The following is a comment I shared for the video, “Why Are There More Male Gurus? | Sadhguru” (followed by a personal story, and examples of various types of soul teachers):
I recall the title of one of 
Sadhguru’s videos of how to never get bothered or angered by people. Well, this video is a great reminder that we must practice what we preach; otherwise, the teachings only end up as shiny, spiritual concepts rather than experiential knowledge/wisdom.
I’ve enjoyed and deeply appreciated many Sadhguru videos so far, and I initially intended on simply flowing with the Cosmic River of Life, while Being a neutral observer and receiving the invaluable gifts of knowledge and wisdom.
However COMMA I’ve witnessed, at least a handful of times, Sadhguru being obviously annoyed in his videos by someone asking a simple question, that deserves an answer in a respectful manner.
Such negative, non-verbal (and verbal) cues to whatever degree (that reveals a lot about us)—deep sighs, rolling of the eyes, patronizing tones, and/or aggressively defensive suggestions (“Get to the point!”)—can discourage some curious minds from even asking a question in a large gathering in the first place, which often takes a lot of courage for some people.
Since I’ve observed this pattern, that huge crowds of people seem to approve of—since it’s not them who’s being humiliated and/or feeling embarrassed—I’ve decided that it’s time to share a comment and personal story, just in case it might help others.
During childhood, I’ve experienced being 
humiliated by a few, unkind, impatient, judgmental, narrow-minded, close-hearted, and/or condescending teachers, for not 
knowing whatever answers; and I’ve also witnessed other students treated this way as well, and I didn’t like it.
For instance, once, my computer teacher talked to me like an idiot for not knowing what a computer was, though I didn’t have a computer at home (back in the early 80’s).
As I heard many within the classroom laughing their @$$es off, on the first day of school, I felt myself shrinking smaller and smaller.
I used to believe I was so dumb for not knowing, which caused me to not want to participate in classes for the longest time; but I managed to eventually overcome this fear of not being smart.
I realized in my adult life that I was in my first computer class to learn about computers; and it was the teacher’s job to teach his students about this new subject, not put them down (because he was so smart according to his ego’s false belief).
I trust that great, and even amazing, teachers have the ability to create a safe feeling, positive, flourishing, learning environment—where various levels of curiosities can be openly explored, and questions can be freely and fully asked—which can 
be very impactful to interconnected Life.
I’m grateful that I had opportunities later in life to cross paths with some amazing soul 
teachers; I then realized that by first experiencing much unpleasant CONTRAST/DUALITY/POLARITY, I was able to deeply appreciate the opposite of those experiences.
So I’m reminded that if one feels 
any degree of judgment by a teacher—as well as the surrounding and mocking crowd—than this person can feel like an idiot for even speaking up, which can result in low/dense/negative vibrational 
states like regret, resentment, anger, shame, bitterness, and even hatred (towards self/others). It’s something to ponder.
I still highly respect and admire Sadhguru for his overall, wonderful Being and profound teachings, and I trust that him remembering this truth will enable him to Be an even greater soul teacher of Life…an Amazing One.
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I did a quick search within my blog to ensure that I hadn’t already posted a similar post in the past, and I came upon the following old draft titled, “Every Soul Contributing as Teacher,” which helped me to further open my mind and heart/expand my perspective/consciousness (you can also skip the personal story and scroll down to the section about various types of soul teachers):
When I used to hear the word teacher throughout childhood, I, like most kids, 
imagined some adult in a classroom setting either lecturing or writing on the chalkboard.
After graduating from high school, while sporadically taking some classes part-time while working, the meaning of the word teacher had basically remained the same as before, just in a different setting—university or junior college.
The teachers, instructors or professors, were also much less personal than that some of my teachers that I had bonded with in high school, and ended up highly respecting and admiring.
It was understandable because the college or university settings in the States were ginormous compared to the tiny DoDDS school that I had attended in Korea.
From my early to mid twenties, I went through a phase of being my own teacher due to taking a break from higher formal education, getting married, having babies and often without any extended family members or friends around. The books that I read were mostly about raising babies.
From my mid to late twenties, I went through a phase where I attended church again, in an effort to reconnect with God, whom I believed (through the conditioning of society) was out there at the time, as opposed to within us all (as Jesus said).
Like many other times that I had attended various denominations of churches throughout my late teens and early twenties (to include Korean ones), in my search for this entity called God, I ended up leaving the church due to the hypocrisies. I then gave up on my search for God.
Looking back, the church (regardless of what type) did me a great favor; it was the ultimate teacher who taught me to find God elsewhere with its often pushy, manipulative, and very controlling ways.
Shortly afterwards, I came upon my first spiritual book called, Conversations with God by Neale Donald Walsch, and I didn’t even know what mysticism was then.
I just had a sudden urge to walk around a bookstore one day—which was very unusual—while shopping for something else, and I saw the white cover and title, and was immediately drawn to it.
The words within the book were so unconditionally loving, honest, intelligent, wise, humorous, touching, inspiring, fascinating, and eloquent, that I was convinced that God indeed spoke through Neale. It was the closest I had ever felt to God.
During the same time-frame, I also befriended my Korean neighbor in Okinawa, who was the first Korean I had ever met (who believed in God) who didn’t try to recruit me into her church, which often occurred in a pushy manner.
A little over a decade later, I realized that she was my first spiritual teacher I had ever known in person, and I wrote about amazing her in a few posts.
I also had what my neighbor called spiritual dreams within a week, which I had before I joined the Army; I wrote about them in, “Dreams of Jesus.”
Although I didn’t see the typical Jesus depicted in many religious artwork, it was without a shadow of a doubt him because it was the first time I had ever called to Jesus (symbolic of the Christ Consciousness within me)—whether waking or dream state—and he came to my rescue, regardless of whether or not I believed that I was unworthy.
I believe it was Jesus’s intention to teach me to look to my teacher/Divinity within my heart, but I failed to fully comprehend his Divine message at the time by continuing to often live as my fearful ego self.
In the Army, the word teacher became instructor, whether I was taught by different ones during various courses, and eventually became one myself (i.e., the good, bad, and the ugly).
I wrote about my teachers/so-called enemies in the Army’s basic training in a recent post, “The Rainfall and Sunshine of Balance” which also includes a couple of links to the best teachers I’ve had in the Army.
About a year after I medically retired from the Army, solitude became my teacher (as well as my best friend) as I worked on much self-study for the first time in my life—self-awareness, self-worth, self-esteem, self-respect, self-confidence, self-compassion, self-forgiveness, self-empowerment, and self-love.
I was also drawn to Spirituality, Gnosticism, Mysticism, angels, Archangels, and Ascended Masters, other Celestial Beings (who I later came to know as my Family of Light, to include Arcturians, Pleiadians, Sirians, etc.), Shamanism, and any other knowledge, experience, and wisdom that would assist me to better remember/know the Divinity within me.
As I continue to work on expanding my consciousness, I’ve learned/remembered what my soul has always known…that every aspect of Life that I’ve experienced throughout my life has been a teacher to me, and I to them, whether we had “good” or “bad” earthly labels given to us by one another.
I believe that everyone—regardless of how it may appear on the outer surface—has their own special way of contributing to humanity and beyond, as student and teacher, even though society (to include myself) may not accept or approve of certain methods, ways, routes, styles, etc.
Teachers come in many different forms, shapes, sizes, colors, textures, dimensions, scents, aromas, flavors, shades, hues, tones, pitches and styles.
Some of the best spiritual teachers are known to be our own so-called enemies (our soul sister and brothers in disguise), who can help us to better understand our own nature.
“If you can cultivate the right attitude, your enemies are your best spiritual teachers because their presence provides you with the opportunity to enhance and develop tolerance, patience and understanding.” ― Dalai Lama
Some teachers are gentle, kind and patient in their method of teaching, which can be a very pleasant way to learn because it allows us to relax, trust, and be open to new information.
Some teachers may have a lot to offer knowledge-wise (through higher formal education), but may be passive in their communication style (i.e., “I respect you, but I don’t respect me”) due to a lack or absence of self-study.
Some teachers may have a lot to offer knowledge-wise (through higher formal education), but may be strictly aggressive in their communication style (i.e., “I respect me, but I don’t respect you”) to make their ego self feel more superior.
This aggressiveness stems from their fear energy (the lowest frequency within the Love frequency spectrum; compassion being the highest frequency), which is not only conditioned by society (especially family members), but may also be due to lack or absence of unconditional love in their own lives, especially for themselves.
Some teachers may use an aggressive communication style as a tool/mask (.e.g., the way an Army drill sergeant does) in order to effectively and rapidly break down old ways of being—with a small “b” (i.e., lacking confidence, discipline, growth—mentally, emotionally, physically, and even spiritually, and other unhelpful ways that stem from fear-based beliefs deep within us).
Although they use this negative approach, they’ll usually switch over to the assertive approach—which they’ve more than likely mastered—in order to build one back to up to an improved version of self.
Some teachers may inspire us to reach the stars and beyond with their glowing presence, while others may teach us all the limitations that they’ve been taught themselves.
Some teachers may lead by example and show us how to behave, speak, and act with integrity, while others may teach us who not to be with their “Do as I say and not as I do” leadership mentality.
Some teachers may teach from a tunnel-vision perspective because that’s all they’re able to see with their ego self’f physical eyes, while others teach with an open mind and open heart where only clarity exists through the ancient eyes, to include the ability to see the many sides of things.
Some teachers may demand that we follow their strict rules, regulations, laws, etc. when they themselves don’t always follow them, while others may tell you to be a free-spirit that you truly are, and follow your inner-guidance, your intuition, inner-wisdom, and inner-knowing.
Some teachers may give you answers and solutions, while others may encourage you to use seek your own answers and solutions while giving you hints, clues and other forms of guidance.
Some teachers may have a desire to teach, have much wisdom, and genuinely care about students, but may not be the most competent or intelligent of teachers of books…
while others may be highly educated and very competent with books, but don’t have a passion to teach, could care less about gaining wisdom, or don’t genuinely care for students; but rather, are merely going through the motions to collect a paycheck.
Some teachers may rebuke, embarrass, humiliate (sometimes using patronizing or condescending tones), and/or punish you…
while others may speak to you in respectful manner, treat you the way they would like to be treated, remind you to not fear making mistakes, provide you with constructive criticism, give you loving guidance, work with you on transforming your perceived weaknesses into strengths, and recognize you for just Being you.
Some teachers may create much separation among others with their judgmental attitude, dishonesty, ruthless nature, unloving intentions, negative outlook on life, chronic complaints, insensitivity, extreme gossiping, disloyalty, and turning others against one another…
while other teachers may create much unity with their deeply understanding nature, refreshing honesty, compassionate nature, loving intentions, positive outlook on life, habitual expressions of gratitude and appreciation, observant and empathetic nature, desire to share much knowledge and wisdom, unquestionable loyalty, and teamwork.
Some teachers may tell you to think, feel, say or do what doesn’t resonate with your heart, while others will never manipulate you, attempt to control you, or make you think, feel, say or do anything that may make you feel unworthy, uncomfortable, guilty, ashamed, anxious, doubtful, and fearful.
Some teachers will expect you to follow them, look up to them, and place them on a pedestal, while others will suggest to you to create your own path, and to recognize the Divinity within you.
Last but not least, there is a teacher within all of us, waiting for us to notice, recognize and acknowledge the silent, still voice within that communicates through our hearts, and even sends us a plethora of messages using physical reality (people, books, signs, numbers sequences such as 11:11, situations, things, animals, other life forms, a movie, a show, a location, etc.) as well as dream states, mediation states, alternate states of consciousness, etc..
So what kind of teacher would you like to be to yourself and others? If there were only great teachers, greatness would surely lose its profound meaning. Only with the experience of the opposite/the so-called “bad” or “not-so-good” teachers (a disguised gift/blessing) can we deeply appreciate the great ones.
When we choose to pay attention to the synchronicities (negative or positive…subtle or obvious), we begin to live a new life of many wonders, which I believe will only increase as we expand our consciousness.
As long as we choose to Be in a state of an merged open mind and heart, we’ll always have room to welcome every teacher that we cross paths with in Divine perfect timing and order, even the ones our ego selves may initially label as “boring,” “not good enough”, or “bad,” because we can even learn from them what not to do or Be (that we can intuitively sense isn’t in alignment with who we truly are).
As we continue to trust what we’re guided to learn/remember for the highest benefit of our individual soul growth/collective soul evolution, we co-create (with our higher self) a priceless collection of knowledge, experience and wisdom that will eventually transform into a brilliant masterpiece—our True Self/Divine Human.
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