A few words from Chantal on this:
"Now, I understand that this may upset some people-the only ones that spring to mind being gurus, wannabe gurus and guru devotees-but this is where I get to say my bit."

As a Reiki Master, one encounters students who are looking for life/spiritual guidance. This is not a problem. In fact, the Reiki Master should offer guidance (even if that involves referring the student to someone else). However, we are talking about guidance here, not orders. After all, being a Reiki Master doesn't make one a Master of Life, it simply means that one is qualified to teach and attune others to the Reiki energy (though one would expect a Reiki Master to have some level of dedication to their spiritual path!). But what if being a Reiki Master did make one a Master of Life? Would one then be qualified to govern how others live? My answer to this question is: NO. But as the saying goes, 'it takes two to tango'.

Which brings us to the issue at hand: Gurus.

I have no problem with spiritual teachers, and there are some wonderful true spiritual teachers in the world, but I do have a huge issue with people who use their 'exalted' position to drain the energy out of their 'followers', thereby keeping themselves in power and their followers perpetually hanging on for that next little tidbit of knowledge. Whether or not this done consciously the results are destructive, and my belief is that a true spiritual master devotes themselves to teaching others how to discover their own power.

Yes, we understand all about the concept of free-will, so I guess one could say to a group of guru devotees that they have chosen to have their energy drained, and chosen to exchange their true personal power for the chance to indulge in a bit of self-importance ("my guru thinks I'm really advanced/look at me, I'm part of the guru's inner-circle...")

And once someone has been blinded by the 'glory' of his or her Guru, is the issue of free-will still a valid one?

There have been, and remain, many self-styled Gurus around the world. I am not suggesting they have no spiritual value or nothing to teach their devotees, I simply feel that handing your power to another is, in the long run, beneficial to neither party. There are many substantiated and un-biased reports of certain Gurus falls from grace, from greed or other wholly human follies.

Being spiritually enlightened and becoming a Guru are two mutually exclusive endeavours. Setting yourself up as a Guru is, in my opinion, an ego-filled affair dedicated to self-aggrandisement and, as such, an ultimately unenlightened standpoint. Spiritual enlightenment is an intensely personal affair. Be your own Guru, as you are the only one qualified to do so."