My own likely story is that GMJ got into the family business so young and under so much indoctrination, I wonder if he ever really had a choice or grokked what was happening, at least for many years.  But the march of those northern India-based Hindu/Sikh traditions has gone on for many centuries, sweeping up millions, including us, with him and his father before him as hood ornaments.

I'll agree that Rawat is an unremarkable teacher, but personally, I continue to place a high value on meditation and many aspects of those traditions that I have benefited (and cherry-pick) from.

I know that so much of what I have done in my life is boneheaded, but I do really like where 'I am' now, and it just FEELS better to make peace with my own boneheadedness (and find humor in it), without blaming any one but myself for what I did.    I think my buddy took that feeling even a bit further, even reminding himself and paying homage to all that got him to where he is, warts and all.  In listening to him, I had to face some of my own unwanted anger that I wasn't aware of, and Allah knows what an angry place this world can be.

M