Philosopher Richard Rose on some discernment questions re: spiritual truth-seekers and/or group-think, to weed out bullshit
1. Simplicity: Does the group present its ideas in a mass of unwieldy, complex logic structures or arcane symbology, when simpler explanations about life might do?
2. Inflexibility: Is there a guru you must worship, clothes you must wear, rituals you must practice, or dogma you must accept?
3. Sensibility: Does the system appeal to your common sense and intuition?
4. Sexual morality: Does the teaching have as a basis the necessity for the healthy, moral correction and sublimation of the sex function?
5. Pure motives: Does the teaching flatter your ego, excuse your laziness, condone your hedonism, encourage your appetite for power, or provide false comfort against the insecurity of honest ignorance?
6. Existential integrity: Does the teaching substitute concept building for experiential discovery, or attempt to use bodily means to attain a nonphysical immortality?
7. Exclusivity: Does the group insist that they are the sole possessors of the only path to the truth or that the guru is uniquely qualified to save people, and suggest that leaving the group is thus an affront to God?
8. Bureaucracy: Is the organization highly regimented, with a hierarchy of power within it that keeps the members subservient or leaves room for one to be tempted to ascend it through continued involvement?
9. Priorities: Is the purpose of the group more geared towards social interaction, political activism, or business networking than inner work?
10. Methodology: Does the system promote mechanical, repetitive practices to induce a mood of quiescence or the presumption of incremental progress, or meditation techniques of self hypnosis, rather than encouraging lucid efforts at self knowledge and genuine mindfulness?
11. Secrecy: Is the group secretive in its activities, appealing to some childish ego, or does the teaching promise to contain tantalizing secrets within secrets that require a succession of mysterious initiations to acquire before its real meaning can be revealed, thereby making one superior to those without such knowledge, or is the truth told plainly to whomever can hear it and act on it?
12. Theatrics: Is the emphasis more on paraphernalia (incense, music, robes, displays), ritual (ceremonies, Masses, movements), and symbolism (tarot, astrology, kabbalah, etc.) than on simple, direct communication of guidance in proper introspection and righteous living?
13. Dependency: Is the group or a charismatic leader sternly presented as the necessary intermediary between the seeker and God?
14. Cost: Is one required to pay an excessive amount of money to participate in the group, receive instruction, talk with the guru, etc., beyond whatever reasonable amount is necessary to pay for books, room rentals, mailings, and such? Do they say the truth will set you free, but charge you for the privilege? No one can sell what is already within you.
15. Did you accept the teaching or group because you were too tired to go on looking?