Teachers

Saniel was a student of Adi Da for many years, and I looked up Adi Da for the first time today.

According to Ken Wilber, Adi Da's teachings are among the most profound in modern times. At the same time, Adi Da has issues and blindspots on a personal level that leads to meltdowns and controversies. It seems to be the old Guru Disease, where the realized person is not willing to admit to the hang-ups and unresolved issues we all have. And when these come out, they are seen as "crazy wisdom" and teachings...

There is obviously a time/place for genuine crazy wisdom, but selectively (not habitually and for large groups of people). Today, and in the west, it seems more appropriate to emphasize ethical relationships, respect, and especially honesty about personal hangups.

In the case of the Guru Disease, there may be an abstract idea of "perfection" that both the teacher and the students cling to, so when hangups come out they are seen as "enlightened teachings". And there must be a poor understanding of the fact that realization does not automatically heal all the issues we all have on a personal level (especially emotional).

It is interesting to see that Adi Da and Saniel both renounced the tradition they practiced in, see themselves as "self-realized", and both present their teachings as independent of other traditions... (a little blindspot there?). Saniel is obviously reacting to many of the problems in Adi Da's approach, both in a healthy way (emphasizing down work and mutuality) and unhealthy ways (reactive, as outlined earlier).