The Teachers of One by Paula Marvelly: This is the kind of book that is a real time-saver. Ms. Marvelly interviews fourteen of the best known neo-advaita teachers and thereby saves you the trouble of seeking out them. You will be quite grateful, as she has unwittingly written an expose of the shallowness of this crop of teachers.
Most of this weedy situation is the result of the now-deceased Poonjaji. He apparently had the habit of making vague pronouncements that certain students were ready to teach. These students, steeped in a tradition that they were already enlightened and there was nothing to be done, were quite happy to go out and preach the new gospel. Among these, Marvelly reveals Pratima, Mira, Bharat, Catherine Ingram, Gangaji, Isaac Shapiro, and Pam Wilson. Vartman also falls into this "lineage" as a student of a student of Poonjaji. Every one of these folks, comes across as quite underwhelming.
We are also treated to other voices. John de Ruiter (whose foibles I discuss elsewhere) reveals his secret line for attracting women, "Just look and see what happens inside you when you hold a baby -- that is truth." Vijai Shankar duels with logic while sounding quite magnanimous, "So go ahead, my child. I shall not be speaking about the truth. I shall only tell you things as it is -- illusion, the maya, which in reality appears as this unreality. It is a reality that appears as this unreality. Unreality is the appearance of the reality. But it's not the reality."
One of the more amusing stories is that of Ramesh Balsekar. He ascended to guru-hood upon the death of Nisargadatta Maharaj. On his deathbed, Maharaj shouted, "Why don't you talk!?" and Balsekar took this as an authorization to begin his new career. When some folks showed up looking for the now-deceased Maharaj, Balsekar stepped up to bat.
Only two people stand slightly above the crowd: Tony Parsons and Francis Lucille. Tony because he has found his own language. Yet his message boils down to there being nothing to do, and that message is of little help. Francis for an interesting description of his moment of realization. His "handlers" insistance that there be no questions about his personal life is somewhat suspicious, as if he had something to hide.
The book is also instructional for seeing how easily were are duped by the cloak of authority. Marvelly feels humble in the presence of all these teachers and laps up any little words of encouragement they throw her way. She doesn't doubt that they are what they claim to be, and her acceptance of the various messages leaves her more confused at the end of her journey than at the start.
Read this book. Buy a used copy if you can, then sell it or pass it on to someone else. Spread the news of what to avoid.
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