Authoritarian power structures

When one hears accounts of the relationship between gurus and disciples, it seems that their social organizations are often modeled on a sort of hive mentality with the guru representing the "queen" and everyone else being workers, warriors or drones. All decisions come from the guru and move downward through the organization. Is such a surrendering of one's will to another healthy? Is the guru actually closer to truth/God than any of their followers? If they are such a great, wise teacher, why aren't they able to help their students to become self-realized and independent?

We've all heard the phrase "Power corrupts" but I think it could also be said that only the corrupt seek power. A teacher may start out with the greatest of intentions but, once the idea that they are special and others are not enters the picture, it's clear that the false self-image of ego is rearing its ugly head. Consciousness is universal. For one appearance to aggrandize itself at the expense of another is pure egoic delusion, no matter if the person doing it is considered a saint or not.

A good book on Sri Chinmoy's organization is "Cartwheels in a Sari". It is suggested reading for those interested in how "spiritual" groups become corrupted. Of course political power structures operate on the same principles but generally there is less of a pretense of holiness.

The pinnacle of control seems to be repression of the human sexual instinct. Most gurus demand to be the center of attention and romantic love certainly thwarts this, so many "spiritual" groups develop rules against sex. Truly, to control sex by blind obedience is an amazing feat. Of course, one of the main functions of these bodies isn't so easily suppressed so sexual deviancy usually results and we find that the guru, priest or whatever has often broken all of their own rules and, often, worse.

If God is the creator, maintainer and destroyer of the universe, then who created sex? Isn't the answer obvious? To brand sexuality evil is ignorance and leads to true perversions, if in doubt, look at the problems within the Catholic Church.