If you’ve got Netflix, check out the documentary Kumare.
I’ve been fascinated lately by gurus. The documentary takes a fun look at how people suspend their critical thinking when they believe they’ve met a “real” guru. To some degree the film-maker pokes fun at his subjects, like when Kumare draws a symbol of a dick-and-balls on a guy’s forehead and then gets the guy to meditate to photos of Kumare, Barack Obama, and Osama Bin Laden. But mostly the film shows respect and affection for Kumare’s duped followers, and paints them in a favorable light. They aren’t foolish people, they’re just people. We can relate to them and to their struggles. They’re intelligent and good-hearted. If these people can be fooled, anybody can be fooled. We’re all vulnerable to getting duped by charlatans.
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