT lead you to the path of enlightenment. There are four rooms (I'm speaking in a vedic metaphorical sense) that need to be continuously monitored. There's a mental, emotional, spiritual, and physical room. Your body in a sense is your house. Like any house, you need to make sure all your rooms are cleaned. If you are emotionally distressed, then metaphorically speaking, then that room is not cleaned because it's full of negativity. You can clean it by numerous of ways.

[xXKillaBGXx]

I stumbled upon Yogi Maharishi Mahesh's (may his soul be in peace) "Transcendental Mediation" on YouTube to only find out that you can only get access to it by paying money out of your pocket by going to a local university. Spirituality is should not cost a penny. Though I respect his effort in teaching us how to be in a bliss state of mind, I don't appreciate the organization who try to profit out of a tool that has been practiced throughout millenniums. Being cling onto a notion of...

[xXKillaBGXx]

There are many various ways in reaching the state of enlightenment and finding your way to the pinnacle of your consciousness. There is no one way. Siddhartha Guatama is a prime example of this. He thought following the yoga tradition of disregarding your body in the most harsh possible way, and practice asceticism would lead him to find answers in the means of suffering. That's until he was saved by a generous girl who offered him food when he was on the verge of dying. Be your own leader.

[QuarterBloom]

True dat.

[nightridah89]

yeah i think most ppl want to teach before they really know anything, whereas the few ppl who are worth listening to tend to be alot more humble and are always learning no matter how high of a level they have reached, they realize there is always more to learn...

[nightridah89]

yeah i think most ppl want to teach before they really know anything, whereas the few ppl who are worth listening to tend to be alot more humble and are always learning no matter how high of a level they have reached, they realize there is always more to learn...

[mobin11]

Sweet vid. Just a question, do you think it's worth it to go to hypnotherapy sessions or to try it myself?

[herbgardner00]

@mobin11 if you are attracted to it then find a practitioner whom you feel comfortable working with.

[mrzelda8]

great information. next video could you please boost the volume a bit if you can?

[herbgardner00]

@mrzelda8 yeah i think the battery on my mic started to die out half way through. sorry about that.

[BurntCatMedia]

Good work once again.

[herbgardner00]

@BurntCatMedia thanks!

[scneffarious]

what are your views on hipsters?

[TerminusIntroduction]

@scneffarious hahah. remember brandon did reishi before it was cool :+)

[herbgardner00]

@TerminusIntroduction hahah

[herbgardner00]

@scneffarious portlandia is a great show :D

[miarena111]

a true leader or teacher will try to get you higher than he is him self coz he knows that a teacher is only as good as his pupils are !

[alhawal1]

how true

thumps up

love this video

thank you

[herbgardner00]

@alhawal1 thanks!

[World0fWowcraft]

good thing you made this video.

One looking for spirituallity fufillment only need to take a good look at himself, NOT follow a cultist leaders.

[filmbeau]

Spot on, brother! I really like your videos, and I appreciate your views as expressed in this one. I am a fellow avoider of hierarchical thinking, and you expressed it so very well. Thank you.

[kukunu]

sometimes when i take a poop I imagine all of the celebrity gurus taking a poop. that seemed to help me. I call it taking a holy shit.

[tonyacole]

who or what is the universe? all that sounds good bur there is no foundation.

[TMacDMB]

Herb man doesn't know anything about "gurus." if he did he would know that the real ones don't claim to be higher, they claim to be absolutely ordinary, in fact there ordinariness is their extraordinary-ness. The real "gurus" or masters teach again and again that there is no goal, that the path is the goal, that all we are or can be is now. Having or finding a master is a blessing! Sure avoid idiots but don't believe it's all bullshit - its not. What herb man is teaching here is bs. Search for

[SuperCozmos]

Be a light unto yourself. Be your own guru. I think that by looking within you end up finding more than you ever would by searching out here.

[missartist123]

I've seen more "sex cult" like gurus lately. There has been a lot of sexual assault lately from Indian dance teachers towards foreign belly dancers going to the country to learn the styles of dances as well. I've usually tried to stay away from spiritual gurus or dance teachers who have an extremely sexually charged vibe. *shudders*

[waterfall32]

can you possibly do a video on dream yoga?

[Sarasvati387]

excellent video! 

[JELEL6688]

LOL good vid. We are all souls on this Earth anyway, everyone is equal no matter how wise or foolish they may seem.

[LifeInNewJersey]

I wish YT were around when I was in my 20s and I'd seen this video. I have to admit I got caught up with a few gurus in my day but I was able to easily "let go" and open myself up to other positive influences. I still get caught up with people--most recently Alan Watts--and do enjoy getting into listening to their takes on life but now, though I still regard them as gurus, they're just one of many gurus who's ideas I enjoy taking in but don't get too attached to.

[alistairproductions]

Before this you were one of my favorite spiritual celebrities. Kidding, I get what you're saying in the video. I tend to think it has more to do with the mindset of learner than any pretense on the part of the teacher.. Most gurus, I think, have something they believe is valuable that they want to spread (whether it's useful or not), while many times people seeking knowledge are still in a clingy, low self-esteem state desperately searching for anything to fill the void in their life

[herbgardner00]

@alistairproductions yeah that is a good point as well. it all obviously depends on the situation and participating parties

[chuckthelumberjack]

@alistairproductions Some time ago I was feeling horrible and was looking for some Master to teach me something about resolving my suffering. With my glamorous ego at the time, I found Osho, one of the biggest spiritual celebs out there (though dead he's got tons of books and videos). Even though he portrays himself as a great king on a throne, his teachings actually helped me to see the ego more and eventually stop looking up to him. Now I feel like Osho is just another dude.

[alistairproductions]

@chuckthelumberjack Sure, and maybe he is enlightened or has greater insight, and and would make him "just another dude with some greater insight". Like you said, still just another dude!

[chuckthelumberjack]

how can I remove the blockages that are cutting me off from the nourishment that the universe is always trying to give to me... it feels way more empowering like that.. great! The universe wants us to have good well-being, we just have to open up I guess.

[herbgardner00]

@chuckthelumberjack yes yes and yes ;)

[edstar83]

Good stuff.

[herbgardner00]

@edstar83 thank you =]

[lightbrownpoop]

i have come along way in only half a year, much more confidence, optimism and peace...i still have issues with insecurity and self-hatred though. just a few weeks ago when i was in a gas station i saw myself in the reflection of the window and thoughts and feelings of "look at how stupid and awkward you look, you're never going to get married or have healthy relationships" arose within me, it seriously so sucked. i was in an unhappy mood for awhile after that.

[SovereignBeing]

@lightbrownpoop u gotta slay those demons, these are actual entities that you been feeding all your life, possibly started from the critical parent..now they are out of control, dont listen to them and literally tell them you have moved on and they have no power over you,, grow the opposite entities of self-love, self-forgiveness and self- acceptance, so they will balance each other out.. then you can get on with life without these rude uncalled for intrusions.

[lightbrownpoop]

@SovereignBeing i almost let them take my life a few years ago. i've been in the process of "changing my thinking" and transformation for about 2 years now. i have come along way. and yes, it probably started from parents, teachers, religion etc. i want to get back to my creative, inspired state. during my teens to early 20's, i was such an insecure, competitive, critical person always comparing myself and trying to prove my worth/value. not anymore, what an empty life that was.

[kingbrunodagaul]

ha ha, I tripped the light fantastic, and I still don't know how I got back to earth, I mean, I was really lost in space for a good long while man, and I haven't even got a passport, or ever left the country where I live. I live in Birkenhead in England by the way, which is the town across the river mersey from Liverpool, but yeah, between the wisdom of our lord, and the whacky world of Don Juan, I kind of found my niche,,,,and nirvana.

[kingbrunodagaul]

what I learnt over time, is you got to trust your own gut instincts, and seeing is believing, in my own experiences, any of these dudes who are very wealthy and claiming to know God, like the pope, and royalty etc, they are all just making money, and the vatican is infamous for blocking ordinary folks from using their pineal glands to attain vision and nirvana-like state. Awareness is a personal matter for each individual, one mans' heaven is another mans' hell. This year is the year of awarenes

[jeigo]

i am a spiritual leader and it says so in my astrology chart. my mission is to awaken humanity, create an enlightened society and heal the world. the leaders of the golden age are those that empower people. being spiritual is to end suffering. as we approach closer to dec 21 2012 we must be in alignment with our higher self. being in the greatest health brings joy. the greatest joy brings us back into the heart. moving from the mind and into the heart is an art for ascension dimension.

[SovereignBeing]

@jeigo you must be really busy saving this world then? no pressure? what conjunction in your chart indicates that.. ? just wondering as it seems alot to take on personally. many feel that on this path, but it can be very consuming carrying the responsibility of the whole world on your shoulders. ..

[jeigo]

@SovereignBeing glad to know another fellow astrologer :) i have the royal fixed star Regulus in my 5th house of Leo with Mars and Jupiter in virgo. check out my chart Feb 19 1980 @928am in Toronto Canada.

[herbgardner00]

@jeigo rock on

[AnotherYourself72]

great video....as usual!

[herbgardner00]

@AnotherYourself72 thanks!

[Culexz0]

Wow no dislikes yet o.O

[herbgardner00]

@Culexz0 hehe you spoke too soon!

[kingbrunodagaul]

I read the whole of the bible after having a lot of visions while I was ill with a breakdown back in 1991-2. I sort of went mad for a few years, The God I witnessed was as real as real gets, I never planned or expected any of this before-hand, but I'm not religious as such, simply a witness to many things which led me to read the bible and I found too many things which were exactly as I saw in my visions, crazy stuff, I'd read Carlos Castanedas books too, which I really learnt a lot from also.

[aeilc]

Thanks that was very helpful :)

[herbgardner00]

@aeilc thanks for watching :)