Lubos, I don't know the Kwan Um School or what is taught there, apart from what I have read here and elsewhere on the web. Generally though, the reason for the secrecy is a fear of admitting that the revered teacher might not be all he is cracked up to be. If the revered teacher was empire-building, it is fear of losing the power and empire and all the time and effort that the student
Forum: "Cults," Sects, and "New Religious Movements"

Stoic, it seems you have a great insight into this problem. What do you think why the Kwan um School of Zen still covers-up its founding teacher Seung Sahn and his failures? There are a lot of zen masters and dharma master in the school who surely know about that and though I don't overrate these titles today, I met couple of them and they all seemed as intelligent and compassionate people
Forum: "Cults," Sects, and "New Religious Movements"

I know I'm going to sound a little like a smart-ass here, but I have a question: In the "transmission" process, is it possible that all the outrageous bullcrap is also transmitted? Crass question or no, I think it's a very logical one. A very logical question. I've been a zen student for several decades, in various schools. Originally it attracted me for
Forum: "Cults," Sects, and "New Religious Movements"

How dare you be logical amidst all the current hysteria re the Byron Katie thread! I kid. ;-)
Forum: "Cults," Sects, and "New Religious Movements"

I know I'm going to sound a little like a smart-ass here, but I have a question: In the "transmission" process, is it possible that all the outrageous bullcrap is also transmitted? Crass question or no, I think it's a very logical one. qd
Forum: "Cults," Sects, and "New Religious Movements"

I think there is nothing wrong with intensive meditation practice or long retreats, they have been part of Zen Budhism for long time. Problem is why you do it or for what or whom. If you strongly believe your teacher and school and don't see or don't want to see their failures then it's problem. Who owns the Kwan Um School of Zen now? I think that it's his older students -
Forum: "Cults," Sects, and "New Religious Movements"

QuoteThe Anticulthttp://www.kwanumzen.org/misc/temple-rules.html A quote found at the above link: Do not cling to your opinions. Do not discuss your private views with others. To cling to and defend your opinions is to destroy your practice. Put away all your opinions. This is true Buddhism. I can't help but think of Stuart Resnick aka RandomStu. Would not he know about this?
Forum: "Cults," Sects, and "New Religious Movements"

Here is some ridiculous hypocrisy from Seung Sahn. And what a ridiculous list of dozens of Thou Shalt Nots...as if he followed any of that. Its just a technique to try to gain control and make your followers walk on eggshells all the time. Arbitrary "rules" to put people off-balance. Notice that other "Zen" people who have posted here before, do not even follow these ru
Forum: "Cults," Sects, and "New Religious Movements"

well, not to lose the forest for the trees...but 1000 prostrations would take 2 hrs for maybe a olympic athlete. How many people could even do that many in one day? Not many. Certainly not Seung Sahn. And the more serious longer retreats, are the point of the thread. Those more serious techiques, are for the more "advanced" students, who will become totally indocrinated. That is cla
Forum: "Cults," Sects, and "New Religious Movements"

Hi, I'm former member of Kwan Um School of Zen, which I left a couple of years ago when I'd found out about Seung Sahn's sexual scandals. I spent about 8 year in the school and was quite active student in the institution, but I had never heart about the scandals from teachers, older students or anybody else in the school. At that time the information now available in Wikipedi
Forum: "Cults," Sects, and "New Religious Movements"

My 'boo-boo' reference was actually a sarcastic one referring back to something ol' Stewie said about how he found himself on the path, or found Zen or whatever. (I don't really want to go back and re-read any of his bullshit to refresh my memory when he said it) It does have a slightly 'icky' feel to it though, doesn't it. Sorry for the mental picture. qd
Forum: "Cults," Sects, and "New Religious Movements"

Its interesting how accurate criticism of a guy like RandomStu, gets flipped and deliberately exaggerated into "demonizing" or trying to say RandomStu is in THEIR WORDS a "dangerous predatory guru". Who said that? No one. But again, it points to intellectual dishonesty. RandomStu markets himself as a so-called Gurubuster, which he is NOT. He dishes out criticism of oth
Forum: "Cults," Sects, and "New Religious Movements"

QuoteThe AnticultAnd who has been the #1 internet apologetics poster for Byron Katie, outside of the BK websites, where analysis of Byron Katie is banned? Probably RandomStu Stuart Resnick, he's posted more than anyone about it. Stephen Mitchell probably asked him to do so, as they thought he could disrupt the analysis of Byron Katie, with his so-called Zen confusion tactics from the hypo
Forum: "Cults," Sects, and "New Religious Movements"

That is very interesting about the Byron Katie "Curriculum Director" information about Steven Sashen. Even a basic search showed there was no such reference. What's the real story about that? What did Steven Sashen really do for Byron Katie? Why was the Byron Katie information removed from his website? What really happened? Did BKI tell him to take it down? Also, when
Forum: "Cults," Sects, and "New Religious Movements"

In a recent Guruphiliac blog entry, "What Enlightenment" Reignites, someone took Stuart Resnick, aka RandomStu, to task for some of his online behavior. Jody/Guruphiliac defended Stu, saying, "To be honest, I find these criticisms of Stuart totally lame. The only reason I'm posting them is because it provides Stuart more contrast from which to make his points." I&#
Forum: "Cults," Sects, and "New Religious Movements"

Its wonderful the Guruphiliac points out the problems with some Guru's. And some of those websites attacking him personally, are from followers of Sai Baba, who Guruphiliac has rightfully criticized. Sai Baba is a flat out con-artist, with his fake magic tricks, and more seriously the sexual abuse, and local government corruption, etc. But why only go at such obvious targets? And why
Forum: "Cults," Sects, and "New Religious Movements"

QuotequackdaveI'm with you, there hm2x. To paraphrase something said a few times before on this thread, there are many so called 'guru busters' out there who actually are putting down all but the guru that they are 'in bed with', as a sort of deflection from the true issues. Did you notice how Jody absolutely steers clear of any response to the Seung Sahn issue, which is
Forum: "Cults," Sects, and "New Religious Movements"

QuotequackdaveQuoteThe AnticultWhy would anyone JOIN a group right at the time the sex scandals are becoming public, and most people are leaving the group? I have an idea: Maybe ol' Stewie is putting his 'boo-boo' where it doesn't belong, like his master. It's only my guess, of course; it could be way more sickening than that. qd Jeez Louise, I was pondering something si
Forum: "Cults," Sects, and "New Religious Movements"

QuoteThe AnticultWhy would anyone JOIN a group right at the time the sex scandals are becoming public, and most people are leaving the group? I have an idea: Maybe ol' Stewie is putting his 'boo-boo' where it doesn't belong, like his master. It's only my guess, of course; it could be way more sickening than that. qd
Forum: "Cults," Sects, and "New Religious Movements"

Quotehelpme2timesWhy am I not surprised? This is someone who allows himself to be swayed in reporting on Byron Katie by "good friends", at least one of who is a "formerly-inside man". I'm with you, there hm2x. To paraphrase something said a few times before on this thread, there are many so called 'guru busters' out there who actually are putting down all but
Forum: "Cults," Sects, and "New Religious Movements"

A cross-post re Stuart Resnick: [http://forum.culteducation.com/read.php?12,12906,71919#msg-71919]
Forum: "Cults," Sects, and "New Religious Movements"

The subject of Stuart Resnick aka Randomstu has reared its head again... In the comments section of a recent Guruphiliac blog entry, someone took issue with the commenting of Stuart Resnick and in addition mentioned the Rick Ross forum: QuoteAt 5/12/2009 6:47 PM, Anonymous said... Jody, I've been reading posts by this guy, Stuart, for years now. Something just hasn't set r
Forum: "Cults," Sects, and "New Religious Movements"

I agree, the information on Seung Sahn's sex scandal from the book Turning The Wheel is important. Related to this... I've found a series of articles re problems with Zen by Stuart Lachs. [Stuart Lachs - American Zen] In an introduction to the articles, Lachs says: QuoteI have been a Zen practitioner for roughly forty years. Many years ago I became interested in viewing Z
Forum: "Cults," Sects, and "New Religious Movements"

yes, very important information. One of the people is from Empty Gate Zen Center, which is the same center as ole RandomStu Stuart Resnick. Stuart Resnick appears to have joined Empty Gate Zen Center in about 1988, and this book came out in 1993, so he knows all about it. The sex scandals of Seung Sahn first started coming out publically in about 1988. Why would anyone JOIN a group right at
Forum: "Cults," Sects, and "New Religious Movements"

Great post Helpme. What a sleazebag. How Zen?
Forum: "Cults," Sects, and "New Religious Movements"

A look at the sex scandal of Seung Sahn in the book Turning The Wheel: American Women Creating The New Buddhism by Sandy Boucher (Boston: Beacon Press, 1993)... Excerpts from pp. 225-230: QuoteIn most situations in which the teacher is having sexual relations with students, it is not the actions themselves that prove destructive, but the secrecy in which they are pursued. Students believe
Forum: "Cults," Sects, and "New Religious Movements"

this is a cross-post from a new SGI thread. Maybe its better to repost those posts in this main SGI thread, for future reference? One thread keeps everything together... (cont'd from other thread) That is the same experience that can be seen with many SGI people, in that what they are doing is not "Buddhism". Its more than kinda nuts to say Greed, Lust, Vanity, hate your
Forum: Former Cult Members and Affected Families

hey, its a good idea to repost your posts into the main SGI thread, as single posts tend to get lost. Just copy/paste the same post into the main thread, for future reference. (you may have to change it a little). Just repost it there, if you want. Former SGI members That is the same experience that can be seen with many SGI people, in that what they are doing is not "Buddhism&q
Forum: Former Cult Members and Affected Families

One hopes it is "game over"... or nearly so. I've been marveling at the BK thread view counts in this forum. The daily view counts are high. I think that says a lot. Like Corboy said in the main BK thread, "Information is power".
Forum: "Cults," Sects, and "New Religious Movements"

and of course, RandomStu Stuart Resnick has a blog post on poker and "spirituality", with a deliberately oversimplified poker analogy. Poker Tactics for Spiritual Life . And of course, the requisite position from RandomStu...your Guru is suspicious and has a dark shadow, but my friends anti-guru is wonderful, so let me distract your mental focus from asking tough questions. (p
Forum: "Cults," Sects, and "New Religious Movements"