List of Spiritual Teachers

[Tim R]

I'd like to create (with your aid) a list of all known spiritual teachers who have lived and who are still alive. The individual styles of each teacher may not resonate with everybody, so the more teaching styles we can gather, the better. 

This list has no particular order and is not supposed to evaluate or rank the teacher.

Just write down whatever name comes to your mind, but please make sure not to repeat the name of a teacher.

 

 

 

[Tim R]

• Buddha Shakyamuni
• Lao Tsu
• Alan Watts
• Osho
• Eckhart Tolle
• Shunyamurti
• Huineng
• Jesus
• D. T. Suzuki
• Dogen

[Tim R]

• Ram Dass
• Mooji
• H. W. L. Poonja
• Ramana Maharshi
• Sadhguru
• J. Krishnamurti
• Deepak Chopra

[Tim R]

• Dalai Lama
• Thich Nhat Hanh 
• Rupert Sheldrake
• Terence McKenna
• Ajan Brahm
• Ravi Shankar

[Tim R]

• Rumi
• Mohammed 
• Mahavira
• Shinzen Young

[Zigzag Idiot]

• A. H. Almaas
• Cynthia Bourgeault 
• Ocke de Boer
• Ted Nottingham 
• George Gurdjieff 
• P. D. Ouspensky 
• Maurice Nicoll
• Matt Kahn
• Chogyam Trungpa
• Robert S. DeRopp
• Matt Kahn
• Carol Anthony
• Jean Houston
• Arnold Keyserling 
• Leo Gura
• Stan Grof
• Charles Tart
• Ahilesh Ayyar
• Ken Carey
• Marianne Williamson 
• David Hawkins
• Rodney Colin
• Bruno Martin
• J. G. Bennett
• Red Hawk
• Jack Kornfield
• Brad Warner

Edited August 31, 2020 by Zigzag Idiot
Typo - Ocke de Boer + 5 more names

[Toby]

Adyashanti, Leonard Jacobson, Nisargadatta Maharaj, Siddharameshwar Maharaj, Ranjit Maharaj, Karl Renz, Ramesh Balsekar, UG Krishnamurti, Isaac Shapiro, Irina Tweedie, Llewellyn Vaughan Lee, Bernadette Roberts, Gangaji, Eli Jaxon Bear

[Harikrishnan]

https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Atmananda_Krishna_Menon

https://www.actualized.org/forum/profile/6286-harikrishnan/ ?

Edited August 31, 2020 by Harikrishnan

[Unseeking Seeker]

I guess we are our own best teacher, looking at:

• Stillness 
• Acceptance that each acts as of their consciousness, thus feeling no sense of hurt and transcending need to forgive as a self healing exercise 
• Gratitude
• Continuous contemplative consciousness correction 
• Assuming responsibility
• Recognition of the illusionary nature of fear & desire
• Recognition that we are not the mind-body
• Internalising attention in quietude & silence
• Exiting stagnation by polarity rotation
• Meditation as an ever present orientation 
• Surrender of this (identity) to That (our own divinity within)
• Identifying root cause of consciousness expansion vs contraction
• Non-judging, non-discrimination by choice
• Embracing and radiating love unconditionally without expectation of reciprocation or even recognition. 
• Seeking connectivity with God rather than striving for an imagined attainment, ascension or enlightenment.
• Trusting the divine current to vivify our form in a manner and time frame of its choosing.
• Shifting from head to heart 

The scriptures of course are useful to quieten our lower mind. Personally, I like The Bhagavad Gita and Kashmir Shaivism teachings of Abhinavagupta, Lakshmanjoo etc (the triadic heart of Shiva is excellent) as also books and videos on meditation (Krishnamurthy, Tolle), non-duality (Sarvapriya Nanda, Rupert Spira), self inquiry etc. ... Naam or Word by Kirpal Singh etc etc ... there are so many! I like several of ‘Buddha at the gas pump’ interviews, off late I am enjoying Maharishikaa’s videos as well.

[Bojan V]

There was one person who lived in Bosnia and later in Serbia. He was completely unknown to the world and even localy. His path was a combination of hatha yoga and Jung's process of active imagination. He completed individuation and reached enlightenment.

His name was Žarko Karišik Durmitara.

I hope this information will be helpfull for some people, mainly from the Balkan area.

[Bando]

Great thread! Definitely going to check out some of these teachers

[Jacko]

• Davidji
• Tara Brach
• Giovanni Dienstmann
• Kenneth Soares
• Hugh Byrne
• Franko Heke
• Sarah Blondin

 

[Thought Art]

Michael Singer

[VincentArogya]

On 9/1/2020 at 9:23 PM, Unseeking Seeker said:

I guess we are our own best teacher, looking at:

• Stillness 
• Acceptance that each acts as of their consciousness, thus feeling no sense of hurt and transcending need to forgive as a self healing exercise 
• Gratitude
• Continuous contemplative consciousness correction 
• Assuming responsibility
• Recognition of the illusionary nature of fear & desire
• Recognition that we are not the mind-body
• Internalising attention in quietude & silence
• Exiting stagnation by polarity rotation
• Meditation as an ever present orientation 
• Surrender of this (identity) to That (our own divinity within)
• Identifying root cause of consciousness expansion vs contraction
• Non-judging, non-discrimination by choice
• Embracing and radiating love unconditionally without expectation of reciprocation or even recognition. 
• Seeking connectivity with God rather than striving for an imagined attainment, ascension or enlightenment.
• Trusting the divine current to vivify our form in a manner and time frame of its choosing.
• Shifting from head to heart 

The scriptures of course are useful to quieten our lower mind. Personally, I like The Bhagavad Gita and Kashmir Shaivism teachings of Abhinavagupta, Lakshmanjoo etc (the triadic heart of Shiva is excellent) as also books and videos on meditation (Krishnamurthy, Tolle), non-duality (Sarvapriya Nanda, Rupert Spira), self inquiry etc. ... Naam or Word by Kirpal Singh etc etc ... there are so many! I like several of ‘Buddha at the gas pump’ interviews, off late I am enjoying Maharishikaa’s videos as well.

 

Too spiritual!

[VincentArogya]

• Matt Kahn
• Bentinho Massarro
• John Butler
• Medicine of One

 

[Megan Alecia]

• Yogananda
• Jung
• Gurdjieff
• Becker
• Nagarjuna
• Pema Chodron
• Joanna Macy

Edited November 2, 2020 by Megan Alecia

[JayySur]

• Noah Elkrief

 

• Richard Rohr

[Ajay0]

 

Rajini Menon

Anandamayi Ma

Mata Amritanandamayi

Jan Frazier

Gangaji

Mother Meera

Anandmurti Gurumaa

Karunamayi Ma

Jac O'Keeffe

Shivani Varma ( Prajapita Brahmakumaris )

 

[SkyGuardian]

From my personal recommendations the following Gurus I’ve listed to me are authentic from my own judgment that I concluded by listening to the teachings and found helpful. I’ve listed them below see which resonates with you.

BAPS known as Bochasanwasi Akshar Purushottam Swaminarayan Sanstha they follow Hinduism and their Vedanta philosophy is Akṣara-Puruṣottama Upāsanā. This teaching tradition started from Bhagwan Swāminārāyan and then continues through the ever present Gunatit gurus starting from Param Pujya Gunatitanand Swami Maharaj.

Please note this branch has most of its teachings in the Indian language known as Gujarati on the main channel but have included a link to their other YouTube channels that have the basics in English that I have attached right below the link to the main channel.
https://www.youtube.com/@BAPS
https://www.youtube.com/@bapsbetterliving

BK Shivani a teacher from the Brahma Kumaris spiritual movement founded by Lekhraj Khubchand Kirpalaniji and is rooted in Hinduism.
https://www.youtube.com/@bkshivani

Swami Tadatmanandaji who is a Hindu monk who’s teachings solely focus on the teachings of the Ancient Rishis. He is part of the Advaita Vedanta philosophy and this lineage comes from Pujya Swami Dayananda Saraswatiji of Arsha Vidya.
https://www.youtube.com/@SwamiT

Pujya Gurudevshri Rakeshji is a Guru from the Jain tradition his teachings while rooted in Jainism take a wholistic perspective implementing teachings from:

1) Charvak
2) Jainism
3) Buddhism
4) Nyay-Vaishesik
5) Sankhya- yog
6) Purva Mimansa- Uttar Mimansã

the approach was inspired by a Jain mystic known as Pujya Shrimad Rajchandraji who gave a collection of discourses which were then compiled into a text known as the Atmasiddhi Shastra.
https://www.youtube.com/@SRMD

Sadhvi Bhagawati Saraswatiji is a Hindu who follows Advaita Vedanta under her Guru Pujya Swami Chidanandji Saraswati Maharaj at Parmarth Niketan whose lineage comes from Pujya Swami Shukdevanandji Maharaj.
https://www.youtube.com/@Sadhviji

Swami Mukundanandaji is a Hindu monk that subscribes to the Bhakti yoga tradition and comes from the lineage founded by his Guru Jagadguru Shri Kripalu Ji Maharaj.
https://www.youtube.com/@swamimukundananda

Venerable Ajahn Sona is a Theravada Buddhist monk whose lineage comes from the the Thai Forest Tradition of Ajahn Chah. He has training in both Sri Lankan and Thai forest Theravada Buddhist traditions.
https://www.youtube.com/@AjahnSona

Kauai Hindu Monastery is monastery founded by Satguru Sivaya Subramuniyaswami and this Hindu tradition comes from Nandinatha Sampradaya of Kailasa Parampara. This monastery also has a special YouTube channel for more General Hinduism attached below the main channel link.
https://www.youtube.com/@kauaishindumonastery
https://www.youtube.com/@HinduismTodayVideos

Gaur Gopal Das that is a member of  International Society for Krishna Consciousness (ISKCON) that follows the lineage of Brahma-Madhva-Gaudiya Sampradaya has very uplifting material and is a life coach and encompasses faith and motivation.
https://www.youtube.com/@GaurGopalDas

Mātā Amritānandamayī Devī also known as Amma (Mother) and commonly dubbed the 'the hugging saint' has very uplifting videos.
https://www.youtube.com/@MataAmritanandamayi

Edited June 9, 2023 by SkyGuardian

[CARDOZZO]

• Tom Campbell
• Eckhart Tolle
• Adyashanti
• Peter Ralston
• Jed Mckenna
• Frederick Dodson
• Vadim Zeland
• Rupert Spira
• Daniel Ingram