A Radical Awakening: Dr. Shefali on Guru Culture

[@akdovANDtea]

I agree with other commenters that it’s an act of aggression to make people who gave her negative feedback process it publicly. It’s very hard to say no to people with that much power and it sounds to me like that is her main blind spot: she is not really aware of the sheer power she has and how it influences people. I imagine she’s extra unaware of it due to her beliefs around being completely equal to those around her. It misses the reality of power dynamics. I know deep down we’re all equal but we live in a world of hierarchies and even someone against them in a position of power still holds power. She just does. And she either can work with it consciously or cast it to her shadow and do sketchy stuff like she’s doing and then boast about it without the slightest amount of humility. Other than that, I loved how empowered, fiery and radical she is.

[@truthspeaker711]

Calling people out in front of others can be dangerous and it's a guru move.

[@ginnyadams-kafka2676]

Dr. Shefali speaking about how she made someone come on stage to confront her---wow---THAT is a guru red flag.

[@lisbethsalander1723]

And made her crouch down on stage in emotions - she was an easy target , already vulnerable . That is a gross public shaming. Typical Cult " Hot Seat Shaming" who challenges the leader somehow. She got satisfaction from that! She also loves Osho, a known charlatan! She separates Osho's teachings from all his 99 Roll Royce and Mass public poisoning. I would like to remind Sara and Nippy that this is like the left over Keith supporters who still loves Keith for his ESP teachings and "Tourette" work. This Dr.knows the guru talk. I totally agree with you.

[@darksparkle9849]

Oh the irony! And right after they were talking about how their ex-guru did that to them.

[@darksparkle9849]

I have mixed feelings about Shefali. I started out loving her parenting book, but couldn’t get through it because of how patronizing her tone is and how she holds herself up as the example of perfection. The concept of growing through our role as a parent and seeing how our own issues get in the way of being the parent we want to be is a very important one. She has some good wisdom about this. However, the world doesn’t need more parent shaming and a very clear message of her book was that we are all terrible parents irreversibly effing up our kids. I have enough parental guilt, no thank you. For a similar message but with compassion and a focus on healing not just someone telling you why you’re wrong, check out Dr. Laura Markham. Shefali’s arrogance is shining bright in this interview. And I agree that story about public shaming a person who dared to express her dissatisfaction was beyond cringey. Hard pass.

[@windsong5797]

She says some good things but she’s still talking very culty … referring to herself in the 3rd person, shaming people in front of others, saying Idont allow them to do this or that which is ultimately not her choice… quite a lot of red flags here

[@snippetsordinarylife]

Not feeling comfortable. I'm better than the other cults out there. I hope I'm wrong

[@tapinijackson6574]

Who dubbed uses guru's?