Tell Tale Signs of a pseudo-saint

The prequel to this article is Identify the saints and expose the pretenders the signs that do not decisively ascertain if a person is a genuine saint or not.

In this article the characteristics to unmistakably spot an imposter, pretending to be a bona fide saint, will be discussed. When you notice any of these signs, for your own welfare, salute them from afar and run far away from them. Remember do not have any ill will!

Signs of imposters

Following three signs are the way to recognize an imposter even if he might be pretending to be a Saint

1.   Showers Blessings – The one who gives blessings (asheervaad) is surely not a genuine saint.  A saint possess all the powers and qualities of God. As saint Tulsidas says

जानत तुमहिं तुमहिं ह्वै जाई ।
jānata tumahiṁ tumahiṁ hvai jāī ।

"Once someone knows You they are imbibed with all of Your qualities forever".
 
God has a power called satya sankalp which means that when God makes a wish it immediately comes to fruition. This is one of the eight powers that God bestows upon a God-realized soul. So, all saints also possess this power. If such a saint utters the words of blessings like “Be happy!” then from that moment on, the disciple must become free of the vices of Maya (anger, greed, jealousy, lust etc) that interfere with being happy. Moreover, the disciple must attain bliss forever.

Now, if after receiving the blessings from a saint the person continues to suffer like before, then what is the point of those blessings? 

Be advised that since a saint’s words are always true, if his blessings do not culminate into reality, then that so called “saint” is an pseudo-saint.
 
Genuine saints do not shower blessings. They do not curse either. Saint Tulsidas says

संत हृदय नवनीत समाना । कहा कविन्ह पै कह न आना ।
निज परिताप द्रवइ नवनीता । पर दुख द्रवई सुसंत पुनीता ॥
saṁta hr̥daya navanīta samānā । kahā kavinha pai kaha na ānā ।
nija paritāpa dravai navanītā । para dukha dravaī susaṁta punītā ॥

"His heart is softer than butter. Because butter melts when it is heated but a saint’s heart melts, with mercy, seeing the agonies of others."

How can such a person curse? The selfish people curse, when their own selfish motive is not fulfilled. A saint is always ready to give each and every part of his being just like a birch-tree which keeps on giving its skin until its trunk exists.

2.   Performs Miracles - Those who impress people by showing miracles are also positively not a saint. History proves that saints like Soordas, Tulasidas, Nanak, Tukaram, Chaitanya Mahaprabhu etc. never showed miracles to impress people. If they ever performed any miracle, that miracle was only to save their dear devotees. But the imposters show miracles deliberately to impress gentry. The goal behind all those miracles is some selfish motive and does not reflect any devotion or interest in God.

3.   Initiates Disciples - It is also important to know that a real saint cannot even think of initiating (deekchha) a follower until he qualifies to receive the divine power.

Why?

Because initiating or giving mantra in the ear means to infuse divine power in him. Divine power could be given only in divine senses, mind and intellect. Think for a moment: Ordinary beings cannot bear the power of electrical current passing through their body. Then how can such material mind and body have the power to bear unlimited divine power.

Now you know how to spot the pseudo-saints. This is not enough. One also needs to know how to identify genuine saints. In the next article Recognizing a saint those signs will be mentioned which can be found only in genuine Saint.