i have had this come up a lot with people telling me this and i found my Guru's words and guidance comforting in the middle of the last incident. It was with one claiming enlightenment. Something came up like so and so was stealing and then my inclination was to point that this is not a good thing. the "enlightened one" was taking the position that all is perfect, we can't judge.
My Guru commented - if you think stealing is a good thing, be my guest. The only thing that is perfect is that unchanging is, all else requires checks and balances. There was an incident where a man was steeling and Ramana slaped him. The stealing was not a usefull thing for what good is going to come to the man, but the slap was perfect as it was from flow and was what the man needed. Regarding a heirarchy with guru's, if one is seeking, then this means that one has not yet found the way out to liberation. If one is going to buy into the concept that they don't know the way and what they have done so far has not got them there, then they may seek out one that as a mentor or a Guru. If one is going to go to this Guru and at the same time instruct how things are to be done, then this is not sensible, one is not going to progress. Either face that you dont know the way, find one that you think does and then follow the instrutions or go off on your own. But to come to a guide for guidance, then to instruct that their truth is as valid as mine- there is no need to say much more. It is silly. I would say go one way or the other What does a Guru do- guide one, not live their life. What do they advise- be still and know, not ramble on with the mind and know- "be still and know that I am God"- the stillness where mind has not rerooted, when one knows 100 percent that they are not the mind, body, or identifications- this my Guru would describe as enlightenment Hridaya
