"It used to be in India, but now it is San Francisco. All our gurus are moving there to open ashrams."

That made me laugh. Maybe I'm too cynical, but my explanation is a lot less noble than what the author implies...

Also note the date of the article. A good reminder that maybe a bit of humility and some critical thinking (in the sense in which it contrasts "automatic openness to new ideas") can be a good thing now and then.