Landmark Education
Date: November 13, 2002 02:41AM
Hi Hope, you asked if any Landmarkers would like to help out.
I have read this thread, I believe I understand your points and your view.
Before I address your post, I will give my history in Landmark. I am not an LEC employee, although I have assisted as a volunteer periodically. My comments are from personal experience, and do not necessarily reflect LEC's views or technology
I did the Forum in 95 after attending a Tuesday night guest event that a Forum graduate friend invited me to. I was not a 'group experience type' or 'personal growth devotee' prior to this, but I was recently divorced at the time and 'saw a possibility for myself' from taking this course, so I registered.
What occurred for me out of taking the course can truly be described as transformational. I reconnected with many people who I had cut off contact with [ almost all of whom are still in regular contact with me now], I revamped my attitude about work after some serious self observation, reduced complaining in my life, and generally became more effective in all areas of life.
There were a few pitfalls , though, especially in the immediate months following my participation in the Forum. I was so inspired by the results that I had gotten, I became possibly too insistent that others around me take the course, and became attached to people acknowledging the value I had recieved from Landmark. This is a trap that indicates I had not completely assimilated the
zen-based disitinction of 'non- attached but committed '.
I have since apologized to my Mom and others for judging them and have since experienced great joy and being OK with them exactly as they are.
In the years that followed, I have softened my judgement of others and grew increasingly tolerant of all ways of being of those around me. My friends and family would attest to this. I attribute this ability or state directly to my consistent application of the distinctions learned from my participation in Landmark.
Since 95 I have taken a few LEC seminars, and am currently participating in the Landmark Wisdom Course. there have been long periods where I did not participate in any LEC programs, and at no time did I receive any pressure to 'rejoin' or anything like that. I returned to do more courses at my own pace.
I have noticed that criticism of LEC's programs often centers around a feeling of pressure to 'join' or a perception of superiority in LEC graduates or leaders. I believe that some of this can be attributed to the type of exuberance that occurs from the possibilites that participants see open up for themselves as result of their work in LEC, as I described above. My overall experience in being around LEC types has left me with a belief that the average LEC graduate/trainer has an above average ability to empathize with other people's views or situations. However, sometimes the non-LEC person's view of this empathy does not conform to the traditional 'agreement' view of suffering that the recipient is looking for. I hope this does not sound judgmental, it is only meant to illustrate that the perception may be different on both sides of the situation.
Hope, I would like to address some of your comments individually:
quote:<<<'For instance, their idea of commitment. Maybe I got this all wrong at Landmark, but I don't think so. The leaders talked about finding what you are committed to, and whatever doesn't work, discard.>>>
All forums are different so I cannot say what did or didn't occur at your forum. But I have generally never perceived anyone in LEC to tell me to discard commitments. What I HAVE seen/heard is that some people, when looking at thir lives, find that the reasons they had committed to certain things were for reasons that were not based in clear intention or thought. It is unreasonalbe to think that any person could ever fulfill on ALL commitments they ever make, so LEC possibly presents the view that some commitments are actually better left unfulfilled. But the general idea is that our word is an important aspect of our power in the world, so commitment is important.
quote: <<<Don't think. Thinking is the problem. Or, is it that you're just not supposed to think DURING the Forum? Does this trying-and-discarding equate to creative thinking? >>>
I think your perception that someone told you not to think may have come from an invitation to step outside of the normal way we think. In my experience, distinctions in the Forum are not presented as the truth or facts, but merely concepts to consider. Often even considering these concepts challenges our established modes of thinking and possibly even causes our identity to be challenged. It can be scary stuff, and thus I understand your reaction to this. Again, I say this with total respect to you.
quote:<<<If someone isn't a creative-thinker, does this technology help him or her at all?>>>
My life has taught me that all humans posess the abiilty to think creatively. whether I am right or wrong on this, it gives me a fun/powerful/productive way to approach my interactions with people , as I honor the intelligence and creativity of every person I meet. People in my life would attest to this about me. Given this, I believe that anyone who is interested in getting the benefits of LEC courses has the ability to do so.
quote:<<<What if the employee is codependent, introverted, dyslexic, under extreme personal stress and not working at 100% capacity? If one goes about trying and discarding, where is the critical thinking?>>>
Good question! To some people, it might appear that participants are just following a process that the course leader is suggesting, but the intention [ as I understand it] is to invite the participant to examine their own beliefs and patterns through a series of interesting questions and challenges. Trying and discarding are just two of hundreds of options available to anyone any time. Critical thinking is also an option. The idea is to examine/ identify pre- existing thoughts and beliefs so that more choices are available. I KNOW this can be challenging!
quote:<<<This might work for ideas, but what about with people, hiring and firing? Someone who is not relationship oriented and\or egocentric, might find this particular technology quite validating.>>>
In my experience, many people who have applied their results from LEC training to their lives, both personally and professionally have experienced increased ease and effectiveness in dealing with all sorts of life situations. I don' know if this answers your question though.
quote:<<<However, Landmark's main theme is that individuals are responsible for their own happiness>>>
I don't know if this is the main theme, but I agree that it is a principle that is quite central to the technology.
quote:<<<So if businesses are sending their employees to Landmark, is Landmark providing a special business program so that all these people striving for individual happiness can get along? I'm not being facetious.>>>
Again, my experience with many LEC grads is that the results show up in all areas of their life, so a separate course may not be necessary. For example, my personal experience is that LEC grads have a higher than average rate of successful marriages, and are reporting increased communication and connectedness with people in their lives.
quote:<<<<There are so many mixed messages, but then again, Landmark says there is no right, no wrong, no good, no bad - it's all a perception.>>>
Life has many dichotomies. I don't think LEC has an official position on good/bad, right wrong, etc. I think Landmark explores the concept that when one relates to a situation as wrong, for example, the person may be affecting the outcome by the way he/she is relating to it. By taking responsibility for our perception of what happens, we increase our ability to be effective. Again, just something to consider, not necessarily the truth or anything, just a concept to play with.
Quote from an earlier post:<<<. For the most part, mine was the same. Landmark wants to be one-size-fits-all, but it can't.>>>
I have an opposite experience of LEC's view on this. In many of LEC's brochures and lectures, I have read and heard it said that the Landmark experience occurs differently for all people. It is an inquiry into the nature of being, so what occurs for each person is a function of what that person brings to it.
Hope, I am sorry that your experience of LEC has left you with this feeling. I believe that you are a great person.
Thank you for the invitation to write about this.
Take care.
Joe