And LGAT is like a crash-diet of the mind. Do crash diets work? Human change only happens over an extended period of time. Yes!! That's a very, very good metaphor.
Forum: Large Group Awareness Training, "Human Potential"

they " seem to carefully select its scenes of abuse and brainwashing, out of context. " As if abuse and brainwashing in context is just great!
Forum: Large Group Awareness Training, "Human Potential"

Thanks, Shadow. I sure hope you're right.
Forum: Large Group Awareness Training, "Human Potential"

Yeah, but you can't explain that to anyone who is inside, because why should they see it like that? They'd probably even defend it, saying well I don't care if that's the "real" motive, it only matters that I talked to my family. But it's the manic kind of emotional high in which they contact people that seems so hollow. A lot of people who get contacted by s
Forum: Large Group Awareness Training, "Human Potential"

I don't have any BK materials, thank god, but I'm wondering if anyone would be willing to post exact text where BK talks about instances of sexual or physical abuse. If someone would post this, I would be happy to send it to the legitimate organizations that deal with these issues, with a letter asking them to review the material and consider making a public statement about it.
Forum: "Cults," Sects, and "New Religious Movements"

I've posted three posts in response, but it looks like they're only going to post one of them. I've been really fed up with Huffington Post for many reasons, but the worst is their bizarre random censorship. You just never know if they'll let you speak, regardless of whether you're civil or not. If you attack Arianna Huffington it's likely you'll be shut out.
Forum: Large Group Awareness Training, "Human Potential"

That article was waaaayy too kind.
Forum: Large Group Awareness Training, "Human Potential"

Hi Shadow, It's too late for all of that, for me. I've already messed it up completely. I've railed for weeks on end against Landmark, I've attacked his intelligence, character and inner strength, I've walked away from him completely because of it. So . . .yeah. And you know, it was all absolutely honest. I really felt and believed everything I said. So there you
Forum: Large Group Awareness Training, "Human Potential"

HAI offers a forum for learning about love, intimacy and sexuality which ends up drawing a melting pot of monogamous single folks, intact couples, swingers, celibates, ... Just curious siofra . . . how does HAI teach people about love? What is your definition of love and intimacy? What is HAI's?
Forum: Large Group Awareness Training, "Human Potential"

I just found this old post from Corboy on another thread. It says some things very clearly that I've tried to articulate in other threads about the problems with New Age practices, applying ancient mystical teachings to every day life in the modern world. I think it applies very well to members of LGATs like Landmark, and ten times over to Byron Katie worshippers. From an article on y
Forum: Large Group Awareness Training, "Human Potential"

I just found this old post from Corboy on another thread. It says some things very clearly that I've tried to articulate in other threads about the problems with New Age practices, applying ancient mystical teachings to every day life in the modern world. I think it applies very well to members of LGATs like Landmark, and ten times over to Byron Katie worshippers. From an article on y
Forum: "Cults," Sects, and "New Religious Movements"

I could probably still have some sort of relationship with my ex without him feeling like he had to enroll me in Landmark -- at least I think so. I may be wrong. But I just can't stand to talk to him while he's so engaged in this. It's like he's infected with a virus, and I can't . . . stand it . . . I can't to hear about Landmark, I can't stand to hear how he t
Forum: Large Group Awareness Training, "Human Potential"

Yikes, check out the hypnotic text EXCERPT from the Byron Katie certified facilitator Diane Bradshaw.. Notice how slick it looks and sounds? Just like a conversation. She even buries the 4 Questions slightly, without saying Byron Katie, to draw you in. This reads like advertising copy, but its really a light Trance Induction, just to start to draw you in. Spot the embedded commands...lead
Forum: "Cults," Sects, and "New Religious Movements"

The Byron Katie (The Work) links are crawling with hypnotherapists, hypnotherapy, hypnosis, covert hypnosis... Byron Katie certified facilitator is a Hypnotist: _____________________________________________ Diane Bradshaw Arizona, USA English "My journey as a trainer began in the late 80's with a hunger to learn everything I could about self awareness and healing. For ma
Forum: "Cults," Sects, and "New Religious Movements"

Well I suppose we all could be nicer to the folks we think are trolls, let them know we think they're trolls, and ask them kindly to please stop trolling? I did wonder for moment about Jon Willis contacting JJ privately and saying things to her that seemed different from what he said on this thread. Unless I'm mistaken, I just don't remember him saying anything that seemed he wa
Forum: "Cults," Sects, and "New Religious Movements"

Yeah, I think troll even more specifically in the case of this Board means someone sent from an LGAT specifically to defend it or drive the wedge into the conversation so that people reading the thread who are "on the fence" feel they might "get some value" out of going to a meeting or seminar, and everyone on this Board is just reactionary or "wants" to hate the LGA
Forum: "Cults," Sects, and "New Religious Movements"

Back to the purpose of this thread . . . I think it would be interesting to contact women's groups, rape counselors, incest counselors, etc, and send them clips of BK's twisted approach to dealing with these kinds of serious trauma. Maybe that is one way to build an awareness movement.
Forum: "Cults," Sects, and "New Religious Movements"

Well, it seems JJ had some personal interaction with Jon Willis that made her think he was really getting something out of this board. But I don't recall that at any point he claimed he was having a problem with BK at all, he seemed to really like The Work, he had no gripes. That's why I asked him what he was doing here at all. JJ, on the other hand, has never once appeared to be
Forum: "Cults," Sects, and "New Religious Movements"

I think he deserved to be given a hard time, and I gave it to him too. Being an apologist for the work and knowing what this board is about, he had to have known that he would likely meet with some sort of resistance. Yeah, I hear you. I think the real anger toward him came when it seemed he had been dishonest. That made him look like a text book troll.
Forum: "Cults," Sects, and "New Religious Movements"

To clarify . . . I can see that some defending of a group or person could happen, if someone is still involved and unsure. Again, it's just hard to tell sometimes whether that person is really a troll out to deceive.
Forum: "Cults," Sects, and "New Religious Movements"

Part of the problem is that so many people are in different places regarding their involvement with these groups. Some are still very much involved, others are totally out and recovering, others have recently lost someone to a group and are seething in pain over that, others lost people long ago and are counseling the new folks with pure understanding. It really is difficult to know sometimes
Forum: "Cults," Sects, and "New Religious Movements"

Well, you aren't someone who came here fresh from The Work, are you? I'm so pissed off by now, civility has gone out the window. JJ, You just did the very thing you are accusing us of doing: defending our lack of civility. Looks like you're on the right board after all! That's a joke, a joke. Anyway, I'm not trying to convince you to stay. Nor am I lecturin
Forum: "Cults," Sects, and "New Religious Movements"

JJ, I'm saying all these things to you this morning because I don't want you to leave the board. This board is about real life, which is messy and sometimes ugly and angry. The strongest people are the ones who can face that reality. You are a very intelligent and strong person, and I don't think you need to run away from what's being said here on this board. You can influe
Forum: "Cults," Sects, and "New Religious Movements"

JJ, One of your comments makes me think . . . You say you don't want to hate BK for the rest of your life. A big part of all of these groups, and BK, is how they tell people to deal with feelings of fear, hatred, etc. Obviously, these feelings don't feel good. And of course in the extreme, combined with dysfunction, they can immobilize someone, or ruin their lives. However, as
Forum: "Cults," Sects, and "New Religious Movements"

jj, You seem extremely upset by some of what has been said on this board. Your level of emotion does lead me to believe that perhaps you need to take a break and get some space before deciding to continue taking part here. Though your input has been incredibly valuable, I wouldn't want your participation here to cause you undue stress. Because this is actually not a group in any sense
Forum: "Cults," Sects, and "New Religious Movements"

Also, just reading the words that vlinden posted from the Landmark site about the advanced course I could recall the intoxicating extacy I felt when I was reading about the Advanced Course after I was in the Forum. For me the Advanced Course was almost like having to wait to go on a date with my dream girl and having a happy buzz from a couple of frozen margaritas. What's scary about it is
Forum: Large Group Awareness Training, "Human Potential"

He and I are no longer talking. I've already figured that may well happen, but I don't want to know about it. I know just what you mean by casual acquiantance. Mine was like that too. Have you ever had the experience of having your name be an insult? It's because he never called me by my name, he called me by pet names. So when he picked up the phone and said hello using my n
Forum: Large Group Awareness Training, "Human Potential"

I guess "loving what is" doesn't include loving your saggy skin. But Byron! Does the vase of flowers on the table need a face-lift? It's not afraid of war, and it's not afraid of wrinkles . . . This is of course a reference to her absurd session with the poor Israeli woman that you can watch on You Tube, if you can keep your lunch down, that is. BK attempts to replace
Forum: "Cults," Sects, and "New Religious Movements"

Maybe she dropped acid and read a bunch self-help and Kafka all in one weekend. And in a way, she really WAS transformed into a giant cockroach! Actually, these self help gurus are a lot like those nasty bugs. Sneaky opportunists and hard to get rid of.
Forum: "Cults," Sects, and "New Religious Movements"

EC, God, that truly sucks. Seven years. I don't know about the Irish thing, I'm Jewish and so is my ex, we're both New Yorkers, and I didn't think he'd be so naive and gullible either. It's like falling for a shell game. New Yorker's should know better!
Forum: Large Group Awareness Training, "Human Potential"