47. What is a Guru?
Yoga Studies in Five Minutes - Theodora Wildcroft
Jens U. Augspurger [+]
Jens U. Augspurger is a PhD Candidate at the Department of Religions and Philosophies at SOAS, University of London. His research and teaching focus on modern transnational yoga and spiritual movements, as well as their respective intersections with politics. Jens is also a recovering yoga teacher and the co-founder of Project SATYA, a community movement that supports survivors of sexualised violence and advocates for accountability and truth in the yoga industry. Considering spiritual tourism as a journey for self-discovery, Jens’ ethnographic dissertation project explores yoga tourism in India and the complex
relationships the yoga tourist builds while journeying (towards) the destination.
Description
Historically, the guru concept derives from spiritual, religious, or artistic disciplines of pan-India, and was used to refer to a teacher of an elevated standing. Today, the word guru retains this honorific meaning in religious and traditional settings but beyond, it is also used more colloquially to refer to a personal guide or leader.