Who is an authentic guru and Why is deeksha actually required?

I have come across people asking this question regarding different mantras and different activities.

This is my personal take on this, after having enough experience with both genuine shaktipat and guru less exploration.

The path to moksha

Mantra Yoga, Kriya Yoga, Bhakti Yoga and Karma Yoga are all different paths to reach one single goal : Enlightenment.

Now people feel that they can choose their desired state like having superpowers but not the loss of attachments and desires.
Bad news for you : both cannot exist together.

You cannot achieve siddhis without unlocking the three Granthis/Knots found in your bodies at different levels.
Even if you do by luck, shortcuts or drugs, you can only glimpse a temporary experience.

Mantra Dosha

Once you start practicing even a basic mantra, and if you’re smart enough( gyan yoga) or truly have the bhakti bhav you will start experiencing things that science cannot explain.
It will all be very internal though and you will have doubts like am I loosing my sanity.

You will start identifying the traits of maya.

You will see the logic behind Yama and Niyams of Patanjali and will be happy to have a moral code that isn’t enforced on you.

All of this can happen very quickly if the guru is guiding you.
Without a guru you will be often stuck in these stages for years.

No body to believe you, nobody to share these things with you and feeling like things do not matter can lead a person to extreme desperation.

This is the dark night of the soul or the bad effects of a mantra jaap (dosha) that show up.

It’s a non reversible process. You cannot forget something that you now know.
Ex- learning to balance a cycle or swimming.

But you can stay stuck in a single stage with the dosha almost ruining your life or even having suicidal thoughts.

If you feel like you can handle this on your own, then you don’t need a deeksha for sure.
But it would be stupid to not take on a easier path.

Authentic Guru

This is one of the reason people look for guru less solutions because they cannot trust somebody.

These are certain traits to avoid in general :

1. People who charge money in exchange of deeksha but do not provide an alternative to someone who cannot pay.

2. People who have still not dealt with basic human emotions like jealousy, anger and bitterness.
   Stay away from angry gurus or ones who put down other gurus or methodologies.

3. People who don’t answer questions in a way that is understandable by the questioner.
   Answering everything with Maa ki maya is truth nonetheless but if it doesn’t erase your curiosity, it is worthless.

4. The guru with many disciples.
   One cannot physically take care of many disciples and the guru who doesn’t kick out lazy and stupid disciples just because they donate money is doomed.

5. A lesson in Tongue browning
   If you start feeling like it is becoming more about the guru than the yoga, you gotta keep their ego boosted , you gotta praise them regularly.
   It’s time to get out.

6. Stepping ladders :
   Now a few people have achieved level 2/3 and more in their path. They have not achieved complete enlightenment but they know how to get you to their level atleast. I feel like Sadhguru’s system is one example.

This person has sensed the energy in their system but I see problematic issues in how the chain of command works, as he doesn’t teach you directly.

You can take their help if you want to but after a certain stage , you will be left in a directionless situation.

To conclude: Find the path that fits your mental level. Be open to change. ASK QUESTIONS and do not rush into things, you have no knowledge about.
Not because it is not allowed, but for your own sanity.