My wife is out of work and did the three day intro course in Tallahassee last week and has been acting VERY strange, demanding that I go, trying to get all of our friends to go. She went without doing any research on it, just on a whim because a girlfriend of hers told her it was "amazing, will change your life, and help you make more money!!!"

Since she's been back I've educated myself, having watched the French documentary, videos from a former Landmark leader, read testimonials of Ex-devotees, and learned about how the three day workshop is completely set up to brainwash. But my wife is having none of it. She won't listen to a word I say and will fight me to no end, defending Landmark and telling me I'm crazy. She refuses to watch or read anything I give her, saying that you can find negative reports about everything online.

Is there anything I can do besides just back off and hope for the best, that she doesn't get permanent damage, and watch her recruit other nice innocent unknowing people? When I try to stop her friends from going they tell my wife and she goes off on me.

I have been reading nettie's post about the programs taught at LM and what is actually happening at the three day course, and it is amazing but some of it is difficult to understand. If you read this, nettie, I think if you could make a post simply listing each instance of brainwashing / mind control / group hypnosis that occurs over the three days, from the time people get there, from the room setup, rules, and the individual "teachings", explaining what each exercise is really doing, what a mind trap is, and how the other mind controls work, that would be something very useful that could be put into someone's hands and they would understand. Maybe even my wife. The problem with my wife and everyone else that goes is that they have no idea what really happened to them. If you could list what happened to them that might get through to them.

Thank-you all very much for any support you may have. Frank.

Hi Frank,

sorry to hear about your wife. I used to post as nettie but I am now posting using my real name. I was a leader within the landmark organisation for 2 years.

SOME ASPECTS OF THE LANDMARK BRAINWASHING SCHEME - not complete but at least a few things that may point you in the right direction

1. They show you some miracles during the forum - these miracles are like magic tricks. They are really just quick fixes to deep psychological problems that some people have. They do not really work over time. It is like glazing a turd :-)

2. They ask for a big favor in return - that you should give landmark your friends and family ( mind and money)

3. They instill fear of landmark in you - that you should fear landmark (that is the signed contract)

4. The instill fear in you using the fear exercise - a group hypnosis. Here they implant a lie into your mind that everyone on this earth is fearing everyone else. This is simply not true. We fear some people but not everyone.

5. They tell you that your life up till now has been a powerless life - that you should do more courses to get more powerful

6. The leaders are charismatic (cult characteristic) - and the leaders are not to be questioned.

7. Your mind is echoing with the forum leaders voice after the forum course. Sure sign of mind control - or?

8. They tell you a lot of paradoxes that makes your mind go blank.

9. They claim that they have a technology that can make the world better - but really it makes only their world better.

10. They trap you in a room for 3 days - they also give you homework at night to occupy your mind. VERY important sign of mind control in action.


I will rest now and get back with more pointers.

Lars Bergwik / nettie / nisseberka on youtube
I am doing this in memory of Hans Linder who suffered depression after the landmark forum and hang himself in his basement

That is some very challenging stuff, dealing with someone so close. Each person has to try and figure out what they think might be the most effective antidote.

But one can use the Landmark waiver [forum.culteducation.com] to show why one should NEVER attend Landmark. One could print copies of that waiver, and hi-light the relevant areas for family members, to show how damaging it can be. Most people don't read those sorts of waivers.

And Landmark also tries to trick people, by making things appear mystical. But critical thinking can create enormous power, so much so, that is why Landmark tries to eliminate it.

And just tell the truth, in a powerful way, can be very effective.

And as far as the Landmark waiver [forum.culteducation.com] that is a powerful weapon. One should not be afraid to allow emotion in their communcation. For example, going through that heinous Landmark waiver can be very powerful. It might take 30 minutes to read that waiver out-loud, and discuss each point in great detail.
In cognitive therapy, sometimes people have to use Vigorous Disputing, which means critical thinking, but done with strong emotive force, its not a weak thing.
And words like SCAM can be very powerful, everyone know's what a SCAM is, when people are trying to get money for nothing.


Everyone should print a copy of that Landmark waiver in a LARGE FONT so its readable, and then make photocopies of it, and distribute it freely. When any Landmark person tries to get anyone to attend, then that waiver and a powerful detailed explanation of every single point, can be very powerful. That could take an hour, or an entire afternoon to go through in detail.
It could be done with a licensed professional, like a psychologist, or doctor, or contract specialist.

Landmark's waiver was designed to try and protect Landmark, but ironically, its really Landmark's Achilles Heel.




Help w/ Landmark Please [forum.culteducation.com]

Here is another copy of their insane waiver, they make people sign.
Even Landmark says if a person has concerns or is even uncertain about the warnings...

DO NOT PARTICIPATE.
So that is the answer right from Landmark. Anyone who is unsure about it...
DON'T ATTEND.

_____________________________________
[www.landmarkeducation.com]


"For others, the Program may occur as physically, mentally and emotionally seriously distressing. If you are unwilling to encounter any of these powerful experiences in yourself or in others, or if you have any concern about your ability to deal with such experiences, THE MENTAL HEALTH PROFESSIONALS WHO ADVISE LANDMARK EDUCATION (“OUR ADVISORS”) STRONGLY RECOMMEND THAT YOU DO NOT PARTICIPATE in the Program."

...
or have concerns about your ability to handle stress, OUR ADVISORS STRONGLY RECOMMEND THAT YOU DO NOT PARTICIPATE in the Program. If you are uncertain about whether this applies to you, we advise you to discuss this with a mental health professional before participating in the Program.

....

From time to time, during or shortly after participating in the Program, a very small number of people who have no personal or family history of mental illness or drug abuse have reported experiencing brief, temporary episodes of emotional upset ranging from heightened activity, irregular or diminished sleep, to mild psychotic-like behavior. An even smaller number of people have reported more serious symptoms ranging from mild psychotic behavior to psychosis occasionally requiring medical care and hospitalization.
...there have been reports of unexplained suicide or other destructive behavior.
...certain persons have claimed that the Program has caused or triggered in them a psychosis or psychotic event.
_________________________________________

This is the ideal way for people who do NOT want to go to the Landmark Forum, but don't want to get into a big fight about it with a close family member who is pressuring them to attend.

You just print off the waiver, and take it to your legal advisor, doctor, or mental health expert, or therapist, or someone like that.
And discuss the serious concerns with them, and decide not to go. They could even write an informal letter saying they advised you to not attend.

Then if a family member tries to pressure you, you just say, I spoke with an advisor who advised to NOT attend the Landmark Forum, based on the Landmark forum's own massive waiver.
Its none of anyone business the reason, that is a privacy issue.

A person could be on a medication, for example.
Then this family member has to back off, permanently. End of fight.

_________________________________

[www.landmarkeducation.com]
....OUR ADVISORS STRONGLY RECOMMEND THAT YOU SHOULD NOT PARTICIPATE in the Program if you:
(a) have a personal or family history of bi-polar affective disorder (manic-depressive disorder), schizophrenia, acute or chronic depression or other psychotic disorder, whether or not you or they are being or have ever been treated or hospitalized;
(b) are taking, have taken or been prescribed to take within the previous twelve months anti-anxiety drugs (such as Librium, Ativan, Klonapin, Xanax, Dormicum or others); anti-depressants (such as Elavil, Prozac, Zoloft, Celexa, Cipram, Prothiaden or others); anti-psychotics (such as Thorazine, Haldol, Stelazine, Risperdal, Zyprexa, Dogmatil or others); any medication to treat bi-polar disorders (such as Lithium, Gabapentin or Depakote); any drugs or medicines, whether
prescription or non-prescription, intended to treat or affect mental processes or mood or to treat a chemical imbalance; or anabolic steroids;
(c) have an unresolved history of drug or steroid abuse;
(d) are or have in the past year been depressed and/or considered or had ideas of suicide, self-harm or harm to another;
(e) are currently in therapy and your therapist sees a health reason why you should not participate in the Program; or
(f) are uncertain about your physical, mental or emotional ability to participate in the Program.
____________________________________________________



Edited 2 time(s). Last edit at 08/05/2009 03:17AM by The Anticult.

and Lars...what would be awesome...

is if you could take your key writings on Landmark, like the one above, and others, and combine them all into one document.
Then that could be cross-posted here and there, with links to the videos.

Hundreds of people will read it, and benefit greatly from the first-hand, organized information, with the video's going into first-hand explanationsof what is going on.

good work Lars. Keep up the fight my friend.

Thanks for the suggestions. She is now doing the free 10 weekly meetings. I feel so helpless; she is a good person. One thing about my wife is that even if I had warned her from the beginning that Landmark was a brainwashing cult, she probably would have gone anyway, because she has a rebellious side, and likely would have said: "cool. I want to see how they brainwash people". That duality of her character gives me hope however, because as crazedly gung-ho as she is about it, I can tell that a part of her also knows that it's bad. Since going to Landmark she has been lying to me constantly and that has to affect her.

The main problem I am seeing here is. Those that question BEFORE they attend have a chance (like me) but once they get the initial hook in, our family & friends simply will not listen to reason. My brother is a strong businessman. not easily swayed by this crap but somehow they got to him. Lars I will help in any way I can, keep fighting. Frank, I will pray for your wife :) Bren

11 Reports on Landmark Education on Rip-Off Report.


[www.ripoffreport.com]

Quote
The Anticult
11 Reports on Landmark Education on Rip-Off Report.


[www.ripoffreport.com]

This was posted on the rip off reports. [www.ripoffreport.com]

The one glaring word in this paragraph; (Look for the word "curse")

“Two critical principles of Landmark Education's courses are authenticity and integrity. Honoring one's word is fundamental to every curse taught by Landmark Education. I do not know what happened to Rebecca but clealry she is upset by it and clealry she has decided Landamrk is at fault and hence her stream of invective, exaggerations and incorrect statements” (it clear to me that Alex in Somerville Mass need to use his spell checker.

I had to laugh at that; It is a CURSE. Just like PSI Seminars

For Frank and Bren (and everyone else of course)

Most people snap out of the landmark coma after a while. It comes when they see that landmark tries to use them for their benefit.

Unfortunately for landmark there are some flaws built into their system. These flaws will bring landmark to its knees in the future.

Thanks for coming here. Everyone that stands up against this evil cult will save a few souls.

Thanks!
Lars