Spiritually Laid Back

This is the Kali Yuga,
Even Rakshashas (demons) will incarnate as teachers to mislead you.
Those who must be destroyed by these demons will be.

Test the Guru by the teaching:
without inquiry there is no teaching.
Shun every teacher who does not teach inquiry.
Directly looking at your own face is the only teaching.

If the Guru says ‘I am enlightened,’
it means the ego is enlightened so stay away.
Western teachers who say this are preachers so stay away
and only write books to load more garbage on seekers,
and more money in their pockets.

They will attract so many students,
but in Kali Yuga it is the falsehood which will draw the crowds.
The Truth and the true Gurus will be neglected.

Source 

Every now and then I get a mail like this one (name of "guru" removed, so as not to offend delicate readers).

"Hi
this is (name removed).
we are confused about (guru’s  name/s) it wud be very helpful if u let us know y are u left (guru’s name/s) as we are also facing some problems.
please be kind to reply
it is very urgent
thank u"

Now on one hand, i have no desire left to bad-mouth people. Yet, should I sit silently while someone else faces the same problem I did. In my professional line, I would gladly give you advice of good and bad products and how to work around problems, free of cost, so can I not help a bit in this field. Or is the spirit of surrender to apply only to the spiritual field. Sri Ramana says something like, "as long as you think you are the doer, if you see a hungry person on the road, you should help out".

And so once again, at the expense of a barrage of hate-mail, and being told how much i must be suffering and in pain, i shall put out some thoughts, names removed so people are less offended.

Being a complete blithering idiot, I asked an intelligent friend whether I should reply or just keep mum in the spirit of surrender. Here is part of the reply i got which i quote.

"I came to the conclusion that (name/s removed) is/are not really enlightened beings, but people exploiting those who long for liberation or happiness. Those who go to them may feel better temporarily, but this is just a trap. Soon (as you have likely found out) you will be asked for more and more service (recruiting others), and more and more money, and the "finish line" will always be pulled back. 

The friend goes on to later say "if you send something along those lines, brief and true, you may help him scramble out of that pit. If someone asks for spiritual help, I think it is right to respond. We know of the greatest help that has ever existed, and it seems appropriate to let anyone who asks know of (removed)"

My only other addition to the above is to google the guru’s name and see what comes up. The internet is not all truth but you will still get an idea. The same goes for Sarlo’s Guru Ratings and Guruphiliac. One hour of internet searching can save you many wasted months of chasing some megalomaniac and years of hard-earned money.