A gem: Ever notice how those recovering from abuse, whether from rogue gurus or bad relationships are constantly scolded for showing the slightest trace of anger? And often, one need not even do that. You can write a logical refutation of some trolls disruptive behavior and be told, 'I dont understand why what I wrote bothers you.' Feh. In abusive relationships its the a
Forum: "Cults," Sects, and "New Religious Movements"

'The worst part for me isn't the actual words, it is that this person who claims to love me, my husband, is trying make me feel bad, whether I accept his assessment of me or not. "You could be a fashion model with a genuis IQ and still be hurt, not because you believe the words, but because your husband spoke them, and tried to make you feel "less than". But..if i
Forum: "Cults," Sects, and "New Religious Movements"

Thank you for finding this for us! Take a peek at an earlier chapter from the same blog. "One of the main concepts of the book is: "You, and only you, create all of your feelings" (the book referred to is "The Secret of Overcoming Verbal Abuse" by Albert Ellis and Marcia Grad Powers. The author states the book can be of use but states there is an important area
Forum: "Cults," Sects, and "New Religious Movements"

All these guidelines that licensed healers are answerable to are in place because part of professionalism means acknowleging the possiblity that one can err or even harm clients and that a framework of accountability--and restitution-- must be put in place for the benefit of clients who feel it is necessary to report harm. Once an LCSW, MFT, MSW, Ph.D, M.D or Psy.D has a license number, that
Forum: "Cults," Sects, and "New Religious Movements"

Earlier discussions on this thread concerning legal and ethical guidelines that licensed therapists are answerable to: Exactly, if one doesnt have a license to practice psychotherapy, there is no place to go to and register a complaint if one feels harmed--and no way to do research and see if the person has a track record of previous mishaps. But one can do such searches when ponderin
Forum: "Cults," Sects, and "New Religious Movements"

We have figured csp out. So, someone else has arrived to play dodgeball. "I'm wary of the LGAT that The School has become, sure, but I think it ridiculous that only licensed psychologists should be allowed to speak to someone who is stressed out -- or even in true psychiatric crisis.' That whole sentence is enough to give someone mental whiplash--its a logical snarl.
Forum: "Cults," Sects, and "New Religious Movements"

Sigh. You are dead on. Years ago, a professor at one of the seminaries in Berkeley California, told us how we had to watch out for what she called 'Berkeley bias'--that knee jerk condescension in relation to persons who did not happen share our liberal bias. W.B Yeats wrote a lovely poem that ends with the refrain,'Walk softly, for you walk on my dreams.' Ever the more
Forum: Destructive Churches

The tone is snarky, yes. But the author was trying to convey the demographic--the social catagories of persons likely to participate in an event of this type...and empower pastors such as Hagee. He was far more ocncerned about the effect that the entire weekend has on some very vulnerable people. And the political implications if large numbers sacrifice critical thinking and buy into a beli
Forum: Destructive Churches

Ha. If you are prescribed an antidepressant, you are given a package insert that lists all the known side effects, something you do NOT receive when urged to do an LGAT. And if you're lucky enough to be covered by insurance or an HMO, before you walk out with your antidepressant prescription, you are sent to the pharmacist who tells you how to take the drug properly and what side effects
Forum: Large Group Awareness Training, "Human Potential"

Go to this section of another discussion thread and scroll down. There are some articles describing issues around sleep deprivation. One can feel alert, yet be sleep deprived. And if anyone has a tendency toward ADD or bipolar, sleep deprivation can be seriously destabilizing. One can also do a search of RR.com message board on 'all dates' and put 'bipolar' into the
Forum: Large Group Awareness Training, "Human Potential"

Read this article, entitled 'Jesus Made Me Puke' from the May 2008 issue of Rolling Stone magazine. It mentions Hagee.
Forum: Destructive Churches

Keep It in Your Pants Now that we have your undivided attention: Anticult wrote: "Tolle can talk, but not you?" It is also a way to create power imbalance, foster projections and induce craving. Look at all the authority set ups where one person does the talking and the rest of us shut up. The question to ask , is Cicero's old classic: 'Cui bono'? --
Forum: "Cults," Sects, and "New Religious Movements"

Forum: Clergy and Therapy Abuse

Readers are invited to check the discussion on Tolle/Advaita on the in the 'Recovery' section, especially the part of the discussion that begins here on May 4th or so. Dont let your energies or attention get drained or diverted.
Forum: "Cults," Sects, and "New Religious Movements"

The nature of the 'spiritual teacher'/'disciple' dyad makes impossible to do any sort of scientific examination to see if the teacher's claims are true or actually help people. John Wren-Lewis was a scientist and found himself in a state nondual realization as a result of a medical crisis. He wrote an article entitled Lotus Feet of Clay Wren-Lewis contended
Forum: Recovery from Destructive Cults and Groups

A report by one person who attended a Tolle event in Los Angeles in 2003. (If you scroll up, there is a description of a Byron K event, too).
Forum: Recovery from Destructive Cults and Groups

Regarding religion or meditation, it makes no difference whether a practitioner is a scientist, a mental health professional or an employee at a temp agency. A practitioner's social class, titles, or occupation should be irrelevant if he or she claims to have benefitted from a teaching that is supposed to transcend ego. For it is ego that is concerned with social class, titles, and pre
Forum: Recovery from Destructive Cults and Groups

You cant market yourself as ET has all these years unless you have a well developed ego. Remember, oodles of people WANT to get involved with Ophrah. A spot on her show is worth millions in terms of instant crediblity, media exposure...tons of people want to be discovered by her. Her office must be bombarded by constant pleas from various persons on-the-make. No one gets into a busines
Forum: "Cults," Sects, and "New Religious Movements"

There is a method of mindfulness practice that has been developed and researched by professionals who have submitted it for research: Professor John Kabat-Zinn's bibiliography and academic qualifications are given here. If someone is a mental health professional, they are accountable for the safety of their clients. If a mental health professional recommends somoeone or something a
Forum: Recovery from Destructive Cults and Groups

"However, if you look at what is actually here you will discover that even these thoughts only happen now. In fact, all life—all action—only happens now." Quoted from (C muses): What happens now was made possible by a chain of cause-and-effect that goes back into the past. There are disputes about where the chain of cause and effect started, but that is another topic. altogeth
Forum: "Cults," Sects, and "New Religious Movements"

This was written as part of a training module for psychiatric residents. The reader is invited to extrapolate this to other human potential/spiritual projects. Bold text and italics are not in original text but are supplied for emphasis) [209.85.173.104] (Printed in normal test as a Word document this runs to a full 8 pages. Here are a few excerpts) Professional relationships are both
Forum: Clergy and Therapy Abuse

The one here, and a 20 plus page discussion thread in the Large Groups section of the message board. Each thread contains some information not available in the other, so both should to be read together by those who are interested.
Forum: "Cults," Sects, and "New Religious Movements"

To assist new visitors, in addition to this thread, there is a second thread in the New Religions section on this same topic. It is currently 44 pages long. Both BK threads should be read together as each thread contains information not available in the other.
Forum: Large Group Awareness Training, "Human Potential"

How about when someone talks about 'tricky ego' or 'pain body' smile and say, 'They're making a toll call. Toll calls are expensive if they are too many or last too long.' 'Pain body.' What happens when Tolle goes to the dentist? Does this mean he has dropped his own 'pain body' and can do without novocaine? The cost of too many &#
Forum: "Cults," Sects, and "New Religious Movements"

Hmm. Going back to the bathroom incident, it now seems muddled who instigated what. But..even if it was the disciple who initiated physical contact with BK, remember what Dr Epstein says regarding an attempt by a patient to instigate physical contact. The therapist is advised to cool things down as quickly as possible: 'I can tell that you are having strong feelings about wanting to b
Forum: "Cults," Sects, and "New Religious Movements"

From the Wikipedia article as mentioned by Anticult: "Any habitual pattern which is interrupted unexpectedly will cause sudden and light trance. "The handshake is a particularly good pattern to interrupt because the formality of a handshake is a widely understood set of social rules. "Since everyone knows that it would be impolite to comment on the quality of a handshake
Forum: "Cults," Sects, and "New Religious Movements"

Continuing Education Module Under the subheading 'Indicated Forms of Physical and Emotional Involvement' Richard S. Epstein MD writes: ''A handshake is a generally accepted form of greeting and leave-taking in many cultures. Individuals raised in the United States wil often extend a handshake the the first meeting with a therapist but not thereafter. In contrast, patient
Forum: "Cults," Sects, and "New Religious Movements"

Additional items worth reading and yet another version of this evasion trick--someone has termed it, 'playing the three cards.' (quote) They play three very simple cards, which can not, NO MATTER WHAT, be trumped. What's remarkable is that Wilber and his groupies now play those same exact three cards, which are: (1) The Higher Level Card (i.e. Sorry, it'
Forum: Recovery from Destructive Cults and Groups

Agehananda Bharati, an Austrian born scholar who later become both a Hindu monk and a professor of philosophy and anthropology actually studied nondualism, both personally, for he had experienced what he termed 'zero-states' and interviewed many others who had experienced these states. He had also studied the genuine advaita philosophies, and did this in the 1940s and 1950s, before w
Forum: Recovery from Destructive Cults and Groups

Here is a possible example from the life of a guru named Da Free John (currently Adi Da Samiraj) of how the salesman's 'credibility test' as described by AntiCult might have been applied in a social setting. The social setting was not tightly scripted, as is the case for an LGAT, but was a residential community ('Persimmon') where priviliged members were invited to work
Forum: "Cults," Sects, and "New Religious Movements"