Guru Categories
Most often, Gurus, Masters, and Teachers are classified according to the type of teaching; e.g. non-dual, theistic (or devotional), and so on. And in one instance, they are also rated in numbers of stars (little buddhas, whatever). Here a different classification is used, on the basis of enlightenment or not. This is a highly controversiual, subjective, and dubious subject, and the classification used here can only be at most a very simple, tentative, and biased beginning for a true "integral" system of classification
The categories are presented in the form of a table which, reading from left to right, progresses from the complete metaphysical ignorance (avidya) of ordinary consciousness, through the transitional stages of the Intermediate Zone, to complete enlightment.
In brief:
- Fake Guru - no spiritual experience at all; the whole thing is a con.
- Superficial Guru - some superficial if perhaps genuine spiritual experience, but not enlightened.
- Delusional Guru - believes they are an avatar, sadguru, etc when they aren't even enlightened.
- Basic/Lower Intermediate Zone - transpersonal enlightenment etc but egotism, desires, and lower self remains, there may be paranoia, entity take-over, etc; narcissism and self-delusion may be common if there is lack of sufficent sincerity.
- Middle Intermediate Zone - transpersonal enlightenment, transcends egotism, but desire remains, there may be inflation, entity take-over etc
- Higher/Advanced Intermediate Zone - profound enlightenment etc, only some samskaras remain
- Sadguru - one with the Supreme, totally enlightened, avataric, beyond space and time
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