Cutting the "Spiritual" Mustard: Spritual Materialism, Fake Gurus, and the Era of Yoga Talent Agencies

"I have often heard people express a desire to become more sensitive and compassionate, while confessing that they probably loved themselves too much to succeed in that ambition. In all the cases I have observed, the problem was exactly the reverse. It is because we do not love ourselves enough that our relationships become problematic. Compassion and sensitivity to others are direct by-products of self-love."  --Excerpt from A Heaven on Earth by Jenka

Some months ago, I was sitting in a one-on-one session with my teacher of a few years. We were chatting a bit about my life when she urges me to do something because it will help me become "less self-0bsessed." I smiled at the time but I fully admit that the comment rankled. Self-obsessed?

Yes, I have made certain life choices -- choices that have consequences. I accept these consequences because I actually like the choices I've made (and to me the consequences don't seem bad at all because my decisions were conscious ones). My life suits me and it doesn't seem to be hurting anyone. Granted, it doesn't fit neatly into the traditional box, but it works for me. I suppose this is why when people always wonder why I'm so darned happy all of the time I cite the choices that I've made. And just like I don't pooh-pooh the choices that others have made, I don't appreciate people not respecting my choices.

I've seen a lot of respected yoga gurus and teachers fall from grace. GASP -- to think that these people are human. That's the thing about yoga practice -- it doesn't neatly translate to enlightenment, nor does it take away one's "humanness." People are still people -- they have egos, they make mistakes, they are reactive. I like to think that we simply need to do the best we can (and keep trying to do better).

Yet there's the trap of spiritual materialism in which we use all of this meditation, yoga, and spirituality to hide behind. Perhaps sitting in meditation all day by oneself in a cave is selfish. Maybe all of this yoga and meditation focuses us too much on the subtle, causing us to forget/dismiss/dishonor the gross -- like paying the bills, maintaining a relationship, dealing with co-workers, or raising children. I've heard quite a few people say that daily life (with all of it's routines and minutia) is the real spiritual practice, not locking oneself away from life to focus on yoga and meditation.

Does spirituality, yoga, and/or meditation go hand-in-hand with selfishness? Does focusing on improving oneself mean that you're self-obsessed? Personally, I like this writing about selfishness and I agree with it. Let's face it -- you can't control anyone but yourself. I put a high priority on taking care of myself and doing due diligence in regards to my inner landscape -- I think it makes me a better person, which ripples out to others. Now maybe these are the rantings of a self-obsessed yogi who engages in spiritual materialism. I'm willing to explore both options.

Sooooo, let's play a little game of what-do-you-think -- how do you see your spiritual practice? Is it something you indulge in for the sake of ego or do you believe it to be something that helps you to become a better person which then has a positive effect on others?

Let's look at a few examples of walking the line between spirituality and...something else:

1. Gurus -- Apparently, there's so much controversy over the validity of gurus that there's actually a site called Fake Gurus. Many of the most well-known gurus (for example, Yogi Bhajan, Amrit Desai, Osho) are surrounded by controversy. For every believer there's another person who's claiming money-hungry BSer.
2. Yoga Talent -- Some teachers give it away for free while others charge a high price. Other teachers have entourages and now -- talent agencies. Yep, Yama Talent, a full-service agency for yoga teachers has officially launched. You may recognize a few of the yogis on the roster. I don't think there's anything wrong with a yoga teacher making money. Does this cross the line, however, morphing spiritual practice into business development? Click here to see one yogini's (who is a client of Yama) thoughts on the subject. Are we using the idea of spreading important teachings to more people as a cover for wanting more exposure and more money?

I'm knocking these thoughts around in my head. Since I'm Italian, I'll say that I'm marinating (Blogger's Note: NOT pontificating). I would love to hear what you think. Weigh in with your thoughts. Sometimes it's the things that press our hot buttons that are the most necessary to dive into.

Namaste!

Comments

[Jason Gan]

Many of those "talented" people are (ex-)dancers who can stretch farther. The "talent" marketed by the agencies have more to do with dance/flexibility skills, rather than real yoga, which comes from study and discipline.

[Linda-Sama]

I have to say that I have considered contacting that yoga talent agency. Let's face it, yoga is a business and a big one at that.

The reason I have considered contacting them is because I have just now started to teach internationally and I need to get my name out there. I am no longer young and I don't have 30 years to make a name for myself as the younger "yoga stars" have. Other yoga stars my age have been teaching for 20-30 years already and you know who they are. Many of those people no longer teach group classes, they only do workshops and trainings.

So how does a yoga nobody like me get my name out there? Advertising? Forget it. For one thing that costs big bucks which I don't have and people don't read. I spent $500 for an ad for my retreat in the local Chicago yoga mag that got me zilch for students. That taught me a big lesson.

Just because I would sign with an agency says nothing about me, my spirituality, or my authenticity. Read the review of my retreat on my website. I still teach from the heart whether it's for $10 or $1000. And if they DO take me, more power to this yoga crone!

[Safia]

I believe, as you say, that the problem for most of us is that we don't love and trust ourselves enough. Many people who are accused of loving themselves too much don't really love themselves. They're operating from fear, not love. Endless focus on one's ego and one's thoughts doesn't equal self-love.

And when people accuse someone of being self-obsessed, it often says more about the accuser than it does about the accused. As in so many areas of life, we judge in others what we are somehow figuring out for ourselves in our own lives.

[Rachel @ Suburban Yogini]

I have always thought that if we are not slightly selfish and look after ourselves number one we are not much good to anyone else. Case in point - I went through several months of my life when I was teaching toooo many classes including voluntary classes. I was giving way too much of myself to others and not taking any time for myself. As a result my quality of health deteriorated and so did my quality of teaching....

In a nutshell, you can't give real love and care to others until you can truly love and care for others.

[Bob Weisenberg]

I have to confess, the people I admire most in the world are those who really do devote their whole lives to making everyone else better off, particularly a guy like Paul Farmer, the Harvard educated doctor who devoted his life to health car in Haiti and about whom Tracy Kidder wrote the must-read book "Mountains Beyond Mountains" ( http://www.amazon.com/Mountains-Beyond-Healing-World-Farmer/dp/0375506160 ), and who is now special assistant to Bill Clinton for the UN mission to Haiti.

But while I admire these people, I know I can never be one of them. My interests are in things that are, in fact, more self-centered as you say, like Yoga and flamenco guitar and commenting on blogs, etc. But I do the best we can to contribute and help other people within the context of being who I really am and, like you, making the choices that feel right for me. I can't pretend to be someone I'm not.

Great thought-provoking blog, as usual, Diane.

Bob Weisenberg
YogaDemystified.com