This thread may offer some material that could be a useful framework for some who feel perplexed reconciling good and harmful experiences they have had in relation to a controversial teacher. One Framework for Recovery from Abuse If you derived real and solid benefits from A.H. and his school, , those benefits will remain real for you, no matter what others say about AH. However,
Forum: "Cults," Sects, and "New Religious Movements"

This thread may offer some material that could be a useful framework for some who feel perplexed reconciling good and harmful experiences they have had in relation to a controversial teacher. One Framework for Recovery from Abuse If you derived real and solid benefits from A.H. and his school, which you have acknowledged as possibly dangerous, those benefits will remain real for you, no
Forum: Former Cult Members and Affected Families

The best way to build your confidence is to read the material here about warning signs and indications that a group or relationship is excessively controlling. Study this, then look at this church and the way you see other members living out their lives, jobs, parenting relationships.
Forum: Destructive Churches

this board can provide information. But it appears that what you have may be something that requires professional help, which is beyond the resources of the board. For a referral to a therapist expert in working with cults, try here info@culteducation.com
Forum: Recovery from Destructive Cults and Groups

Lets keep things helpful and courteous.
Forum: Terrorist and Extremist Groups

If you have some information or are looking for information, feel free to share. But these brief, Zen like questions are rather distracting and not helpful on a message board.
Forum: "Cults," Sects, and "New Religious Movements"

This is interesting. It is commonplace for groups and individuals to demonize one particular area of human mis-behavior but indulge in other areas. There are many different ways to be 'a sensualist.' A guru may vigorously condemn sexual acting out, teaching disciples to become obsessed with sexual sin. At the same time, while the leader and disciples are fretting about sexual s
Forum: "Cults," Sects, and "New Religious Movements"

This sounds fascinating. Could you give us some citations to some published material to aid readers who may wish to do further library research? Quote (From above post:) 'They present themselves in the trappings of authentic "Vedic" teachings, but if we examine closely the source works we will find that to be in fact not true. The authentic Vedic or Hindu teachings are not based
Forum: "Cults," Sects, and "New Religious Movements"

Playing this kind of practical joke treats people like objects. It is not humor, but verbal abuse, and anyone who does this routinely has a wounding effect on the community because this behavior undermines the bond of trust without which community cannot function. Genuine humor is in a context of shared respect in which we see each other as persons, never as objects to be toyed with. The
Forum: Large Group Awareness Training, "Human Potential"

The rules state 'The purpose of this forum is not to promote a specific religious or political viewpoint and/or to proselytize. So-called "flames," vitriolic posts that personally attack people, will not be tolerated and are grounds for banning the author from this message board.'
Forum: Large Group Awareness Training, "Human Potential"

'The Awareness Page' 'Pathology as Personal Growth' (small quote from a larger article.) Many of the encounter groups of the human potential movement have been described as regressive because of their disinhibitive effects and their tendency to stress abandonment to strong emotions while disparaging reasoning and intellect (Back 1972, p 79; Schur 1976, pp48-53
Forum: Large Group Awareness Training, "Human Potential"

Forum: "Cults," Sects, and "New Religious Movements"

in which many participants report bliss and peak experiences, they are exercising enormous power. Society has a double standard. If X sells happy powder and enables people to get bliss states or peak experiences without a doctor's prescription, that person risks prosecution for selling illegal drugs. And if anyone suffers bad reactions from ingesting what that person sells, the sufferer
Forum: Large Group Awareness Training, "Human Potential"

contact an attorney outside your workplace who specializes in labor rights. Before you have your first interview, write out a chronology--time, places, dates. Emphasize who, what when where. Magic words are 'hostile workplace environment'. Your attorney could also consult with Mr. Ross.
Forum: Multi Level Marketing and Commercial Schemes

1) If visitors feel they have genuinely benefitted from a Large Group Awareness Training and their transformation genuine, that transformation will require no social validation. Nothing can take it away from us. Genuine transformation frees us up to enjoy relationships without having to prosyletize. And a site like RR.com would not feel upsetting.. 2)There are lots of social venues where
Forum: Large Group Awareness Training, "Human Potential"

I can point people to articles, but am not a professional and dont want to give advice that could delay your consulting a physician. Go to someone and see if they can recommend some stress reduction techniques that can reduce anxiety. Try this first and see if it works before considering other kinds of treatment. Again, this sounds like something that deserves professional attention.
Forum: "Cults," Sects, and "New Religious Movements"

If you want to learn more, there's a terrific book by Brad Warner entitled Hardcore Zen where he makes this very clear. Buddha spoke of attaining freedom from suffering 'In this very body, in this very life.' 'In this very body'--that's the opposite of dissociation. **The way to test any group or spiritual practice is investigate whether it leads to dissocia
Forum: "Cults," Sects, and "New Religious Movements"

The role played by physical environment appears to be important--and it is complex, it cannot be reduced to just one variable. It appears to be a combination of many, many seemingly small interventions all in combination. Robert J. Lifton calls this 'Mileau Control'--control of the physical environment. This discussion thread has some interesting material.
Forum: Large Group Awareness Training, "Human Potential"

in a book entitled Science and Pseudoscience in Clinical Psychology, edited by Lilienfield, Lynn and Lohr, (Guilford Press, 2003) there's a chapter entitled 'Commercializing Mental Health Issues: Entertainment, Advertising and Psychological Advice' by Nona Wilson. Dr. Wilson expresses grave concern and states, '..when psychological expertise and services enter the mass mark
Forum: Large Group Awareness Training, "Human Potential"

Gestalt groups can be very helpful, but it depends on the person leading the group. Even when a group is based on an excellent methodology, it may becomem dysfunctional if the leader starts to isolate from other professionals, neglects continuing education, and only socializes with admirers. This material may help: and
Forum: Clergy and Therapy Abuse

People who get involved with very energizing groups are often passionately loyal to the bliss experiences and feel they must stay close to who ever or whatever provided them. There's a discussion on one of the Google listserves about how to make sense of these 'shaktipat' experiences. (quote) I proceed under the assumption that shakti is a natural energy, neither good o
Forum: Recovery from Destructive Cults and Groups

do some checking about details of the room set up. This thread may have some information that can help get you started.
Forum: Large Group Awareness Training, "Human Potential"

Best way to check out a group is 1) Read material like this on how to selet a growth group: 2) Supplement this by reading the material on this website about Large Group Awareness Trainings (LGATs) 3) After giving yourself some background, do Google searches of both Google itself and the Google listserve groups (click the 'Groups tab) and then run your search. 4) Talk with pe
Forum: Large Group Awareness Training, "Human Potential"

in addition to examining ideas and contents of belief systems, pay attention to the physical setting in which you were exposed to the information, and whether you were able to get sufficient sleep. If your body is thrown off balance by lack of sleep, poor diet, stress, uncomfortable postures, this is going to affect your mind, along with confusion induced by certain belief systems. There a
Forum: Large Group Awareness Training, "Human Potential"

Processes commonly termed 'brainwashing' and 'thought reform' very often include interventions that target subject's body. We have learned to recognize the importance of social interaction and belief systems, but often ignore how people's bodies are treated. The good news is that this component--the body/mechanical portion of the undue influence recipe --can be
Forum: Coercive Persuasion and Undue Influence

The process commonly termed 'brainwashing' and 'thought reform' very often includes interventions that target the subject's body, not just his or her belief system and emotions. We have learned a lot about the importance of social interaction and belief systems in conditions of undue influence, but we do not always investigate the physical conditions in which undue inf
Forum: Large Group Awareness Training, "Human Potential"

It can be hard to tell whether your relative freely chose to leave home to join this group, or would have left home for some other reason even if he or she had never become involved, or whether this group did exert some influence. You'll need to get more information. And, not all shamans or spiritual teachers are alert enough to say to an eager student, 'But where's your family
Forum: "Cults," Sects, and "New Religious Movements"

In the long run, you may not be able to change your friend's mind. But you can do some basic things to take care of yourself. 1) From your description, this relationship sounds serious. If you were thinking of becoming married, this entails financial obligations. If you marry someone who is already emotionally committed to a secretive group that causes her to take substantial time from wo
Forum: Large Group Awareness Training, "Human Potential"

I have no way of knowing whether this is some experiment or not, just threw it out as something to wonder about---simply because these kinds of in-your-face requests are so unusual for a room-mate set up.
Forum: Large Group Awareness Training, "Human Potential"

a four-hour block spent house-cleaning is a major, major time commitment. IMO it would be arrogant for a roomate to ask someone else to do such a thing--unless they offered to pay you. And having to leave the house one evening a week?! Ask yourself if perhaps your roomie could be doing this as an experiment to test you and see how far you can be pushed. Social psychologists have found
Forum: Large Group Awareness Training, "Human Potential"