Ancient, time-tested traditions like Tantra, Taoism, Buddhism, and Yoga consistently emphasize the importance of some version of ‘right view.’
In other words, a view of the spiritual path that is rooted in the right understanding and practices—those that develop actual insight and wisdom—as opposed to teachings that lead one astray.
False teachings have been a phenomenon since ancient times.
Now, we live in a time where all that stands between an individual and an audience are buttons and screens.
And all that stands between us and a false teaching, ready to influence us and leave an imprint in our mind, is a mindless moment in which we open our phone out of habit or boredom.
‘Be more masculine/feminine like this,’ ‘watch for this red flag,’ ‘yoga is this,’ ‘tantra is that,’ ‘manifest like this,’ ‘achieve instant freedom like that’—the claims being made in this Instagram space and on other social media platforms are not only endless but, aside from a few true gems, often misleading, heavily infused with personal opinion and delusion, and in the worst cases, completely false and harmful.
What happens in the modern spiritual marketplace is that people with high levels of charisma, impressive appearances and high levels of confidence and ambition build big followings.
Their teachings sound powerful, they resonate and are perhaps partially true and temporarily beneficial.
Yet they are riddled with enough wrong view to lead one following their advice over-time completely astray.
Their big followings even give them status, where many assume that “they know.”
Especially people in the earlier stages of their spiritual path, that haven’t developed discernment yet, and are still seeking for a clear path, are particularly vulnerable to such influences.
My advice if you are serious about your spiritual growth:
Don’t look at the size of someone’s following.
Don’t fall for charisma.
Don’t fall for things based only on the fact that they sound nice or make you feel good.
Don’t follow too many voices in the online spiritual space.
Follow only a few carefully selected teachers at a time, and mute or unfollow where needed.
Try to follow people who respectfully root themselves in ancient, time-tested traditions that work. There’s no need to be religious; we live in a time where we can study various traditions and find the common thread between them—a huge opportunity.
My intention for anything I share, anywhere, both online and in immersions, is rooted in the ancient trinity of gates that a teaching should pass through:
1. It is rooted in the common thread, beyond superficial differences, found in the traditions or scriptures of Yoga, Vedanta, Taoism, Tantra, Buddhism, Christianity and Sufism.
2. It is confirmed by living masters that embody these teachings.
3. It is supported by my own experience.