Spiritual Masters that aren't Swindlers and Frauds
Since there's a thread already focusing on Deepak Chopra, I thought we should turn this around and talking about Masters which are credible.
Firstly I'd like to start with Eckhart Tolle since he's also gained a celebrity status thanks to Oprah, just like Chopra. He's written some books and travels the world leading retreats and the like, in fact this last summer he led a retreat at the same center I aspire to work at next year. His books are incredibly powerful, and explain things in ways which are easily digestible. He's also incredibly awkward, and does not come off charismatic in the least. He bores the shit out of people when he speaks but there's a very deliberate and centered way about him which is alluring.
Secondly, Thich Naht Hanh is one of the greatest masters on earth today. He runs a retreat center called Plum Village which some of my sangha-mates have been lucky enough to attend. They ascribed it to Buddhist boot camp, and said they took something profoundly life changing from the 3 week experience. Retreat Centers often differ and depend heavily upon who's leading them, but Thich Naht Hanh has been around for a minute and has mastered the process of helping people blossom. He has also written some incredibly profound books.
Nextly, Alan Watts is the shit. Everything he says is beautiful and rings true. May he rest in peace.
I'll also add Don Miguel Ruiz though I'm a little ambivalent about him. I find his story about his toltec lineage difficult to believe. But that doesn't subtract from the Four Agreements at all, in my opinion. The information is solid, easy to understand and easily utilized in your life to change it into a dramatically happier one. If you are impeccable with your word, if you don't make assumptions, if you take nothing personally and if you always do your best, you can change the world you live in to a personal heaven. It's that simple. Just follow the basics.