Maverick Philosopher

Skeptical and Credulous

Remember Bernie Madoff?

A Substack retrospect.

Spiritual Mountebanks

Substack latest. Hold onto your wallets, muchachos!

The world is full of hustlers and charlatans who prey upon spiritual seekers. One ought to be suspicious of anyone who claims enlightenment or special powers. The acid test is whether they demand money or sex for their services. If they do, run away while holding onto your wallet. 'Bhagwan Shree' Rajneesh  is a good example from the '80s. 

 

Thomas Merton on Chogyam Trungpa Rinpoche

Substack latest. Excerpt:

One of the worst features of some New Age types is their conceit that they are beyond duality when they are firmly enmired in it. Perhaps the truly enlightened are beyond moral dualism and can live free of moral injunctions and prohibitions. But what often happens in practice is that spiritual aspirants and gurus fall into ordinary immorality while pretending to have transcended it.