The Western Gate

T.Lobsang Rampa and Other Characters of Questionable Faith
R.B.Russell
Tartarus Press

If I were to join some weird cult it would be in the full knowledge that the leader is a charlatan (bearing in mind the fact that any ‘cult’ deciding there has to be a leader as far as I’m concerned is a red flag). I think more could be gained from a pretender than the real thing. And regardless, it would be funny playing along with the game.
I find it odd that someone will play the role of a spiritual being, presumably for material want, with all the ethics of a beggar pretending to be crippled.
I remember Osho, and I liked his works, even though they were obviously plagiarised and melded from Indian and Chinese philosophy, however, his fleet of Rolls Royces and hundreds/thousands of followers seemed inversely proportional to the spiritual aura he wanted to portray. I’m still not sure whether Osho was someone genuinely turned on by the whole spiritual advancement or loved the celebrity it gave him.
If the scenario were such that he said, I’m just role playing, lets all pretend we’re a part of some mystic school, would this still have created the movement that it did. If gurus admitted at the outset, “I’m not the messiah, I’m just a very naughty boy,” would they still command a loyal and willing flock?
Many years ago, I met in a circle of friends a person described as an enlightened soul. He didn’t have anything as such, lived in a very modest house in a very cheap area of London. One of my friends asked him why didn’t ‘manifest’ a beautiful home with beautiful things, because people, like him, should be surrounded by opulence and reflect beauty, Sattva¹, she said. She also, implied in a roundabout way, that if he were truly enlightened that such a feat were surely possible. I could see he was somewhat confused, as if he didn’t understand her question or where she was coming from or, maybe, he assumed she was testing him. He then looked out of the window and pointing outside said, ‘ but we have everything’. I remember squinting in agreement and also enjoying his logic, my friend let out a sigh of both defeat and also defence at this seemingly overt contrived answer. Or was it? Who are we to say he actually meant it or that he didn’t really live by that viewpoint.
(digression of no apparent parallel...) I used to go round my uncle’s house and asked him why he never opened his curtains, “I’ll only have to shut them again’” he said.
Armed with a few quotes from Kahlil Gibran, a smattering of the Upanishads, a few lines from Confucius and perhaps some Native American sympathies we could begin our own unique spiritual cult.
Again, why? that the supplicants would feed and clothe us? polish the home and pamper an ego? You see, in the scenario I gave at the outset, knowing the guru was just playing the game, I would likewise as a disciple (Sishya) act in accordance;-commending him/her on their obvious mastery, their spiritual ascent to perfection, I would be astounded, tears would flow down my cheeks at the wisdom they espoused. And I would never give the game away.
We act at work, we act in creativity, we act when going out, the peacocks ever, let us, I propose, act also in the path of spirituality. Maybe, the mask will become our soul.
I think however, in truth, there is more to be had, from a guru announcing they don’t know the answers, “but let’s all go on a magical mystery tour to find it”, than a guru who sits there with a daft smile in a lotus position and speaks so softly and conceited I want to shake them and scream, ” where’s your life !”
For my sins and ignorance I have never heard of Lobsang Rampa, he reminds me of the master from doctor Who?
Things for Lobsang were ominous at the start. He printed his book The Third Eye, an expose of his life as Tibetan Lama, which was derided by anyone who had ever been to Tibet. Lobsang, for instance, couldn’t understand what someone was saying when they asked him in Tibetan language how he was. It is amazing therefore that his little charade and performance continued as it did, despite all the finger wagging from people who knew best.
Lobsang of Course wasn’t his real name. If you’re going to impress someone then change the mundane! You can of course demonstrate you are not lying by finding what your actual name means and then translating it to Tibetan or Sanskrit or Sumerian or whatever. ( viz;- my rendition of my name, if it were a business card flyer thing;-)

The laws of narcissism of course are already being played, that the person who wishes adulation and recognition over and above anyone else should feel the need to demean his actual upbringing. Thus. Creates a new name, ashamed of his common and inferior one, changes it to something mystical and spiritual. It’s a strange concept though one which gives credence and respect to good ol’ Mormon Gold plate finder, (subsequently lost) – Joseph Smith. A good hearty healthy name who didn’t change it to Obediah Zacchariah Sharon. It shows that you don’t have to impress the sheep with fancy names in order for the oblations and rose petals to be strewn. So why do it?
Likewise, Lobsang decided to be a Tibetan Lama, a bit like Mr Benn, “Today I will be a Tibetan. ” Apparently he really came from Devon, what’s wrong with telling the yonder classes he is descended from Brythonic masters, or the Druids of Dartmoor? In fact, if our spiritual Guru had an ounce of mastery let him announce to the worlds press that he is actually descended from a Brixham Fisherman called Ned AclandBarton, who never did anything spectacular nor died in a horrendous storm, in fact, lived as normal life as was possible to have.
As soon as someone suggests in a previous life they were a Tibetan lama, or Merlin or Cleopatra we should pity them. That they see their present life as so shallow that they need to bolster it with some form of grand cloak of many colours. Being famous or infamous isn’t all its cracked up to be. Imagine not being able to walk into a pub or down the high street without being pestered, the enormity of pressure in giving the public a new record or film or book to follow up the success. Now equate that with our normal life- In the shadows, not known, insignificant and free.
So, after all the publicity and thumbs up, what exactly is Lobsang offering? let’s cut to the chase, and open the snake oil, does it work, is what Lobsang offers a path to spiritual awakening? the answer of course is the same as if the figure we put in the dock is Jesus, Buddha, David Icke, Osho or any other enlightened being, self proclaimed or otherwise. To some they will be the missing cog, they will be those who flicked the switch, turned them on etc. Charlatan or not, his words and books have influenced people, have pointed them in a direction.
Further on in his life, the narrative changes, he isn’t actually, really a Tibetan Master, in fact his body was taken over by the soul of a Tibetan Master, when he… fell out a tree. Presumably tempted by the fruit therein?
The story is just a fanciful as any other guru or avator or incarnation. If we decry one, then all the rest follow the masquerade party.
Tartarus press indulge us more in his life story than collections of his wisdom, and he liked nothing better than swinging pendulums, making sacred touchstones and conversing with Aliens in their UFO’s. His works are all available online, link below for PDF reading etc.
The Other characters of Questionable faith include those whom the author suggests also had an influence on him. Again, perhaps these maverick upstarts are more precious to us in development than the orthodox. Who has ever come away from a church enlightened after listening to a priest/vicar/reverend (what’s the difference?) yawn on after reciting some parable word for word in his bible.
A night out at a Psychic TV (and the collective known as Temple of Psychic Youth) gig, maybe not the bog standard outing to indulge in, will disorientate, disturb, and rattle the shackles.
Scientology, likewise… nonsense from Ronny and the Cupboard was bare, although the lie detector machine (called the e-meter by scientologists ) really is worthy of attention and experiment, especially when you hook them up to plants and demand answers or threaten the plant with a zippo lighter that will get used on the leaves and stalks.

In the main, those critical of the charlatans have their own selfish reasons for demeaning them, be they press, someone trying to establish their own order and creed or of course from the hypocritical religions. People laughed at David Icke on a chat show interview, they also laughed at Vivienne Westwood, both were prodding societies wasp nest with a stick. So who is actually causing us to laugh? our own insecurities, which of course are based on foundations of what is acceptable or not by a.n.other.
We shouldn’t fear them, we should free them.

Our author here, in the main, is mildly or subtly sympathetic, it’s not a piss take like perhaps I would offer. We have enough room to create our own opinion, despite the evidence. I would’ve liked perhaps more philosophical musings of the subjects in question, but that really is because I became more endeared to the subjects the more dastardly they were revealed.
It reminds me of Mick Browns book, the Spiritual Tourist who goes in search of a guru, a book that inspired me to also want to investigate and join loads of cults, I never got round to it, just carried on going gigs and football matches. This book however is more commentary on the fiends as opposed to mick brown actively infiltrating the ‘cults’.
I really have nothing against the ‘charlatans’, the tricksters, the charmers and Svengalis? If we know that they are, and follow and admire them none the less, are we fools? Let us Crown the jesters as kings, for they are iconoclastic, they tear down orthodoxy, create interia in the stangnation… mix the herbs in the cauldron pot. We can follow them even, not because we believe their path, but because we know all the other paths that are laid down, perfect and signposted are distractions to the rats in the maze. I choose to be different and you can laugh at me, I laugh at you because you’re all the same.

1/ sattva is the quality of balance, harmony, goodness, purity, and illumination. It is the energy that promotes clarity, wisdom, and spiritual growth. Perfection.

Lobsang Rampa’s Website and Books here