People tend to desire the most famous gurus, presuming they must be the most enlightened.
This would hold true if enlightenment were self-evident, but it isn’t. Who knows who’s enlightened and who isn’t? Therefore, the fame of gurus results from something else.
Those who promote the rich and famous know all about that. Fame is not accidental. It comes from good marketing.
Perhaps you’re shocked to think that behind The Dalai Lama, Thich Nhat Hanh and Eckhart Tolle you’ll find spin. Perhaps that makes you angry or cynical, but whether they or anyone else is enlightened is beside the point. It doesn’t even matter. If you want to wake up, just get on with it. No guru can do it for you.
Dalai Lama Kalachakra Washington D.C. July 15, 2011
