tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8775078.post4033975176161427496..comments2023-10-09T22:44:56.500-07:00Comments on WHAT enlightenment??!: ANDREW COHEN AND THE FALL OF THE MYTHIC GURU IN AN AGE OF PR-SPINUnknownnoreply@blogger.comBlogger62125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8775078.post-85048413021946848312014-02-07T04:32:02.435-08:002014-02-07T04:32:02.435-08:00I've been checking Amazon UK reviews for Andre...I've been checking Amazon UK reviews for Andrew's books, thought it would be a good place to start my (very amateur) market research.<br /> <br />So there's a range of voices represented in these reviews, the ratings swing dramatically from five stars to one star, from describing the books as a life changing teaching, to vacuuous and predatory, from inspirational to fake and deceit. <br /><br />Andrew and his co-authors created a real buzz, I had no idea!<br /> <br />Of course, these reviews date from a time when the books first came out, or at least from a few years ago, so I'm not holding anyone to anything, things change. <br /><br />I'm just interested in the voice of the reader, and how books get out there, who reads them, how they affect lives.<br /> <br />To add persective, I also checked out a Castaneda book, the spiritual buzz book of my youth, to see how I could have been let astray if I hadn't been sceptical. I love these books, still do, especially the artwork on the covers. <br /><br />Same deal, from five star to one star, from gateway to a new world view, to an exposure of the scam.<br /><br />One reviewer says it all, really. Great book but don't live by it.<br /><br />Great book, but don't live by it. If I was a professional writer, I'd write a cautionary book, or magazine article, based on this phrase. Then people could read my writing, and give me a one star review on Amazon. haha. hmm. <br /><br />However my research is fuelled by a serious interest and concern.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8775078.post-1650582406896917082014-02-02T04:32:10.855-08:002014-02-02T04:32:10.855-08:00Hullo again, its Mrs Anon here. haha. I'm real...Hullo again, its Mrs Anon here. haha. I'm really learning a lot from this blog. It's a really good debate.That's why I keep coming back. Thanks. Feel free to edit me out, I can live with that. heheh.<br /> <br />Oh, I seeee, just reading the previous posting here. That's interesting. Andrew didn't have a teacher himself? He had an awakening but didn't run it by someone else, someone he trusted? Damn, that's a shame.<br /> <br />What if he'd run it by a true friend, or a trusted teacher? Perhaps they could have held him back by the tail, said something like 'whoah little fella, I'm happy to talk about it, I understand!, but our brains are really good at creating powerful and alluring awakenings and experiences, it happens to all of us from time to time! In fact our brains are master illusionists!, and we have to understand more about these matters, it's a tricky road, and you and others could get hurt'.<br /><br />So, leading on from this, here's what I worry about, perhaps someone here could enlighten me .. hah!...that word again, OK, I should say shed light on a situation for me, offer me knowledge.<br /> <br />There are so many books out there on the Mind Body Spirit shelves of a bookshop, thousands of books! All sorts of paths and awakenings and experiences, all sorts of wisdoms and ideas, presented for all to choose from.<br /><br />And some of these authors set themselves up as teachers in the field they have written about.<br /> <br />It has come a long way from The Holy Bible of my youth. Although I strayed a bit, so I came of age with Carlos Casteneda and Aldous Huxley. heheh. I debunked Carlos, but I stuck by Huxley. There wasn't quite so much choice around, but it was still pretty confusing.<br /> <br />I worry about the kids, the young seekers. There is so much choice out there.<br /> <br />My 20 yr old nephew is asking me questions, he's a seeker, he wants to know about spirituality. I'm not a teacher, so I think I might have to consult some people I respect, I'd better sort out my answers.<br /><br />My point is, can anyone who has had an experience, an awakening, just write a book about it, and set themselves up as a qualified author on these matters, and perhaps also a spiritual teacher?<br /><br />How does it work? Is there a governing authority? Does the publisher decide? Who decides if the work is inspirational or dangerous?? Surely it should be like qualifying as a pilot or a doctor or in fact any profession. Who checks out their credentials?<br /> <br />How do people qualify as a spiritual author and guru in the East? Do they have to have come from a trusted tradition, a lineage?<br /> <br />So what if my nephew wanders into a bookshop, picks up an Andrew Cohen book, thinks it looks pretty cool, then finds out that the author might (or might not) have gone a bit astray and started acting like he's a deranged cult leader?<br /><br />Get a grip, Andrew, what about the kids? <br /><br />Hmm. Is Andrew reading this blog? Hey Andrew, do you fancy coming in here and saying hullo? I'd like to talk about things. I'd like to clear the past and start over. Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8775078.post-10679980507091685912014-02-01T00:36:10.909-08:002014-02-01T00:36:10.909-08:00I met Andrew once at a climactic point of my ego d...I met Andrew once at a climactic point of my ego death. I tried to describe what was happening within me and he didn't seem to know what I was talking about. It was clear to me then that his spiritual process was incomplete. He had nothing to offer. Andrew didn't have a guru himself, as such, and this was his first mistake. It was beneath him. Instead he liked to 'visit' other gurus, pretending to be their friend, only to later try and steal their students. His teaching has always been very intellectual, that's why he gets along so well with Ken Wilber who is the ultimate intellectual. Truth begins where the mind ends however, and this is where so few really want to venture. It requires more love than the mind can imagine.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8775078.post-66242669334682184622014-01-29T12:42:37.437-08:002014-01-29T12:42:37.437-08:00Hullo! I'm the lady who wrote the last post, n...Hullo! I'm the lady who wrote the last post, not sure if I'm allowed another, but I've been thinking about all this.<br /> <br />I am feeling for all the folks who have been hurt and even traumatised by all this. Yikes, been reading some of these postings on this blog. I got off lightly with my brat-spat.<br /> <br />Forgive me, I'm not really an expert on gurus and teachers and things, I'm the eccentric artistic type, but I do have a wellspring of inspiration within me, and a very feeling heart, even though I might not make much sense right at this particular moment. haha.<br /> <br />Who is Andrew Cohen? Was he hurt in childhood? I really want to talk to him face to face. Has he been traumatised in his life? Seems like it, otherwise he couldn't do all those weird things to people, he'd be joyful and want others to be joyful also.<br /> <br />Surely we only do to others what we're doing to ourselves? You think so?<br /><br />What I don't get is why the word Ego is seen as a bad word, like it's a sin or something? It only means I am! I exist! What's wrong with existing? It's amazing to exist, right here in this moment, all of us, and all of creation, all spinning in space, together on this planet. <br /><br />It hurts, of course, every day facing all the injustice and torture and pain of the world, that really does hurt, I'm not separate from that, I don't want to be.<br /> <br />Surely the Ego is the channel for an essence that unites all of us?<br /><br />OK, so we're all individuals, that's what's good about Ego, the I Am! we're all different, but we're all transient, and therefore all the same also.<br /><br />One light, light that is one, though the lamps be many, sort of thing, yikes I just quoted from an Incredible String Band song. I love them, haha.<br /><br />Why does it all have to be so brutal and shameful? I wouldn't go up to a child and humiliate him or her, make them feel ashamed just because they exist!<br /><br />Jesus or Buddha wouldn't humiliate people, they'd more like say 'The Kingdom of Heaven is within!' or 'Love your neighbour as yourself!' or .. I don't know what Buddha said, but he seems pretty cool.<br /><br />Maybe the wounded Ego is the danger. I don't know. Maybe the wounded Ego is when the essence is obscured by all the junk. ??<br /> <br />OK I think I'll shut up now. Nice talking to you! I keep my name anon because I live in a small town and I'm still a bit scared of the Andrew followers, fallout and things.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8775078.post-9692408071297744832014-01-26T16:20:01.671-08:002014-01-26T16:20:01.671-08:00I met Andrew one time, he was doing some talks in ...I met Andrew one time, he was doing some talks in my hometown, way back when, and I went along with a friend who was interested, even though it wasn't my kind of thing. There was quite a crowd there.<br /><br />The incident has haunted me for years. <br /><br />I was shocked at what I witnessed. I thought he was maybe ill, psychotic perhaps, someone who needed some urgent help, taking out a lot of hurt and aggression on vulnerable and trusting people. I found it very scary. <br /><br />I managed to endure the talk, daydreamed about other things. When he left to leave he looked over at me, across the crowd, pointed accusingly, and said something like You! Don't come back! Everyone turned round to stare at me. <br /><br />What is he, some kind of dark psychic? Anyway, I'm not a woman to be talked down to, or humiliated, not then, not now. heheh. <br /><br />OK, I was young and wild, but I followed him out of the room and started screaming and yelling at him. Glad I did now, although I wasn't too popular with the followers for a while. He looked like a hurt child, and told me I was acting like one also. Good bit of playground dynamics I'd say, take his mind off being the Enlightened One. <br /><br />Hey Andrew, perhaps you should learn to fly a kite, or juggle or something, lighten up a bit. I'm glad I yelled at you, mate, I prefer to feel equal, you're a fellow human after all. And I'd say the wonder of simple, joyous enlightenment is inherent in every human heart and soul. See you on the road.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8775078.post-17322995715776600412013-11-12T08:11:10.314-08:002013-11-12T08:11:10.314-08:00Seriously? A sabbatical? Dude, still trying to be...Seriously? A sabbatical? Dude, still trying to be legit, give it up, you are a phony monster. If your students were as sadistic as you they would have the right to put you in a circle and beat the crap out of you. They will forgive you when you show a modicum of genuine humility, until then, go to your room. Monster. Spiritual ego is about a million times trickier than just plain regular ego, you wish you had some regular ego, your spiritual ego is the size of a brontosaurus, it knows no bounds, you, my friend, have a rude awakening, and you will need more than a phony apology to make amends. You need to go to the red room for a very, very, very long time and contemplate the odor of your poop. You just don't get it.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8775078.post-68392094941646574842013-11-10T07:49:01.053-08:002013-11-10T07:49:01.053-08:00It is the height of irony that Andrew positioned h...It is the height of irony that Andrew positioned himself as a spiritual authority and expert on the ego (ex; "Me All the Time: The Epidemic of Narcissism" on YouTube)<br />Like the priest who assigns himself to a children's bible study class, only to be discovered as a child abuser. From the moment he snubbed his Guru, Papaji, and his mother, and many of those around him, and set off on a mission to preach for and represent the next step in spiritual evolution (does it need one :) he set himself on a crash course with Reality. But it's all good in the final tally - because we all can learn from his epic crash and burn (which I fear may not be over for him) I knew there was something wrong with him - this fiery obsession with evolution, the future landscape, ethical/moral/behavioral maps and analysis...<br />Same thing with Ken Wilber, and that whole crew integral evolution crew imo. I have nothing against thinking on these subjects. But when one is firmly established in Presence, you don't find this kind of super frenetic energy swirling about. Sure passion, excitement, eureka insights. But this whole bag just feels like something different. Basically, like ego managed yet again to dress up as authentic, deep, grounded, selfless, spiritual expression.<br />Sit back and enjoy the ride. All of this is part of the unfolding.<br />But still, lessons can be learned along the way.<br /><br />Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8775078.post-70961816464518724602013-08-16T13:37:00.597-07:002013-08-16T13:37:00.597-07:00A nice line from the classic Alice Miller book ...A nice line from the classic Alice Miller book 'the truth will set you free'<br />About denial of ones childhood and the severe pain we felt then repressed...<br />Cohen as I've already said owes many many people an apology...however,it CAN'T happen as he's not faced through proper therapy that which he has denied and act of transference has played out now in the last 25 years.<br />Oh,he actually needs a therapist who will take the side of his 'inner child'. And, then feel the rage and anger properly and constructivly toward his parents<br />But,that's too babyish and green level ,and a tad anacronistic for an evolutionary!!!<br />Hence,many of the parents who smacked their children under his insistence will have adults with back pain..repressed anger,possible drug issues etc etc..unless those parents also apologise for such crimes(and,as parents themselves initially drawn to Cohen they'll display strong traits of denial of their own childhood...which makes the cultish aspect so Stockholm syndrome)<br />Anyway,that quite from her book titles 'THE TRUTH WILL SET YOU FREE)<br /><br />' in a bid to blot out the fear and pain of our abused younger self,we erase what we know can help us,fall prey to the seductiveness of sects and cults,fail to see through all kinds of lies,and assert that children need physical correction '<br />Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8775078.post-29923686723906871042013-08-13T02:44:33.036-07:002013-08-13T02:44:33.036-07:00When light reveals the deeply spiritualized egos o...When light reveals the deeply spiritualized egos on planet Earth, it is a good time for all of us. When seen for what it really is, it looses its power. <br />The whole idea that ego can be beaten down and overcome, excluded and even killed, is the BIG mistake, made by spiritual teachers throughout the times of humanity. You cannot even know your name without ego! <br />How long it will take AC to come into right relationship with ego, nobody knows. When having been fed by the enerrgy and praise of so many others for such a long time, when beeing so unconsciously identified with this denied spiritualized ego, with its apparent arrogance and mercylessness, it seems like a long time task. <br />Mercy on his soul!Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8775078.post-37617099089754558372013-07-30T20:52:07.982-07:002013-07-30T20:52:07.982-07:00This is cool!This is cool!Vernitahttp://bestmetaldetectorreviews.us/noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8775078.post-80130115916378147272013-07-15T20:24:28.873-07:002013-07-15T20:24:28.873-07:00This is an elaborate and clever attempt at shame t...This is an elaborate and clever attempt at shame tripping...Yet these gurus always have their apologists, and their victims are constantly being scolded for lacking autonomy, while these same gurus nag their student for having too much ego.<br /><br />---<br /><br />That's a righteous post.<br /><br />The bedazzled and ultimately bedeviled students of AC don't owe anyone an apology. <br /><br />AC owes everyone an apology - a real apology, a personal apology, an apology made real by returning funds he had no right to take from others, but did anyway, by power-tripping, spiritual manipulation, and good old fashioned bullying. <br /><br />Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8775078.post-61302741839381735492013-07-15T16:49:11.344-07:002013-07-15T16:49:11.344-07:00"You folk have eaten your meal. Now wash your..."You folk have eaten your meal. Now wash your bowl. Stop worrying about what Andrew must do to apologise to you. That is his problem. Work out who you must apologise to in your own lives for the energy you robbed from them to follow him"<br /><br />This is an elaborate and clever attempt at shame tripping. <br /><br />No need to bring up Bion. The group theorist whose work is most pertinent is Philip Zimbardo, whose Stanford Prison Experiment is the most accurate model for what ensued after Cohen, with the help of the #2 million dollars he and his minions screwed from Jane O'Neill purchased Foxhollow, and moved his abusive commune there. <br /><br />Social isolation. Zimbardo randomly selected Stanford University students to two groups --prison guards or prisoners--in the prison simulation exercise. <br /><br />**And informedd them they were all free to leave at any time. No promise was hinted that participation was part of a vangard movement in human spiritual history.<br /><br />As the days passed, the subjects FORGOT they were free to leave. Those assigned guards become more brutal, those randomly assigned prisoners became more submissive.<br /><br />It took a visit from Zimbardo's graduate student, who told him things were out of control that led Zimbardo to end this exmperiment early.<br /><br />Unlike Cohen, Zimbardo did not have a gang of celebrity enablers, such as Ken Wilber. <br /><br />And..let us not forget that people who did try to leave Andrew Cohens set up often had to leave at night, sometimes even having other students posted outside their doors to keep them from leaving. <br /><br />One woman took a rental car and was traced to another state and persuaded to return--an incident m entioned on this blog.<br /><br />Go and give the apology lecture to Andrew Cohen, Wilber and the others who endorsed him.<br /><br />And Kenny Wilber invited Philip Zimbardo to participate in his Spiritual Choices seminar, published in a book of that same name, edited by Wilber, Anthony and Eckler. <br /><br />Yet despite Zimbardo being listed in a footnote as one of the participants in this seminar, no mention is made in the book of the Stanford Prison Experiment. <br /><br />That experiment demonstrates how human behavior deteriorates in social isolation and that no one is immune, no matter how high his or her alleged spiritual attainment--not even an Andrew Cohen. <br /><br />Yet these gurus always have their apologists, and their victims are constantly being scolded for lacking autonomy, while these same gurus nag their student for having too much ego. <br /><br />Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8775078.post-51345282498470460592013-07-14T02:44:25.383-07:002013-07-14T02:44:25.383-07:00"Kings are killed, Mr. Garrison, politics is ..."Kings are killed, Mr. Garrison, politics is power, nothing more! Oh, don't take my word for it, don't believe me. Do your own work, your own thinking."<br /><br />I am not sure I buy this obsessing with NPD. Clearly it's true that Cohen is a narcissist from a pysch perspective, but their are narcissists everywhere, and most of us learn at an early age where to hold our boundaries with people safely. Diagnosing Cohen with the DSM is lazy and obvious. Understanding what is going on here is going to take a lot more work.<br /><br />Here are a few perspectives we should consider:<br /><br />1. Bion in 'Experiences with Groups' said that any group, left to its own devices, will choose the individual who is most disturbed to lead it. He also pointed out how close such a group will always be to another key dynamic of scapegoating and the key target will be that leader, although usually this can be deflected onto some other member of the group. We overcome this pattern by using 'work groups' with formal structures. I guess my point is that what has happened here is a very human kind of social process and shouldn't be 'blamed' so easily on one man, not that he is not culpable. The whole group has to raise it's game to avoid this kind of thing.<br /><br />2. I know from being on the fringe of another group that has exploded recently once the guru was exposed that before this happens the experiences, relationships and growth available in such a group are real, awesome, healing and transformative. They are also utterly unstable and empty. We are all pretending that we can have the benefits of the monastic life available to us while we live as lay folk and this is not true. This is the real instability that lies at the root of what has happened here. To pursue these paths as well as regular daily lives is to create a split and the only place that leads is towards getting burned. Some crash out early and learn this. Some wait for the group to crash, but the message is always the same. Real spirituality for householders is the agape of loving one's children while you clean up their shit, embracing our elderly as they become senile and aggressive. Where is it written that spiritual fireworks are a birthright? You folk have eaten your meal. Now wash your bowl. Stop worrying about what Andrew must do to apologise to you. That is his problem. Work out who you must apologise to in your own lives for the energy you robbed from them to follow him.<br />Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8775078.post-49950326764164655002013-07-07T10:30:22.494-07:002013-07-07T10:30:22.494-07:00I went looking for AC's "Declaration of I...I went looking for AC's "Declaration of Integrity" on his blog, but apparently it's not there anymore, even though the link is.<br /><br />http://andrewcohen.org/blog/index.php?/blog/post/declaration-of-integrity/<br /><br />Then I found an archived copy here:<br /><br />http://www.monkfishpublishing.com/pages/Andrew%20Cohen%20declaration-of-integrity.pdf<br /><br />It's well worth reading, if for no other reason than it provides a powerful insight into how deep the problem of egoic delusion really is.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8775078.post-68938583650720177082013-07-06T14:21:53.765-07:002013-07-06T14:21:53.765-07:00@ anonymous:
and next needs to come "and pu...@ anonymous: <br /><br />and next needs to come "and put your EE up yours too"<br /><br />---<br /><br />That's certainly a justified response, emotionally - but (like with so many emotional responses) it may produce more heat than light.<br /><br />Speaking as someone who never got caught in a guru trap, I think the more powerful, more constructive, and more DE-constructive response would be to simply assert the plain and unvarnished truth: the entire evolutionary enlightenment environment was just a massive delusion - a mass trance - a classic, and ultimately quite mundane, religious cult situation.<br /><br />There's really nothing to salvage here other than the human beings who were inevitably wounded by participating.<br /><br />There's really no point in going all Mussolini and saying, "Well, at least he made the trains run on time".<br /><br />Of course, as is so often the case, there will be those who simply cannot afford to make that judgement. Their ego defense mechanisms will require that they hold on to the fiction that there was (and remains) something good and true at the heart of the EE enterprise and environment. They will do everything they can to maintain that fiction in the face of what is now overwhelming evidence to the contrary.<br /><br />So the "deconstructive word" is, I believe, a critical component of the evaluation here - because it will serve as a catalyst for many who are wavering to simply let go of AC and EE once and for all.<br /><br />It is a necessary act of creative destruction - indeed, the very sort of act that Andrew Cohen and Ken Wilber were so in favor of when it applied to the egoic self-defense constructs of his followers.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8775078.post-3073253660161651952013-07-06T10:49:59.436-07:002013-07-06T10:49:59.436-07:00"I'm just amazed that it took this long.&..."I'm just amazed that it took this long."<br /><br />Yes, it took a very long time. Two books were published about Andrew, but the big breakthrough was creation of the WE? blog (this one) and the second great breakthourgh was Bill Yenner's book, which not only examined Andrew but Andrew's enablers and the entire abusiveness of the Integral scene. <br /><br />Its a measure of how shame tripped people were. And..yet again, we hacve to demand that letters, documents pictures and film footage taken of Andrews students under duress be returned to them. <br /><br />Andrew exacted love letters and apology letters, reportedly filmed one disciple trying to document the facial expression of rampant egotism.<br /><br />THis is emotional blackmail. It may be many people felt unable to speak because Andrew still owned parts of them--in the form of their letters, and even film footage taken of them under duress. <br /><br />As part of his apology Andrew must return all this to its owners and promise that no such material remains in his files. <br /><br />Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8775078.post-39668057388858522302013-07-06T04:20:23.387-07:002013-07-06T04:20:23.387-07:00yeah i agree this "fuck you andrew " wa...<br /><br />yeah i agree this "fuck you andrew " was a long time overdue or a long time in the coming.about time too that it finally happened !<br /><br />and next needs to come "and put your EE up yours too"Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8775078.post-42593465080976596022013-07-05T13:33:57.463-07:002013-07-05T13:33:57.463-07:00I'm just amazed that it took this long.I'm just amazed that it took this long.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8775078.post-52191419077687508752013-07-05T01:11:00.558-07:002013-07-05T01:11:00.558-07:00PR is about power and lies. I am no communications...PR is about power and lies. I am no communications 'professional' but is it not obvious that the best message for all concerned is a big honest 'Fuck you, Andrew', from his students. Spirituality is about authenticity after all. PR is about bullshit. It speaks volumes that the message has to be controlled in this way.Unknownhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15500916550764185556noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8775078.post-15539948321064845002013-07-04T11:52:07.591-07:002013-07-04T11:52:07.591-07:00@Martin Gifford:
Dramatic events! It will be in...@Martin Gifford: <br /><br />Dramatic events! It will be interesting to see how things develop. Cohen's post appears to be genuine. It must certainly be humbling for him.<br /><br />---<br /><br />@Andrew Cohen (last paragraph of the apology):<br /><br />One of the most beautiful fruits of my work over the years has been the international network of people who have studied, collaborated, and trained with me for so long. They are all examples of Evolutionary Enlightenment in their own right, and I couldn’t imagine a greater community of people to carry forward this movement. I’m looking forward to working with them in a very different way in the future.<br /><br />---<br /><br />That's not humbling, so much as it it is humble-bragging.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8775078.post-62282445420464809852013-07-03T20:16:04.022-07:002013-07-03T20:16:04.022-07:00As far as I can tell, none of Andrew's blog po...As far as I can tell, none of Andrew's blog posts have accepted comments. That's not uncommon for a public figure trying to control their message and avoid conflict and debate on their homepage. Often comments and discussions take place in the locations where blog posts are syndicated. I'd be surprised if the idea that critics may use the blog comments section to continuously speak out against Andrew wasn't involved in the thought process to disable comments, but again, it's not an entirely unusual strategy for a public figure trying to control their messaging. Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8775078.post-87766711356648494282013-07-02T22:20:17.291-07:002013-07-02T22:20:17.291-07:00Dramatic events! It will be interesting to see how...Dramatic events! It will be interesting to see how things develop. Cohen's post appears to be genuine. It must certainly be humbling for him.<br /><br />I too submitted a comment on his blog. Previously he deleted my comments, but maybe he will be braver now. I'm not sure of his legal situation but he might be concerned about incriminating himself. So I can understand him not publishing some risky comments. This is what I posted on his apology blog post:<br /><br /><i>"Dude, that was beautiful. I think you might be surprised how well things can progress from here. My tip - for what it's worth - is to check out the enneagram. I suspect your ego is type 1 with a 2 wing. If you can separate that contamination from pure simple heartfelt reality, your work will improve enormously. Also, perhaps you could consider the possibility that while the ego can look ugly, it actually has a purpose - to defend life. And the solution might not be for each of us to struggle with ourselves. Instead, we could work together to create an environment (culture) that supports our positives rather than triggering our negatives. I wish you well in your new exploration."</i><br /><br />That's tame enough, so it should be accepted.<br /><br />I also posted an article here: http://worldwidehappiness.blogspot.com.au/<br /><br />BTW I liked the comment about Ken Wilber being the George Costanza of guru endorsers. Hilarious and true. He recently backed Marc Gafni after another embarrassing sexual crisis. Hopeless. I also have a post on Gafni and Wilber in my blog above.Martin Giffordhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10023228201802051052noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8775078.post-37900991899630808352013-07-02T10:38:35.575-07:002013-07-02T10:38:35.575-07:00Just as an experiment, I tried posting a comment t...Just as an experiment, I tried posting a comment to AC's apology, talking about financial restitution as part of his repentance.<br /><br />Not surprisingly, the moderator of the comments would not publish them there.<br /><br />So, if anyone wants to say anything that is non-puerile on the subject, that's not the place to do it.<br /><br />More to the point, it's clear that AC and his remaining acolytes are in full damage control mode now.<br /><br />Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8775078.post-7697708454380299452013-06-29T04:12:25.586-07:002013-06-29T04:12:25.586-07:00I met A.C. in Kathmandu in 1990. Then in London in...I met A.C. in Kathmandu in 1990. Then in London in 1990. It was clear to me then that he had an ego the size of Everest and arrogance to match. He wanted me to join but I refused as I saw just how un-empowered his then followers were, and I didn't want to be part of it. I smelled no freedom, no bliss, no love, wisdom or compassion.<br />Evolutionary enlightenment made no sense to me.<br /><br />I am happy that he has stood down and I hope he is able to make good a lot of the suffering and confusion he has caused.<br /><br />I don't think he should carry out any prior teaching obligations.<br /><br />If he is truly set on addressing his narcissism, rather than a reinvention then this should already be apparent in his comportment.<br /><br />I wish him luck, if he finds his heart and true remorse then it would be very healing for many.<br /><br />Let's hope he isn't just bowing to pressure and reemerges with Evolutionary Enlightenment V2.0Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8775078.post-28834458199155609342013-06-29T01:49:07.492-07:002013-06-29T01:49:07.492-07:00
poonja used to say
IF WHEN AND BUT
and i repea...<br />poonja used to say <br /><br />IF WHEN AND BUT<br /><br />and i repeat that in regards<br /><br />to AC´s new found humility <br /><br />IF he does such amends i will accept that his conversion is real<br /><br />BUT till t(w)hen i assume it is just another clever PR attempt to suck people into his orbit or into his now teaching students orbit since ee if he steps down the org he founded continues and so do the revenues<br /><br />basically unless he does all those real sincere 12 steps outlined i do not belief a single word of that snake oil peddler<br /><br />sorry do i sound a little jaded ?<br />well 27 years of arrogant enlightenment posturing can have that effect on any bystander<br />yeah lets see some deeds rather then just a bunch of cheap words and crocodile tears<br />Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com