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The Guru Papers: Masks of Authoritarian Power

The Guru Papers: Masks of Authoritarian Power

List Price: $16.95
Your Price: $11.53
Product Info Reviews

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Rating: 5 stars
Summary: here's one for every guru & would-be guru to read
Review: I do think this is a wonderful book. What other readers haven't mentioned is that it offers a lot of help to anyone who is a sincere spiritual teacher or administrator of a spiritual center. Dear friends, it's difficult for a teacher to keep on the straight & narrow, despite real & deep spiritual attainment & a true desire to help others. The Guru Papers could be a handy guide to see whether you are fooling yourself -- as a teacher. Listen you guys & girls who are out there teaching: Let your students grow up. That's what you're here for.

Rating: 5 stars
Summary: here's one for every guru & would-be guru to read
Review: I do think this is a wonderful book. What other readers haven't mentioned is that it offers a lot of help to anyone who is a sincere spiritual teacher or administrator of a spiritual center. Dear friends, it's difficult for a teacher to keep on the straight & narrow, despite real & deep spiritual attainment & a true desire to help others. The Guru Papers could be a handy guide to see whether you are fooling yourself -- as a teacher. Listen you guys & girls who are out there teaching: Let your students grow up. That's what you're here for.

Rating: 5 stars
Summary: Understanding the Forces of Control at Work in Our Lives.
Review: If you are at all a critical thinker, you should read this book. It offers a challenging and insightful look into the authoritarian constructs that have been created and continue to be promoted in our world at large and also within ourselves. If you wish to break any bonds of control over you that you feel threaten your happiness, this book offers an insight into why you may be submitting to them and how you may be able to opt out of that control. The ideas expressed in this book may very well change your life for the better; it has mine! Give it a read.

Rating: 5 stars
Summary: Probably my favorite book!
Review: In this logical and stunningly common-sense work, the authors examine human beliefs systems from the perspective of language and authoriatarian hierarchies. 12-step, Satanism, Fundamentalist Christianity, Course-in-Miracles, the systems of "enlightened" eastern gurus... without mercy, Kramer and Alstaad break EACH ONE DOWN to its ROOTS and show that ALL human belief systems are the result of a subtle conceptual dualism in which a behavior or viewpoint is taken as a spectrum, polarized, and then one side is valued over the other. A must read for anyone who suspects they might have been brainwashed, very popular among ex-cultists and guaranteed to make a hardline skeptic of you. "The Guru Papers" is probably my favorite book!

Rating: 4 stars
Summary: Taking Responsibility
Review: Refreshing truth on what has been my argument for over 10 years of how people in our society are looking for someone else to take responsibility for their lives. Being a spiritual aspirant and rebirther I have repeatedly found all spiritual groups entrenched in these dynamics of Authoritarianism. This book has nothing to do with being a rebel or creating arguments with authority, but ultimately taking responsibility for ones evolution, enlightenment and devotion. If one has not had valid spiritual experiences apart from a spiritual authority/Guru, it is quite easy to take the information in this book at face value as well. The readers need to keep their own discernment when reading this book and engage some serious self-analysis as to what they are doing in these group dynamics/peers or with a teacher/Guru. This is a great read for all teachers, Guru's to help their students/disciples become responsible spiritual adults and to stop the dysfunctional dependency that is ultimately created in the womb and early infancy due to ignorant parenting (the first guru).
If anyone has a hard time taking responsibility for their own enlightenment, this is must read for daily inspiration. No one's going to do it for you - not even your Guru. The Guru cannot take responsibility for you and if you wait for them to - it's to your evolutionary disadvantage. One last comment: There ARE valid Guru's in every religion who are willing to serve, but you have to help them by taking responsibility. It's unfortunate that the authors did not give credibility to those sincere Guru's who are at times very hard to find, but do exist. Even then, one must take responsibility. Other related reading would be books by Leonard Orr, Sondra Ray and ISPPM (International Society of Pre and Perinatal Psychology). They have a spiritual approach to dissolving Parental/Authoritarian Disapproval by diving deep into conception, birth and infancy related trauma's which are at the core of dependency dysfunctions.

Rating: 3 stars
Summary: And Now A Word From The Authoritarian Anti-Authoritarians
Review: Since the authors are against people living divided lives, they would likely be concerned that I feel divided about their book. On the good side, there is a lot of insight into how authority can be used illegitimately by both ourselves and others for manipulative ends on both ourselves and others. As they have been involved in authoritarian groups teaching various Eastern views, they make quite a few points about the totalitarian nature that can be bred by both the gurus and worldview that emanates from that source; points I have seen others make, as well. Having been hurt by some alleged friends over the past few years, I felt personally helped and enlightened by their chapter on how love can be used as an abusive tool. Overall, the work is for someone who wants to think at length about the relationship between self-guidance and authority over a wide range of issues, and is well worth reading.

On the other hand, there are some real problems here. Kramer & Alstad don't document a single thing they say, other than to refer to their other equally undocumented essays. Thus, ironically, this screed against authoritarianism must be accepted as the raw authoritarian assertion of the authors' views. It functions just like the type of revelation they condemn. One also wonders what in the world they would build after tearing everything down? The impression is left that, despite throwing a bone to recognized authorities in specific fields, one should be free to do whatever one wants and not feel guilty about it, as long as no one gets hurt and the human race is assured of survival. They seem to bank heavily on the belief that once humans are fed the proper data they will adjust themselves into rational, humanistic oriented beings who are willing to allow 'no one gets hurt' and 'the survival of the human race' to stand as their authoritarian guides to conduct. Given the number of people who already don't seem to care who gets hurt or if humans are around after their own death, I don't seem to be able to raise much faith in this. Also, I'm not convinced they understand the inner spiritual and moral dynamics of either Buddhism or Christianity as well as they try to make themselves appear to. Knowing people in both communities, I felt that at many points Kramer and Alstad were dealing in the fantasies of their own stereotypes and straw persons about these beliefs. They don't seem as widely read as they claim, or you would think they would have run into prominent authors, like John Piper, who advocate a self-needs aware compassion that seems to echo what they call for from a tradition they seem to think could never generate it. In fact, their entire understanding of what they call 'Christianity' seems to really be Moralism, a view many, if not most, Christians would also reject.

This book is a series of excerpts from a larger promised work, called 'Control,' which, going on ten years later, is yet to appear. Hal Blacker has posted online his meeting with the authors a few years after this work was published. Look it up. You might feel like I did: I wouldn't want the authoritarian people described in this book in control of my life, but, know what? I don't think I'd want people like Kramer and Alstad running things, either.

Rating: 4 stars
Summary: Dangerous religion
Review: The guru papers are well written.The authors who were gurus and spiritual leaders explain the trap of all religions and their danger points.This is invaluable for faith leaders and followers of ALL faiths.It is not an easy read but it could save you years of trouble.It makes leaders missions clear and is invaluable advice.

Rating: 5 stars
Summary: One of the most amazing books I have ever read
Review: The other reviews sing its praises, but for me this book was strident, petulant and kind of boring. Funny how a book, like a restaurant, can leave one person enthralled and another wondering what all the fuss is about. I typically distrust books that have to invent new words to encapsulate their views. The authors certainly seem sincere in their critique of just about every belief system and organizing principle, and I'm sure they have given a lot of people a lot to ponder, but the writing style is so flat and they just seem to try a little too darn hard to make their sometimes obvious and sometimes obscure points. Oh well, there's room for everyone, and one day I may have a different opinion of a book that for now seems like the whining of two very smart but not very happy people.

Rating: 5 stars
Summary: Conspiracies against autonomy
Review: This sensitive counsel on the dangers of the guru phenomenon is a key text and good as far it goes, but in the wake of the New Age generation we need more detailed information on the nature ofthe problem. A work such as this quite naturally picks up the case of Jim Jones and his cult, and while that is both understandable and appropriate, is that case really the crux of the problem? It is so extreme that it deflects attention from the more insidious types that prey on their cultic disciples with sufficient cunning to never get caught. One problem is that many who fall into guru traps are aware of a dimension straight deprogramming texts filter out and the warning never registers. Those confronting the legacy of Indic guruism spreading globally need someone to level with them on the terms of that world in itself, instead of the usual cliches about cults. Cults are a side issue. The real issue is the unstated denial of freedom in the great traditions of Christianity and Buddhism, and the occult conspiracies that back these up. We are fighting all over again the battle remembered in Kant's essay, What is Enlightenment? a text every New Ager should read before they sign their life away to Shri so and so or some sufi shark.
Platitudes about authoritarianism aren't enough. These gurus are mixed in a strange mafia we never see. Gurus are always careful to coach 'surrender'. NEVER agree to anything, and proceed at your own risk. Steal a buddhist sutra and work alone in your basement. Check out Rudranandra' Spiritual Cannibalism to start figuring out why noone is much interested in your liberation and very interested in your surrender.



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