Reviews of Spiritual Teachers
Kumare (2012)
Billed as “the true story of a false prophet,” Kumare is more than a simple guru expose. New Jersey filmmaker Vikram Gandhi documents himself as he grows his hair and beard to wise-man length, polishes his yoga moves, adopts his Indian grandmother’s accent, and strikes out for Phoenix, AZ to become a guru. Continue reading “Kumare: The anti-guru film”
Adyashanti presents a blend of Zen and advaita teachings that’s popular in the West Coast guru scene. Below you’ll find my initial impressions of Adyashanti, as well as updates from 2012, 2019, and 2023. Years ago, a reader mailed me a DVD of his which I dutifully watched, then put on the shelf. 
It wasn’t that I didn’t like what I saw — I wasn’t sure of my impression. On one hand, I saw a witty, soft-spoken American with an Indian-sounding name, smiling a lot, pausing for long silences, and talking about how we are already that which we seek. Yet I couldn’t dismiss him outright as I also felt an undercurrent of seriousness and honesty. Continue reading “Adyashanti – Honest but Use in Moderation”