caution: Ken Wilber appears to endorse this book. Learn from the book but avoid any teacher endorsed by Wilber. He has already endorsed Da Free John, Andrew Cohen, Genpo Roshi (Big Mind) and Marc Gafni
Forum: "Cults," Sects, and "New Religious Movements"

caution: Ken Wilber appears to endorse this book. Learn from the book but avoid any teacher endorsed by Wilber. He has already endorsed Da Free John, Andrew Cohen, Genpo Roshi (Big Mind) and Marc Gafni
Forum: "Cults," Sects, and "New Religious Movements"

caution: Ken Wilber appears to endorse this book. Learn from the book but avoid any teacher endorsed by Wilber. He has already endorsed Da Free John, Andrew Cohen, Genpo Roshi (Big Mind) and Marc Gafni
Forum: "Cults," Sects, and "New Religious Movements"

caution: Ken Wilber appears to endorse this book. Learn from the book but avoid any teacher endorsed by Wilber. He has already endorsed Da Free John, Andrew Cohen, Genpo Roshi (Big Mind) and Marc Gafni
Forum: "Cults," Sects, and "New Religious Movements"

From a very kick ass website, here is an essay written by a person into polyamory who discusses the ethics involved. The other articles are worth a look, too. Again, there is nothing wrong with poly. There is nothing wrong with being a vanilla monogamous type, either. And the preferences of less adventurous participants must be treated with just as much respect as those who do want to
Forum: Large Group Awareness Training, "Human Potential"

On the current home page for AT, Ken Wilber is listed (with a portrait photo) as endorsing Circling. A thoughtful essay on the Integral social scene which derives its theory and inspiration from Ken Wilber and the teachers whom he endorses The author of this blog makes a very important point QuoteHowever, there is a certain irony to this prescription for enlightenment. (read bel
Forum: Large Group Awareness Training, "Human Potential"

Quoted from Be Scofield's article QuoteIs it wrong to call out Cohen’s enablers? Is it wrong to expect them to break the silence on Cohen’s legacy of abuse, manipulation and cultish behaviors? In the face of the sadistic acts of Cohen isn’t it problematic when Wilber says “Cohen is here to tear you into a thousand pieces?” What about accountability? Responsibility? Ethics? I woul
Forum: "Cults," Sects, and "New Religious Movements"

QuoteCorboy"There are business pay offs. But its possible to run a business, even an LA entertainment firm, without quite the kind of drama being re-enacted here." Drama comes from the feeling of importance. The person is important, or the issue is important, or both are important. Regarding Gafni, Ken concluded that the Gafni is important, the issue (sex with students) is unimportant
Forum: "Cults," Sects, and "New Religious Movements"

Corboy, There's always a danger in analysing the motives of others because there are so many possible interpretations. Nevertheless, that was an interesting read. Quote"His endorsed gurus (Adi Da, Andrew Cohen, etc) not only fail to embody Wilbers system, but have trouble behaving decently and can only function in rarified social settings with entourages that parent them and prote
Forum: "Cults," Sects, and "New Religious Movements"

A Citizens First Amendment Speculation Is Wilberian Integralism a Ritualized Drama? I suggest that anyone who gets involved with Wilberian Integralism is getting involved with very much more than an intellectual model. Its a way of life, but not in the way Wilber and his promoters say it is. The chronic debates that erupt year after year when yet another guru scandal comes to ligh
Forum: "Cults," Sects, and "New Religious Movements"

"Most... stagger away from abusive situations not even able to afford health coverage..." Yep. Those who commit to some leader's program make the biggest sacrifices, yet it is the leader who is lauded as a hero. Meanwhile, the leader is thoroughly supported and free to pursue his interests and hobbies. The leader blathers on about ideals and sacrifice, but the elephant in the ro
Forum: "Cults," Sects, and "New Religious Movements"

Ken Wilber took time off to deliberate on the recent Marc Gafni sex scandal. He has now written in support of Gafni, saying that Gafni's recent move to see a therapist "makes him an even more gifted teacher": The Center for World Spirituality has also given Gafni "unequivocal support": Another Integralist, Joe Perez calls for closure: Gafni himself ha
Forum: "Cults," Sects, and "New Religious Movements"

Language Games QuoteThe last point of major concern for me was that the Rabbi’s past was littered with accusations of sexual misconduct. The Rabbi mostly denied that the stories were true and tried to discredit them by defaming the people that told these stories. On a few occasions, the Rabbi was unable to counter the claims and admitted to his wrong doings, though shifted the blame to the vic
Forum: "Cults," Sects, and "New Religious Movements"

Tikkun - Zvi Bellin Recounts His Experience as Marc Gafni's Student in Israel ---------- In my efforts to bring awareness to the integral community of the dangers Marc Gafni poses, I have often tried to include men in the discussion as well - the issue as I see it is not about sex, it is about power and control. The women who have related their stories to me have made this point, as w
Forum: "Cults," Sects, and "New Religious Movements"

Marc Gafni, one of the Wilber endorsed gurus --------------- “Asseh Lecha Rav”: A Journey Through Clergy Abuseby: Zvi Bellin on December 13th, 2011 | 10 Comments »Several years ago I thought I met the Rabbi of my dreams. He identified as Orthodox and also purported a deep spiritual life. He appeared warm and accepting and he seemed to understand my struggle to figure out how I can blend J
Forum: "Cults," Sects, and "New Religious Movements"

Disciples and Lovers Andrew Cohen's wife is also his (Cohen's) disciple as far as I know (not totally sure). So how does that work? Does he give her special treatment? Maybe they divide the day up: "You're my disciple from 9-5 Monday to Friday, but you're my wife outside of those hours." But can that work? Surely he would continue to scold her when she's off
Forum: "Cults," Sects, and "New Religious Movements"

Here's a brief post I wrote for my own blog: Ken Wilber endorses violent gurus and protects gurus in trouble Ken Wilber is the intellectual of the spiritual scene. Yet, strangely, he endorses violent gurus and protects gurus in trouble. Andrew Cohen is a cult leader who slaps his male disciples and dunks his female disciples in cold lakes, and here's Ken Wilber's enthusiastic
Forum: "Cults," Sects, and "New Religious Movements"

Note, by 'Ken' I referred to Ken Wilber, who has made an industry out of defending troubled gurus such as Adi Da(Da Free John) Chogyan Trungpa, Andrew Cohen, Marc Gafni. However, this is no different from the efforts needed to justify the behavior of Sogyal, Ole Nydhal and others in this very sorry brigade. It takes a vast effort to find pathos in a serial user of student's
Forum: "Cults," Sects, and "New Religious Movements"

"The guardians of the inner circle were thus the only ones who knew the full picture of what was going on. This gave them an incredible feeling of power and responsibility" Disciple of Adi Da, another guru who pursued female disciples and needed enablers. If someone has pure view, he would be having sex with everyone, old, young, homely attractive, rich, poor, all species, because
Forum: "Cults," Sects, and "New Religious Movements"

The current version can be read here
Forum: "Cults," Sects, and "New Religious Movements"

Go here and identify the areas of 'Devotional Enabling' and 'Betrayal Bonding' An earlier post from Integral Options Cafe, last year. Bill Harryman, who runs Integral Options Cafe blog, had agreed to close comment discussion of Marc Gafni while the 2010 Integral Life Conferance was in session. After the conference was over, Bill re-opened the comments. And he stated this
Forum: "Cults," Sects, and "New Religious Movements"

Tuesday, September 13, 2011Robb Smith's Response to the Marc Gafni Situation Robb Smith is the CEO of Integral Life, he was one of the small group of people who chose to believe Marc Gafni's retelling of the events that occurred in Israel in 2006 (along with Diane Hamilton, Sally Kempton, and Clint Fuhs) - and in Gafni's version he was the victim, not the students and co-
Forum: "Cults," Sects, and "New Religious Movements"

Devotional Enabling--A badge of Superior Evolutionary Attainment? "To them, telling the truth would have been the easy way out, and they even looked down on me when I advocated telling the truth, as if I were just not advanced enough to understand the subtleties of the art of devotional lying. " An honorable, honest guru needs no enablers. Only a dishonest and abusive guru nee
Forum: "Cults," Sects, and "New Religious Movements"

To repeat, KW tells us to "But going through each relationship carefully, and breaking it down into each of these issues and risk factors, and then deciding in each case whether the situation was right or wrong in regard to that particular issue, is the only way each of us can proceed." Mental health professionals do the opposite. They do look at each relationship carefully, but they
Forum: "Cults," Sects, and "New Religious Movements"

Ken Wilber wrote: QuoteBut going through each relationship carefully, and breaking it down into each of these issues and risk factors, and then deciding in each case whether the situation was right or wrong in regard to that particular issue, is the only way each of us can proceed. This demands the very best of each of us—we must reach for our own very highest capacity for spiritual discernmen
Forum: "Cults," Sects, and "New Religious Movements"

About Marc Gafni, Ken Wilber wrote: But going through each relationship carefully, and breaking it down into each of these issues and risk factors, and then deciding in each case whether the situation was right or wrong in regard to that particular issue, is the only way each of us can proceed. This demands the very best of each of us—we must reach for our own very highest capacity for spiritu
Forum: "Cults," Sects, and "New Religious Movements"

Another commenter noted this: "said... Anonymous at 5:11 - I know, it is hard to put your finger on it. The manipulation is subtle. I am not a professional like freedomofmind, but I can tell you my observations of him when he participated in the TEDx talks recently. My first thought was that it was interesting that he chooses to use a handheld microphone. Most speakers prefer to u
Forum: "Cults," Sects, and "New Religious Movements"

The article from Integral Options covers a lot of ground and has URLs from prior discussions. Marc Gafni is the third troubled spiritual leader endorsed by Ken Wilber, (Adi Da, Andrew Cohen, Gafni)--and if one lists Genpo Roshi, the list now extends to four. This calls Ken Wilber's discernment into question. Monday, September 12, 2011BREAKING: Marc Gafni's Sexual Impropriety R
Forum: "Cults," Sects, and "New Religious Movements"

(quote) News, notes, and links to relevant articles, which will be updated periodically. Contributions of relevant materials welcome, please send email to americanguru@ymail.com 10/28/11 Visitation from the Unknown on BuddhaGeek. A hot discussion on the merits of Andrew Cohen’s philo
Forum: "Cults," Sects, and "New Religious Movements"

Another term for mythomaniac--fantasist QuoteBloghead "No man but a block(g)head ever wrote, except for money" -- Dr. Johnson Tuesday, October 05, 2004 Fantasists I have known Protocols is checking out info on Marc Gafni / Winiarz, and has some emails regarding his claimed Oxford credentials. "Always check the references" is sound advice, together with &qu
Forum: Large Group Awareness Training, "Human Potential"