[casinochniks]

How would you know that a teacher was distorting the teachings unless you already knew what the undistorted teachings were?

The point I was trying to make was that a lot of people get so used to having a teacher or a tradition that they can't imagine being in a state in which they no longer have to follow, trust or believe. They identify themselves with the teacher or tradition. That's self-limiting, it seems. It's like enjoying the ride on the raft so much that you refuse to get off it even when you're at the far bank. Of course, I could be wrong, as always.