I read your piece at SpiritualTeachers.org on John de Ruiter and have some thoughts on his authenticity.

I've seen him teach / talk (whatever his thing is called) in Bristol, UK a few times. I have very strong feelings about people claiming to speak / teach 'the' truth and have an almost biological reaction to the false ones. I've been thrown out of Zen classes for laughing at the teacher or correcting them.

Any way back to de Ruiter. I was watching him and thinking 'what the f... are you going on about'. Then I started thinking 'if you are for real, you'll realise that you should stop talking' and even though I was at the back of the hall he looked over in my direction and stopped speaking. I looked back at him and thought 'let's do this, let's see where you're coming from'. I felt the tell tail flutter in my chest / heart which can sometimes signify disaster for the meeting and my continued presence there.

Any way we meditated together, facing each other for, about 10 minutes in which time I thought 'this guy's pretty way out' and the whole end of the hall around him started to go wavy and ethereal. The feeling in my chest subsided and I felt we were coming from the same place and therefore what he was doing was ok. If he was aware of my mental request for him to stop talking and actually meditated with me while I was checking him out then he must be reasonably aware.

The other thing I found curious was all the groupies sunbathing in front of him on their camping chairs on the stage. I wondered what they were doing like sealions on the shore so I wandered down to the front of the hall to see for myself. It was strange but I felt like I was being blasted by some rays too. Kind of transcendental, out of this world, out of time rays - which although challenging for some, I quite liked. So I decided they were sunbathing in spiritual rays after all.

I'm far from being a devotee, in fact I resented having to pay £7 for stuff I already know about so sneaked in the back when I could get away with it. I also felt most of the people there were taking it way too seriously, so I broke a long silence with an enormously loud fart that resounded of the wooden floors. Amazingly not many people reacted other than tensing their shoulders a bit more but one women laughed so badly she was falling off her chair. John, to give him credit, didn't seem bothered or phased.

I know what you mean about the hypnotism. I was watching from the balcony and it looked like when someone got the mic he would blast them with a laser beam. They would rant about their worldly woes and confusion and he would blast their mind until they shut up. Not such a bad thing to do but it could easily create dependency for those that liked it. Ultimately you need to get people to understand the truth / what's going on for themselves.

I heard he was doing two blond twins or sisters that were his disciples. I thought 'they're not that amazing but I suppose if he wants to, why not'. I didn't realise he was married and I can see how cruel that can be / is.

What you say in your piece surprises me. I too think any being worth their truth would admit to being the victim or at least embracer of lust. I thought that was what the Osho's were all about. So I'm disappointed that John d' wouldn't fess up. If you are spiritually brave then you admit everything and aren't afraid to loose what you have.

I've seen many gurus / teachers have lust get the better of them - more so with men. I don't necessary think it's something you have to get rid of but at least be honest about it. I also know from much experience that there are many beings that you can learn lots of interesting & profound stuff from but who aren't perfect. You just get used to that, learn what you need, move on when necessary & don't give your life away to them. You have to give your life to your own wisdom not some plonker on a stage.

So to answer your question; I think he has some authenticity, more than some others I've seen but still prone to some of the classic guru pitfalls.

Cheers
irReverend Sab