APHORISM #1: Short Path teachers such as Papaji, Gangaji and others of that tradition instruct in a way that too often encourages their disciples to accept an intellectual form of enlightenment as the full and complete Ultimate Realization.

APHORISM #2: Shankara makes it quite clear that the Ultimate Realization comes from a firm faith in the teaching.

COMMENTARY: Firm faith implies an unshakeable awareness of one’s Identity that no circumstance or event can affect; it implies the constant witnessing of negative and positive emotions, thoughts and actions; it implies non-identification with any aspect of subjective or objective existence. It is much more than intellectual understanding of the principles of Vedanta or other non-dual spiritual teaching.

APHORISM #3: The path of Wisdom, which is the third step of the spiritual ladder, is still a path until one has acquired the necessary firm faith in the teaching. Firm faith means that intellectual understanding has become fused into Insight. Insight is never lost; it is there amidst each and every challenge of everyday life.

APHORISM #4: Teachers who have mistaken an intellectual enlightenment for the full and complete Realization will, at some point, demonstrate their lack of firm faith to those who have the opportunity to spend sufficient time with them under more intimate circumstances.

APHORISM #5: At the same time, there is no firm test for judging whether or not another human being is fully enlightened. The scriptures suggest that only the enlightened can judge who else is enlightened. All other considerations are guesswork and best avoided.

APHORISM #6: Choose a spiritual teacher from whom you think you can learn something significant rather than trying to decide whether he or she is enlightened.

COMMENTARY: In today’s world those who claim to be enlightened are often charlatans, opportunists, undue optimists or self-deluded fools. An enlightened human being realizes that such assertions can be counter-productive even when true, because they only serve to foster some form of authoritarianism or unhealthy dependence.

APHORISM #7: My own experience is that profound spiritual growth leads to a greater appreciation of our fundamental equality. It becomes acutely embarrassing to promote oneself as something special or to allow others to do the same on one’s behalf.

COMMENTARY: Beware of spiritual teachers who seek to set themselves apart from others. At the same time, recognize that some charismatic spiritual adepts often do draw crowds through no fault of their own. Remember also that popularity is no sure sign that a teacher or his message is profoundly spiritual or useful.