On the two or 3 occasions I've chosen to click on Dans youtube links to his "amazing tunes" I've turned it off within seconds because it's been garbage. I'm going to start reporting him for bad taste in music.
They all appear to be quite faithful to their religions / beliefs in many parts of Asia by going to the temple, leaving offerings for the gods / spirits, praying or whatever their religion dictates BUT then you see them doing many things they aren't exactly in tune with their beliefs such as Buddhists eating meat and being cruel to animals, doing things which aren't exactly good karma, being obsessed with material possessions, drinking, smoking, shagging about etc.
So basically on the surface a lot of them appear to be but when you get down to it it means nothing because they aren't actively following the teachings of the religion and think just by going to the temple once a week it makes up for it.
Its a big generalisation Spade, But I will go with it
For the MOST part people in the east are more aware of concepts like Reincarnation, something that isnt as prevalent in the west.
Yes there are some eastern charlatans, mostly defined by the western media( see my previous post)
I think it comes down to your own definition of reincarnation existing or not, With some Zen schools or advaita Vedanta many dont think it does, I am not sure of it does, but it may.
Its interesting in the east they think of a monetary transaction with a " guru" as just being goodwill, something to be expected, in the west people are cynical and its translated as taking advantage. But hey even a guru has to eat and have some shelter
The main thing is to find teachers that do not take moneyI* ( if you are in the west), James Schwartz is a guy who lived in India and rocks the Advaita, to my knowledge he doesnt charge ANYTHING for any of what he is spreading.
All his lectures etc are free
http://www.shiningworld.com/top/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=54&Itemid=69
But you can pay for them if you want.
Bottom line is many of these " eastern" gurus need money from the west in order to keep their eastern teachings open to a much bigger audience
As for the meat eating aspect, I can only speak for Tibetan Buddhism but that is a very arid area in a high elevation, so growing crops is basically a no no , thus some of them eat meat.
After the cultural revolution when many relocated to Dharamsala many became full veggies( apart from the Daiai Lama of course) lol
