You can now identify if your spiritual Guru is fake or not. This is a reality check.
Features of fake spiritual Gurus; the checklist points:
1. He/She is very particular about clothing, appearance and makeup.
2. Guru is unnecessarily concerned about self protection with bodyguards/police/rowdies. [and/or] Above normal fear of height, water, crowd (without bodyguards), and all animals.
3. Lust for money and wealth. He/She is very keen on building more and more ashrams, prayer halls, lodging, etc. Always want to expand the facilities.
4. If Guru is a man, then lust for women and/or past history of womanizing. (If Guru is frank and honest about it, then this point is not valid).
5. Guru's past history is fabricated and/or ambiguous. Their names have been changed to something long and spiritual sounding one. Spreading false stories of miracles through some dedicated disciples. Fear or reluctance to meet old friends and also some relatives for unclear reasons.
6. Too much emphasis given on media/publicity like printing, CDs, internet, photos, calendars, etc.
7. Lot of respect given to previous Guru only after their death.
8. Frequently some disciples are thrown out of the group who are more intelligent and knowledgeable than Guru.
9. He/She owns other businesses and deals with black money. Guru's wealth keeps growing with the Guru's growing popularity. All the Guru's close relatives become more and more wealthy.
10. Royal treatment is given to wealthy disciples who donate generously. Disciples who cannot donate are expected to give service through physical labor (nothing is actually free).
11. Having (or trying to have) connection with politicians and influential persons in the society.
12. Unsatisfactory answers and explanations to disciple's questions. Guru gets away by saying things like "it is not time for you to understand that" etc. The meditation is not working. All the good and positive feeling we get is from the socializing which we can get from any social organizations/clubs.
13. Desire to have a larger and larger number of disciples. Desire to conduct functions on a grand scale with large gathering, especially on religious occasions, spending lavishly.
Even if any 5 of above points are true, then your Guru may be fake. If greater than 8 points are positive, just stay away from such groups/gurus. Do not waste your time and money for such groups. Also, do not put your life into risk by exposing anything about such fake gurus, because they are very defensive about protecting their image, which is again another sign of fake Gurus.
A true enlightened person is very simple.
Please remember, the Guru, who has left his body, does not need your money. Any donation will be misused by the people who run an organization in the name of a dead Guru. If you love your Guru, then remember him, pay homage by following his advice and doing meditation. Money cannot satisfy his sole and money will only corrupt the organization.
If you are 100% sure that your Guru or a successor of your genuine Guru is a fake and you still continue to support that Guru/successor/organization because of peer pressure, then remember that you are degrading your own spiritual wellbeing. If you continuously go against your inner consciousness, it will seriously hamper your spiritual and emotional growth and that is opposite of spirituality.
Gurur Brahma… Gurur Vishnu… Gurur Devo Maheshvara… Gurur Saakshaat Parabrahma… Tasmai Shree Gurave Nama…