spiritual psychology and odyssey of enlightenment

I was having lunch in Santa Monica earlier this week and was right next to University of Santa Monica. They were advertising for graduate program in spiritual psychology. I decided to check it out. I got some brochures, then went to the reception desk and talked to a woman. Later another administrator came out to talk to me. I asked them several questions, and found out more about the school and the program.

It is a real university, not one of those enrichment programs for continuing education. They offer only graduate degrees in the area of spiritual psychology. They don't know of any other schools that offer similar program. The school admits about 240 students each year. After graduation, some students become certified counselors, some become public speakers, while most continue to do whatever they were doing before, and use the knowledge in their personal life and their work. The faculty are part time faculty from other schools. I could not find from them a list of the faculty members and their qualifications. They gave me a package of information including a CD and DVD, and encouraged me to listen to what the graduates have to say about their experience. I told them I would like to become a guru and wondered if the program could help me. "Wow, that is an interesting idea. Nobody have said that before," they were surprised. But I was even more surprised.

I thought maybe they would be interested in asking me questions and make me a subject of their study. Or maybe they could teach me vocabulary to be a guru, or a spiritual teacher. Or maybe I could meet some fellow seekers and awakened ones to share my experience. Apparently I was wrong.

I am having a strong deja vu feeling suddenly. Right now. I feel I have written exactly the same topic before on this blog.

My recent interest in the spiritual exploration again is prompt by my current reading of "The Odyssey of Enlightenment: Rare Interviews with Enlightened Teachers of our Time" by Berthold Madhukar Thompson. As I continue to follow Madhu's odyssey, I am becoming more and more intrigued by the interviews. The most valuable thing of this book is the author's complete sincerity and truthfulness, as well as his generous heart. Only a record of his actual path could lead to revelations and discoveries. Now I am at the chapter of the "anti-guru". I am yet to decide if this bitter anti-guru is disillusioned or really has something to offer.