How to recognise a fake or an unauthorised Guru?

Contents -

1. Features
2. Risks of being a fake Guru
3. What should one do about fake Gurus ?
4. What should saints do about fake Gurus ? 

1. Features

80% of the Gurus in society are fake or with­out spiritual authority. Some of their features are enumerated below.

A. The Gurus who generate a feeling of inferiority in others and try to show off their greatness

One saint asks everyone who comes to pay obeisance to him their name and age. Once that is told he says, “Both the answers are wrong. The name and age belong to the body. You are the soul. It has neither a name nor age”. Then he speaks on Spirituality and asks, “Are you doing spiritual practice ?” If someone happens to reply in the affirmative, he asks “What spiritual practice ?” If one replies, “The one recommended by my Guru”, he says “You were not able to answer simple questions about your name and age. Then what has your Guru taught you ? Only a real Guru can reply to these questions. Come to me. I will tell you.” One should tell such fake Gurus, ‘Actu­ally your questions were meaningless ! You asked me my name and age only because of your awareness of the body (dehabuddhi), so I too replied with awareness of the body’. What kind of Guru is he who is unable to make out at the first glance whether one has a Guru or if one’s spiritual practice is going on appropriately or not ?

B. Those having attachment to money and women

           He gives masterly discourses on non-duality,

           But has intense attachment for sense objects.

           Nothing shall be accomplished from such Gurus.

- Shri Dasbodh 5.2.31

C. Putting on false airs

One Guru does not use a watch because he does not want to be bound by the restrictions of time and a watch strap. Yet after every fifteen to twenty minutes he asks others, “ What is the time ?” (!)

D. One who is desirous of fame

Some people who have an earnest desire to be known as Gurus and are spiritually evolved to some extent recommend different kinds of spiritual practice to others. As a result, seekers undertaking the spiritual practice progress but the Guru remains stagnant !

E. Some Gurus fearing that if they impart all spiritual knowledge to their disciples they will have no importance there­after, do not impart all knowledge to them.

2. Risks of being a fake Guru

‘Fake Gurus are afflicted with leprosy and their disciples from the previous birth are born as germs who feast on them.’ (?)

3. What should one do about fake Gurus ?

‘Such Gurus found by the dozen
should be summarily rejected.’ - Shri Dasbodh 5.2.21

4. What should saints do about fake Gurus ?

Question: ‘If fake Gurus begin harassing their disciples taking advantage of their position then what should be done ? According to You if disciples act against their Guru, they suffer miserably.

Answer: If the disciples are in distress and are not egois­tic about their path, then the ascetic (sadhu) below the fifth stage according to the Path of Knowledge (Dnyanyoga) [in the Path of Knowledge stages 1-3 are of spiritual practice (sadhanabhumika) while 4-7 are of Self-realisation (phalabhumika) - refer “Chapter 22 - Path of Knowledge (Dnyanyoga)”] should confront the fake Guru, expose his false nature, warn his disciples and then teaching him the righteous path should ask him to guide his disciples on the path of Righteousness.

However if a disciple has attained the knowledge of Brahman he certainly will not pay heed to anyone. If the disciples are egoistic about the false path and are unrighteous, then considering that everyone’s destiny is bad the saint should not do anything about it.’ (11)

(Ref: Sanatan's Publication - 'Path of Guru's Grace (Gurukrupayoga)')