so the trend is obvious. if we banned such gurus, then it would be like adding the word socialism in the preamble of indian consitution. as time changes, people change and whatever works will survive.

Perhaps the way to Hinduism’s survival is by making it “cool”, and perhaps we need “jet-setting” gurus for that. Yes, I agree dishonesty is shady.

Ramakrishna Mission, Chinmaya Mission, Sivananda Ashram, Vipassana Centers are all low key and most of their teachers don’t have the profile of the jet setting gurus of the new age groups and they all have been surviving for years without this menu card system. Then they are low on marketing and do not get as much coverage as other charities.

One of the local temples here offers free yoga classes every weekend and it seems no one comes for it. The priest was saying that if he charged $30/class like YMCA or Yoga Studios, there would be a rush. The perception is that there is no value for free goods. The folks at the new age groups tell me that they charge money to make people committed and this money is used mostly for charity.

Then as you noted, they don’t mention this dakshina thing at the begining and that’s when it gets a bit uncomfortable for my taste.

And somehow it seems that Hindu charity doesn’t get as noticed as charity from other religions eg. compare the popularity of the charities of RK Mutt and Mother Teresa within India. Perhaps this business kind of thing is the only way for Hindu charity to be recognized – when people realize that the fees they are charged are going to charity.

Unless they are keeping quiet about the dakShiNa, and then announcing an expected minimum amount after the course – which is patently dishonest.

>>By giving a dakshina, as per Indian tradition, we honor the guru parampara; all the masters in the org structure who made this transmission of knowledge possible.
Bang on target, but VERY well put!