WHAT enlightenment??!

From Rude Boy to Nice Guy?

2012-01-24T16:44:00.000-08:00

Dear Readers,There appears to be a curious online trend occurring with Andrew Cohen and his cohorts at EnlightenNext. Here at WhatEnlightenment??! we have observed with interest the following events:First, Andrew’s infamous "Declaration of Integrity" (reposted here), his bombastic and scathing blog rant from 2006 against his critical ex-students has quietly disappeared from his own blog.

Welcome to What Enlightenment??!

2011-01-28T08:36:00.000-08:00

A Guide to the Facts and First-hand Experiences of Former Students of American Guru, Andrew Cohen.An active blog from 2004 - 2007, What Enlightenment?!! is now closed for commenting, but remains as a resource for factual information. It is periodically re-opened and updated whenever new, relevant information is brought to light.If this is your first visit to this site, it would be useful begin

Birth of a Tragedy: Andrew Cohen, Joel Snider and the Sad Death of Sudharman

2010-07-14T14:33:00.000-07:00

What Enlightenment??! has received a document, reproduced below, that provides an important piece in the bizarre and shocking puzzle of the recent threatened assassination of “evolutionary enlightenment” teacher Andrew Cohen and the sad and tragic alleged murder last week of Integral Yoga Center director and teacher Sudharman by suspect Joel Snider. On July 5, 2010,

The Truth Will Set You Free

2009-04-22T23:29:00.073-07:00

IntroductionIn June of last year, the editors of this blog were contacted by Yonatan Levy, a contributor to the Israeli online journal NRG-Ma’ariv, for an article he intended to produce on Andrew Cohen and Cohen’s organization, EnlightenNext. Levy had sought an interview with Cohen himself, specifically in order to seek a balanced perspective on the allegations against Cohen previously published

A Farewell With Deep Gratitude

2007-04-16T21:58:00.000-07:00

by Hal BlackerMore than two years ago I decided to write publicly about what I felt had gone seriously wrong with Andrew Z. Cohen's teaching methods and his community. I had received disturbing reports from other former students that eventually compelled me to speak out. I wrote then:…A few years ago I began to learn of things that caused me great concern. An old friend who I worked with on What

Deja Vu All Over Again

2007-04-14T10:23:00.000-07:00

By AnonymousI came across this blog surfing on various spiritual topics. I recently met a creative (and quite successful) entertainer who told me he lives in Andrew's Community. I later recognized Cohen's name from the "What Is Enlightment?" magazine I'd see on the stands.I once belonged to a major meditation sect for nearly a decade, living and working in their largest US community for several

Andrew's Ever-Changing FACE*

2007-03-05T19:39:00.000-08:00

We received this submission from an anonymous former student of Andrew Cohen, who, having recently left Andrew's tutelage, goes by the name of freeEvolutionary. He seems to have his finger on the pulse of current changes being made in Andrew Cohen's organization and public presentation:A large part of Andrew's appeal is that he is addressing some of the deepest concerns and yearnings of people

Andrew Cohen and Donations Under Duress

2006-12-21T09:42:00.000-08:00

By Jane O’Neil[Editors' Note: This is Jane O'Neil's second feature article on the What Enlightenment??! blog. Her first article was "Andrew Cohen and the Corruption of Power."]Simeon Alev's article, "A Revolution in Finance," is a brilliant and articulate analysis of Andrew Cohen's financial wrongdoing, and a call to action that I sincerely hope Andrew and his students will take to heart. In

Our Readers Are the Bomb!

2006-12-20T12:45:00.000-08:00

[Editors' Note: We just received this comment that we thought was so uplifting and fitting for the holiday season, that we thought we'd feature it. You folks are great and we want you to know you shine so bright that people everywhere can see it.]The collective dignity of Cohen's students is indeed the most impressive thing that emerges from these pages like sunlight breaking from dark

A Revolution in Finance

2006-12-15T07:02:00.000-08:00

By Simeon Alev[Editors' Introduction: The following piece is by a former Andrew Cohen student and editor of What Is Enlightenment? magazine. This is Simeon's third contribution to the What Enlightenment??! blog. His previous articles are "A Response to Andrew Cohen's 'Declaration of Integrity'", part 1 and part 2.] I was very moved by Jane O’Neil’s post, and would like to follow up with some

Andrew Cohen and the Corruption of Power

2006-12-06T19:52:00.000-08:00

By Jane O'Neil[Editor's Introduction: The author of this piece, Jane O'Neil, is a former close student of Andrew Cohen. It was her devotion to him and her contribution of $2 Million that made possible the purchase of Foxhollow, Cohen's residence and the headquarters of EnlightenNext in Lenox, Massachusetts. After she left the group, Andrew Cohen betrayed his promise to her to keep her

Part 2 – A Response To Andrew Cohen's "Declaration of Integrity"

2006-11-07T20:29:00.000-08:00

Some Personal Recollections by Simeon Alev[Former What Is Enlightement? magazine editor Simeon Alev provides further reflections in response to Andrew Cohen's recent attempt on his blog to explain his conduct which has been the subject of widespread criticism.]I’d like to add a little personal background to my previous post so that readers can understand the kind of perplexity produced in sincere

A Response To Andrew Cohen’s “Declaration of Integrity”

2006-10-20T16:46:00.000-07:00

By Simeon Alev[Note from the Editors: Apparently attempting to finally give a public statement defending himself against the many allegations of his abuse of students documented previously here (and perhaps also in response to the current heated discussions on the Zaadz+WIE online forum), Andrew Cohen recently meticulously crafted and posted a " Declaration of Integrity", which in effect avoids

2006-10-09T07:27:00.000-07:00

Congratulations to WHAT Enlightenment?!! on its second anniversary!This two year voyage beginning in October 2004 has been full of discovery, revelation, honest fact reporting, emperor with no clothes stories, sad testimonial, memory and recognition.Since I too was there in the Cohen event, and having left with no small amount of anger, confusion, disappointment, and also a raw determination to

Some Reflections on Abuse and Uncompleted or “Intermediate” Gurus

2006-08-24T17:46:00.000-07:00

“The Intermediate Zone, in Sri Aurobindo's philosophy, refers to a dangerous and misleading transitional spiritual and pseudo-spiritual region between the ordinary consciousness of the outer being and true spiritual realisation....the way that the Intermediate zone works is through a sort of psychological contagion. Thus not just the sadhak or yogi or pop guru themselves, but those around them,

Intersubjective Fictions--Some Cohen Video Reviews

2006-07-03T12:02:00.000-07:00

Here are some anonymous reviews of Andrew Cohen's latest web infomercial Creating the Future culled from some emails we've seen and reproduced (completely without authorization). Many thanks to our astute readers!"it's like he's speaking anotherlanguage...they even transcibe every word, so we don'tmiss these gems of wisdom...but I still don't knowexactly what the hell he's saying...""I just

The Principles of Enslavement

2006-04-16T19:31:00.000-07:00

by Dragan[The following reflections are excerpted from a comment previously submitted by former Andrew Cohen student Dragan]How does Andrew do what he does? How is it that no one can tell that the emperor has no clothes?There are several principles that Andrew has become a master of, the principles that have been known and are still known to the brainwashing rulers of the ages past and

Some Common Misunderstandings of 'Two Truths Doctrine' in Nondual Philosophies that May Impede Recognition and Discussion of Painful Situations

2006-03-28T13:10:00.000-08:00

by Anonymous[Note from The Editors: The following remarkably lucid (and scholarly) article was originally posted as a comment to the article Vimala Thakar’s Concealed Criticism and Andrew Cohen’s Treatment of Women—The Investigation Continues. We thought it might be good at this juncture to quiet the dogs of war, take a deep breath and consider its clarifying wisdom on the relationship between

A Call To Action And A Letter To Bill O’Reilly

2006-03-26T09:53:00.000-08:00

P.O.’ed Old Man Leads The WayRecently, a new contributor to What Enlightenment??! has been leading a rousing call to action against the authoritarian abuse and exploitation of followers by self-styled "guru" Andrew Cohen. P.O.'ed Old Man explained that he is the grandfather of a victim of Cohen's manipulation and abuse. PO'ed felt most of us were making a mistake--we shouldn't just get mad, we

A Remarkable Consistency

2006-03-15T09:45:00.000-08:00

by Aaron(Blogger name gniz)I have read a great deal about the Cohen situation, whether it be the books that are available, WIE magazine itself, blogs on Cohen’s website, and the reports on this blog. There is REMARKABLE consistency in the stories that are recounted about the behavior of this group. If there were a trial, I believe there is simply overwhelming circumstantial evidence as to what

Vimala Thakar’s Concealed Criticism and Andrew Cohen’s Treatment of Women—The Investigation Continues

2006-02-14T12:45:00.000-08:00

Recently, a comment to an article posted on What Enlightenment??! revealed some very shocking news that few of us who are or were involved with Andrew Cohen knew—Andrew Cohen’s claims that female Indian sage Vimala Thakar supported his harsh treatment of the women in his community—in the name of breaking through “women’s conditioning”—were false. In fact, Vimala strongly criticized Andrew's

A Travesty of “Enlightenment”—Wendyl’s Story

2006-02-02T10:38:00.000-08:00

A Response to The Story of Caroline Franklyn By Wendyl[Wendyl was a formal student in Andrew Cohen’s community. In her words, “I was so blown apart by Mario’s story about Caroline, these words just flowed from me.” She sent this article by e-mail.]I lived as a formal student in the US community in California and Foxhollow from 1994 to 1998. My heart ached in reading Mario’s story of what happened

Not Forgotten – The Story Of Caroline Franklyn

2006-01-19T08:19:00.000-08:00

by Mario Puljiz[Mario Puljiz was a formal student of Andrew Cohen, in his European community, from 1995-2000. He was a friend of Caroline Franklyn.]Caroline Franklyn was in her late seventies at the time of her death and, having been of delicate health for some time, it seemed of little surprise that despite her remarkable spirit she passed away in London just before Christmas 1999. Caroline was

“Either I’m Crazy…or…”

2006-01-11T21:52:00.001-08:00

A Behind The Scenes Look At Andrew Cohen's Black Or White LogicBy Stas M.[Note: The following article is by a former long-term and close “senior” student of Andrew Cohen, who was known in Cohen’s community as “Ernest.” His previous contribution to this blog is Letter From A Senior Student.]“Here it comes”, I thought to myself. As a longtime student of Andrew Cohen I heard him utter these words

So Sad . . .

2006-01-03T08:28:00.000-08:00

I recently received the following email from a reader:Subject: So Sad . . .Hal,I am literally shaking after having read your articles. I am a Sai Baba survivor. In 2000, after having been a devotee for 25 years, I collapsed under the large number of credible allegations of sexual abuse against children. I must tell you that I thought Andrew was a beacon of light in a sea of slime. Oh, what are we

WIE EDITOR CRAIG HAMILTON LEAVES MAGAZINE, COHEN GROUP

2005-12-14T10:20:00.000-08:00

What Enlightenment??! has learned that What Is Enlightenment? magazine editor Craig Hamilton has left his position as Managing Editor of What Is Enlightenment? magazine, his home at Cohen's Foxhollow Lenox, Massachusetts compound, and his membership in Andrew Cohen's group.Hamilton recently explained in a letter to other Cohen students that he decided to part ways with Cohen and WIE due to his

Why Leaving Andrew Cohen’s Group Can Be So Hard

2005-12-02T13:04:00.000-08:00

In addition to the direct difficulties Cohen often creates for close students who wish to leave him, including threats and acts perhaps just this (or the other?) side of false imprisonment (see my previous article Karma Will (Literally) Cost You And Leaving Isn’t Easy), there are psychological reasons why leaving a group like Cohen’s can be very difficult. In many ways, abusive spiritual groups

Another Teacher Like Cohen

2005-10-26T09:31:00.000-07:00

by DanielThere is another living guru just like Cohen. I recently left his fold and stumbled upon this website. You see after leaving my teacher I was strangely attracted to Cohen. Only to realize that Cohen is using the exact same tactics and circular logic of faulting everything to "EGO" as my own "crazy-wise" teacher.If you haven't guessed already, my teacher was Adi Da. The men's and women's

Tale of Two Teachers

2005-10-04T17:07:00.000-07:00

by Karl B.[Note: The following article is a fascinating account from a person who was among the first to spend time with Andrew Cohen after Andrew's enlightenment experience with H.W.L. Poonja (known as Papa-ji or Poonja-ji), the guru who Andrew later disavowed. Soon after spending time with Andrew in Rishikesh, the author met Poonja-ji himself, and, like Andrew, was also declared enlightened and

NEW-- Andrew Cohen's "Talking Dog" Letter To A Senior Student

2005-08-16T14:42:00.000-07:00

The previous article "Letter From A Senior Student" by Ernest (Stas) referred to a letter he received from Andrew Cohen after he left Cohen's community, begging him to come back to the fold. Andrew wrote this letter as if it were from from his dog "Kensho." We've decided to post a copy of this letter here.Folks, this is not satire or a prank--this is an accurate copy of the actual letter from

Growing up in "the community" - One view

2005-06-27T19:01:00.000-07:00

by Anais Daly[Note from the Blog Administrators--Although we are generally not accepting new contributions for the What Enlightenment??! blog at this time, we could not resist posting the following article from a former "sangha kid." It is written with exceptional honesty and vulnerability, and provides an aspect of the community experience we haven't heard here before.] My name is Anais Daly, I

Karma Will (Literally) Cost You And Leaving Isn't Easy

2005-05-31T22:46:00.000-07:00

Breaking The Code Of Silence, Part IVBy Hal BlackerMay all beings be happy!This is the fourth and last part of my "Breaking The Code Of Silence" series of articles about Andrew Cohen for the WHAT Enlightenment ??! blog. For those just arriving, the previous articles in the series are: Breaking The Code Of Silence (Part I) Cruelty, Vengeance and Crazy Wisdom (Part II) Shame, Guilt and The

If Andrew Cleaned Up His Act And Walked His Talk

2005-05-21T08:27:00.000-07:00

An Essay And Miracle Storyby ADI might be wrong but I would not agree with all those who see Andrew as an evil incarnate who is only after the power and his own egoic goals. I think he has a lot to offer to some people, at least on the preliminary level of self-knowledge, or rather ego-knowledge, which are not the whole story of the spiritual life but an important first step.He just needs to

The Seeds Of Abuse Were In Place

2005-05-15T21:49:00.000-07:00

A View On Andrew Cohen From 15 Years laterBy Douglas WallaceI left Andrew Cohen’s community in December of 1989. Unlike others who have written about their experiences here, I was involved with Andrew Cohen and his sangha for barely over a year. But, as many readers of this blog will understand, that time was extraordinarily powerful, and marked the most intense and profound commitment I had

THE CHALLENGE OF GETTING CLEAR--An Essay On Andrew Cohen's Teaching

2005-05-07T15:39:00.000-07:00

By Bruce Ryan[A Note From WHAT Enlightenment ??! : What follows is the Prologue of a longer essay critiquing Andrew Cohen's teaching by former Cohen community member Bruce Ryan. Due to the length of the essay, it has been posted in its entirety on its own website where it can be downloaded as a Word document. If you would like to download a copy of the whole essay, go to GETTING CLEAR. On the

What Is The Purpose Of Enlightenment?

2005-04-29T19:56:00.000-07:00

A Beginning Student's StoryI’ve been reading your blog regularly and would like to thank all those who contributed to its creation, as it has helped me tremendously to understand my own experience with Andrew’s community. I admire your courage, openess and honesty.Although my experience was rather short lived and I never lived in Foxhollow nor was I involved personally with Andrew, I went to many

Of Cohen, Koresh And Authoritarianism--3 Views

2005-04-25T09:06:00.000-07:00

At Saturday, 23 April, 2005, Anonymous said... I have an idea...Why don't we just condemn Cohen, as a David Koresh and Jim Jones type, poisoning and misguiding people, report him to the authorities, call the editors of the New York Times and whatever else we think is fit, take him to court, charged with abuse and be done with the whole thing. How about it Hally, Hal (haven't heard form you for

Missing THE POINT

2005-04-22T13:42:00.000-07:00

By AnonymousI think, therefore I am not. Just kidding. Actually, I don’t think, therefore I am. Just kidding. I think that much of this blog, as useful and perhaps even necessary as it is, is missing the point. It is undeniably true, though that never stops volumes of denial, that the pathological manifestations of Mr. Cohen and the deep suffering of many of his temporarily willing enablers, need

Through a Mirror Darkly—continuing to try to see clearly!

2005-04-18T07:15:00.000-07:00

Further Reflections from Roberta AndersonDear Friends,Trying to get clear about my time as a member of Andrew’s community has been and continues to be a challenging and extremely emotional process. In talking with an old friend from the community recently it occurred to me that it’s actually quite a bit like the grief process I went through when my mother died a number of years ago. I kept

Real Teachers Are As Scarce As Hens' Teeth

2005-04-13T10:13:00.000-07:00

A Letter Of Appreciation For Andrew CohenBy Roberta AndersonDear Friends,I’ve been following this blog with a lot of interest—often fascinated, often confused, often feeling a little sick, and often alternating between wanting to defend Andrew, damn him, and then again defend him.I stayed in the community for nearly twelve years and participated in everything that’s been written about. Even

Reflections Of An Early Student

2005-04-07T06:28:00.000-07:00

A Letter From Brook StoneDear What Enlightenment Blog,I’d like to begin by saying how grateful and appreciative I am that this blog has come into being. My story is an old one so I will keep this relatively brief. So much has been said so well and my experience and thoughts match most of what has been written here.I was a very involved student of Andrew's for 5 years from 1988-1993. Many people

Shame-based Spiritual Striving

2005-04-05T09:49:00.000-07:00

A Letter From A ReaderHello there:I just want to say that I really appreciate what you are doing here. I think shame-based spiritual striving is a big part of the problem here. When we have wounds of shame, we can get caught into these patterns of dysfunctional teacher/student relationships. I grew up in a spiritual community that my parents belonged to. When the "shit hit the fan", many people

Shame, Guilt and the Guru’s Blood

2005-03-24T18:44:00.000-08:00

Breaking The Code Of Silence--Part IIIby Hal BlackerMay all beings be happy!May the truth, no matter how difficult it is to hear, set all beings free.I have previously written on this blog of incidents of slapping and physical assault against students by Andrew Cohen and at his direction. I told the story of the assault of Donna with buckets of paint, and the emotional assault on her teenage

A Reflection from Christopher Titmuss

2005-03-20T21:04:00.000-08:00

Dear What Enlightenment Bloggers,I received from you details of your website and had a careful read through it. I knew Andrew in the early 1980's as a serious student of mine until he met Poonja-ji and I know some of the senior students referred to in your website. I recall from Andrew's autobiography that, as a student, he became disillusioned with his past teachers, including his yoga teacher,

To Heal One is To Heal All

2005-03-12T08:09:00.000-08:00

by anonymousI extend my respects, and my ever-breaking heart, to the contributors of this blog. To those who are suffering, to those who are healing and thriving. . .and to Andrew, and to his serious and dedicated students who pour out their hearts’ sincerity and the depth of longing into what they hope to be the greatest possibility for their lifetime. None of us is so different from each other,

Cruelty, Vengeance And Crazy Wisdom

2005-03-03T21:54:00.000-08:00

Breaking The Code Of Silence--Part IIby Hal BlackerMay all beings be happy!It is now more than ten days since I wrote Andrew Cohen an “Invitation To Truth And Reconciliation." So far, there has been no response.This is a disappointment. Andrew’s utter silence now, after previous hostile posts made here by his representatives, seems to signify a complete unwillingness to face the harm he has

On WIE--A Dialogue

2005-03-02T06:45:00.000-08:00

At Thursday, 24 February, 2005, Anonymous said... Is it just me or is the new issue of WIE just not as interesting as it used to be?Maybe it’s because, as I’m reading along, a thought keeps flashing in my mind: 'He slaps his students around! He manipulates large sums of money out of them!'I was reading Andrew’s editorial about Authentic Leadership in which he wrote about a group in Australia who

Emperor's New Clothes?

2005-03-01T10:40:00.000-08:00

A Letter from Ed McDougalI lived in Andrew's community for almost ten years, first in Cambridge and Marin county, then, more recently at Foxhollow. This blog has helped me compare the ups and downs of my experiences with those of others who were also there.After an absence of five years, I wrote Andrew that I had overcome certain reservations I had previously expressed to him about his teachings.

An Invitation To Truth And Reconciliation

2005-02-20T14:09:00.000-08:00

By Hal BlackerMay all beings be happy!As a contributor to this blog, I want to say that I am extremely happy with how this blog is unfolding. I feel that it is a place that may be unique, or at the very least, extremely rare on the Internet. I think that, together, all of us —from each contributor to every person who has given it the gift of their attention—have created a sacred place where a

What Enlightenment??! - another view.

2005-02-19T08:07:00.000-08:00

From Jeremy LyellDear Friends,As a former Formal Student of Andrew's, I too was sent the link to What Enlightenment ??! and it does indeed make interesting reading. Generally very well-written by intelligent, articulate people. However, with all due respect I think it should be pointed out that most of these blogs amount to little more than victimised self-pity, however eloquent and however true

In The Hope Of A Shared Inquiry Toward Deeper Truth

2005-02-17T15:32:00.000-08:00

Although I have never been involved in Andrew Cohen's community, I have read with interest the dialogue currently appearing on this blog. The considerations raised are essential and challenging issues for anyone attempting to follow a spiritual path. What is the optimal relationship between student and teacher? How do we confront and penetrate the egoic resistance to obedience and surrender,

Is This News - Or Did Nothing Ever Really Happen?

2005-02-17T10:01:00.000-08:00

Once upon a time, I found a copy of The Promise OfPerfection on a library shelf in Sheffield. I had tomeet the man who wrote it, and I went clear across theAtlantic to Foxhollow for a weekend in order to do so.After a retreat in Rishikesh (first ever visit toIndia), I went to live in the Orientation House inLondon, but my visible inability to fake happiness"for the sake of the whole" must have

Andrew Cohen's Fall From Grace

2005-02-15T06:52:00.000-08:00

To Everyone Who Reads This Blog: It is sad to hear Craig Hamilton—a strong practitioner, fine writer and reporter—sounding like nothing more than a childish mouthpiece for Andrew Cohen. I find Susan Bridle and Hal Blacker’s letters to be simple, straightforward and heartfelt. My instincts tell me that they speak the truth in the service of greater clarity, while there is a noticeable insincerity

A Spiritual Watergate

2005-02-12T07:24:00.000-08:00

This blog is an unfolding spiritual “Watergate Story.” Charges of crimes in high places and all the attendant denial and cover-up. It saddens me to read the sincere accounts of abuse experienced by past students of Andrew Cohen – and in the unfolding drama there is a story compelling enough that it’s the first thing I read every morning…With Hal Blacker as Bob Woodward, and presidential enablers

Support And Appreciation For "Letter From A Senior Student"

2005-02-11T08:12:00.000-08:00

Here are a few comments expressing support and appreciation for "Letter From A Senior Student."[A reminder to our readers--please don't forget to click on the "Comments" link on the bottom of posts to see how readers respond! Soon these comments should appear as "pop-ups" so you may wish to turn off any pop-up blocker on your browser when you view this site.]At Monday, 07 February, 2005,

Letter From A Senior Student

2005-02-07T13:26:00.000-08:00

I am one of the many longtime students of Andrew Cohen who you don’t see around or hear about anymore. My name is Anastasi (or “Stas”). Those of you who’ve been (or are) in Andrew Cohen’s community have known me as “Ernest”. But for those readers who don’t know me, I was a student of Andrew for fifteen years before I left (read: ran away) in May of 2003. In later years, I was one of his ”senior”

My Turning Point

2005-02-06T12:06:00.000-08:00

by Richard PittCraig Hamilton’s response to Hal Blacker’s letter showed exactly the tactics consistent with life in Andrew Cohen’s community. A nasty attempt at character assassination under the guise of spiritual superiority. The language also reminded me of another cultic dynamic in our present time – the current US administration – with it’s rhetoric of freedom against the tyranny of evil

How Not to Defend Your Guru

2005-02-06T09:59:00.000-08:00

By anonymous 11. Don’t bring up Freud. Here's the first reason not to use Freud when defending a spiritual teacher:Anthony Storr is a Fellow at the Royal College of Physicians, an Emeritus Fellow at Green College at Oxford, and a former Clinical Lecturer in Psychiatry at Oxford University.Storr writes, “Freud’s dogmatism and intolerance of disagreement led to the departure of many colleagues,

An Angry Brainwashed Person

2005-02-05T19:31:00.000-08:00

Craig--Your words sound like those of an angry brainwashed person to me. I have nothing to do with Andrew's community and never have, but I know the sound of someone who is brainwashed when I hear it.The first thing of course, is to attack the character of someone who is speaking the truth. We all have character flaws. It's just a cheap shot to do that.One other interesting thing is that you

Who then, does Andrew Cohen answer to?

2005-02-04T22:20:00.000-08:00

Anonymous writes in response to Craig Hamilton's post: You ask, "if Andrew Cohen really were the menace to society this blog describes, why would so many of today’s wisest and most respected spiritual and cultural authorities have expressed such strong support for his work?" Does this blog describe Andrew Cohen as a “menace to society”? I certainly did not get that impression from Susan Bridle’

WIE Editor Admits Slapping, Smeared "Blood" Incident

2005-02-04T10:44:00.000-08:00

I nearly laughed out loud when I read Hal Blacker’s preamble to his “Breaking the Code of Silence” entry on this blog. How noble of you, Hal. You’re finally going to enlighten us all to what’s really going on around Andrew? What “code of silence” exactly are you referring to? As far as I can tell, so far the only code on this blog seems to be a code of kvetching. Let me try a new approach. I’ll

A Legacy of Scorched Earth

2005-02-02T14:16:00.000-08:00

Reflections of a former student by Susan Bridle Hal Blacker’s recent very thoughtful posts to this blog have inspired me to send a contribution, also nonanonymously. I was a student of Andrew Cohen for ten years, and worked very intimately with him for many years in my work as a writer and editor for What Is Enlightenment? magazine and other Moksha Press publications. I have witnessed or

Now I Don't Know Whether to Trust Cohen

2005-01-30T12:55:00.000-08:00

Hal, I read your comment about Andrew Cohen with interest. I’ve been on one of his retreats and have found him to be a compelling teacher. Reading about his former students’ bad experiences has left me confused and wondering what to do. I feel in my heart that I can learn a great deal from Andrew Cohen. But now I don’t know whether or not to trust him. I just did a google search and found an

BREAKING THE CODE OF SILENCE...

2005-01-27T19:55:00.000-08:00

May all beings be happy!!! I am certainly happy because I have been granted the privilege of non-anonymously breaking the Cohen Silence Code on our What Enlightenment?! blog. And it feels real good. Don’t be shy and don’t be the last one on your block or on this blog to join in. Come on in, the water’s fine! My name is Hal Blacker. As many readers here may recall, I was the editor in chief of

Ivana's Story

2005-01-24T12:31:00.000-08:00

Yes – a very common manipulative strategy! (See post below: "Common Manipulative Strategy") What you are talking about was Cohen’s m.o. He perfected it to a masterful degree. The way he used it was nearly impossible to detect while you were there as a student. His attacks on us students seemed so accurate – due as you say to the “leader’s exquisite social perception.” Wow, that’s Cohen,

A Common Manipulative Strategy

2005-01-21T13:52:00.000-08:00

"A common manipulative strategy used by the leaders in this study [Len Oakes' "Prophetic Charisma"] was an argumentative style that was calculated to subtly shift the ground of any discussion from whatever matter was being talked about toward some area of an opponent's [read here: "student's"] personal insecurity. In this technique, the leader observed the process of an opponent's conversation

Cohen Ain't No Marpa

2005-01-19T05:43:00.000-08:00

Review of Enlightenment Blues by laffnowl One of the most dangerous trends in modern spirituality is the misguided submission to a supposedly enlightened authority's use and abuse, in the belief that this serves one's spiritual progress. This has been documented before but not by a long-term and intimate insider with the sensitivity, thoughtfulness and laudable balance of "Enlightenment Blues,"

Persecution Complex

2005-01-14T14:52:00.000-08:00

Having been around Andrew for a long time, I know how accurately this comment (see post "A Precariously Balanced Personality) reflects AC. He has often literaly expressed that he felt persecuted. By individuals as well as by particular groups of students. Groups of male students, groups of female students, the collective of editors of his magazine etc. He used to say he felt like an Indian dog

This is a Great Blog!

2005-01-13T16:57:00.000-08:00

Cohen's a cult leader. thank you for criticizing him. all cohen's followers can do is issue ad hominem attacks. the substance of your criticisms go unchallenged. this is a great blog. thank you!

A Precariously Balanced Personality

2005-01-13T12:43:00.000-08:00

from a reader: There is a wealth of good literature about the Narcissistic Personality Disorder, or NPD. Reading your posts concerning the exchange with Don Beck, it brought to mind one quote from the work of Dr. Sam Vaknin (http://samvak.tripod.com/15.html). I find it quite interesting to peer into the personalities of leaders like Cohen and Beck, and congratulate your blog on its reporting

Replies to Curious

2005-01-09T15:09:00.000-08:00

Several replies have been sent to "Curious to Hear More." We'll continue posting new comments on the bottom of this post as they come in...so keep checking back. First Comment: Well....this is a recent quote from Andrew Cohen. If this is what is happening there now it would be pretty amazing. It was not my experience of living at Foxhollow over 2 years ago but things may have changed a great

Curious to Hear More

2005-01-08T16:05:00.000-08:00

I am curious as well to hear more experiences from those who spent time with Andrew in the community. Also - for those of you who did - what is your view of the Teaching itself? (aside from the teacher) though it may not be possible to separate the two. I have also heard that the teaching itself has changed quite a bit over the years and that things are now "much better and much different" from

What Color is Beck's Mean Meme?

2005-01-07T14:25:00.000-08:00

We've heard of the "mean green meme." What I wanna know is--what color is Beck's mean meme? What would the spiral taxonomists say? Is it a systems-oriented mean yellow? If it was a bird would it be a "yellow-bellied mean meme"? Or has his meanness broken through to second tier and emerged as a mean conscious turquoise? Does Beck's letter prove there is a stage of development called "the terrible

Don Beck: "You're Bottom Dwellers!"

2005-01-04T13:23:00.000-08:00

Recently WHAT enlightenment?! sent an email to our list concerning recent postings on the blog. We indicated in that email that anyone not wishing to receive more messages should send an “unsubscribe” message back to us. To our surprise, we got the following letter from Don Beck. WHAT enlightenment?!’s response follows Beck’s letter. To WHAT enlightenment?! I noticed that you have been sending

Philosophical Vaudeville Boomeritis Incarnate

2005-01-03T15:05:00.000-08:00

(This post first appeared on the Integral Naked site) Regarding Andrew Cohen...As an evolutionist he sucks - he would struggle to hold a debate with decent college grad on the subject. On morality Ive never noted a word about it in anything I have heard or read. It is his sheer lack of intellectual depth on any of these subjects that gobsmacks me . Personally he profiles a bit Sociopathic/

In and Out of the Vortex

2005-01-02T04:33:00.000-08:00

I enjoy this blog. I was on the fringe for about four years and didn't get close enough to see what was really going on at higher levels. A few of us did move in together and I found that really interesting. My husband and I moved in with life-long friends who we thought we knew really well. What a surprise to find that we didn't really know each other or ourselves at all. The first few days so

Four Steps to Freedom

2004-12-30T07:03:00.000-08:00

Chances are, if you are reading this now, you have already taken a few courageous steps of discrimination. As Andrew used to teach, thoughts are not a problem. Neither is inquiring into the nature of what lies beyond the community or that you might come to know that there is a life, a real life, with real challenges, outside Andrew’s community! If you have left you have to understand that we all

Ken Wilber's Shaky History of Endorsements

2004-12-23T09:16:00.000-08:00

Andrew Cohen enjoys the endorsements of very few but one he does have is that of Ken Wilber, and Wilber is certainly no slouch. People are no doubt drawn to Cohen upon hearing of this support. Wilber’s endorsement is most prominently on display in the forward to Cohen’s book Living Enlightenment: “Andrew Cohen is a Rude Boy. He is not here to offer comfort; he is here to tear you into

What Does Andrew Cohen Know About Enlightenment?

2004-12-18T23:08:00.000-08:00

by Charles Carreon Quite a lot, if you take his magazine, What is Enlightenment?, at face value. The title of the magazine of course begs the question of whether there IS enlightenment, which is a skillful marketing device. As a teacher once pointed out to me, Baskin Robbins has 31 flavors in order to overcome the first question -- whether to eat ice cream at all? By rushing right past "Is there

A Former Student Speaks Out

2004-12-15T16:01:00.000-08:00

"I've been surprised too at this "code of silence." I was mostly surprised in reading Andre's book at the mildness of the supposedly intense and shocking events. Andre left before the men's and women's saunas were turned into rooms designed to humiliate students. With huge blow ups of private letters to Andrew displayed, with his scathing comments attached. And debased caricatures of students,

Progressive Indoctrination and the Shadow Sangha

2004-12-13T14:57:00.000-08:00

Here at WHAT enlightenment?! we are having a discussion about freedom, indoctrination, and the meaning of true sangha. What follows is some of our in-house email about the subject: Hello ______ I thought you might find this interview with Rick Ross interesting. It is from a magazine put out by that Christian evangelist buster Ole Anthony who was featured in the New Yorker. http://

The Code of Silence

2004-12-12T00:06:00.000-08:00

- A reader's question: "I think a lot of this blog is very interesting and fills out a picture of Andrew and his community that is normally hidden. It does seem though that a lot of the behind the scenes news is quite old. Does anyone know what is happening there now?? " - WHAT enlightenment? responds: I think that the age of the behind the scene incidents discussed is indicative of the

Student Leaves Cohen, Finds Freedom

2004-12-10T08:00:00.000-08:00

I have just caught up with the site again and completely relate to the post: 'However, almost immediately upon my departure I had an explosive experience of freedom, joy and an unboundedness that was not about anything in particular other than that I was now the captain of my own ship, I was once again free to fully explore without the rigid dictates of any system. I felt free in a way that

Continue Without Andrew?

2004-12-09T00:15:00.000-08:00

well, i finally sat down long enough to read, at least a lot if not all, of your current blog. i skipped around. i've been a fan of the what is enlightenment? magazine, and admire don beck's and ken wilber's work immensely. how andrew cohen actually fits into the mix has been somewhat of a mystery to me. i've been receiving his email 'quotes' and have found that i have never read one in its

So Ghastly Familiar

2004-12-08T09:04:00.000-08:00

Christ, it is all so ghastly familiar with Cohen; what else he would not do to further his ferocious ambition and power. I really feel for the lady donor who was blatantly manipulated and bullied here and it begs belief that he dared to speak about her in such dreadful and derogatory terms. Without her he would be nowhere and this is just another all too familiar "thank you" from Cohen to yet

The Bible Speaks Story

2004-12-07T07:31:00.000-08:00

From a reader: Hello, I very much enjoy reading your blog, particularly your investigation of corruption and wrong doing. Your posting the letter about Cohen’s public humiliation of the woman who gave him $2 million for his Lenox ashram in the post “A Corruption of Power” calls to mind another story of greed in holy places. During the 1980’s there was a church called The Bible Speaks, also

A Cohen Teaching

2004-12-03T06:53:00.000-08:00

Cohen's dress sense might be insightful; let me set the scene;- He wore a mid brown velvet suit with long brown Velvet jacket in the style of Wyatt Earpe with fancy pockets lined to the lapel with orange silk very tightly fitted almost like a girdle. Strong padded shoulders with wide lapel and an orange silk business shirt. Red tie done with a thick knot. 1970's Starsky and Hutch hair and

A Corruption of Power

2004-11-30T17:30:00.000-08:00

In December 1998, Andrew is in Amsterdam again for his semi-annual visit. This time I go to the teachings, to check out how it strikes me now. I am surprised that I don’t feel any connections with him, that his teaching sounds like a broken record. His talk about killing the ego in order to find freedom now sounds fundamentalist to me. What was so thrilling about that? During his talk Andrew

More On Ken Wilber and Andrew Cohen

2004-11-24T12:18:00.000-08:00

The pro-AC/KW crowd appears to have a few core arguments: 1) Anyone who disagrees or has misgivings is afflicted by a virus of the mind called 'green meme'. This is a good example of what cult education specialists term a 'thought stopping cliché'--a bit of mind fuck that brings discussion to a screeching halt and derails a valid argument. Green meme is code for being too weak, too coddled, too

A Report From the Front Lines

2004-11-23T08:15:00.000-08:00

Hey folks I just came out of a one day intensive with Cohen. I had the benefit of listening to the dialogue between Cohen and Ken posted on the Integral Naked site before the intensive. If you listen carefully Ken shows great patience in redirecting Cohen toward more integral path of conversation. The reality is that he was rude by any measure and clearly intended to humiliate some of the

Healing From Abuse: A Framework

2004-11-18T02:36:00.000-08:00

(From 'Relating to a Spiritual Teacher' by Alexander Berzin, Snow Lion Publications, 2000. Berzin traces many complex psychological issues and pitfalls that have come up for Western practitioners of Tibetan Vajrayana Buddhism. If you're in early stage recovery, his book may be confusing and seem invalidating, but after you've reclaimed your boundaries and are curious to analyse the situation, his

Empowering Survivors to Find Their Voice

2004-11-16T14:19:00.000-08:00

Great site. I hope it empowers more survivors to find their voices, and rediscover their essential dignity. A book that many Cohen survivors may find helpful is 'Prophetic Charisma' by Len Oakes (he reviewed Andre Van der Braak's book). If you've ever wondered why so many gurus sound alike and seem to have attended the same training camp, 'Prophetic Charisma' is a must-read. Oakes interviewed

Readers' Comments

2004-11-12T04:02:00.000-08:00

What Enlightenment?! has received many reader’s comments. We’re happy to receive these responses, and would encourage more of the same! Here’s a sampling of our mailbag: A reader’s comment on “The Narcissist Claims Infallibility:” I must say I found your first entry, with the dialogue between Andrew Cohen and Ken Wilbur at the café in the south of France, a real riot. No kidding, I laughed out

3 Spiritual Teachers Arrive at the Gates of Heaven

2004-11-09T08:21:00.000-08:00

(The following story was first told by a prominent American meditation teacher to his audience.) Three spiritual teachers die and find themselves standing before God. God turns firstly to Amachi and asks her: What have you learned in your life and what have you taught others? And Amachi says: I have understood that life is a river of love and that all one needs to do is float in and with it.

All Absolute Power Demoralizes its Possessor

2004-11-07T13:39:00.000-08:00

All absolute power demoralizes its possessor. To that all history bears witness. And if it be a spiritual power which rules men's consciences, the danger is only so much greater, for the possession of such a power exercises a specially treacherous fascination, while it is peculiarly conducive to self-deceit, because the lust of dominion, when it has become a passion, is only too easily in this

A Self-referential Nightmare

2004-11-06T03:54:00.000-08:00

The way Andrew Cohen’s own cautionary teachings refer so perfectly to himself is like some kind of strange and scary self-referential nightmare; a kind of spiritual "Being John Malkovich" movie with Andrew Cohen in the Malkovich role. “Being John Malkovich” you recall, was the movie with the memorable scene when the character John Malkovich himself goes inside the head of the famous actor John

The Myth of the Totally Enlightened Guru

2004-11-05T09:52:00.000-08:00

by John Horgan Over the past twenty years, the myth of the totally enlightened guru has taken a beating, as one avatar after another has been accused of depraved and even criminal behavior. Given the scandalous behavior of so many self-proclaimed enlightened masters, one can understand why Huston Smith insists that no mere mortal can achieve total enlightenment, and why Ken Wilber contends that

A Lively Debate

2004-11-04T09:10:00.000-08:00

One place to look for very interesting discussion on the Guru Cohen issue is in the reader reviews for the book Enlightenment Blues posted on Amazon.com and amazon.co.uk. Below is one particularly lively exchange posted a while ago. Interestingly, these 2 reviews were subsequently deleted while dozens of other reviews weren't. Could it be that these two comments are too close to the bone? Don’t

SPECIAL ELECTION ISSUE

2004-11-02T02:20:00.000-08:00

Upon the fall of Baghdad in 2003, Guru Cohen sent the following 'official message' to his students. "All you bleeding heart liberals can go to hell! I'm celebrating victory with our President!" Wow, stunning! What do you think of that?? Well, it's election day, so you get to vote! Please indicate your preference by submitting a comment for either of the following choices. Click on the '

Accepting a Simple Truth

2004-11-01T12:33:00.000-08:00

"I know that most men, including those at ease with problems of the greatest complexity, can seldom accept even the simplest and most obvious truth if it be such as would oblige them to admit the falsity of conclusions which they have delighted in explaining to colleagues, which they have proudly taught to others, and which they have woven, thread by thread, into the fabric of their lives."