'It may be too that recruiting new devotees is a way to wipe the fog from the mirror when doubts arise about the guru.' New salesmen are always sent out to endlessly repeat the sales spiel. It might get some sales but it definitely cements the spiel in the salesman's head. Fake gurus are usually very sharp salesmen and would use such a tactic. BK and every other fake guru uses
Forum: "Cults," Sects, and "New Religious Movements"

'How fascinating that this thread about BYRON KATIE has somehow gotten "turned around" onto me.' Hardly. I have no personal interest in you at all. It was your statement, 'Go for it with all you've got' erroneously attributed to Kassy that I pointed out. I certainly wouldn't waste my time attempting to change your feelings, thoughts, reactions
Forum: "Cults," Sects, and "New Religious Movements"

Information = Power! Information is only ever information. It is what you subsequently do with the information that gives it power or not.
Forum: "Cults," Sects, and "New Religious Movements"

'Quote: Stoic 'If that's what you want for yourself, to be without any story, then go for it with all you've got. But... what if you really go to town with "the work" and in the long run end up going.... crazy? ' There is no suggestion to go for it with all you've got. Incorrect, there most certainly is such a suggestion from Ms. Katie. A quote from
Forum: "Cults," Sects, and "New Religious Movements"

With regard to subjective experience, I would like to make the point that there is a percentage of people who are, for whatever reason, unable to feel empathy with others. They are able to acknowledge feelings in themselves but not accord that same capacity to others. It is estimated that approximately 10% of any given population has this lack. In neuroscience this is seen in the lack of 
Forum: "Cults," Sects, and "New Religious Movements"

'To say that a tantrum is useless is an interesting thought, but one I take issue with' A tantrum is useless in that it is an immature reaction to a situation in which I find myself without power. I might create a lot of noise and diversion with a tantrum but it doesn't get me anywhere. A tantrum serves only to keep me locked into my powerlessness. A more mature response is t
Forum: "Cults," Sects, and "New Religious Movements"

'Now as to cult of personality, I don't know, I'm swayed by the ideas, but I also have reverence for the person who thought them up.' Kassy's explanation of how this questioning of thinking can be beneficial is very clear and helpful. From my own experience I have found that everything, without exception, can be used by me or others either to help or hurt. A knife c
Forum: "Cults," Sects, and "New Religious Movements"

I completely agree with the points raised by Anti-Cult and Corboy in the above posts. And I can also see that you have a justifiable suspicion of me as a newcomer, I might indeed be yet another distractor or a skilled manipulator out deflect attention from the behaviours and practices of Byron Katie. Thats not my point in posting though. I think you are doing a fine job at exposing these tacti
Forum: "Cults," Sects, and "New Religious Movements"

I've been following this thread with fascination as I think you're quite right that Byron Katie is using every trick and technique known to man of covert, coercive persuasion. She is also doing it in such a subtle and seemingly innocuous way that it simply passes under most peoples radar. We'd all prefer to think of her as a kooky, slightly unhinged glamourous grannie than as a
Forum: "Cults," Sects, and "New Religious Movements"

Lubos, I don't know the Kwan Um School or what is taught there, apart from what I have read here and elsewhere on the web. Generally though, the reason for the secrecy is a fear of admitting that the revered teacher might not be all he is cracked up to be. If the revered teacher was empire-building, it is fear of losing the power and empire and all the time and effort that the student
Forum: "Cults," Sects, and "New Religious Movements"

I know I'm going to sound a little like a smart-ass here, but I have a question: In the "transmission" process, is it possible that all the outrageous bullcrap is also transmitted? Crass question or no, I think it's a very logical one. A very logical question. I've been a zen student for several decades, in various schools. Originally it attracted me for
Forum: "Cults," Sects, and "New Religious Movements"