Long before modern methods of narrative trance induction were invented, many people in different parts of the world devised ways to structure social gatherings to ensure fixed and focused attention. Dim lighting, focused on the authority figure, one way communication, confusion, a state of arousal (eagerness to follow the rules, fear of making a mistake and being banished, using unplaceable a
Forum: "Cults," Sects, and "New Religious Movements"

For a compare and contrast on how someone can change from a shy and talented young person into someone who runs a personality driven inner circle, get and read Secret Germany:Stefan George and His Circle by Norton (the surname is pronounced “gay-org-uh”) " This book can feel painful to read. George discovered early that he had homosexual longings, and lived in a place and time wher
Forum: "Cults," Sects, and "New Religious Movements"

A correction. The 'Steiner' who visited Stefan George was not Rudolf Steiner, but a different and younger man. Still, it is of great interest to examine how, at this same time in Europe, there were charismatic artists (or those who thought themselves artists) who were also functioning as both artists but who did this as authoritarian, charismatic gurus, leaders of groups which h
Forum: Large Group Awareness Training, "Human Potential"

Same URL as above\ QuoteHowever, I think that sometimes she just had a snack andwas quite happy with that. She was a child at heart. She passed on her talents to her children. Many Subud members, bothhere and internationally, would have been fortunate to hear her son Lakshman, play and conduct his orchestra.The day she passed away, our Sri Lankan members were requested by our president to do l
Forum: Former Cult Members and Affected Families

Good list. Gold is mostly a scam artist, it is wise to stay away from him in all circumstances. He did make fun of the 4th Way people and their decision to turn Gurdjieff's system into a outright cult full of people who have no sense of humor.
Forum: "Cults," Sects, and "New Religious Movements"

From an online article available here Am listing the names of the various storefront organizations in case anyone crossed paths with them years before. Gold's "Spiritual Schools" Name of Organization Duration Tradition/Theme le Maison Rouge 1963–64 Gurdjieff, shamanism Cowachin 1972 Gestalt therapy Le Jardin Electronique 1972 Biofeedback, sci fi Shakti! the Spi
Forum: "Cults," Sects, and "New Religious Movements"

Update 2012 Fellowship of Friends is Recruiting For more about this organization, read here. There is an extensive archive. You will save time and money and energy. Found a bookmark of theirs on a bulletin board. On one side the bookmark has old fashioned cameo photos in oval frames of Gurdjieff and Ouspensky with "Self Remembering" and a Yin Yang symbol. On the bac
Forum: "Cults," Sects, and "New Religious Movements"

Update 2012 Fellowship of Friends is Recruiting For more about this organization, read here. There is an extensive archive. You will save time and money and energy. Found a bookmark of theirs on a bulletin board. On one side the bookmark has old fashioned cameo photos in oval frames of Gurdjieff and Ouspensky with "Self Remembering" and a Yin Yang symbol. On the back
Forum: "Cults," Sects, and "New Religious Movements"

QuotefrodobagginsDoes anyone know if Serge predicted the Melbourne earthquake? Great post concerned.... you give me a good laugh while addressing such a serious topic. Hi Frodo, I am sure he will claim it as the title of his son's relentlessly boring song goes. I tell you guys if you sit down and read that message, and that was only half of it, your mind boggles at the stupidity and a
Forum: "Cults," Sects, and "New Religious Movements"

I am currently looking for an attorney to help in a cult related matter concerning Sharon Gans. Is anybody aware of any attorneys that would help in a lawsuit involving a cult? Thanks in advance for your help.
Forum: "Cults," Sects, and "New Religious Movements"

I am currently looking for an attorney to help in a cult related matter concerning Sharon Gans. Is anybody aware of any attorneys that would help in a lawsuit involving a cult? Thanks in advance for your help.
Forum: Recovery from Destructive Cults and Groups

"Purgative Primitivism" A discussion of the history of Theosophy. What earlier authors called 'bourgeois soul death', Gurdjieff called 'dying like a dog, and Wilber calls 'boomeritis' or mediocrity, or 'mean-green meme'. Gurdjieff was one of the earliest of the modern 'crazy wise' teachers whose cruel whims were catered to and ration
Forum: "Cults," Sects, and "New Religious Movements"

QuoteIf Serge is no different, greater or more special than any other person as his students always claim, why has nobody else made communication with the Hierarchy? Long-term followers of UM would do well to 'ponder on that'. Hmmm. The history of Theosophy may give a suggestion of what we will see happening down the line. What happened in Theosophy was that various ambitious
Forum: "Cults," Sects, and "New Religious Movements"

For some background, there is a memoir by Joyce Colin - Smith entitled Call No Man Master. J Bennett was a key person. He was involved with Gurdjieff, then with Ouspensky's group in England. He also propagated Subud, because after Ouspensky died, Bennett tried his hand at many different modalities. So because of this social factor and J Bennett's role, there is an overlap between t
Forum: Former Cult Members and Affected Families

Ten Warning Signs of a Potentially Unsafe Group or Leader The implied penalty -- as in "You are free to choose not to follow the Teachings...but." Someone who discussed another group with a different leader wrote this in rebuttal to a devotee. QuoteThere are many traditions that have the same goal of expanded human awareness, connection with the all-powerful, personal gro
Forum: "Cults," Sects, and "New Religious Movements"

hi, i wonder if anyone out there can help me to clarify whether onewholelove could be classified as a new age cult or not. Any background information on Keith Sherwood would also be of use, especially his early years as a Psychic teacher. The present situation: my wife and her sister have been attending mr. sherwood's seminars for the last ten years the aim of which is to reach enligh
Forum: "Cults," Sects, and "New Religious Movements"

For perspective, here is a letter reproduced from a century plus book by Edward Maitland describing how a spiritualist visited Blavatsky in India. That Blavatsky reportedly referred to her own followers as imbeciles and flapdoodles (flapdoodle was also a Blavatskian term for mistake or error' gives me pause. It seems a very edgy balance between affection and contempt, the way some person
Forum: "Cults," Sects, and "New Religious Movements"

The person who is covertly using 'twilight' language and thought while talking with persons sincerely in 'daylight thought' is orchestrating a situation that is already based on with holding and deceit. This alone can set up a subtle and powerful tension. The person or persons sincerely operating in 'daylight' language and thought may sense a vibe or ripple
Forum: "Cults," Sects, and "New Religious Movements"

What makes you think you can't explain it to people? What expectations do you have regarding their reactions? People don't always know how to respond instantly. Sometimes it takes a while for it to sink in. All of us knows how it feels to be stumped and then, three days later think, I wish I had said... Understanding and knowing what to say don't go hand in hand.
Forum: Recovery from Destructive Cults and Groups

Hi, While I can't directly relate to this, I did suffer an anxiety attack and was later traumatized by my experience. What helped in so many ways was therapy with a psychologist who specializes in cults and high-demand groups.
Forum: Recovery from Destructive Cults and Groups

Hi everybody, I was raised in the 'Work' and it has resulted in anxiety attacks and a bad case of Depersonalization/Derealization Disorder that I'm still recovering from. I find it very difficult to deal with everyday life and I can feel the years slipping away while I watch them unable to really step up and be a part of life. Has anyone else experienced this??? Has anyone got p
Forum: Recovery from Destructive Cults and Groups

Hi, seriously? From the very start, I wanted to ask if your husband was Russian. Now we know. This sort of thing has always been big in Russia. Mysticism, the purity of the land, Mother Russia, Siberia as a magical and potentially utopian place, this and more runs deep in the Russian soul. There's such an inner longing for this (that individuals may not even be aware of until something t
Forum: "Cults," Sects, and "New Religious Movements"

walter1963 I believe Gurdjieff was noted for being a "lady's man". This seems to be a common trap that spiritual teachers often fall in to. JG Bennett ,who was a Gurdjieff follower also indulged in this weakness . He was married but he admits in his writings that he got involved with younger women. In some cases I imagine the young women involved would be left damaged and conf
Forum: "Cults," Sects, and "New Religious Movements"

I don't have direct experience with with 4th Way groups but I have read the works of several transpersonal pyschologists who did join them and they flatly stated all the 4th Way groups were rife with various psychopathologies and warned people from joining them. Heck just look at G, he was a authoritarian and role model for later teachers. If people were smart they should have figured
Forum: "Cults," Sects, and "New Religious Movements"

My parents were students of JG Bennett's "Gurdjieff teachings". They attended his centre for several years in the 1950's. In the aftermath of the second world war they were looking at altenative ways of improving themselves. It all went terribly wrong with my father suddenly and mysteriously dying at Bennetts centre in 1957. The circumstances were complicated by the arrival
Forum: "Cults," Sects, and "New Religious Movements"

Small excerpts from a long and very interesting article by Joe Szimart Its worth examining the aesthetic in Ken Wilber and Andrew Cohen's products including the websites and the artists favored by them. QuoteI thought I was into something new, into a cutting edge revelation that required submission first to achieve clarification with deep understanding coming later. In subsequent
Forum: "Cults," Sects, and "New Religious Movements"

Cult 'Ecstatic Experience' as an Unprovable, Enjoyable Aesthetic Response--and Cult Exit and Recovery as Aesthetic Experiences that are Enjoyable, Emancipatory--and the Emancipatory Dimension is What Is Proveable. This essay is fascinating. And.. Exit Counselors who have a connection with art and play will find this a huge help. People may have an ecstatic experience that proves n
Forum: "Cults," Sects, and "New Religious Movements"

A lot of gurus are wannabe artists. Andrew Cohen and Lee Lozowick (deceased) both fancied themselves musicians and had bands. Gurdjieff ran a dance troupe and put de Hartmann a capable and promising composer to work, transcribing Gurdjieff's odd ball music, ending Hartmanns independent career. Sharon Gans and Alex Horn ran a theatre group. Kalindi, leader of Miracle of Love, sang
Forum: "Cults," Sects, and "New Religious Movements"

Quotetruthbheard Just amzing that the members can't see this. Well, not really. I had to do quite a bit of digging to discover those things about Gurdjieff. Gurdjieff is still considered by many deluded and deceived souls as one of the greatest spiritual teachers of the 20th century (God help us…). It was only when I discovered the terms “left hand path” and “right hand path” that I made
Forum: "Cults," Sects, and "New Religious Movements"

'so I found it quite beneficial to learn of Gurdjieff's true character and motives, after I have revered him for so long.' So did you ever dicover his true character and motives, vivian111, and do you still revere him--present tense?
Forum: "Cults," Sects, and "New Religious Movements"