Why are so many fake self help gurus on the rise? How can a common man avoid the trap?

We are currently living in Kaliyug, indicating an era of declining religion! Therefore, we are bound to observe deteriorating moral conduct all around. When we listen to the stories of the earlier era, we realize how the accomplished spiritually elevated Gurus cultivated moral values and helped establish excellent moral conduct in their disciples. This means in this era of declining religion, the accomplished spiritually elevated Gurus have declined. Therefore, as one of the many characteristics of this era, fake Gurus are on the rise.

You’ve asked, “How can a common man avoid the trap?”
Let’s understand...

1.The best way to avoid this trap is to find shelter in an accomplished spiritually elevated Guru! Such Gurus are on the decline, but they haven’t become extinct yet! This is a silver lining for us.

2.Have the right intention. If we are earnest in our intentions to find the most accomplished spiritually elevated Guru, who can nurture moral values in us and shape us such that we have a moral conduct, then we shall surely find one! Param Pujya Dada Bhagwan says, “One has to have an inner intent to meet the liberator. Without the intent, one will not encounter such a liberator."

3.To check whether one is a right Guru or not, check the results. Are you finding the way you are seeking? Are you getting solutions to your problems or you are wandering aimlessly? Param Pujya Dada Bhagwan says, “If a blind person leads another blind person, where will they both end up? A true, experienced guide will immediately show you the way. Nothing will be pending; you will see instant results... So find yourself a true, experienced guide who can show you the station (your goal). If not, he will make you wander around aimlessly.”

4.Worship the idol. Until you find a living Guru who is good and under whom you feel satisfaction, you should worship the idol of God with devotion and reverence, and pray to him to help you meet the Living Guru soon. Param Pujya Dada Bhagwan says, “The murti (idol) is a step; do not let go of it. Until you attain the amurta (the Soul), do not let go of the murti.” This will eventually lead you to the right place.

5.Learn from the One who is wiser than you. While avoiding the trap of a fake Guru is vital, judging someone higher than us (deserving to be our Guru) and disqualifying them based on our limited perception too is a grave mistake. So, it is equally important that we do not fall in that trap as well because only the living Guru can show us our faults.
Therefore, if the Guru is even two cents better than you are; learn from him. If you are at the level of twelve cents and he is at the level of fourteen cents, then sit with him. Param Pujya Dada Bhagwan says, “If he is wiser than you are and he takes care of you, and you have faith in him and you feel at peace there and your heart accepts him, then establish him as your guru and stay with him. If he has a few shortcomings, tolerate them. When you yourself are full of so many faults and he has just a few, why do you judge him? He is higher than you are and therefore, he will take you higher. It is a huge mistake to judge him.”

6.Know what are the qualities of a true Guru. Param Pujya Dada Bhagwan says, “The true Guru is one that has love and is beneficial to you. Where can you find such real Gurus? Such a Guru is one where just at the mere sight of him, your whole body will bow down in reverence, spontaneously without a thought. That is why they sing: ‘Who can be called a guru? It is the one whose very sight makes our heads bow.’ Just upon seeing him, our head will bow. That is the definition of a Guru. That is why if one is a Guru, then he must be such that he dissolves all egos. Then you can attain liberation, not otherwise.”

Hence, always have the aim of finding yourself a living Gnani and sit with him. Param Pujya Dada Bhagwan says, “You should not be without the living Gnani (the Enlightened One)!” It is because without the living Gnani, whatever you do is swachhand i.e. actions guided by one’s own ego. Swachhand can only be prevented in the presence of a living Guru, not otherwise.

So while fake Gurus are on the rise, approach the Living Gnani and surrender unto him. Your work will be done!

To know more: https://www.dadabhagwan.org/path-to-happiness/relationship/guru-disciple-relationship/qualities-of-a-guru/