One can sidestep some undesirable desires by observing the effects of such desires in the lives of others, especially if one can get close to a teacher and see what he does from day to day, as contrasted to the image he has in the minds of people who cannot check his details.

Money is necessary in every sphere of life, which includes maintaining a religious institution, showing its status  and so on. Just the need for money alone can cause a teacher or student yogi to go off the rails. And money is only one of the hazards.

Seeing the impulsions and errors of a teacher is for learning how to avoid his mistakes but unfortunately many of us feel that such observation is for criticizing the deviant ascetic.