What’s more important – the so-called inner guru, or the outer guru that points you to that inner guru? And is there really a difference between inner and outer guru at all, or is this just a false dichotomy?

Some people say that silence is the real teacher, but do they also see the irony that they are saying this? The fact that they say this indicates at least a role for speech and words in the teaching, doesn’t it?

Some people say that someone who is self-realised doesn’t look for students, have a structured teaching, or even have a website. My question would be – how do you know? Do you know this for sure or are you just following what someone else says and falling prey to the stereotype of a self-realised brown-skinned male? Have you seen this for yourself or is this just a limiting belief?

I could inform you the traditional scriptures repeatedly state you cannot know who is self-realised by outward criteria alone, and I could name some examples of gurus who sought students and advertised, but the basic point is that people are willing to believe all sorts of unverified spiritual slogans and then base their seeking upon that. This is akin to building castles on sand: the foundations are poor and nothing lasting is achieved.

…the basic point is that people are willing to believe all sorts of unverified spiritual slogans and then base their seeking upon that.

This is a huge problem for many spiritual seekers, and points to me that there is a lack of interest in what is actually true. There may be a slight or middling interest in what is true, but when the desire to understand/find out what is true really intensifies, we naturally question and then drop all such beliefs, only depending on what we know for sure, rejecting that for which there is no evidence. We do not accept statements or platitudes along the way without verifying them first.

It should be obvious that most spiritual seekers don’t know what they are talking about when it comes to Realisation of Freedom. Why? Because most of them are still suffering, still seeking, and still do not understand the simplicity and depth of it all.

…when the desire to understand/find out what is true really intensifies, we naturally question and then drop all such beliefs, only depending on what we know for sure, rejecting that for which there is no evidence.

My advice is to realise first, and talk later.  Sure you can share your experiences and insights and talk in that way, and of course you can ask questions, but do not set yourself up as an authority unless you are actually sure you know what you are talking about. Act within the limits of your competence. Be honest about what you know and don’t know.

Some more advice: trust no-one when it comes to spiritual things. Find out for yourself. And certainly don’t buy into the age-old dogmas and stereotypes that frequent the spiritual market place. Instead dare to question everything. It is this earnestness combined with a sharp inquiring mind and an open heart that will yield fruit. This keenness of mind and inquiry may then lead you to faith and devotion, but it will be different. It will be based on something real, and not on mere conceptual belief.

Instead dare to question everything. It is this earnestness combined with a sharp inquiring mind and an open heart that will yield fruit.

Going back to the beginning of this post, about gurus, what do you think about this for a progression? First the outer (physical) guru may direct us towards the inner guru (within us). Then we will see this duality is also a fiction, and finally we may rhetorically ask ‘what guru?’.