Adi Da gives me the CREEPS! I somehow got on their mailing list, and i often get these catalouges of stuff to buy. All i can see is his big fat gut hanging out, and him sitting there faking being a fakir. That guy is scary! Sometimes these guru's followers sort of "fake" things around their death too. They say they consciously CHOSE to leave their body, and come up with so
Forum: "Cults," Sects, and "New Religious Movements"

Hi Elena: What is interesting with those two ideas, is that they have a grain of "truth" to them. According to some legit theories, our brain does "construct" a representation of "reality", and this is what we really are experiencing. (Constructivism) BUT, with some of the further refinements of these ideas, as you point out, it crosses the line into something
Forum: Large Group Awareness Training, "Human Potential"

It would be very useful and interesting to compile a comprehensive list of "Core Beliefs" or "Schemas" that are installed when people attend a Landmark seminar. Core Beliefs can be considered synonymous with Memes, or Ideas. A good way to organize Core Beliefs, are about SELF, OTHERS, and WORLD/LIFE. Now, according to some random reading i have done here, some of the ne
Forum: Large Group Awareness Training, "Human Potential"

Thx for the Maharishi link! The story gets really juicy around this part!
Forum: Large Group Awareness Training, "Human Potential"

Lil. I will tell you my opinion. I went to the Landmark intro sessions, and i spoke up, and pointed out the errors made by the "Leader", and got into a big argument, and all the rest. And it never affected me at all. What this leader was trying to do is MANIPULATE you. She was running a TECHNIQUE on you. I call it "Landmarking". People i knew who got into Landmar
Forum: Large Group Awareness Training, "Human Potential"

Wow, it looks like that maniac is selling one CD for each level of meditation, or something! What a total utter complete SCAM. The nerve and greed of these people is really beyond me. Its just unbelievable. Some people will tell any lie to make boatloads of money. More economic sociopaths on the warpath. Selling Snake-oil! The worlds second oldest profession. Wouldn't it be nice
Forum: Large Group Awareness Training, "Human Potential"

I used the link you gave in another thread. This is simply just another scamola, promising you the world, for no effort. Just give him a couple hundred dollars, and using the Holosync Audio Scamology, you will become a Zen Master, and a genius overnight. Its a miracle of technology, and it will synchronize your brain hemispheres!!!! Its just another snake-oil miracle cure. I am sure
Forum: Large Group Awareness Training, "Human Potential"

Carl Sagan's book, THE DEMON HAUNTED WORLD literally changed my life. That is the book where the Baloney Detection Kit came out of. You can get this book in paperback from a second-hand bookstore for a few dollars. Using the Thinking Tools in that book can save us from the morass of metaphysics, the perils of pseudoscience, and the madness of cultic trickery. That book is a ma
Forum: Large Group Awareness Training, "Human Potential"

A good book is TRAUMA and RECOVERY by Judith Lewis Herman. This is explains why we sometimes "forget" certain memories. We "banish them from consciousness" as they are too painful. Just stay away from Hypnosis, and "suggestion" and all the rest. They can contaminate, and even create "memories". Also, here is a good general self help FREE book.
Forum: Recovery from Destructive Cults and Groups

Here is some more info on Depersonalization Disorder.
Forum: Large Group Awareness Training, "Human Potential"

There are some "good" things in NLP, in my experience. I have done some courses with Richard Bandler, and he is a crazy beast, but he had SOME valuable things to say, in my opinion. BUT, the NLP "field" is full of charlatans, and "get rich quick" types of people, who make HUGE CLAIMS so that they can charge HUGE PRICES. Tony Robbins was one of the first NLPers to
Forum: Large Group Awareness Training, "Human Potential"

I am not trying to distract from the purpose of this thread, but i feel the responsibility to make one last point, for the purpose of clarity. In my view, we need to be careful when it comes to Cognitive symptoms. Why? Because our Cognitions (thoughts) ABOUT our Cognitive symptoms, affect the original cognitive symptoms. Our Metacognition, affects the original cognitions. How we think ab
Forum: Large Group Awareness Training, "Human Potential"

I am glad that Gremlin/Aaron made the name error, as evidenced in this thread. That is why i copied it as a quote, so he can't delete it. If there are any folks who read these threads to find out the Truth about Landmark, THAT IS ALL YOU NEED TO KNOW. Look at the bad faith, and the deliberate conscious deception. Blatant LIES. What kind of Values/Ethics would a person have to have
Forum: Large Group Awareness Training, "Human Potential"

Coz is quite happy, all things considered. If you want to be happy, try reading Bertrand Russell's "The Conquest Of Happiness". or, Authentic Happiness, by Martin Seligman Coz (I'm happy because the Cultists can kiss my ass!) :)
Forum: Large Group Awareness Training, "Human Potential"

smooth move, Gremlin/Aaron!!! Quotegremlinuk Although the previous contestants and talkers may appear pushy, its because they really want you to do the course. I understand they may be too pushy, but i've been advising everyone i know to do it, because it is the most amazing life changing "self realisation" experience i have ever taken hold of. There is no cult about the land
Forum: Large Group Awareness Training, "Human Potential"

People should NOT do the forum. They don't need some rip-off pitch about "Self-Realization". Its a scam. Its a trick. Its Post-modern Nihilism. You want personal growth? Take a university philosophy course. The Great Thinkers of history have thought all this stuff through. You want personal growth? Study every word in this FREE online book. People do not need all
Forum: Large Group Awareness Training, "Human Potential"

What i have learned, and am still learning, is that these LGAT seminar leaders play to people weaknesses. Some people have Narcissistic, Grandiouse, and Vain tendencies. Some people also have Obsessive traits, and an extreme desire to ACHIEVE to be Recognized, etc. They want to be RICH and SUCCESSFUL and be a BIG SHOT. These are the folks these Seminar leaders often get a hold of. They sell
Forum: Large Group Awareness Training, "Human Potential"

Look, i am not looking for an argument. I am just giving my opinion. If you don't like it, that is fine with me. Just to summarize. Have you ever read Victor Frankl's "Man's Search For Meaning"? This is about how to THINK about being inside a Nazi camp, and the MEANING the person gives to it. So yes, it matters how we think about trauma and the meaning we ascribe t
Forum: Large Group Awareness Training, "Human Potential"

Hope, i don't know anything about your particular situation, these are just my general thoughts. The world is full of conmen, sociopaths, abusers, etc. Up to 10% of the population have some sort of quite serious mental disorder. I think 1% are sociopaths? I myself was abused as a child by my father. Now, all i can do NOW is to transform what is going on inside my own brain and emotion
Forum: Large Group Awareness Training, "Human Potential"

Which schools of therapy, methods, techniques, books, etc, have people found helpful in their Recovery from these groups? Perhaps, over time, we can have a mega-thread, just briefly outlining all of the different techniques that have been helpful to people? This way, people can look into things themselves, and find out what works for them. For me, just to get the ball rolling, I have found
Forum: Recovery from Destructive Cults and Groups

Good point. Some therapists SAY they do Cognitive Therapy, or CBT, or REBT, but what they REALLY are doing, is mixing in a bunch of their own stuff unconsciously, and many times making a big mess out of CBT! I hope you can find someone you feel comfortable with, and can get some good results with. I have never been a "victim" of a cult. The worst for me was getting all wrappe
Forum: Large Group Awareness Training, "Human Potential"

For personal psychological healing and growth, i would recommend Cognitive Behavioral Therapy. CBT. Its a process of examining your Thoughts, Emotions, Behaviors, and Core Beliefs. If you are having such severe cognitive difficulties, PLEASE find a GOOD psychological expert to help reach a diagnosis, and formulate a treatment plan. You never know, you could have other physical problems that a
Forum: Large Group Awareness Training, "Human Potential"

For an alleged graphic design company, that is one of the WORST designed websites i have ever seen!! There is no Landmark link there anymore. Document your hours, sue him in small claims court before he goes broke. Quit ASAP. Coz
Forum: Coercive Persuasion and Undue Influence

The very fact that your post is allowed on this web-board answers your questions! By the way, if you want to start a Flame-War, its better to be more subtle. The name "Rude Dawg" sorta gives it away! Coz QuoteRude Dawg I have read a lot of these threads and wot i would like to know is this: wot qualifications does Rick Ross have as a cult expert? does he have a criminal
Forum: Large Group Awareness Training, "Human Potential"

Histrionic Personality Disorder Diagnostic Criteria A pervasive pattern of excessive emotionality and attention seeking, beginning by early adulthood and present in a variety of contexts, as indicated by five (or more) of the following: 1) is uncomfortable in situations in which he or she is not the center of attention 2) interaction with others is often characterized by inappropriate
Forum: Celebrities associated with "cult-like" groups

Quotesurfer2 Quote Quite the contrary, Kabbalah has been around for thousands of years - a section of Judaism. Judaism is the oldest religion of the western world. Hardly "New-age"..And phony? I personally dont see how you can comment. I think many of you are being highly critical of some decent down to earth work on Madonna's part. If she has stated that the money will go
Forum: Celebrities associated with "cult-like" groups

Also, there are people with a number of different types of mental illness, who ACTUALLY believe, and literally "see" those types of delusions. Life is hell for these people. Coz
Forum: "Cults," Sects, and "New Religious Movements"

I had a group of friends/colleagues who got into Landmark years ago. One guy WAS a really good guy, i did many projects with him over many years. Then he got into Landmark (The Forum), along with a few others I knew, and he began asking me ALL THE TIME to go to The Forum, and he also became extremely obnoxious, trying to point out all my psychological flaws, and basically doing the "Landma
Forum: Large Group Awareness Training, "Human Potential"

This is just my opinion, and nothing more. Its great to try and "help" people in life, but sometimes you have to "cut your losses". We cannot control other people. If all that were happening to me, my first thought would be... I cannot control other people. Also, other people cannot control my emotions and life experiences. That is up to me, to manage my own thinking.
Forum: Large Group Awareness Training, "Human Potential"

By the way, i just read Madonna's childrens book in the bookstore, it only takes 5 minutes. Its a horrible story. There are no discernable characters, and its basically a story about a girl "who is the prettiest and most special girl around" (Madonna), but really the little girl is very unhappy on the inside, and everyone is JEALOUS of her, and that is why they are so mean to her
Forum: Celebrities associated with "cult-like" groups