Religion Watch Archives

Monitoring Trends in Religion - From February 1990 to January 2016

  • Home
  • About
  • Contact
  • Archives
    • By Issue
    • By Article
    • By PDF (2008-14)
    • By PDF (1985-97)
    • All Articles
  • Sections
    • Current Research
    • Findings & Footnotes
    • On/File
  • Google Search
You are here: Home / Archive / New models of guru–disciple relationships

New models of guru–disciple relationships

November 1, 2009 by Richard Cimino

Print-friendly

In the American context, the traditional model of guru has frequently given way to a new type of spiritual masters having a non-exclusive relationship with their disciples, Lola L. Williamson (Millsapas College) explained at the Montreal conference of the American Academy of Religion (Nov. 7–10), which RW attended.

During what Williamson described as “phase one,” one could see charismatic gurus with a well-defined lineage and community; these still exist, but more and more we are experiencing “phase two”, i.e. American gurus, disciples of Indian gurus, who can share the same stage with other gurus on a non-exclusive basis. Two, three or more gurus teaming up together to offer a retreat is a new phenomenon in America. This is related to wider trends: the idea of devoting oneself for a lifetime to one guru is waning in North America.

In phase one, everybody had read Yogananda’s Autobiography of a Yogi, which shaped the image of the guru. In the meantime, in addition to developments in secular society, guru scandals may have changed the image of the guru. Having serial gurus is expected in phase two, and such a phenomenon fits the North American context well. Retreat sites have come to replace pilgrimage sites in the phase two environment.

Some ashrams today look like health spas, with a small nucleus of permanent residents and American teachers drawing from a variety of both spiritual and secular sources (Hindu and Zen masters, modern scientists, etc.).

Print-friendly

Filed Under: Archive

Also in this issue

  • On/File: November/December 2009
  • Findings & Footnotes: November/December 2010
  • Sunni–Shia relations a source of new tensions for Muslims worldwide
  • An emerging mullah–secular activist alliance taking shape in Iran?
  • Radical reform in Islam best done through contextualization, says Islamic scholar
  • New face of Buddhism more engaged with social and other mainstream concerns in Japan
  • African Initiated Churches going online
  • Home-grown Unitarians put twist on the faith and grow in Africa
  • Evangelicals inspire hands-off respect among Central American gangs
  • Current Research: November/December 2009
  • Fringe groups find fertile ground in Quebec Catholicism
  • Western followers bring changes to the Ni’matullahi Sufi Order
  • New Sanctuary movement—less sanctuary and more identity problems

Search the Site

Download the first issue of RELIGION WATCH (1980)

Download the first issue of RELIGION WATCH (1980)

Click on the image for downloading

© 2016-2020 Richard Cimino / Religioscope
·News Pro Theme · Genesis Framework by StudioPress · WordPress