Hi Lin,
Your post was the first I decided to read in this forum, as I have just joined. Fantastic post.....I think something like this should be part of the registration process as necessary reading.....its a scary world out there with many sharletans, tricksters, and power suckers.
I have witnessed many people been mislead and families fall apart due to undevolped so called teachers leading others when they themselves can not even cope with life. One must be very carful when choosing.
Something I found very funny in India, especially in Banaras was all these westeners (I am westener too) wanting to be spiritual and doing Yogi stuff, however they seemed to have forgotten about actually looking after there hygine, many who I spoke to where ridilied with diseases but yet they believed that it was un important or something. I since then hold the understanting that one must master there physical before you look deeply into the spiritual.
If your messed up, what you see will also be messed up. ...Just an idea I have........I am only a pup.
thanks again
vitagong