The science of the guru

In India, to approach a spiritual master is something understood by all as a necessity. Now, in the West, since a few decades, to have a guru has become somewhat acceptable, if not fashionable, although it is still being frowned upon by the majority. But very little has been written about what a guru is actually needed for, and what qualities one is supposed to be endowed with to be considered a genuine spiritual teacher. The public in general, and especially in the West, is not being educated about these qualities. To cheat innocent people and get money, fame, and in some cases easy access to women, some people from India make a show of being advanced spiritually and become known as gurus, sadhus (saintly persons) or mahatmas (great souls). Thus, countless people have been cheated, exploited financially, emotionally and even sexually by these swindlers. There are also unqualified, irresponsible people who are accepting prematurely the weighty position of guru and then become overwhelmed by the trappings coming along with that charge. They become greedy for wealth and prestige, and succumb to the attraction of ladies, thus also causing havoc in their disciples' lives. In this book, the author deals with the whole science of the guru, known in India as guru-tattva, delineating systematically the qualities of a genuine guru, and answering the most frequently asked questions one may have about this most important topic. He also presents as a case study the guru in the Hare Krishna movement after the departure of its founder.