I think this comes under the grumpy old man rants category, YES I’m GOING TO MOAN or at least voice my opinion.

You see I work in an industry that values training and personal development that is just fantastic for those wanting to enter the profession the UK government not only pays a small bursary but also wavers the tutor fees.

Once qualified the employers or NHS trust generally pays for training, especially that which is mandatory like CPR, Manuel Handling and Health and Safety and I sort of got used to having courses provided and not paying for them.

OK there are some I have paid for but they have been ones outside of work, I felt that they would be good for me to do rather than a direct benefit to my employers.

Now it has been recommended I do a guru disciple course, ok although I am very sceptical on two grounds; 1) How other treat visiting guru’s although this is no excuse to dismiss, 2) That I have been helped by his senior disciples to develop my relationship and my feeling that are best placed to do this.

So I register my interest and then get a call asking for payment, what?

You see I don’t mind if I was doing a yoga course or Indian head massage and the temple asked me to contribute towards the cost, I don’t mind paying for books.

But to be asked for payment for what is said to be a vital course for everyone wanting to be initiated to go on is somewhat for me a hard pill to swallow; I could imagine the outrage by nursing staff if we were told that the course is vital and then ask for payment no government or manager would be that brave or would climb down very quickly and yes that includes free hand outs act.

Having looked at the contents of what will be covered I can say that the disciples of my guru maharaja actually covered all points in the first few weeks of my meeting their spiritual master, and remain their to guide me if I need it. My personal feeling and I emphasise it is my personal feeling before the UK management gets too upset is that the ones best to guide me is actually the senior disciples of my guru maharaja.

I will go further that it is best that the spiritual master and his disciples decide as and when an individual is ready to take first initiation knowing the standards required and expected. Giving an already used example that an individual was recommended for initiation that was taking an alternative medication that contained meat, although the person who recommended could not see this as being a problem and his own guru maharaja also having no problem with this. The individuals own Guru Maharaja did have a view and that is if their was an alternative that did not contain meat then this should be used, if they chose to use a product containing meat under these circumstances then they have broken the regulative principles and so initiation would not be recommended. OK I am not saying the individual shouldn’t have been initiated it is not for me to say but highlights that standards expected by individual spiritual masters are being ignored.

By empowering our Spiritual masters to appoint one of their own senior disciple to oversee their aspiring disciple (and not set individuals on a list or limited to temple managers) would also help those who live away from temples and centres or rural communities as they would understand the standard required and recommend initiation when these have been met.

This is however only the start of a long journey from pure animal life to that of human life and the road back to home, not the end goal, finished feet up I’m saved let me sin again.

But although I am disappointed in being handed a bill for something that is seen as essential and realistically doesn’t help me due to were I demographically live in relation to the temple best placed to help me progress in spiritual life (making recommendation an impossibility) I am looking forward to a weekend off work and with my friends at the temple over the boarder in England; Yes a holiday abroad with no air miles and the greatest company one could want Cant wait!