Why Gurus like Osho, Bikram, and Rinpoche Do Bad Things
Transcendence with a Side of Trauma
The spiritual teacher Osho poisoned salad bars in Oregon with salmonella—America’s largest bioterror attack at the time—just to swing a local election. Sogyal Rinpoche, a Tibetan Buddhist teacher, was accused by students for hitting, humiliating, and sexually coercing them under the guise of “spiritual transmission.” The founder of Bikram Yoga, Bikram Choudhury, fat-shamed his students and was accused of sexual assault.
People are often confused by gurus who do bad things. On one hand, they clearly are “awakened” in some sense of the word. What they say can speak deeply to our own experiences. We hear the truth in their words and revel in their spiritual insights. And yet, they might steal money, sleep with their students, or try to poison an entire restaurant. How do we reconcile this?
The uncomfortable truth is that spiritual insight isn’t the same as emotional maturity. Someone can embody awareness, stillness, and even love — and still have deeply unhealed parts. Wounds from childhood. Patterns of control, fear, or addiction. These parts don’t go away just because someone had an awakening.
If anything, realization can inflate the ego in more subtle ways. These wounds get wrapped in spiritual language. Boundaries disappear. Students enable them. Accountability is gone. And because they’re often surrounded by people who revere them, they may never see it.
You’ve transcended your body, but forgot your inner child!
Here are five core patterns that I have noticed – and that you can watch out for – if you’re involved in a meditation or spiritual community, even ones that seem secular.
1. Unquestioned Authority
Once someone is seen as “enlightened,” everything they say becomes gospel. Their advice is no longer just advice, it’s “divine truth.” This shuts down critical thinking and creates a power vacuum where the guru is always right, even when they’re abusive. Followers have a shadow side here: there is a desire for certainty.
“If he slapped me, it must be a teaching.”
2. Lack of psychological integration.
Some gurus have powerful experiences of awakening—but no emotional maturity or trauma healing. Their parts have not been healed and they need to spend more time at that depth. They might be deeply realized on one level… and totally unhinged or narcissistic on another. The result? Awakened jerks. Or worse. Enlightened monsters.
"You can be empty of self and still full of shit."
3. Spiritual Projection
Followers project their own highest qualities—wisdom, peace, love—onto the teacher. They don’t realize what they’re seeing is actually a mirror of their own potential.
“The guru becomes a screen for your longing—and if you're not careful, your disempowerment.”
4. No Checks and Balances
In spiritual communities, there’s often no system of accountability—no board, no ethics, no HR. Just charisma, power, and a devoted audience. Combine that with celibacy vows, money flowing in, and students eager to please? It’s a recipe for disaster.
“You need both freedom and responsibility…not just freedom.”
5. The Myth of the Special One
We love the story of “The One”—the chosen enlightened being who sees reality perfectly. But true wisdom isn’t about being above everyone else—it’s about being real. The myth of the flawless guru dehumanizes the teacher and infantilizes the student.
“If someone says they’re beyond ego, run.”
The Opposite Way to Approach This
Having a teacher can be invaluable. I’ve had two teachers and many other mentors along the way that have taught me and inspired me. I’ll admit that at first there was an air of mystery around these two teachers. Part of me wanted to believe that they held all the answers, and I listened carefully to their words.
But I was also more naturally skeptical of authority. Once I met them in person, I realized they were very much human – with their idiosyncrasies and opinions – and there was actually plenty to disagree on.
Now I tune into their teachings when I feel like it, and also keep a healthy distance from them. I don’t see their word as “final” but value their insights and points of view.
You can have a healthy relationship with a teacher by essentially following the opposite principles I listed above:
Question authority—not out of rebellion, but out of respect for your own inner wisdom.
Honor your intuition. If something feels off, it probably is.
Stay grounded in common sense. Ask your friends. Talk it out.
Let go of the fantasy of the perfect teacher. There’s always more to integrate—for them and for you.
Realize that healing and growth don’t finish. Ever.
Don’t Throw The Baby Out with The Bathwater
I remember sitting with one guru-like teacher who inspired me on a longer retreat. At one point, he started talking about money, and I realized that his view of money was extremely distorted.
Later that day I told him that I didn’t agree with him and that his talk probably came off the wrong way. He was kind enough to listen to me, which I appreciated. However, I definitely won’t be taking financial advice from him.
But this doesn’t mean that I don’t think he is a good teacher. What I learned from him clearly works, and I am forever grateful for his guidance. I’m just not going to pretend that he has all the answers!
Spiritual teachers know how to guide meditation techniques, usually through the lens of a particular spiritual tradition. But that doesn’t mean they know how to navigate every aspect of your life. Relationships, money, trauma, business? That might not be in their wheelhouse—and that’s okay.
The trick is knowing how to separate the wisdom from the weirdness. Take the technique. Drop the baggage.
It’s Not Just Gurus
It’s all of us. You can be really calm on your cushion and still snap at your partner. You can speak about unity and still carry the belief that you’re unworthy. While gurus who abuse others are at one end of the extreme, we often fall somewhere in the middle.
I like to think I’m peaceful and mindful… until my cat’s meowing in my ear at 4 a.m. and I’m feeling pissed off. I forget my umbrella constantly and have probably funded the entire umbrella industry by now. I have to laugh at my own mess. When you're self-deprecating instead of all-knowing, you're just more real!
Even someone like Sam Harris — whose insights and work I deeply respect — can seem reactive or rigid when it comes to politics. That’s not a knock on Sam. It just shows that awakening and integration are different things.
The Real Work
Being spiritual doesn’t mean being perfect. Not for gurus. Not for us.
We all have stuff—old wounds, weird habits, moments we’re not proud of. Awakening doesn’t erase that. It just gives us more space to see it clearly.
This isn’t a call to cancel your teacher. It’s a call to stay honest. Take what resonates. Leave what doesn’t.
Don’t hand over your power. You were never missing anything to begin with!
Reflection Questions:
When you think about spiritual insight vs. emotional maturity, where do you notice that gap in yourself—or in people you’ve looked up to?
Have you ever ignored red flags in a teacher, mentor, or community because you wanted their teachings to be true?
How do you tell the difference between helpful spiritual guidance and someone overreaching into areas they’re not qualified to speak on?
Work with me: I offer 1-1 guidance to help you deepen your meditation practice and get unstuck—whether you're facing emotional blocks, seeking more presence, or navigating a transition. If this resonates, let’s explore working together.