Not quite.

Yes, students are apt to dote upon teachers.

But teacher does influence and script the group setting.

One clever way gurus and bad yogis create submissive groups
is to arrive late.

Persons who dislike being kept waiting, leave, and refuse
ever to see the guru again are assertive. The ones who
persistently remain despite a guru running late -- are
the hopeful and submissive people.

By this little bit of behavior -- arriving late, keeping students
waiting, a guru or yoga master can create a submissive group.

When a teacher has power
the onus is on the powerholder to keep the social setting clear
and dignified for all concerned.

Here are other ways a guru or yoga master can create
a healthy group.

* Keep language on topic. Especially when ones workshops are expensive.
Do not waste student's time telling irrelevant jokes stories. Give them
what they paid for: Yoga training.

* Don't draw excessive attention to yourself by ranting, and or using sexualized language.

* Start and end classes on time. When a guru or yoga master arrives late
for classes this is to disrespect the student's time and presence. A
teacher who pulls this on you is doing a power trip. That itself is
an abusive social situation.

* Never keep your students in class past the scheduled time. Meals
and sleep are necessary.

* Hire cooks, massage therapists and drivers who are not your
students. Pay them a fair wage.

Too often in the alleged spiritual scene, the powerholder is
adored but if the powerholder misbehaves -- wham, the blame
is placed on the underlings and endless excuses are made
for the powerholder.

First, there is much a teacher can do to keep this adulation within
bounds.

Today, more is known than ever before on how teacher student groups
go wrong, what a teachers can do to prevent trouble from developing.

The teacher or guru must focus on the teachings, and
firmly and consistently discourage any undue focus on his
or her personality. That includes mere whims which have nothing
to do with yoga or whatever teaching is posited.

Do not invite students to do personal tasks for you. Hire
non students for those. Have friends
to relax with. Student and teacher should socialize separately
and have separate home lives.

A guru or yoga master should serve the tradition by having several
trainee teachers and arrange for them to lead classes and trainings
so as to ensure the tradition is carried on, apart from the master.

If too much guru or master worship is developing, the master
should take breaks or extended retreats, while arranging for head
students to teach. This demonstrates that the tradition is
independent of the master.

For, all of us will someday die. A great teacher does not monopolize
a teaching. Students should understand that the teaching will remain
long after a master dies or retires.

Now, let us look at Bikram.

Let us pretend the the allegations are not true.

Nevertheless, these allegations are a description of
all the ways a teacher can behave in ways that create
a boundary breakdown between teacher and students.

And not that these are situations where the teacher is the agent.

Alleged use of students for personal care of the the yogi, such
as massaging the guru.

This alone is to break down boundaries between student and teacher.
A rich man, a yoga master, and one alert and responsible for
maintaining safe boundaries would use his wealth to hire non
students as masseurs -- and set an ethical example by paying those
masseurs a fair wage and travel expenses.

The guru or yoga master should seek entertainment and relaxation
with non student friends. Bikram allegedly had yoga students watch
movies with him at night. Bollywood movies.

[www.google.com]

A guru or yoga master should beware of imposing his or her
whims and preferences into the teaching situation. The tradition
is not to be comingled with a teachers mere aesthetic preferences.

Bikram reportedly banned the color green. If yoga makes you
calm and grounded, why should a color hetz the teacher up so much?

[www.google.com]

Bang. Hating a color is too strong a reaction. That is to bring
mere human personality into itl

Agreed, Corboy. There should definitely be some boundaries. This type of thing happens in non-spiritual settings as well when teachers and students forget their roles. Obviously the teachers are more to blame b/c they have the dominant position.

Yes, I agree as well. We should always have a good checks and balance system in place while navigating through life. It's our job to protect ourselves from these predators.

tia007:

It's not just "our job to protect ourselves from these predators."

It's the job of every organization to hold such people responsibility and in many cases the authorities to prosecute them and press to expose them.

Many press reports archived within this database reflect this.

Of course people who; pray on others,break laws and/or hurt others should be punished. I'm am completely for people receiving just punishment for their crimes and no one is exempt from this, no matter what their title.


I'm just saying that to protect ourselves in our daily lives from becoming victims it's good to have personal check and balance system. Exploiters aren't always easy to spot and you might come into situation in life where you are exposed to them.

tia00:

Exactly.

That's why we have this message board, post warning signs and advise everyone to check out a teacher or guru through a Web search.

There a quite a few con artists and destructive groups using meditation and yoga to deceptively pull people in and then exploit them.

Well alright then. Now we're getting through to me :)
I didn't really know what to expect when I first came on here. It all seemed so negative but I see now you are just playing the devils advocate.

tia007:

No.

Just making distinctions.

Do you find meditation and Yoga valuable outside of the destructive situations? Do you believe if people aren't being controlled, brainwashed or exploited, that meditation has it's health, spiritual and mental benefits?

tia007:

Meditation can be positive and helpful.

But excessive meditation and/or meditation under the control of an unethical and manipulative teacher or guru can be destructive.