“The day the power of love overrules the love of power, the world will know peace.” ―Mahatma Gandhi

I have been watching documentaries while walking on a treadmill in the mornings and at lunch time.

Here is a quick summary of some of what I have seen lately:

Mucho mucho Amor – The Legend of Walter Mercado – This brought me back to the first time I had seen him on TV – so outrageous, so out there. He was so exuberant and positive while discussing astrology.  He mentioned his mother encouraged him to be himself, to be different and follow his passions.  What a wonderful advice a mother can give her child! He was so ahead of his time, always marching to the beat of his own drum. Unfortunately he was too trusting and was taken advantage of. 

“The measure of a man is what he does with power.” ― Plato

The Deep End – This is the story of Teal Swan, a self proclaimed spiritual leader. I hadn’t heard about her before, but she has been around since 2011. I started watching it, excited to learn about some new spiritual teachings. All I learned is that she seems to be a dangerous narcissist, more interested in becoming a millionaire cult leader than in actually helping people.  She preys on the weak minded and the sick, the most vulnerable ones in our society.  In the end it was all just disturbing, specially in how she treated those around her.

“Power resides only where men believe it resides. […] A shadow on the wall, yet shadows can kill. And ofttimes a very small man can cast a very large shadow.” ― George R.R. Martin, A Clash of Kings

Brikam – Yogi, Guru, Predator – This was about a celebrity yoga guru from 20 years ago. He amassed a huge following that was so quick to buy into his cure-all proclamations. People were willing to be yelled at and demeaned. So many predators hide behind spiritual practices.  It is scary that everyone is so quick to follow the latest guru, the next cure. Yoga should be aligned with the spiritual side, a whole mind-body experience, but many were just interested in being part of the latest new thing. 

“When it comes to controlling human beings there is no better instrument than lies. Because, you see, humans live by beliefs. And beliefs can be manipulated. The power to manipulate beliefs is the only thing that counts.” ― Michael Ende, The Neverending Story

John of God – The Crimes of a Spiritual Healer – This is the story of a healer that was internationally known, and later was revealed to be a sexual abuser and predator. I didn’t want this story to be true; not because he is Brazilian like me, but because I do believe in mediums and in spiritual surgeries. When something like this happens, it discredits the good mediums, doing work for the right reasons.  

I have gone with my father to one of those mediums in Brazil. I went to the IMA – Instituto Medicina do Alem (Medical Institute of the Beyond). I know it can work. I do feel for the women that were abused and I am glad that the abuses came to light.

Except for Walter Mercado, the others are mixture of charlatans, abusers and predators. Did they start out that way, or did they actually had good intentions at the beginning? Did money and fame corrupted them? I want to believe in the goodness of people, but also want to believe that good and love can’t ever be corrupted.

This is a reminder for me not to follow the crowd without doing my own research and drawing with my own conclusions. We need to always follow our gut and intuition. If something feels wrong, then act on it, and speak up! Don’t be a follower!

“Anger … it’s a paralyzing emotion … you can’t get anything done. People sort of think it’s an interesting, passionate, and igniting feeling — I don’t think it’s any of that — it’s helpless … it’s absence of control — and I need all of my skills, all of the control, all of my powers … and anger doesn’t provide any of that — I have no use for it whatsoever.” [Interview with CBS radio host Don Swaim, September 15, 1987.]” ― Toni Morrison