I think this piece is worth reproducing here in full. While the author notes that it is speculative, I think it just may be onto something:
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wordsonsergebenhayon.blogspot.com.au]
"What if" Serge is teaching you to be a Narcissist?I lent the books to a colleague of mine who is a forensic psychiatrist and from that we had some interesting discussions about the pathology of the condition of the leader of this (and possibly many other) group, as opposed to the so-called philosophy. Again, let me stress, this is speculation as no one has sat down with him and had direct experience of his state of being, however there appears to be much evidence that fits with the following speculations which are none the less quite well informed.
What is a Narcissist?
Narcissism affects about 1% of the population. Like the word cult, it seems like a derogatory term but it is no more so than any other clinical terms, for example ADHD or bi-polar. It describes a certain mental/body dissociative state. The name is derived from the legend of Narcissus who fell in love with his own image- the allegory being that these people are unable to "feel" how they are in the world, and rely on their 'image' as a sense of their place and identity.
The condition arises from trauma's of childhood ( generally) whereby a child form a bond with a parent and there is/maybe some sexualisation of that bond whereby the child feels excited but naturally attempts to deny those feelings. The denial of those feelings commences a process of feeling neutralisation and the person learns how not connect to their 'emotions'. This is compounded when the child becomes a complicit partner with one or both of the parents and is made to feel equal in the relationship and becomes emotionally involved with their states, ideas and problems.They are 'seduced into giving up their sexuality and offered in its place the image of being special'
If the attached parent is suffering from dissociative states themselves and does not know how to express 'love' ( acceptance, encouragement, genuine melting emotion) this can compound the depth the condition. This child can be made to feel both very special and rejected at the same time. Because they are given adult roles, they begin to believe they are god like in their abilities, while at the same time fearing rejection and suppressing feelings. The child can take on the role and ideas of the parent while at the same time later rejecting them as they were rejected themselves.
Naturally, there are varying degrees of Narcissism and it can be accompanied by other conditions. An adult Narcissist may operate quite normally in society and may only suffer from a mild sense of 'disconnection', or they may become pathological, psychotic or grandiose in which case the manifestation may take a different form, such as becoming manipulative, charming, overbearing, controlling, and so forth. Many if not all cult leader suffer from Grandiose Narcissism.
Narcissists are not aware that other people do not experience the world the way they do. They of course believe, as they have no evidence to the contrary, that the people with whom they interact are having the same experience. They are charming, usually like to hug to avoid eye contact, can keenly read how others 'feel' via how they appear ( as they have a sharpened outward sense as a reflection of themselves), intelligent, and often appear generous and warm. When the world is not reflecting according to their idea of themselves, they can be cold, calculating, manipulative, blaming, paranoid, insensitive and tyrannical.
Key Symptoms of Grandiose Narcissism.
Suppressing feelings/emotions
Fixation with the body and it's 'feelings' ( or lack thereof)
A sense of Omnipotence, Omnipresence, Omniscience
A desire for people to value them highly or 'worship' them and their ideas
A sense that they will experience special sexuality transcending normal love.
Serge's key ideas:
Emotions are to be avoided. ( they are pranic/not real/creations of the lords of form)
"Livingness" is being 'in your body' ( something he doesn't sense easily as like most narcissists his view of the world is shaped by how he thinks others see him)
He is masterful, has been major historical personages, is able to sense all energy in the universe and move into other dimensions at will.
Most people cannot make love. Serge is capable of making 'true love' because he is masterful.
What is Emotions?
Emotions are a necessary human sense. It is the ability to sense our internal movements of energy. For example, fear, pity, sadness, happiness, joy, humour, hate, love. There is a sensation within our bodies we can all agree on, that is a natural and necessary nature of the human condition. Emotions emanate from the body and are experienced in the mind. How we relate to our emotions is our 'emotional life'.
Denying emotion and feeling is a form of psychotic behavior. At its extreme end, people become catatonic. Emotions can be powerful as we all know. A function of wisdom is learning how to temper and use emotions positively, rather than suppressing them.
"Everyone loves, hates, gets angry, sad and frightened. A "Special Person" has be above their body and emotions"
What is Love?
There are many definitions of the word love. However, in the human sense, it is an emotional state of 'tenderness' and 'melting' felt towards someone or sometimes, something. Love involves acceptance, encouragement, subjugation of ones own needs in favour of another, endurance, forgiveness. Physiologically we are more able to do these things when we feel 'love' towards someone.
It has a real presence as a feeling in the solar plexus and is accompanied by changes in body temperature, circulation, heart rates and pupil dilation. In the case of romantic love between a couple, it is that feeling over simple sexual or genital excitement. Sexual feelings between people who love each other are accompanied b a feeling of 'melting' and 'warmth' rather than simple genital excitement alone.
The notion of Divine or Cosmic love has a natural personification as we are not capable of seeing it any other way. It is impossible to think of a God that does not love us in the first sense of the word. However, as God is a non visible conceptual entity, divine love is often expressed as 'void', above and beyond human love.
Serge's key ideas:
Emotions are hooks that people put into you.
Emotions are 'pranic' or from the life force and are to be avoided, or suppressed.
Love is "without a single ounce of emotion"
Human love is 'lower/animal/carnal'
Men have sex for release only. Women have sex to be accepted. Most if not all, people are incapable of making love.
The denial of ( non approved) Art, Music, food, outside activities and so forth is an extension of this 'denial process'. By learning to deny the everyday, enjoyable and normal, the student learns slowly how to deny themselves what they desire, and eventually their feelings and own emotions.
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It appears, ironically, that Serge is teaching his students how to emulate his state while at the same time developing a sense of his omnipotence through the reflection of their following.
"Psychotic personalities tend to amass followers....they know all too well how to play on the fear and weaknesses of others...they they proclaim they will be the light and security others seek. In their own minds they hold themselves superior...desperate lost and frightened people turn to the as saviors, creating a flock of followers. The more followers there are, the more 'social proof' and normalisation of the otherwise often fantastic and absurd claims of the narcissist.."
"The sense of Omnipotence are attributes of God which on a deep level psychopathic narcissists see themselves as. Too often their followers see them in that light too".
Serge's Key Idea:
He alone knows the 'energetic truth'- he is leading the world into the New Era and is a representative of a 'Hierarchy'
The vision extends to his family, who are reflective extensions of his own ego. They are 'seers' and incarnation of remarkable individuals.
Serge can 'clear' bad energy, remove 'bad entities'
Serge knows more than everyone, any tradition or discipline.
Serge has fool-proofed his system of thought by declaring emotions and emotional love as 'pranic'. The Student is offered a hypothetical alternative, which is a cosmic love. An ideal that can forever be striven for, but never achieved as only by entering a state of total pscyhosis can one acheive a 'no-emotion' state.
Contrary to other spiritual traditions, which emphasis transcendence over the normal mind, in order so the normal mind may perceive more keenly, Serge's idea is to deny ones feelings and to attempt to 'sense' via a hypothetical organ within the body, 'soulfulness".
What he is really expressing is a personal connection ( and this is most likely his epiphany) to the well of feelings that the average person feels routinely, and paradoxically he is training his students not to acknowledge.
There is no point over speculating on Serge's early life but it would fit that he was brought up by an overly religious parent or parents, that there were abnormal sexual events, a sense of specialness through some complicity with a parent and that he did not achieve goals that he assumed were his natural right. There is a definite overt interest in women's sexuality and bodies in his books and talks and the denial of masculinity which fits with the pathology discussed.
It is unfortunate that the followers of Serge remain unaware that the state of 'clearness' they so desire and they believe he personifies is actually a pathological state most likely requiring treatment. In some ways they will experience inner peace as denial of 'feeling and emotion' will have that effect.
Of course, the price is disconnection from the rich tapestry of life which involves both love and pain. That is how we are forged and wisdom is truly won.