Teachers are great. I love teachers. I have learned a lot from many teachers. There’s no doubt that Stephen Gaskin was a teacher. I learned many things from him. But when a teacher declares or implies or allows it to be said that he is something other than a flawed human being, that there is some whiff of the divine about him, you better run for the hills.
Stephen made that claim. Bhagwan Rajneesh did also, and many others, especially back in the acid days. I don’t think the Dalai Lama makes that claim, but he does allows it to be made about him. So did David Koresh, Jim Jones, etc., etc. Nowadays, it’s less common. i guess because the boomers grew up a little.
I’ve learned my lesson. I stay far away from anyone who takes that position or even flirts with it. I like guys like Jordan Peterson and Scott Adams and Krishnamurti, guys who would laugh in your face if you attributed the slightest superhuman qualities to their sorry asses.
Don’t ever forget it. We are all sinners. I do make an exception for Jesus Christ. I believe He is what He said He was.