The Truth about Human Potential Seminars

Large Group Awareness Training denies it is a Large Group Awareness Training?

2009-11-15T05:12:00.000-08:00

There have been some interesting articles lately over at the online site for The Arizona Daily Star, about Large Group Awareness Training. In addition, there are some very good articles at the paper itself. They are:

November 3, 2009 – “Large Group Awareness Training”: A touchy label after the Sedona sweat-lodge deaths

November 5, 2009 – Psychology prof calls “plagiarism” on author of 2005 study on personal-transformation seminars

November 8, 2009 – ‘Transformation’ sessions claim high cost

November 8, 2009 – It’s buyer beware for personal-transformation seminars

November 10, 2009 – Is Landmark Forum an LGAT or not? And does it really matter?

At this last one from November 10, there is an interesting statement given from Landmark Education.

Let’s look at 2 issues from the Landmark Education statement. One, is the strange attempt by the Landmark Education representative to distance the company from the term “Large Group Awareness Training”, and the other is the ties of high-ranking executives that control Landmark Education to Werner Erhard and his prior company “est”.

Deborah Beroset, Director of Public Relations, Landmark Education, said: “As I said during our conversation a bit ago, Landmark really has no place in a story about LGATs. To characterize Landmark Education as a LGAT would not only be inaccurate, it would also damage the reputation of the company, its programs, and the approximately 1.2 million customers who have participated in Landmark Education’s programs and derived value from them.”

This statement seems quite odd – especially when this statement from Beroset is compared against writings of a highly-ranked executive within Landmark Education. Take a look at the paper “The Promise of Philosophy and the Landmark Forum”, Contemporary Philosophy, Vol. XXIII, No. 1 & 2, Jan/Feb & Mar/Apr 2001 Barbados Group Working Paper No. 01-01. Full cite is here, and the paper itself is here. One of the authors of this paper is a man named Steven Zaffron. Zaffron first became an executive for Werner Erhard and was an “est trainer” in Erhard’s company “Erhard Seminars Training” (Outrageous Betrayal by Steven Pressman, St. Martin’s Press: 1993, page 217). Currently, Zaffron serves the Landmark Education corporation as CEO of “Vanto Group”, formerly known as “Landmark Education Business Development”, and in addition, Zaffron has the highest-ranking “trainer” title in Landmark Education called “Landmark Forum Leader”.

In this paper co-authored by Zaffron, the phrase “Large Group Awareness Training” is used multiple times in reference to Landmark Education. Example on page 52: “Dennison’s dissertation,7 which categorizes the Landmark Forum as a “large group awareness training” is a qualitative study based on interviews with Forum graduates. He also reports predominantly positive outcomes and in addition, briefly summarizes philosophical components of the Forum. The extensive research literature on “large group awareness training” published in the 1970s and 80s (summarized in Finkelstein, Wenegrat, and Yalom8) is framed in psychological more than philosophical terms, albeit there is some reference to the training as existential psychotherapy.” Two different academic treatises are cited as references in the paper co-authored by Zaffron (see page 59, endnotes 7 and 8, Dennison 1994 and Finkelstein 1982) – and both have the phrase “Large Group Awareness Training” in their titles.

So, on the one hand you have Deborah Beroset, Director of Public Relations, Landmark Education, saying “To characterize Landmark Education as a LGAT would not only be inaccurate, it would also damage the reputation of the company…” and yet on the other hand – there is Steven Zaffron, former executive of Werner Erhard’s est, current CEO of Vanto Group (formerly Landmark Education Business Development), and current “Landmark Forum Leader”, readily using the term and referencing multiple academic papers that also use the term “Large Group Awareness Training”.

Next, let’s look at another statement from Deborah Beroset, Director of Public Relations, Landmark Education, where she says: “I noticed your ProfNet query mentioned “est” as well as Landmark Education. Landmark Education is a different company (we were established in 1991), and The Landmark Forum is not the est program (the two programs differ in their focus, material, methodology, and delivery). The person who created est sold the founders of Landmark Education his intellectual property…”

It is interesting to see this attempt to separate Landmark Education from what Beroset refers to as “The person who created est…”. Well, the person who created est was Werner Erhard. As already stated above, high-ranking Landmark Education executive Steven Zaffron, was previously an executive within Erhard’s est training, and an “est trainer” before he was a “Landmark Forum Leader”. Werner Erhard’s brother, Harry Rosenberg, is CEO of Landmark Education. Werner Erhard’s sister, Joan Rosenberg, is listed as a Director of Landmark Education. And last but not least, attorney Art Schreiber is Chairman of the Board of Landmark Education (also see list of directors) and and is also General Counsel of Landmark Education. Prior to his work at Landmark Education, Art Schreiber was General Counsel for “Werner Erhard and Associates” (“$5 Million Lawsuit Filed Against EST”, San Jose Mercury News, December 5, 1985, page 8A.) In addition, Art Schreiber also served as an attorney representing Werner Erhard (“$15 Million Suit Against Werner Erhard Is Dropped”, by Susan Sward, San Francisco Chronicle, October 26, 1985, page 2).

So Werner Erhard’s brother is CEO of Landmark Education, his sister is a Director of Landmark Education, and his attorney is Chairman of the Board of Landmark Education.

On a side note, BoingBoing.net has published a legal letter sent to the website from a Terry M. Giles, yet another attorney for Werner Erhard. Giles owns “Tekniko Licensing Corporation”. The company “Tekniko Licensing Corporation” is also a subsidiary of Landmark Education.

'The Landmark debate' in Bangkok Post

2008-11-07T21:34:00.000-08:00

The Landmark Debate, by Al Lock - November 6, 2008, in Bangkok Post

A great article on this controversial large group awareness training organization.

A very interesting quote from the article: This sounds suspiciously like the process used by the Soviets in preparing confessions for their show trials or the first stage of the brainwashing process.

Here is another blog’s take on the article: Don’t Be Fooled: We Are Now Under Attack.

And for some enlightening historical background, read: Why did Landmark leave France?

Find out more about Landmark Education at the Introduction to the Landmark Education litigation archive - a truly invaluable resource.

Letting the LGAT out of the Bag

2008-10-28T01:49:00.001-07:00

Letting the LGAT out of the Bag - This December 16, 2004 post from blogger gus van horn may be a few years old, but it is still left me touched, moved and inspired.

Read 'Slave Labor' for a detailed analysis

2008-10-08T04:33:00.001-07:00

Slave Labor and Fauxlosophy PART I

- A very well thought out and detailed analysis.

Who is wise? Why, Alex is wise.

Can’t wait to see the next post “Part II”.

Skeptik is wise.

2008-10-05T06:22:00.000-07:00

Skeptik is wise.

Even the guy’s username is wise. It is healthy to be a skeptik - it is wise to question and probe and educate oneself about these controversial types of Large Group Awareness Training organizations and companies.

Skeptik is wise.

What are the criteria of a ‘cult’ ?

2008-10-03T05:21:00.000-07:00

What are the criteria of a ‘cult‘ ?

A relatively new YouTube user, bradbavarde, compares a description from Webster’s Dictionary to his opinion of certain characteristics of a Large Group Awareness Training organization. Take a moment to watch this video about bradbavarde’s commentary on these criteria, and decide for yourself:

Here are some additional resources discussing ‘cult’ criteria:

What is a Destructive Cult? - FACTnet

Criteria for Determining If a Group is a Destructive Cult - Cult Awareness and Information Center

Dr. Robert Jay Lifton’s Criteria for Thought Reform - ex-cult Resource Center

Defining a Cult - The Ross Institute Internet Archive for the Study of Destructive Cults, Controversial Groups and Movements

Cults 101: Checklist of Cult Characteristics - International Cultic Studies Association

What are the Characteristics of a Religious Cult? - The Prem Rawat Talk Forum

And once again, a more humorous but also disturbing take on how to start a “Mind Control Cult”:

As always, you are encouraged to watch the above videos, read the information provided at the links, research more and educate yourselves - and decide for yourself.

Concerns raised around the blogosphere

2008-09-04T14:07:00.000-07:00

Here are some posts you may find enlightening, I know I did.

(Click on the bolded dates for the posts)

Iron Raptor looks like he’s at least using the Internet to do some preliminary research which is a very good thing. Take a look at this post from August 30, 2008.

Skeptik is wise, this post is from August 10, 2008.

Lady Nyo posts in this August 10, 2008 piece how she is “losing friends to a particular cult” and my heart goes out to her.

Though this blog is called Rambling Content, the concerns raised don’t seem rambling at all. Check out this post from August 8, 2008.

Cult News always has great stuff, very well researched, here is a disturbing piece from August 5, 2008.

Marmalade has some interesting points to consider here in this post about New Age from July 21, 2008.

The Macho Response has lots of good stuff as usual, here is a gem from July 17, 2008.

This July 4, 2008 post from the Complicity blog has lots and lots of valuable links and resources.

Jedi mind f__k ?

2008-09-03T08:41:00.000-07:00

Johan is wise.

Read his wise words in this post from his blog, Aventures d’un métis:A day in the life of a half-breed - specifically this wise blog post from August 27, 2008.

Johan is wise.

Controversial development training cited in religious discrimination lawsuits

2008-06-04T04:06:00.000-07:00

Friday, May 23, 2008

A controversial development training course called "Landmark Forum" is cited in religious discrimination lawsuits in United States federal courts in New York and Washington, D.C. The seminars are run by a San Francisco, California-based for-profit training company called Landmark Education. The company evolved from Erhard Seminars Training "est", and has faced criticism regarding its techniques and its use of unpaid labor. The sperm bank and surrogacy company Los Angeles-based Growing Generations is named as a defendant in the New York lawsuit, and the Democratic political action committee Twenty-First Century Democrats is a defendant in the Washington, D.C. case.

In separate lawsuits filed in the United States District Court for the Southern District of New York in Manhattan, New York, and in the United States District Court for the District of Columbia in Washington, D.C., former employees are suing their employers for monetary damages and claiming religious discrimination after their employers allegedly mandated that they attend courses at Landmark Education.

In the US$3 million federal lawsuit filed in New York, Scott Glasgow is suing his former employer Growing Generations and its CEO Stuart Miller. Growing Generations maintains sperm banks and also arranges surrogacy for gay couples who wish to have children. The company has offices in New York and Los Angeles, and has done business with celebrities including actor B. D. Wong of Law & Order: SVU.

Glasgow was marketing director of Growing Generations, and claims he was fired in June 2007 after refusing to continue attending Landmark Education seminars. Glasgow is also suing for sexual harassment, and claims Miller came on to him in September 2006. He made approximately $100,000 per year as the company's marketing director, and was the company's only employee based out of New York City. The company's main offices are in Los Angeles.

"I was shocked when I was fired. It took me months to right myself. I want them to stop imposing Landmark on the employees, and I want an apology," said Glasgow in a statement in The Village Voice. Brent Pelton, one of Glasgow's attorneys, stated that: "The Landmark philosophy is deeply ingrained in the culture of the company". Glasgow said that the Landmark Education training courses were "opposite" to his Christian beliefs. According to Glasgow he was questioned by Miller in May 2007 after he walked out of a Landmark Education course, and was fired shortly thereafter. "We stand by the allegations contained in the complaint and we look forward to proving them at trial," said Pelton in a statement to ABC News.

Ian Wallace, an attorney who represents Growing Generations, claimed that Glasgow wasn't fired but walked away from his position. "Growing Generations and Mr. Miller are very confident that these claims will be dismissed ultimately, and there's no factual basis for them whatsoever," said Wallace in a statement to The Village Voice. Lawyers representing Growing Generations and Stuart Miller declined comment to The New York Post, and did not immediately return a message from ABC News.

In Glasgow's complaint, entered into federal court record on April 18, he asserts that Landmark Education constitutes a "religion", and "perceived their philosophy as a form of religion that contradicted his own personal beliefs". He states that when he was promoted to Director of Marketing, he asked Miller if he could stop attending the Landmark sessions but was told that they were mandatory for all of the company's executives and that Landmark is "very much the language of the company." Glasgow said his performance at the company was assessed based on how he was "touching, moving and inspiring" others, a phrase from the Landmark philosophy, as opposed to his business accomplishments at the company. The complaint claims that the actions of Miller and Growing Generations violated Federal, New York State and New York City civil rights laws.

The lawsuit filed in federal court in Washington, D.C. deals with a separate plaintiff and company, but the plaintiff in the suit also claims that religious discrimination took place for allegedly being mandated to attend Landmark Education courses. Kenneth Goldman is suing the United States Democratic political action committee Twenty-First Century Democrats (also 21st Century Democrats) and its former executive director Kelly Young. Goldman was formerly the communications director of 21st Century Democrats.

According to Goldman's complaint, three employees of 21st Century Democrats were fired after refusing to attend the Landmark Forum course. The complaint asserts that Landmark Education has "religious characteristics and theological implications" which influenced the mission of 21st Century Democrats and the way the organization conducted business. Goldman's complaint states that in addition to himself, a training director and field director were also fired after they made it clear they would not attend the Landmark Forum.

Goldman says executive director Young infused Landmark Education jargon terms into staff meetings such as "create possibilities", "create a new context", and "enroll in possibilities". He also claims that Young "urged" staff members to participate in Landmark Education events outside of the workplace, drove employees to and from Landmark functions, and used funds from 21st Century Democrats to pay for employees to attend those functions. Goldman's complaint asserts that he was discriminated against in violation of the District of Columbia Human Rights Act.

In a statement in The Washington Times, the executive director of 21st Century Democrats, Mark Lotwis, called the lawsuit "frivolous" and said: "we're going to defend our organization's integrity". Landmark Education spokeswoman Deborah Beroset said that the Landmark Forum "is in no way religious in nature and any claim to the contrary is simply absurd," and stated: "While we are not a party to this lawsuit and have no firsthand knowledge of it, we can only assume that we are being used as a legal and political football to further the plaintiff"s own financial interests."

The New York lawsuit was filed April 14, and is still in early filing stages. A conference with the federal court judge in the case has been scheduled for June 17. The Washington, D.C. suit began in November 2007, and entered mediation this past March. As of April 15 the parties in the case were due back to court on July 11 to update the court on the mediation process.

Landmark Education is descended from Erhard Seminars Training, also called "est", which was founded by Werner Erhard. est began in 1971, and Erhard's company Werner Erhard and Associates repackaged the course as "The Forum" in 1985. Associates of Erhard bought the license to his "technology" and incorporated Landmark Education in California in 1991.

This is not the first time employees have sued claiming mandatory attendance at "Forum" workshops violated their civil rights. In a lawsuit filed in December 1988 in the United States District Court for the Northern District of Georgia, eight employees of DeKalb Farmers Market in Decatur, Georgia sued their employer claiming their religious freedom and civil rights were violated when they were allegedly coerced into attending "Forum" training sessions. "Many of these training programs, particularly at large corporations, claim to be purely psychological, aimed at improving productivity and morale and loyalty. But in fact they are religious," said University of Denver religious studies professor Carl Raschke in a statement to The Wall Street Journal.

The DeKalb Farmers Market employees were represented by lawyers for the American Civil Liberties Union. Consulting Technologies Inc., an affiliate of Transformational Technologies Inc., was named as a party in the lawsuit. Transformational Technologies was founded by Werner Erhard, and was not named as a party in the suit. The "Forum" course that the employees claimed they were mandated to attend was developed by Werner Erhard and Associates. Employees said that they were fired or pressured to quit after they objected to the Forum courses.

The workers claimed that the Forum course contradicted with their religious beliefs. The plaintiffs in the suit included adherents of varying religious backgrounds, including Christianity and Hinduism. "The sessions put people into a hibernating state. They ask for total loyalty. It's like brainwashing," said Dong Shik Kim, one of the plaintiffs in the case. The plaintiffs said they lost their jobs after objecting to a "new age quasi-religious cult" which they said was developed by Werner Erhard.

The DeKalb Farmers Market denied the allegations, and an attorney for the company Edward D. Buckley III told The Wall Street Journal that employees were encouraged, not coerced, to attend the training sessions. According to The Wall Street Journal, The Forum said it would not sanction workers being coerced to attend its training sessions.

The parties in the DeKalb Farmers Market religious discrimination case came to a settlement in May 1989, and the case was dismissed with prejudice in June. The terms of the out-of-court settlement were not made public, but the employees' attorney Amy Totenberg told The Wall Street Journal that the case "has made employers come to grips with the legitimate boundaries of employee training".

According to Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, employers must "reasonably accommodate" their employees' religious beliefs unless this creates "undue hardship". In September 1988, the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission issued a policy-guidance notice which stated that New Age courses should be handled under Title VII of the Act. According to the Commission, employers must provide "reasonable accommodation" if an employee challenges a training course, unless this causes "undue hardship" for the company.

In October 2006, Landmark Education took legal action against Google, YouTube, the Internet Archive and a website owner in Queensland, Australia in attempts to remove criticism of its products from the Internet. The company sought a subpoena under the Digital Millennium Copyright Act in an attempt to discover the identity of an anonymous critic who uploaded a 2004 French documentary of the Landmark Forum to the Internet. "Voyage au pays des nouveaux gourous" (Voyage to the Land of the New Gurus) was produced by Pièces à Conviction, a French investigative journalism news program. The Electronic Frontier Foundation represented the anonymous critic and the Internet Archive, and Landmark withdrew its subpoena in November 2006 in exchange for a promise from the anonymous critic not to repost the video.

Landmark Education itself has come under scrutiny for its controversial labor practices. The company has been investigated by the United States Department of Labor in separate investigations originating out of California, Colorado, and Texas. Investigations focused on the heavy reliance of unpaid labor in the company's workforce, which Landmark Education calls "assistants" and deems volunteers.

An investigation by the U.S. Dept. Labor based out of Colorado found that activities performed by Landmark Education's "assistants" include: "office, clerical, telephone solicitation and enrollment, as well as greeting customers, setting up chairs, handling microphones during the seminars and making coffee. Additionally, a number of volunteers actually teach the courses and provide testimonials during and after the courses." The Colorado investigation's 1996 report found that "No records are kept of any hours worked by any employees." According to a 1998 article in Metro Silicon Valley: "In the end the Department of Labor dropped the issue, leaving Landmark trumpeting about its volunteers' choice in the matter." Metro Silicon Valley reported that Landmark Education at the time employed 451 paid staff, and also utilized the services of 7,500 volunteers.

After an investigation into Landmark Education's labor practices by the U.S. Dept. Labor's offices out of California, the company was deemed to have overtime violations. According to the Department of Labor's 2004 report on the investigation, back wages of $187,569.01 were found due to 45 employees. An investigation by the U.S. Dept. Labor in Texas which concluded in 2005 stated: "Minimum wage violation found. Volunteers (Assistants) are not paid any wages for hours worked while performing the major duties of the firm. The assistants set up rooms, call registrants, collect fees, keep stats of classroom data/participants, file, they also are answering phones, training and leading seminars."

The Texas investigation also discovered an overtime violation. Landmark Education agreed to pay back wages for the overtime violation, but did not comply with the overtime violation found by the U.S. Dept. Labor for the "assistants". Landmark Education denied that the "assistants" are employees, though the Department of Labor report concluded: "Interviews reveal that the employees are taking payments, registering clients, billing, training, recruiting, setting up locations, cleaning, and other duties that would have to be performed by staff if the assistants did not perform them."

According to the 2004 investigative report by Pièces à Conviction in the "Voyage au pays des nouveaux gourous" program, Landmark Education was investigated by the French government in 1995. In the "Voyage au pays des nouveaux gourous" program volunteers were filmed through a hidden camera and shown performing duties for Landmark Education in France including manning phones, recruitment and financial work for the company, and one volunteer was shown cleaning a toilet.

Le Nouvel Observateur reported that after "Voyage au pays des nouveaux gourous" aired in France, labor inspectors investigated Landmark Education's use of unpaid volunteers. According to Le Nouvel Observateur, one month after the labor investigation took place the French branch of the company had disbanded. A former "Introduction Leader" to the Landmark Forum, Lars Bergwik, has recently posted a series of videos to YouTube critical of the company and its practices. Bergwik appeared on a 2004 investigative journalism program on Sweden's Channel 4, Kalla Fakta (Cold Facts). According to Bergwik, after the Kalla Fakta program on Landmark Education aired, "Landmark left Sweden".

Sources

"Lawsuit Claims Sex Harassment, Cultish Behavior". ABC News, May 23, 2008
"Sperm bank employee claims harassment". United Press International, May 22, 2008
Kati Cornell "Bondage Boss Is A Bad Seed: Suit". New York Post, May 22, 2008
Graham Rayman "Suit Against Sperm-Bank Firm Claims Sexual Harassment and Cult-Like Behavior". Village Voice, May 20, 2008
Lars Bergwik "Landmark Education Lars Bergwik part 1". YouTube, May 6, 2008
Jim McElhatton "Democratic PAC faces lawsuit for employee 'religious events'". The Washington Times, November 27, 2007
David Wachtel (attorney for plaintiff) "Kenneth Goldman v. Twenty-First Century Democrats". United States District Court for the District of Columbia, November 19, 2007
Wage and Hour Division, U.S. Dept. Labor (Texas) "Compliance Action Report - Landmark Education". United States Department of Labor, June 26, 2007
Marie Lemonnier "With the gurus wearing neckties: 395 euros for three days". Le Nouvel Observateur, May 19, 2005
Wage and Hour Division, U.S. Dept. Labor (California) "Narrative Report (FLSA) - Landmark Education". United States Department of Labor, December 8, 2004
Traci Hukill "The est of Friends: Werner Erhard's protégés and siblings carry the torch for a '90s incarnation of the '70s 'training' that some of us just didn't get". Metro Silicon Valley, July 9, 1998
Wage and Hour Division, U.S. Dept. Labor (Colorado) "Compliance Action Report - Landmark Education". United States Department of Labor, May 4, 1996
Margaret Singer "Intruding into the Workplace". Cults in Our Midst, 1995
"'New Age' Training Suit Against Market Settled Out of Court". The Wall Street Journal, May 31, 1989
George White (Los Angeles Times) "Employees strike back against 'human potential seminars'". Times Union, March 25, 1989
Martha Brannigan "Employers' 'New Age' Training Programs Lead to Lawsuits Over Workers' Rights". The Wall Street Journal, January 9, 1989
Martha Brannigan "Training Course Sparks U.S. Suit By Market Workers". The Wall Street Journal, December 8, 1988

Credit: Wikinews
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Former ‘Landmark Forum’ Introduction Leader speaks out

2008-05-28T04:48:00.000-07:00

Lars Bergwik was an “Introduction Leader” to the Landmark Forum course at Landmark Education. He is now speaking out publicly against Landmark Education in video posts on YouTube.

I think his videos speak best for themselves so I will just say go watch them. If you don’t have much time, just watch the first one.

Here are his videos about Landmark (there are seven so far):

Landmark Education Lars Bergwik part 1

Landmark Education Lars Bergwik Video part 2

Landmark Education - Lars Bergwik on Randy McNamara - FL

Landmark Education - Lars talks part one

Landmark Education - Lars talks part two

Landmark education -Lars talks part three

Landmark Eduction - Lars talks part four

Some links:

Discussion thread about it at Cult Education Forum

Discussion thread about it at alt.fan.landmark

Blog post at The Macho Response: Go, Lars, Go!!!

Why did Landmark Education Leave France? - Cult News

Australian Defence Department funds controversial development training

2008-05-08T14:44:00.000-07:00

Thursday, April 3, 2008

Australia's Department of Defence spent thousands of dollars on controversial development seminars, Australian media reported Wednesday. The seminars are run by a San Francisco, California-based training company called Landmark Education. The company evolved from Erhard Seminars Training "est", and has faced criticism regarding its techniques and its use of unpaid labor.

Australia's Defence Minister Warren Snowdon said that the government is in the process of reviewing Defence Department expenditures on career development. "We're in the process now of doing an audit, completely unrelated with anything to do with Landmark, which is being undertaken into learning and development to make sure that they meet our needs. ... We have to be very sure that the courses that people do undertake are relevant, appropriate and indeed in line with what community expectations might be," said Snowdon in an appearance on ABC Radio.

The Australian and Australia's ABC News reported that Landmark Education had been listed in France as a "possible cult" in the mid 1990s. When asked about this on ABC Radio, a spokeswoman for the company in the United States, Deborah Beroset, responded: "What happened in France was that a commission established by the French parliament issued a report in which they listed almost 200 organisations as being possible cults ... We were never contacted. We were inappropriately included in that list".

In a program which aired Wednesday, the Australian Broadcasting Corporation radio program AM reported that Australia's Defence Department spent at least AUD12,270 of taxpayer funds to send government employees to Landmark Education courses. According to AM, the Defence Department said it does not appear that further funds have been sent to Landmark Education since 2004.

In a statement released by the Defence Department, the government stated: "A search of Defence records does not indicate exactly how many individuals attended courses with this training provider, however it is believed it was a small number of individuals. ... Defence has been unable to determine individual reasons for why groups within Defence choose this training provider."

AM also reported that the use of unpaid labor by Landmark Education "has attracted the attention of the US and French governments," and that some individuals in the mental health field have accused the company of brainwashing. When asked about the allegations by mental health experts that Landmark Education's techniques amounted to brainwashing, Deborah Beroset responded: "Well, there is absolutely no credence to that whatsoever."

In a March 9 article in the Herald Sun, Peter Rolfe reported that taxpayer money was used to send at least 37 police and government staff from Victoria, Australia to seminars run by Landmark Education. Police and Emergency Services Minister Bob Cameron said that "Decisions on the appropriateness of staff attending courses by Landmark Education are made by individual managers who remain best-placed to assess the development needs of their staff," but State Liberal MP Murray Thompson told the Herald Sun that the funds should have been put towards fighting crime. Apple Inc., Reebok and Mercedes-Benz have sent employees to Landmark Education seminars, according to a spokeswoman for Landmark.

In October 2006, Landmark Education took legal action against Google, YouTube, the Internet Archive and a website owner in Queensland, Australia in attempts to remove criticism of its products from the Internet. The company sought a subpoena under the Digital Millennium Copyright Act in an attempt to discover the identity of an anonymous critic who uploaded a 2004 French documentary of the Landmark Forum to the Internet. "Voyage au pays des nouveaux gourous" (Voyage to the Land of the New Gurus) was produced by Pièces à Conviction, a French investigative journalism news program. The Electronic Frontier Foundation represented the anonymous critic and the Internet Archive, and Landmark withdrew its subpoena in November 2006 in exchange for a promise from the anonymous critic not to repost the video.

Sources

"Defence sends staff on 'cult' courses: The Department of Defence has spent thousands of dollars on professional development courses run by an organisation listed in France as a possible cult". The Australian, April 2, 2008
Daniel Hoare "Defence Dept under fire over professional development spending". AM (ABC Radio), April 2, 2008
"Defence workers trained by 'cult': The Defence Department has admitted some of its personnel have undertaken professional development courses run by an organisation that had been listed as a possible cult". ABC News (Australia), April 2, 2008
"Defence Dept under fire over professional development courses (AM)". AM (ABC Radio), April 2, 2008
"Govt doing audit of Defence Dept professional development courses (AM)". AM (ABC Radio), April 2, 2008
Peter Rolfe "We pay for seminars: Taxpayers are picking up the bill to send police officers and bureaucrats on a controversial personal enlightenment course". Herald Sun, March 9, 2008
K.C. Jones "Landmark Drops Copyright Infringement Subpoenas On Google And Anonymous Critic: Landmark sought a subpoena to find out who posted hidden camera footage from an event held by the French branch of the organization". InformationWeek, December 1, 2006
"Landmark and the Internet Archive". Electronic Frontier Foundation, November 29, 2006
Traci Hukill "The est of Friends: Werner Erhard's protégés and siblings carry the torch for a '90s incarnation of the '70s 'training' that some of us just didn't get". Metro Silicon Valley, July 9, 1998

Credit: Wikinews
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Useful information from two Ph.D.’s, a parody play, and other LGAT discussion

2007-11-22T06:23:00.000-08:00

Some Large Group Awareness Training related news, information and postings:

Related to our prior post, Mankind Project or Dancing Naked With Other Men While Beating Cooked Chickens, in a post “Article raises questions about New Warriors Adventure” - Professor of Psychology Dr. Warren Throckmorton cites strange practices by the group including: Blindfolded walking tours in the nude; People blowing sage smoke in his face while 50 or so naked men danced around candles; Men sitting naked in a circle discussing their sexual histories while passing a wooden dildo called “The Cock”; and of course, Naked men beating cooked chickens with a hammer.

“Landmark Forum and the Red Flags” is an amusing, humorous satirical parody play discussing what the writer refers to as the “Formicans”, and a character’s research through both direct experience and (wisely so) also through research on the internet about this fictional parody group.

The Cult News Network provides a link to an “Ongoing legal complaint re: Werner Erhard on Wikipedia ?” The issue is also discussed at the Cult Education Forum, under the topic: “Large Group Awareness Training, ‘Human Potential’ “

Echidne of the Snakes has an interesting piece called “A Guest Post on the Mankind Project.” The writer cites the Houston Press article, “Naked Men: The Mankind Project and Michael Scinto.” However, the most interesting quote from the Echidne of the Snakes post, would probably be a warning about secrecy related to Large Group Awareness Training organizations: “Secrecy can be a good thing, but insisting on secrecy on this level should make us worried.”

The Post of Athens, Ohio in an article called “Conquering coercion” has some very valuable information about coercive groups, and provides a list of “Warning Signs for College Students”. In its research for the piece, The Post consulted with psychologist Dr. Paul Martin, director of the Wellspring Retreat and Resource Center. Dr. Martin was influenced by the work of Harvard-trained psychiatrist Dr. Robert Lifton, who wrote about the Eight Criteria for Thought Reform.

Dr. Doni Whitsett discussed deceptive mind control techniques and tactics often used by “destructive groups”, in an article in the Daily Trojan. Dr. Whitsett gave some advice to parents of potential victims of these deceptive practices: “Don’t be discouraged by resistance … Kids will remember your questions when they begin to doubt. Question, but don’t give advice.” This is very good advice, because through questioning and asking good points and probing into the background of some of these deceptive groups, the parents can begin to restimulate the rational skepticism of their child that may have been laying dormant as a result of harmful tactics they may have experienced.

Small Company Secrets: The MindBend experience, by Paul Burri, Goleta Valley Voice. A great little piece about a weekend “seminar” called MindBend (name changed to protect the author of the article from being sued), which is described as being similar to EST. Burri provides some excellent advice at the end of the article: “Do not ever allow anyone to put you in an uncomfortable situation. Speak up and ask to have the rules changed, the setting changed or to make whatever changes are necessary to make you feel comfortable. It will keep you from agreeing to something that you might regret later.”

Drinking the Kool Aid - Press censored by complaint of “libel” ?

2007-10-25T19:31:00.000-07:00

On October 24, 2007, the Daily Orange, a student newspaper in Syracuse, New York, posted an article entitled: “Drinking the Kool Aid: Cults target college students in recruitment.” This article discussed the presence of cults on the Syracuse University campus, and also gave information from cult expert Carol Giambalvo, a member of the board of directors for the International Cultic Studies Association, and Syracuse University dean of Hendricks Chapel, Thomas Wolfe. Giambalvo stated that cults can masquerade as activist, self-improvement and religious groups.

If you go to the Web page where this article was located, you can no longer read the article on “Drinking the Kool Aid.” Instead a notice is displayed from the editor, stating that the Daily Orange removed the body of the article because it contained “libel,” and they apologized to “the parties involved.” Unfortunately, we do not know specifically what the allegation of libel was regarding, and what group made the allegation of libel, or even what groups were specifically analyzed in the article itself. It is certainly possible that one of the groups mentioned in the article contacted the paper and alleged a cry of “libel,” in order to get critical information quickly taken off of the internet. It is also possible that the Daily Orange editor, with no external provocation, chose to censor their own article without any actual threats or complaints from any outside group. At the moment, that key fact is not publicly known. But the censorship itself did occur.

The comments section below the notice from the editor is still active, and the readers have made eight interesting key comments about the censorship of the article. One commenter posted a quick and funny note one hour after the censorship: “Quick….to the lawyers. Truth be damned.” Others have hazarded guesses about which group may have complained resulting in the censorship of the Daily Orange. We will not make guesses ourselves about that, and instead allow you to read the comments at their site and discuss and rationalize for yourselves what may have provoked this censorship.

Interestingly enough and of direct relation to our site’s title, the eighth and last commenter below the censored article discussed Large Group Awareness Training, and also spoke positively of his experiences with the group Landmark Forum. Was Landmark Forum discussed in the censored Daily Orange article? Well, we do not know for sure, because the article is removed, but it is interesting that others are commenting about it, both positively and negatively, in the comments section below the article. However, Landmark Forum has been referred to by academics as a form of Large Group Awareness Training. One such recent reference would be:

Rubinstein, Gidi. “Characteristics of participants in the Forum, psychotherapy clients, and control participants: A comparative study”, Psychology and Psychotherapy: Theory, Research and Practice, (2005) 78, 481-492. The British Psychological Society.

The article is a very interesting read. Whether or not Landmark Education was mentioned in the article aside, it is most intriguing to note that they have acted in the past to attempt to remove critical information on the internet, and have explained this by claiming that such critical information is “libel.” Attorneys Skolnik and Norwick of firm Lowenstein Sandler PC have written an excellent article summarizing some of this history, called: “Introduction to the Landmark Education litigation archive“. They explain that they created this Landmark Education litigation archive so that future attorneys defending clients critical of Landmark Forum and accused of libel do not have to go through and spend as much time researching Landmark Education’s history of litigation as Skolnik and Norwick did. More recently, Landmark Education attempted to get the video known as “Voyage to the Land of the New Gurus” removed from the internet. More about that at: “Landmark Education wants to make French news report a “forbidden video” on the Net.” The Web site Chilling Effects, which documents usage of the Digital Millenium Copyright Act to remove material from the internet, as well as other forms of censorship on the net, has posted a copy of a letter sent by Landmark Education attorneys to a Web site, asking them to remove the “Voyage to the Land of the New Gurus” video and associated transcript from their site, called the Cult Awareness and Information Centre, which is based in Australia. Oddly enough, Chilling Effects decided to title the page where they host this letter from Landmark Education lawyers very similarly to the currently censored article from the Daily Orange. The page at Chilling Effects is titled: Who is bringing the Kool Aid?

As a caveat to the potential “lawyers” as the first commentator we spoke of above alluded to - we will make this statement here: Please note carefully - It is not our job on this site to characterize any group as a “cult” or to say that any group is not a “cult.” You can find information on “cults” at other Web sites, some of which we have discussed in the past as references, including the respected International Cultic Studies Association mentioned above, that publishes the peer reviewed journal, the Cultic Studies Review. Our interest in these posts is to educate the reader about Large Group Awareness Trainings, and their history, background, methodology and tactics. Therefore, we will not get into trying to parse which groups are widely considered “cults” and which are not, but rather will instead discuss and explain groups that are widely considered to be Large Group Awareness Trainings. We will leave the cult identification and discussion, to the experts.

Related links:
Discussion about the censored Daily Orange article is going on at the Cult Education Forum, under the topic Large Group Awareness Training, “Human Potential” .

Mankind Project or Dancing Naked With Other Men While Beating Cooked Chickens

2007-10-06T18:58:00.000-07:00

The controversial group known as Mankind Project and also known as New Warrior Training Adventure has gotten some interesting online exposure lately.

A little background - Mark Roggeman, an exit-counselor for individuals trapped in cults, writes at the Haven Ministries site : "MKP [Mankind Project] history comes through a long line of Human Potential Movements that began in the 1960’s." Roggeman cites Mind Dynamics, and the book The Pit: A Group Encounter Defiled for some background on the Human Potential Movement. He goes on to cite some controversial groups that influenced this movement as well as Mankind Project, such as Lifespring, Werner Erhard, Erhard Seminars Training (Roggeman puts it that this group has "transformed itself into the Landmark Forum."), Justin Sterling and Sterling Institute of Relationship. More at Roggeman's article, aptly titled The Mankind Project. Also check out Roggeman's article, Oh Man, What Kind of Project Is This?

If you really want to learn a whole lot more about some of the more interesting and somewhat controversial practices of the group, check out this long discussion thread at the Cult Education Forum. As of last check, the message board thread is over 52 pages long !

Oh, and the satirical poke, humorous take for the title of this post? Yeah, that wasn't just something the writer of this post made up - according to the Houston Press, men do really dance naked while beating cooked chickens at some of these Mankind Project events !

But the truth is not funny, and not satirical, unfortunately. For more on this, read the sad, sad story, of Michael Scinto.

Recent articles on Mankind Project :

Ronnie Earle, Travis Co. (TX) DA, Dances Naked With Other Men While Beating Cooked Chickens, Red State

Cover Story: The ManKind Project, Houston Press, October 4, 2007

Naked Men: The ManKind Project and Michael Scinto, Houston Press, October 4, 2007 - "The organization was supposed to make him a better man. Instead, his parents say, it made him a dead one."

For more background and resources :

The Mankind Project, article at Haven Ministries site, written by Mark Roggeman - "Mark Roggeman has been involved in outreach to those affected by cults and other high demand groups for a period of thirty years."

Mankind Project / New Warrior Training Adventure, information and archived articles, at the Rick A. Ross Institute for the Study of Destructive Cults, Controversial Groups and Movements

Oh Man, What Kind of Project Is This?", by Mark Roggeman, Midwest Outreach 12 (1), Pages 8-10.

Discussion groups and message boards :

Discussion thread on Mankind Project, Cult Education Forum, begun with the emotional plea: "Anyone with any information regarding this group, please I beg you to post it here. It is horrifying what these men and women go through. Any feedback is appreciated."

ex_mkp · ex_mkp-Freedom from ManKind Project cult, Yahoo! Group, mentioned in the Houston Press article, Naked Men: The ManKind Project and Michael Scinto - "This group is for help and support of men and their families who have had problems with the ManKind Project or NWTA New Warrior Training Adventure "

NXIVM aka Executive Success Programs ‘cult’ references and controversial Clinton connections

2007-10-03T22:08:00.000-07:00

The controversial “training” group known as NXIVM, formerly known as Executive Success Programs (ESP), has been getting a lot of coverage in the press lately related to financial ties to various New York State politicians. Increasingly, headlines in the press and media have referred to the group as a ‘cult’, and cult expert Rick Ross, in a 2003 article, compared the NXIVM teachings to: “an amalgamated version of belief systems like Scientology, EST and Landmark Education.”

Here are some of the more recent media and press articles, from September and October 2007 :

Political connections take to the air, September 14, 2007 - Albany Times Union reports on mysterious flights funded by NXIVM for New York State Republican party members.

HILLARY’S $30000 FANS ARE HER ‘CULT’ FOLLOWING, October 1, 2007 - New York Post - “A purported pyramid-scheme operator who was run out of Arkansas when Bill Clinton was governor has reinvented himself as the head of an upstate group accused of being a “cult” - and his devotees have pumped thousands into Hillary Rodham Clinton’s presidential run.”

NXIVM’S VEXING EFFECT ON BELIEVERS, October 1, 2007 - New York Post - “Keith Raniere, leader of an Albany-based organization called NXIVM (pronounced nex-e-um), has built a lucrative empire with his Executive Success Programs. NXIVM, run by Raniere, 47, and President Nancy Salzman, a 52-year-old registered nurse, claims to pull in at least $4 million a year. Big-name devotees like Seagram heiresses Clare and Sara Bronfman back Raniere - and “The Family,” as insiders call the group - despite his checkered past."

BILL GOLF PAL’S ‘CULT’ COURSE, October 2, 2007 - New York Post - “A longtime friend and golfing buddy of Bill Clinton’s is a student of the controversial cult-like upstate group whose members recently poured thousands into Hillary Rodham Clinton’s campaign coffers, The Post has learned. Richard Mays - an Arkansas lawyer who was one of Bill Clinton’s biggest presidential campaign fund-raisers - is listed on the class roster of NXIVM, the bizarre Albany-based group.”

Tax Hike to End the War?, October 2, 2007 - FOX News - “Federal records indicate Hillary Clinton’s presidential campaign has received about $30,000 from devotees of a man who was run out of Arkansas when Bill Clinton was governor after being accused of operating a $30 million pyramid scheme.”

TOP GOPERS ‘CULT’ FAVORITES, October 3, 2007 - New York Post - “Disgraced GOP operative Roger Stone acted as a middleman between a cult-like upstate group and powerful Republicans, including Senate Majority Leader Joseph Bruno, The Post has learned. Stone was hired by Albany-based executive-training group NXIVM in early 2006, according to sources.”

Spitzer’s Loudmouth Rhetoric: Not Loudmouth-y Enough?, October 3, 2007 - Daily Intelligencer, New York Magazine - “The governor, who called his detractors “fearmongers” and “demagogues” at Fordham, can now add “evil cultists” to the mix: Today’s Post coughs up a cryptic item about Roger Stone, the GOP operative accused of making threatening phone calls to Spitzer’s family. Stone was allegedly a liaison between Joe Bruno and NXIVM, a secretive, cultlike “executive training group.” Oooh!”

All About NXIVM, the Cultlike Organization With Ties to Albany, October 4, 2007, Daily Intelligencer, New York Magazine - The headline says it all in this one. Great article, this controversial group is really getting some good exposure from investigative journalists.

More NXIVM / Executive Success Programs updates at Cult News, and also at The Rick A. Ross Institute for the Study of Destructive Cults, Controversial Groups and Movements.

The Program by Gregg Hurwitz - parody of The Forum - or analysis of a cult leader?

2007-09-20T23:03:00.000-07:00

The Program by Gregg Hurwitz, though a fictional work, is a very educational read, and an uncanny analysis of the potential dangers inherent in some forms of Large Group Awareness Training and the “Leaders” that teach these controversial courses.

But is this book a parody of Large Group Awareness Training in general, a poke at the totalitarian tactics used by cult leaders, or a specific spoof of the methodology used by Werner Erhard in his course The Forum, the “technology” of which was bought by his employees who then formed the company Landmark Education and the course The Landmark Forum ?

This book was previously analyzed in the post, Large Group Awareness Training in popular culture, but we’ll go into a more detailed analysis in this post. Incidentally, in a previous post The Invasion, “cultism” and Werner Erhard, we noted how two different reviews of the film The Invasion starring Nicole Kidman both discussed Werner Erhard - with one review referring to “self-help gurus“, and the other discussing “cultism“.

Nothing and Semantics

Prior to the prologue on page 1, The Program opens with a quote from Werner Erhard: “There are only two things in the world - nothing and semantics.” The choice of this particular quote by Gregg Hurwitz is interesting - it could simply refer to a form of existential philosophy, but more likely it is a subtle introduction to the high importance placed on semantics both by Werner Erhard and by “The Program”, the Large Group Awareness Training organization depicted in the book. Dr. Paul Martin, Director of the Wellspring Retreat, discusses the importance of “loaded language” in an article analyzing the controversial group Executive Success Programs, entitled: “Robert Jay Lifton’s eight criteria of thought reform as applied to the Executive Success Programs.” Dr. Martin’s introduction to the section analyzing Dr. Robert Jay Lifton’s criterion “Loading the language“, is actually a very good summary of the use of semantics in the book The Program. Dr. Martin writes: “The group develops a jargon in many ways unique to itself, often not understandable to outsiders. This jargon consists of numerous words and phases which the members understand (or think they do), but which really act to dull one’s ability to engage in critical thinking.”

A Fictional Psychologist and Real-World Harassment

In Chapter 24 of the book, on pages 175-180, U.S. Marshal Tim Rackley consults with a psychologist named Dr. Glen Bederman about the tactics used by “The Program” group, and Dr. Bederman educates Rackley about Large Group Awareness Training. Rackley had first met Dr. Bederman in Chapter 4, when he went to visit the psychologist at UCLA and met him after he finished teaching a college course on destructive cults. On pages 30-38, Dr. Bederman discusses some of the methodology used by these groups, including hypnosis, totalitiarian control, and harassment of critics. This harassment of an academic critical of destructive cults is eerily similar to that endured by former UC Berkeley professor, psychologist Dr. Margaret Thaler Singer. Obituaries in The New York Times, the Los Angeles Times, and the San Francisco Chronicle described some of the harassment Dr. Singer suffered at the hands of cult “operatives” over the years.

Dr. Singer was sued by Landmark Education, over a portion of the 1995 edition of her book Cults in Our Midst that dealt with Large Group Awareness Training. Dr. Singer later reached a settlement with Landmark Education, where she stated she did not believe the group was a cult or sect. However, in a later article on Landmark Education in the Phoenix New Times in 2000, Drive-thru Deliverance: It’s not called est anymore, but you can still be ridiculed into self-awareness in just one expensive weekend, Dr. Singer clarified some of her views on Landmark Education, stating: “I do not endorse them — never have.” Dr. Singer went on to state she would not comment on whether or not she believed the Landmark Forum uses coercive persuasion, because “the SOBs have already sued me once.” Dr. Singer also said “I’m afraid to tell you what I really think about them because I’m not covered by any lawyers like I was when I wrote my book,” but she did say that she would not recommend the group to anyone. Though the character Dr. Glen Bederman did not describe having been sued by an organization he criticized, he did cite instances of canceled hotel and airline reservations, and harassing phone calls after he had given expert-witness testimony in a case against a controversial group.

Controversial Groups and Movements

Though there are no direct references to Werner Erhard, Erhard Seminars Training, The Forum or Landmark Education after the initial quote in the prologue, the character Dr. Bederman does reference other similar types of Large Group Awareness Training groups in his consultation with U.S. Marshal Rackley. On page 176, Dr. Bederman remarks to Rackley: “He’s married two cult models, the psychotherapeutic cult and the self-improvement cult - think the Sullivanians meet Lifespring.” The Sullivanians are analyzed in the article Cultism and the Law, by Randy Frances Kandel, J.D., Ph.D., and an article in The Washington Post referred to the group as a “psychotherapeutic cult.” Lifespring was started by John Hanley, who with Werner Erhard had previously been an instructor at the controversial company Mind Dynamics. Werner Erhard went on to start Erhard Seminars Training in 1971, and John Hanley founded Lifespring in 1974. Some of the early development of both of these groups is discussed in the February 1993 Self Magazine article: White collar cults, they want your mind…, by Dirk Mathison. Landmark Education decided to sue Self Magazine and Dirk Mathison, in 1993, but reached a settlement in October 1994, and the lawsuit itself was later dismissed.

Hacked From the Inside

By far the most amusing and thought provoking scene in The Program takes place in Chapter 49, on pages 323-337. U.S. Marshal Tim Rackley, along with Dr. Glen Bederman and other operatives, register for “The Program” under fake names and proceed to question the motives and logic behind the methodology of cult leader T.D. Betters. Rackley and Dr. Bederman succeed in picking apart the hypocrisy and oxymoronic lessons inherent in “The Program” self-help course, and by the end of the chapter they have completely broken up the course - the participants no longer want to stay registered and they want their money back. Rackley states his reasoning for doing this in front of the group: “I’m here because I believe that this is a dangerous, unethical group that utilizes methods of mind control. I was told by my group leader that The Program was honest, forthcoming, and nonabusive. Well, they went Off Program with me, so I’m going Off Program with them and walking away.”

After this statement, the crowd of enrollees seated in the ballroom begin to shout out questions to the cult leader T.D. Betters, complain, and finally yell that they want their money back. When Tim Rackley confronts T.D. Betters and reveals his identity, Betters responds with an indignant retort: “TD gathered his arrogance about him like armor. ‘You think you’ve won something here?’ He gestured at the pandemonium below. ‘A hiccup. I can replenish my human resources with two weeks and a soapbox. And when I do, you’ll be sorry you ever tangled with me.’ “

Inspired by Cult Experiences

On the page on The Program on Gregg Hurwitz’s Web site, he explains his inspiration behind the book, stating: “A friend lost his sister into a cult and told me all about it. I found it fascinating.” Hurwitz also gives a few examples of the research he did in writing the book: “I went undercover into mind-control cults. I submitted to cult testing. I got ahold of bootleg copies of indoctrination tapes for various cults. I interviewed former cult victims. I studied the history of mind control."

So was “The Program” group in Gregg Hurwitz’s book The Program a parody of a particular controversial group, or form of Large Group Awareness Training, like Werner Erhard, Erhard Seminars Training, The Forum or Landmark Education, or a different group like The Sullivanians, or Lifespring - or was it just a dangerous group conjured up in Hurwitz’s mind, drawn on inspirations from many different types of organizations ?

Read the book and judge for yourself !

Large Group Awareness Training in popular culture

2007-09-12T08:47:00.000-07:00

Large Group Awareness Training has been depicted in fiction and popular culture virtually since the phenomenon began. Some fictional works take a humorous tack - poking fun at or spoofing various forms of large group awareness training. However, other representations of large group awareness training in fiction take a more sinister route, and compare the methodology to dangerous cults and destructive sects.

Below is a list of some of the more obvious examples of spoofs or mentions of various forms of large group awareness training in fictional works.

See also a similar list, at List of Bests - Large Group Awareness Training in fiction.

1977
Semi-Tough - A film starring Burt Reynolds, Kris Kristofferson, and Jill Clayburgh. In the film, all three characters end up attending a self-improvement seminar called Bismark Earthwalk Action Training, or B.E.A.T., led by charismatic leader Friedrich Bismark. Friedrich Bismark is played by Bert Convy. The film was based on the novel Semi-Tough, by Dan Jenkins. There are thinly veiled references to Werner Erhard's Erhard Seminars Training / EST throughout the movie. Friedrich Bismark enters the self-improvement seminar initially shouting: "Assholes. Assholes! You're all assholes every one of you. Your lives don't work!" At one time Werner Erhard owned a Mercedes-Benz with the license plate: "SO WUT", and in the film, Friedrich Bismark has a limosine with a license plate that reads: "BEAT IT."

1979
Mork and Mindy - Episode 18, Season 1, titled: "Mork goes Erk." In this episode, the characters are encouraged by a friend to join ERK, a self-help program called Ellsworth Revitalization Konditioning. This is most likely a parody of Werner Erhard's Erhard Seminars Training / EST. David Letterman played the character Ellsworth, the leader of Ellsworth Revitalization Konditioning. Robert Goldman analyzed ERK and compared it with EST, in his article
Hegemony and Managed Critique in Prime-Time Television: A Critical Reading of "Mork and Mindy" that appeared in Theory and Society, 11 (May 1982): pp.363-388, Part 4. Goldman wrote: "Like est, ERK also endorses submission to the "humiliation and abuse" of the authoritarian leader as a legitimate therapeutic device for solving personal problems. Ellsworth is depicted as greedy, manipulative, hypocritical, and callous, whereas his followers are shown as indiscriminant consumers passively seeking commodified panaceas for their personal troubles. The episode carries a moment of middle-class moral indignation as it lays bare the deceitful and authoritarian features of this con-man's approach to problem-solving."

1980
Howard the Duck - In magazine #4 in March 1980, the character "Werner Blowhard" is introduced, along with other members of the organization B.E.S.T., which stands for "Bozoes Eagerly Serving Tyrants." This is most likely a spoof on Werner Erhard, and the other members of B.E.S.T. were most probably parodies of charismatic leaders of other controversial groups of the time period.

1983
Circle of Power - also known as Brainwash, Mystique, and The Naked Weekend, this film directed by Bobby Roth was based on the true story of a participant in Leadership Dynamics/Mind Dynamics, described in the book The Pit: A Group Encounter Defiled, written by Gene Church and Conrad D. Carnes.

1990
The Spirit of '76 - In this film, a group of Americans from the future decide to time-travel back to 1776 and visit the period. However, they accidentally travel back in time to the year 1976. The time travellers still think they are in 1776, and decide to study the time period. A character named Heinz-57 played by Geoff Hoyle gets trapped in an encounter seminar called "Be, Inc. Seminars", that is most likely a spoof of Erhard Seminars Training / EST. Rob Reiner plays the leader of the encounter seminar attended by Heinz-57, a character named "Doctor Cash." Dr. Cash referes to Heinz-57 as "Heinz Asshole."

1996
Fight Club - Chuck Palahniuk, a graduate of "The Forum", today known as The Landmark Forum, is the author of the novel Fight Club upon which the 1999 movie was based. (Grigoriadis, Vanessa. "Pay Money, Be Happy: For thousands of new yorkers, happiness is a $375, three-day self-help Seminar. Welcome to EST: The Next Generation", New York Magazine, July 9, 2001.) In his review of the film Fight Club, Roger Ebert compared the character Tyler Durden to Werner Erhard, writing: "He's a bully--Werner Erhard plus S & M, a leather club operator without the decor." (Ebert, Roger. "Review, Fight Club)", Chicago Sun-Times, October 15, 1999.)

1999
Death du jour - a novel by Kathy D. Reichs - in the novel a description of the methods used in large group awareness training is given, on page 311. A destructive cult used large group awareness training methods to lure participants into their group, then kept them beholden to the group through coercive methods.

2001
Pressure Points - a novel by Larry Brooks, describes the experiences of three senior executives that must spend a week-long retreat at "The Seminar", in an isolated location in Northern California. The novel takes the reader through the first 60 hours of "The Seminar", until the story takes a turn involving suicide and sex games. The Seminar is at referred to in the book as both a business seminars, and a "middle-class cult", page 129. On page 77, a character in the book states that the programs developed by William Penn Patrick, Alexander Everett and Werner Erhard had common origins.

2002
Six Feet Under - Episode 3 of season 2, "The Plan", first aired on HBO March 17, 2002. This episode is most likely a parody of The Landmark Forum, a course delivered by the for-profit, privately owned company Landmark Education. Actress Alice Krige plays the part of the controlling seminar leader, who teaches Ruth, Robbie and the other students of "The Plan" a new jargon using metaphors involved with building a house. The seminar leader singles out Ruth and berates her for "tiptoeing around her own house like she's afraid of waking someone up." The seminar leader encourages participants to use their time during the break from the course to go out to the waiting banks of phones, call their relatives, and tell them how they want to "rennovate their homes" together.

2004
The Program - by Gregg Hurwitz, this novel is part of a series involving U.S. Marshal Tim Rackley. In this work, Rackley investigates a dangerous cult that uses a mixture of large group awareness training methods and love bombing and isolation of new members from their friends, to lure members into the group. The cult members are then kept in check through violence, by loyalists to a totalitarian cult leader. Incidentally, a quote is given from Werner Erhard, prior to the opening of the book's prologue. Large Group Awareness Training is explained to character Tim Rackley by a psychologist he consults, on page 176.

2006
Harvey Birdman, Attorney at Law - In the episode "Mufti Trouble," which aired October 2, 2006, the character Mentok the Mindtaker remarks to Harvey Birdman that he had once been an EST instructor, stating: "I was also a sex worker, a cossack, and an Est instructor for a summer in Marin."

Werner Erhard and his attorneys

2007-09-10T06:19:00.000-07:00

Werner Erhard and his attorneys

A few past attorneys for Werner Erhard, and some key facts :

Harry Margolis
Set up structural system behind Erhard Seminars Training, was involved in setting up Werner Erhard and Associates (see Erhard v Commissioner of Internal Revenue, 1991)
Later, his tax evasion circular money movement schemes were referred to as "Margolis Schemes."
See court exhibits of the strange circular money movements or Margolis Schemes, applied to Werner Erhard personal money and businesses / tax shelters. Quoting Judge O'Scannlain of the United States Court of Appeals in the case Werner H. Erhard v Commissioner of Internal Revenue, 1994/1995 : "We are invited to follow the winding paths of circular money movements to determine whether they lead to transactions of economic substance for federal income tax purposes."

Art Schreiber
Was personal attorney for Werner Erhard, (see Erhard v Commissioner of Internal Revenue, 1991)
Werner Erhard and Associates - President and Registered Agent, (see Articles of Incorporation.)
According to Federal Election Commission, contributed to Werner Erhard's brother Nathan Rosenberg's unsuccessful campaign for Congress.
Landmark Education - General Counsel and Chairman of the Board of Directors, (see 2006, Landmark Labor Violation Investigations, Texas.)

Martin Leaf
Was personal attorney for Werner Erhard in suit against IRS, (see IRS settles lawsuit brought by Werner Erhard.)
1988 - According to Federal Election Commission, contributed to Werner Erhard's brother Nathan Rosenberg's unsuccessful campaign for Congress.
Sent letter on behalf of Landmark Education as their attorney, to American Family Foundation, AFF, precursor to the International Cultic Studies Foundation, ICSA. (see letter, April 10, 1997.)
Represented Landmark Education in lawsuit against the Cult Awareness Network. (see Landmark Education Settles Lawsuit with Cult Awareness Network.)

Walter Maksym
Was personal attorney for Werner Erhard, represented Werner Erhard in lawsuit against 20 defendants, including CBS News, 60 Minutes. (see Est Founder sues critics; suit names Mercury News writer.)
Under company, Breakthru Publishing or Walter Maksym Publishing involved in publishing book, 60 Minutes and the Assasination of Werner Erhard.
Executive Producer of Werner Erhard "infomercial" - Transformation: The Life and Legacy of Werner Erhard. (see IMDB, and The John Marshall Law School Briefcase, Fall 2006, Vol. 6, Issue 2, Page 8.)

See also prior post, Eagle Island Films and the Werner Erhard "documentary".

The Death of Stephen Burns

2007-09-08T09:00:00.000-07:00

Stephen Burns was thirteen when he was stabbed to death by his mother, obstetrician Donna Marie Anderson, on February 24, 2002. There were several warning signs leading up to the death of Stephen Burns, which pointed out that Donna Marie Anderson was not mentally well.

According to an article in the Pioneer Press, 'Not woman we knew' :
"She recently had enrolled in a series of self-awareness sessions through Landmark Education Corp. , a self-improvement program based in San Francisco. Anderson participated in multiple sessions, but Landmark asked her not to participate anymore after employee Josh Watters overheard a conversation among participants in Landmark's Edina office.'They had just said that she had expressed that the medical community in Minneapolis is being run by the Mafia and that she had to get out of the state.' "

Cult News elaborates on the history of other incidents related to criminal acts by other individuals who had previously been involved in the Landmark Forum training, in the article: Alleged murderer and sniper linked to Landmark Education. This article discusses incidents of psychosis reported after Werner Erhard's est Training, and cites The New York Times article Reports of Psychosis After Erhard Course.

The details involving the events leading up to the death of Stephen Burns are described in the article cited above, 'Not woman we knew', and more information can also be found at the following articles. Feel free to read at your leisure to learn more background on this tragedy :

Cult News, Alleged murderer and sniper linked to Landmark Education, June 21, 2006

The Berkeley Daily Planet, Mom sentenced for fatally stabbing son, July 6, 2002

San Francisco Chronicle, 37 years for mom who killed son, July 6, 2002

San Francisco Chronicle, Slain boy's mother saw him as angel, March 10, 2002

The Berkeley Daily Planet, Psych review ordered of mother who killed son, March 6, 2002

The Stanford Daily, Former resident charged in stabbing, March 6, 2002

The Berkeley Daily Planet, Slain Burlingame boy called bright and giving, March 4, 2002

The Berkeley Daily Planet, Woman accused of killing son pleads guilty in court, March 2, 2002

Pioneer Press, 'Not woman we knew', March 1, 2002

San Francisco Chronicle, Mom accused of killing son demands to speak to press, February 28, 2002

The Chaser's War on Everything - The Secret

2007-09-05T10:33:00.000-07:00

The Chaser's War on Everything - The Secret

And who said Scientology was the only quack belief Jamie Packer has time for? - quote from the show.

These guys are absolutely hysterical. I will have to check out some more of there stuff, I'm sure there are probably other videos that are relevant to this blog's various topics as well.

Note: This blog's previous posts on The Secret include Comedian Mark Day is a cult hit, "The Secret" - David Schirmer exposed, and of course, The Secret... Cult?.

Comedian Mark Day is a cult hit

2007-09-03T19:24:00.000-07:00

I have caught a few of comedian Mark Day's videos on YouTube, and they are really funny. These videos on YouTube have a cult following, and many of his videos have been watched thousands or hundreds of thousands of times. His Web site is his MySpace page.

Here are some of the more poignant comedic posts from YouTube that relate to phenomenon involving Large Group Awareness Training, as well as other topics that have been previously discussed on this blog :

Secret secrets of THE SECRET revealed

Note : Previous posts on "The Secret" - "The Secret" - David Schirmer exposed, and The Secret... Cult?.

Having Tom Cruise's Babies

FYI, an update on Tom Cruise and his plans for his other children: NOW Magazine, Tom Cruise sends kids to Scientology summer camp, or invariably also see Bang! Showbiz.

Secret secrets of TOM CRUISE BANNED IN GERMANY

See for more background BBC NEWS, Germany imposes ban on Tom Cruise, and Spiegel Online, CONTROVERSIAL CULT: German Parties Reject Bid to Ban Scientology.

Re: Mia the YouTube Editor

Beware, the "Cult Awareness Network" that Mark Day refers to in this last above video is now effectively controlled by the Church of Scientology. For more information, please see: 60 Minutes, December 28, 1987, CAN, the Cult Awareness Network (transcript), video here at XenuTV, CNN - Group that once criticized Scientologists now owned by one. Also see the Cult Awareness Network topic archive, from Cult News.

Hope you enjoyed these above videos. As you can see, Mark Day is both funny in an off-beat sort of way, but also informative about topics he clearly has researched and has some background info on.

Donald Rumsfeld - a Werner Erhard "disciple" ?

2007-09-03T13:35:00.000-07:00

Donald Rumsfeld Known Unknowns

In a post from March 2005 entitled: IS DON RUMSFELD A WERNER ERHARD DISCIPLE? , blogger Cosmic Iguana wondered if this statement at a February 12, 2002 press briefing by Donald Rumsfeld sounded a bit ... odd.

"As we know,
There are known knowns.
There are things we know we know.
We also know
There are known unknowns.
That is to say
We know there are some things
We do not know.
But there are also unknown unknowns,
The ones we don't know
We don't know."--
Feb. 12, 2002 news briefing

Hart Seely compiled some of the more amusing or even disturbing Donald Rumsfeld statements into poetry pieces, in Slate Magazine, in articles such as The poetry of D. H. Rumsfeld: Recent works by the Secretary of Defense. Here is a different site devoted to the subject with lyrics and clips: The Poetry of Donald Rumsfeld – Lyrics and Sound Clips. Hart Seely went on to compile some of these items into a book called Pieces of Intelligence: The Existential Poetry of Donald H. Rumsfeld.

Could it be that Donald Rumsfeld was a disciple of Werner Erhard or a devotee of the company Landmark Education's Landmark Forum training ? There is a long discussion about this in the comments section at the Cosmic Iguana post, IS DON RUMSFELD A WERNER ERHARD DISCIPLE? A message board thread from the Cult Education Forum section on Large Group Awareness Training provides some information on Landmark Education, which they call: "Accessing New Possibilities". Here is the info, which sounds almost verbatim like the Donald Rumsfeld blather above: "Standard educational methods enhance what you know and explore what you don’t know. Landmark Education gives you access to what you don’t even know that you don’t know." See message board thread on the topic, from the Cult Education Forum.

Incidentally, Landmark Education unsuccessfully sued cult expert Rick Ross in an attempt to learn the identity of anonymous posters on the Cult Education Forum message board. Cult News described the legal defeat of Landmark Education, in the article Landmark Education suffers humiliating legal defeat in New Jersey Federal Court. Attorneys Peter L. Skolnik and Michael A. Norwick also describe this litigation, in the Introduction to the Landmark Education litigation archive.

Intuition by Best Practice Moderator blocks questions re: XL Foundation, Landmark Education

2007-09-02T10:12:00.000-07:00

Ecademy Suppress Free Speech claiming XL Foundation Business Partnership
Ecademy Facebook Officer Lawrence Perry Banned On Ecademy Website because of concerns over Ecademy links.
Released September 2, 2007.

This news is also at a different site, at:
Ecademy Facebook Officer Lawrence Perry Banned On Ecademy Website

According to the report: "Intuition by Best Practice Moderator blocks questions being asked about the XL Foundation, and their partner Landmark Education." The writer goes on to note: "I hold dual nationality with France, and as a French Citizen I am concerned that Landmark Education are not allowed to practice in France. Why are they then allowed to practice in the UK?"

It appears from this post that this user's ability to post writings were compromised by this group associated with Landmark Education.

For the background to the writer's question as to why Landmark Education are not allowed to practice in France, that is not entirely correct. This is explained in more detail by cult expert Rick Ross, in the Cult News article: "Why did Landmark Education leave France?".

Here is an index, to other Cult News articles on the subject of Landmark Education and the Landmark Forum, as well as some discussion and background on Werner Erhard, EST/Erhard Seminars Training, and Werner Erhard and Associates.

Scribd public domain documents on Werner Erhard and Landmark Forum

2007-08-25T14:25:00.000-07:00

There is this great new Web site called Scribd, and it has some Public Domain documents related to Werner Erhard, Erhard Seminars Training, EST, Landmark Forum, Landmark Education. Most interesting are the Werner Erhard Tax cases from the United States Tax Court that he appealed all the way up to the Supreme Court of the United States!

The relevant pages on Scribd :

Scribd index page of related documents

Scribd page on Erhard Seminars Training litigation

Scribd page on Landmark Education Labor Violations Investigations

Scribd page on Landmark Education litigation

Some more informative sites on related topics :

Landmark Education index page, The Rick A. Ross Institute

Landmark Forum descriptive article, The Skeptic's Dictionary

The est of Friends, Metroactive Features

Archived updates on Landmark Education, Cult News

Why did Landmark Education leave France?, Cult News

Landmark Education sues Elle Magazine, Meme Central

Landmark Education background, analysis, Apologetics Index

Landmark Education / Landmark Forum / est in the News, Cults on Campus

EST, The Forum, Landmark Education, Cult Awareness and Information Centre

Landmark Education and the Internet Archive, Electronic Frontier Foundation

Two different Jamie Kennedy's and their views on cults

2007-08-24T19:24:00.000-07:00

This sketch led by "cult leader" Jamie Kennedy for his show, The Jamie Kennedy Experiment is absolutely hysterical.

Jamie Kennedy Experiment - Bliss Cult

Just another bit of comedy, to break up some of the more serious posts.

Ironically, a different Jamie Kennedy, who now goes by Jamie DeWolf, has also been critical of cults, in his slam poetry piece entitled: "Judas' Son."

Here is Jamie DeWolf, on the Bubba the Love Sponge radio show:

Scientology: L. Ron Hubbard's Great-Grandson

Enjoy.

The Invasion, "cultism" and Werner Erhard

2007-08-23T22:53:00.000-07:00

The movie The Invasion starring Nicole Kidman came out recently, and it is most intriguing that in film reviews in two different publications, both made reference to Werner Erhard in comparisons to the creepy nature of the film about an alien invasion.

The Cleveland Free Times, Film Picks, Volume 15, Issue 16, August 22, 2007 :
"Philip Kaufman's superb 1978 reimagining took the pod people into the age of self-help gurus like Werner Erhard."

Los Angeles City Beat, Concept Snatchers, August 23, 2007:
"Siegel’s film was an instant classic, so there was a lot of skepticism when Philip Kaufman decided to remake it in 1978. While few thought Kaufman managed to top the original, he at least refashioned the story to comment on specific elements of the era. Communism was no longer the threat, but rather cultism: In the film’s terms, Karl Marx was less scary than Rev. Sun Myung Moon and Werner Erhard."

Press connects Landmark Education to Werner Erhard's EST

2007-08-20T21:47:00.000-07:00

Most interesting that even today's news articles frequently refer to Landmark Education as the "successor" to, or "descended from" Werner Erhard's EST training, "The Forum", etc. Here are some articles that do just that, from The New York Times, and the Toronto Star :

You Don’t Know Jack, The New York Times, August 17, 2007
"Late that summer, a dreamy friend asked me to join him in Landmark Forum, the successor to EST, Werner Erhard’s New Age group seminars."

Questions over Tory forum, Toronto Star, August 17, 2007
"Landmark Education, the San Francisco organization descended from Werner Erhard's 1970's-era EST, held a 90-minute session as part of the Conservative Leadership Foundation conference. "

Here are some blog posts related to the latter story :

John Tory on Landmark Education and Howard Hampton on making cities' dreams come true - Queer-Liberal

*&amp;amp;amp;%#&*& Landmark Forum at Tory Conference - The Duncan Fremlin Blog

'Ridiculous' to invite controversial group to Tory forum, says PC party member - Fuddle-Duddle

The Death of Jack Slee

2007-08-14T15:46:00.000-07:00

Died during an est Training :

James "Jack" Slee died on August 14, 1983, while standing on the stage of the Park Plaza Hotel's Grand Ballroom in New Haven, Connecticut. When the first responders arrived in the form of the New Haven fire rescue squad, the firefighters were initially prevented from entering the ballroom to treat Slee.

A $5 million lawsuit filed by Slee's family in 1984 was decided by a federal Jury in Connecticut, in October 1992. Though the jury did find Werner Erhard and his company had been negligent and caused Jack Slee severe emotional distress, they ruled that the est training did not "proximately cause" Slee's death. (Pressman 210)

Earlier, in November 1983, the Connecticut State Medical Examiner's office cited emotional stress as a factor in Slee's death: "Mr. Slee collapsed in a situation in which high emotional stress could be expected. Such emotional stress may have neural and hormonal effects which are deleterious to cardiac rhythm.." (Pressman 208)

Additional resources:

James Slee article on Answers.com

The death of Jack Slee, est participant, August 14, 1983 - excerpted from Steven Pressman's book: Outrageous Betrayal, The Dark Journey of Werner Erhard from est to Exile. See also more excerpts from the book Outrageous Betrayal: Enlightenment in Two Weekends - The est Training, and A Door to Door Mind Salesman.

Slee v. Erhard 7 F.3d 220 (1993) - United States Court of Appeals, Second Circuit.

Google News Archives search, newspaper articles (1984 - 1991)

See also archived news articles:

The Chronicle Telegram, September 23, 1984, Elyria, Ohio

The Daily Intelligencer, September 23, 1984, Doylestown, Pennsylvania

Syracuse Herald-Journal, September 24, 1984, Syracuse, New York

The Capital, September 24, 1984, Annapolis, Maryland

"PHHT! GURU OF EST CULT VANISHES EX-USED-CAR SALESMAN, REVILED AND IDOLIZED, LEAVES LENGTHY TRAIL OF QUESTIONS, LAWSUITS", Rocky Mountain News, May 9, 1991

"New Age guru dogged by worldly troubles Est founder Werner Erhard unfound, leaving trail of innuendo and accusations", April 28, 1991, Elizabeth Fernandez, Dallas Morning News

"The Secret" - David Schirmer exposed

2007-08-09T08:12:00.000-07:00

This is an investigation into one of the individuals that appeared on the motivational DVD, "The Secret." The investigation was done by Australia's Channel Nine on the program A Current Affair, with correspondent Ben Fordham, and so far appears in three segments.

Note: Previous post on related topic in blog post entitled "The Secret... Cult?"

Part One - "The Secret Exposed", May 28, 2007:

Part Two - "The Secret Con", June 1, 2007:

Part Three - The Secret's David Schirmer Under Investigation:

More news coverage:

"Trading Secrets", July 14, 2007, PerthNow, The Sunday Times
"In another development, the only Australian motivational speaker to feature in The Secret, investment guru David Schirmer, is under investigation by the Australian Securities and Investments Commission. It follows a report by A Current Affair, which raised serious questions over his business dealings and discovered a long line of unpaid and disgruntled investors."

Other related sites:

"The Truth About David Schirmer" - Some informative pieces, from July 2007

Get Rich Quack: David Schirmer of The Secret - Get Rich Slowly

"brain washing in a godless big business cult"

2007-08-06T02:09:00.000-07:00

Note: That is the original title by the Youtube video blogger, "sablechicken". It is a most interesting and touching, moving, and inspiring video.

It will be most interesting to see how Youtube will affect exposing controversial groups, movements, and dangerous large group awareness training programs - as it becomes easier and more prevalent for individuals to post their experiences and thoughts online in a video format.

Eagle Island Films and the Werner Erhard "documentary"

2007-08-05T01:13:00.000-07:00

Recently, a film has been shown in New York City, called: Transformation: The Life and Legacy of Werner Erhard.

The film was produced by two production companies: Robyn Symon Productions, which is the production company of the film's director, and a lesser known company, callling itself " Eagle Island Films ". In addition, much of the material in the film is copyrighted by, you guessed it - Landmark Education!

For those interested, more information has come out regarding just exactly who was behind the production of the film. On the film's web site, the film credits " Symon Productions, Inc. and Eagle Island Films " -- However, this mysterious company " Eagle Island Films " seems to have only produced one film, namely, this one. Here is an interesting chain of events related to Werner Erhard's attorney:

March 3, 1991 -- Werner Erhard is investigated by " 60 Minutes " - and the program airs on CBS.
More Allegations Against est Founder -
The Chronicle Publishing Co. / March 5, 1991

April 1992 - Walter Maksym, attorney for Werner Erhard, represents Erhard in lawsuits which involve 20 defendants from the media/press. San Jose Mercury News Tuesday, April 7, 1992 Est Founder sues critics; suit names Mercury News writer

San Jose Mercury News - Tuesday, April 7, 1992 - Est Founder sues critics; suit names Mercury News writer - Mercury News Staff Report (excerpted)

"Werner Erhard, controversial founder of the self-improvement program known as est, has filed a wide-ranging defamation lawsuit against 20 defendants, including a Mercury News staff writer, news media, commercial publications and private groups that have criticized Erhard or his teachings...During the "60 Minutes" report, one of Erhard's daughters told CBS that her father had molested her. While Erhard did not appear on the program, CBS aired portions of Hubner's taped interview, in which Erhard denied the incest allegations...Erhard's attorney, Walter Maksym of Illinois, could not be reached for comment."

1992 - Breakthru Publishing, same publisher that published Diets Don't Work, publishes 60 Minutes and the Assassination of Werner Erhard, (and the Diets Don't Work, Inc. company has Walter Maksym as president)
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Breakthru_Publishing
http://goliath.ecnext.com/coms2/product-compint-0000736885-page.html

2006 - Transformation: The Life and Legacy of Werner Erhard film - with production companies Robyn Symon Productions and also Eagle Island Films - with Walter Maksym president and executive producer of Eagle Island Films - and Walter Maksym having once represented Erhard in suits against 20 defendants in media/press about very same story.

John Marshall Law Schook Briefcase, Fall 2006, Vol. 6, Issue 2

"Walter Maksym is executive producer of the upcoming film "STASH," set in Chicago. Maksym is president of Walter Maksym Publishing, president of Diets Don't Work, Inc. and president and executive producer of Eagle Island Films."

The Internet Movie Database also lists Walter Maksym as the executive producer of "Transformation: The Life and Legacy of Werner Erhard", and lists Eagle Island Films as one of the two production companies.

Does it not seem very strange at the least, that a man that represented Werner Erhard in lawsuits against CBS and 20 defendants related to this "60 Minutes" investigation, has now come to be the Executive Producer of this mysterious " Eagle Island Films " - that has now produced a film describing these self-same events???

Six posts from the blogosphere

2007-06-21T21:22:00.000-07:00

Some new interesting posts from the blogsphere:

Cult Manager Strikes Again
Trailing Xtabay

Hypnosis: Medical, Scientific or Occult?
Hegewisch Baptist Church

EST Why it produced psychotic episodes
VisionAndPsychosis.Net

Existential Funhouse
Tranny In Trouble

Overheard
It's All A Long, Beautiful, Scary Road Trip

Feng Shui Used to Cover Up Corruption!
The Horror

The Secret... Cult?

2007-03-01T07:55:00.000-08:00

A great post over at RatTube.com says it all, read it at their post: The Secret Cult.

Some more excellent material on this strange new type of marketing ploy:

Video investigations
The Secret's David Schirmer exposed - A Current Affair, Australia - May 2007
The Secret's David Schirmer exposed (Part 2) - A Current Affair, Australia- June 2007
The Secret's David Schirmer exposed (Part 3) - A Current Affair, Australia- June 2007

News articles
Self-help gone nutty - Los Angeles Times, 2/13/2007

Dollars in the house of gullibility - The Daily Telegraph, 2/14/2007

Want to Know a Secret? (This Book is Crazy) - New York Post, 2/14/2007

Shaking Riches Out of the Cosmos - The New York Times, 2/25/2007

'The Secret' more hooey foisted on gullible people - Sacramento Bee, 3/2/2007

Decoding 'The Secret' : Oprah lives by it. Millions are reading it. The latest self-help sensation claims we can change our lives by thinking. But this 'new thought' may just be new marketing. - Newsweek, 3/5/2007 issue.

Oprah's ugly secret : By continuing to hawk "The Secret," a mishmash of offensive self-help cliches, Oprah Winfrey is squandering her goodwill and influence, and preaching to the world that mammon is queen. Salon, 3/5/2007

Posts and editorials
Big Secret - Swift, Newletter of James Randi Educational Foundation, also more from the James Randi Educational Foundation: An Oprah Fiasco

Oprah Peddling Snake Oil - OpinionEditorials.com, 2/17/2007

The Secret? It's Out, It's Old, and It's Obvious - The Huffington Post, blog, 2/21/2007

The Secret, deconstructed. - SHAMblog, Steve Salerno, 2/22/07
Then there's a follow-up piece by Salerno: And, from the (drop) dead letter file....

There is some more discussion on the Cult Education Forum, at the heading: The Secret (a movie)

Rick Ross on Dogma Free America

2007-02-28T05:14:00.000-08:00

Rick Ross, of Cult News and The Rick A. Ross Institue for the Study of Destructive Cults, Controversial Groups and Movements was interviewed on the online podcast show, Dogma Free America.

Topics discussed include Large Group Awareness Training, as well as other types of controversial groups and methodologies.

The show was "Episode 11 - Dogma Free America",
and was entitled: Destructive Religious Cults.

The Darren Mack Case

2007-02-23T20:22:00.000-08:00

A special called "The Darren Mack Case", will air tomorrow, February 24th, on CBS, on the program 48 Hours.

Here is some more relevant information on the case:

Former Landmark leader wanted for murder surrenders to FBI - Cult News

Alleged murderer and sniper linked to Landmark Education - Cult News

Reno man called kin after judge was shot: He's wanted in wife's slaying, sought for questioning on jurist - San Francisco Chronicle

"48 Hours"The Darren Mack Case (2007) - IMDB

The Death of Robert Jenkins

2007-02-09T09:17:00.000-08:00

Some interesting links and news coverage relating to the death of Robert Jenkins. Read them yourself and draw your own conclusions..

Slain man's mom suing accused : "She's also suing a company that she says contributed to the alleged killer's insanity. " - Tulsa World

Woman sues alleged killer, company on behalf of son's estate - KSWO, Lawton, Oklahoma

Same story coverage, at KFDA, Amarillo, Texas , and at KTEN, Ada, Oklahoma.

Mother of slain mailman sues alleged killer, company - Bartlesville Examiner Enterprise, Oklahoma

Suit targets firm in postal killing - Tulsa World

Landmark Education defendant in wrongful death lawsuit - CultNews

More information and legal documents also available at the Landmark Education litigation archive, hosted at the Rick Ross Institute

Some of these documents include the previous Third Amended Petition (also as PDF) in the case, as well as the plaintiff's Response to Landmark's Motion to Dismiss, and their Response to Landmark's Motion Interlocutory.

Tidbits and updates

2007-02-07T02:10:00.000-08:00

Flirtation with the Cult/LGAT
A MySpace post about a Large Group Awareness Training seminar experience. The group is not mentioned directly by name, but a vivid portrayal of events is described along with interesting commentary. There was also a follow-up posting, entitled: How the Cult Works: Hypnotic Secrets.

Free Keith Henson
A blog setup to help get the truth out about this incredibly scary story about the rights, or lack thereof, of freedom of speech and assembly in the United States. More information available on the Henson story at CNET News, All Headline News, p2p.net, Institute for Ethics and Emerging Technologies, The Press-Enterprise, as well as sites 10 Zen Monkeys, and Welcome to Pottersville. Oh, and the story has been officially Slashdotted.

Cephas Ministries
Detailed index with links to lots of various forms of Large Group Awareness Training organizations, as well as research and methodological theories.

LGAT News Ending 2006

2006-12-31T16:07:00.000-08:00

Some interesting Large Group Awareness Training related posts for the end of 2006:

Challenge Day: Bringing Transformational Workshops to a School Near You.
Cult News
The Cult News article by Frank Sherwin, M.D. describes how at least three members of the Challenge Day leadership were influenced by other "seminar companies".

Notes on Asiaworks
HearMeBitch!
According to the Awareness Page, the founder of Asia Works has his roots in the controversial Lifespring training, which was defendant of several lawsuits regarding deaths and psychotic episodes.

Sect covered up sex assaults on two children
The Sidney Morning Herald
The Age has obtained a document showing the Brethren leadership ignored written warnings as early as 1991 that the perpetrator, a serial molester, had "sexually assaulted many young women within the sect".

The Hillsong Cult
The Daily Behemoth
Post which provides some interesting links to other posts/discussion boards on the subject.

Mad TV - Dr. Phil's Plastic Surgery Show

2006-12-14T01:17:00.000-08:00

Let's take a break from the potential dangers of Large Group Awareness Training for this post, and inject some humour into this blog with a funny Mad TV sketch entitled: "Dr. Phil's Plastic Surgery Show."

Some Interesting Links:

Phil & Werner - The Zero Boss

Natalee Holloway's parents sue ex-suspects, who sue Dr. Phil show - Bradenton Herald

Ex-Holloway Suspects Sue Dr. Phil - E! Online

Natalee Holloway's Parents File Suit - Associated Press

Slimming the Amway - Metro Times

MEDIA; Dr. Phil, Medicine Man - The New York Times

Class action sought for 'Dr. Phil' diet suit - CNN Law Center

Settlement Reached on Dr. Phil Diet Plan - ABC News

Interesting Discussion Threads:

Dr. Phil, Oprah, etc.

Dr. Phil and est

Troubled Teen Industry

Counting the cost from all sides

2006-12-06T09:21:00.000-08:00

I was reading through the message boards on the Rick Ross website and I came across a couple of intriguing posts regarding PSI Seminars.

Both of them are posted below and it is eerie how they echo the same story, but told from different sides. I have checked and the two women involved are actually relating different, but very similar experiences.

I thought by posting them it would be a touching and painful example of what LGATs can cost people, including those directly affected and those indirectly affected.

The first post:

Hi, I have read all the posts here on PSI and I would like to add what happened to me. I had a friend, a very good friend, recommend PSI to me about three years ago. I attended the basic class and immediately felt invigorated. I noticed a change in my attitude towards my husband and family. Looking back on it I was a bitch. Nothing was good enough and I wanted more from my relationships then was reasonable. I tried to get my husband to sign up for the basic on the third day of class. He refused after he asked me to describe what they do there; I told him that he would have to experience it for himself, which I see is a common statement in most of these posts. I was angry at him for not wanting to support me in my need to have him attend. Later I came to understand why. The facilitor told all of us that PSI is a tool to a happier life and everyone in your life will not understand what you have gone through until they attend also. I remember the slogan “resistance is persistence.” If the people who love you don’t attend the seminars they are holding you back, so you need to leave them behind.

At the end of the basic I signed up for PSI 7 at a cost of $3000.00 dollars. I took the money from our joint account. My husband was obviously upset with this but I didn’t care. I felt this change/experience was worth the cost and the grief it cost me with him. He put his foot down and said enough is enough.

I went to the ranch and participated in the pole, the wall, the ledge, the barn dance and wore the clothing that was selected by my PSI buddy. Clothing that I felt uncomfortable wearing in even a private setting. I looked into the eyes of several men, strangers to me up to then, and felt like they actually wanted to have a relationship with me, beyond the physical. I felt they had seen the real person underneath. I came home gushing like I had the time of my life. My husband was angry as I left without a word of warning to him or my family. He had even called the police to report me missing. I even signed up for the Leadership Seminar for $3600.00 dollars and charged it to my credit card. My husband blew up at me, asking me if I had lost my mind.

I told him upon my return that if he loved me he would find the time and money to attend the training. I told him that it would save our marriage. Looking back on it our marriage was on its fifth year and we were both happy. We were both looking forward to our lives together and starting a family. And more importantly he was my best friend. He suggested marriage counseling and we set up an appointment.

After speaking to the therapist I felt like she was ganging up on me so I refused to go back. Three weeks after returning from PSI7 I left my husband and filed for divorce. I gave up the man I had married, the one who protected me from harm. The man who told me he loved me more than anyone in his life. I gave up my husband, my best friend, for my own self interests when I should have known better.

I was out on my own and loving the attention I got from my PSI brothers and sisters. The support for my move, or shift, was almost overwhelming. I felt that the people in my group were the only ones who could understand; they were the only ones who would love and support me; my husband and family were strangers to me now even though I had their love and support for my entire life. I would communicate with my PSI group on a yahoo group site, but the communication was short lived as they started having their own problems. The group stopped talking and the messages died out after a few short months. In the meantime I quit my job and started looking for something better.

While waiting for the divorce to go through I stayed with my best friend, but the relationship was strained as my husband and her husband were also friends. Her husband started watching me and would inform his wife that under no circumstance would she be going to PSI. I tried to get her to go to PSI. I tried so hard to convince her that this was the right decision for me but she continued to tell me that I should tried to work things out with my husband. I saw this as being unsupportive, moved out and dropped that friendship. We were friends for 10 years. I had learned one thing from PSI and that was not to do what people expected me to do. I moved in with my mom and this was more than she could take. She asked me to leave after two months. I was staffing the basic and playing PLD and trying to get others to enroll for the basic. I failed to see that I was on a course of self destruction and I was still looking for a job.

In the meantime the divorce was finalized, the house was sold and after taking a loss on the property I moved into an apartment until I could save some money. I bought a house a few months after the divorce. I bought the house for more then I could effort and I didn’t care. I also bought a new car and later had that repossessed because I couldn’t afford both the car and the house. I felt that this was my reality and everything would be alright.

After a time I decided that I needed to find another man in my life. I see references to that “number 10 relationship.” This was what I was looking for. I attempted liaisons with several men and could not find one that could understand why I had this attitude towards life. I wanted more and I wanted it immediately, but the world was not cooperating with my reality. I turned to an internet dating service and started looking for the “perfect” relationship and after meeting a few men I found the one I was looking for. He wined and dined me, told me that I was perfect for him. I thought I had found that number 10 relationship. I took this relationship for what I thought it was, LOVE. I was so involved with the relationship with this man that I decided immediately to move in with him when he asked me. We had only dated three months. I sold my house and moved in with him. The little money I had earned from the sale went into a joint account and he spent it on one of his new toys. I failed to pay attention that this man, my number 10 relationship, had just divorced his second wife a few short months before I met him on the internet. He had four small kids from his first marriage and I became a baby sitter when he wanted to go out with the boys on weekends and drink half his salary.

It was about 2 years after PSI7 he asked me to marry him. We were married and a few weeks afterward he quit his job and had me put him and his four kids on my health insurance. He stayed at home and would expect me to wait on him and his kids hand and foot when I got home from work. It was a few short months later when realizations started to hit home. I was asking myself what the hell I was doing with this man and his kids. He was treating me like I was nothing more than a maid. This was my number 10 relationship?

I realize now that I am the failure. Not as a PSI graduate, but as a human being and as a woman and a wife. I was duped into believing that PSI was the answer to everything wrong in my life. I threw away my first husband, a man I loved for a relationship with 78 strangers. People who said they loved me, not because of who I was, but because of what they had made us. The relationship with these people did not last. My first husband suffered the most as he tried several times to get me to see reason after I left. I threw away my friends as they refused to see my point of view when in actuality I should have seen theirs. My point of view was more important. My family disowned me after my outbursts towards them when they refused to listen to my new found views on life.

It is now too late to go back and fix the wrongs I did, and I have tried. My ex-husband refuses to talk or even see me, and I can’t really blame him. I left him without any explanation. I didn’t even shed a tear over the loss of our marriage, he once said I ripped the heart from his chest and didn’t even think enough on our relationship to take the time to smash it. And he was right, that is exactly what I did.

Now I am in a broken marriage to another fool who takes me for granted, treats me like I am his slave, and I have no where to go, no one to turn to, and this is what I wanted in life? Even the friend who introduced me to PSI dumped her marriage and is pretty much in the same boat I’m in. And I hate her for getting me involved in this.

I was a stupid, arrogant, self centered fool. I agree, PSI does give you the tools, the tools to destroy your life. It destroyed my life with a good man and earned me the likes of the “Al Bundy” personality I’m with now. I am ashamed of what I did. I am ashamed of what I have become and I would not recommend PSI for anyone.

Sorry for the long post.

The second post:

Hi everyone, thanks for letting me join. I started doing research on PSI a few weeks ago as I have a major problem with my husband. First I have not attended PSI nor have I taken any Large Group Awareness Training Programs, therefore I have no idea what they do there except what I have learned on the board and other sites. My husband has also not attended PSI.

My husband and I have been married for about 2 years this past October and were dating a year before that. The relationship is very good except for the fact that his first wife attended PSI7 a few weeks before she left him about five years ago. (This was my first marriage and his second.) Unfortunately my husband still runs in the same circle of friends as his ex-wife. The rumors run rampant, people think she is out of her mind and naturally they go to him and tell him what’s going on in her life.

My husband has started coming home these past few months with the rumors that are currently going around about his ex. A few months ago, after several failed relationships, she started dating guys from an internet dating service, apparently met a man who has been married twice before and has some children from one of those marriages (not sure which). This new guy it seems is not the nicest person. Lately it seems she has made some drastic changes to her life style. I would have said it appears that she is suffering from a midlife crisis but after reading this material I can see she might still be under the influence of PSI. I would add that I do not know if she is still attending the seminars.

When she left my husband a few years ago she immediately purchased a new house and car, neither of which she could afford. The house was lost to a foreclosure and the car repossessed several months later. Several times she has called my husband asking him for money and because money was tight he gave her what she could so as to not damage their credit rating. He found out later she was buying more of these seminars and it had placed him in a hole financially as well. After being gone for six months she filed for a divorce leaving him with most of her bills.

Now when I met my husband I was taken with the shy, but confident person he was. He was a kind and caring man who loves his family and friends. He would give you the clothes off his back and is always ready to lend a hand to a friend. He has a heart of gold and I love him for the person he is. During our dating relationship I thought he was haunted by something in his past as there was always something distant about him. I fell in love with the man and I initiated a relationship with him after he had been divorced for two years. But I now believe that my husband still loves his ex-wife, and it is hard for him to gain some distance from his relationship with her. According to him he was unaware what PSI was about at the time she was initially going to it as she was very level headed when they were dating and later married. She always had a sharp sense of herself and took care of things like most of us do in the course of our lives. After taking PSI she returned with a new found attitude and started spending money like it was water. She spent their savings and charging the seminars to their credit cards, which left him in debt to the amount of $30,000 dollars. Guess who had to pay when she left and divorced him?

So for the past few weeks my husband comes home and seems to be depressed. Last week he told me the reason that he is having problems with all this and that is why he is sometimes preoccupied; he is worried about his ex-wife. He told me that he considered her the ‘true love’ of his life and continues to love her in a spiritual sense. He says he loves me, but is still haunted by his feelings for her. He said he sometime thinks of her when he sees something or someone that reminds him of her and is sadden when he thinks of the loss of his marriage. He said he is reminded of the good times and thinks that his marriage to her could have been saved if she had stayed away from PSI. These memories cause him to become depressed and more so lately when hearing the rumors about the damage she is doing to her life.

Now I have tried to understand why he feels this way and that’s why I am checking out these websites. I am afraid that I am going to lose him because of this. After reading the material here I am scared to death. I can’t see how someone can throw their marriage away after attending these seminars, but after reading several examples here I understand that she is too far gone to help. I also see why my husband has these feelings. I feel that this has scarred him more deeply than he lets on and I feel so bad for him. There was nothing he could have done to save his marriage and yet he stills feels responsible. How do I get him to understand this is not his fault, that it was her responsibility? I have tried to make him see what this group did to her but he still feels that he is supposed to take care of her. He even broke down and cried, cried so much I thought he was having a nervous break down.

I don’t want to tell him that this is putting our marriage in trouble for fear it will cause him to go into a deeper depression, and I don’t want it to be the end of my marriage, but it seems he is more concerned with her then he is for me. I am very scared for him as he has come to be very depressed about all this and it seems to be getting worse. I don’t know how much more I can take. For that matter I don’t know how much more he can take.

Anyone have any suggestions?

Interesting Links

Psi Seminars Search - Rip-off Report.com

Psi Seminars / Psi World - FACTNet Message Board

The Awareness Page - Data and historical information on Psi Seminars origins

Self-Help Group Backs Off Attack on Internet Critic

2006-12-01T08:35:00.000-08:00

November 30, 2006 - Press Release - Electronic Frontier Foundation

Self-Help Group Backs Off Attack on Internet Critic

Landmark Forum Withdraws Subpoena for Identity of Anonymous Poster

San Francisco - A controversial self-help group has backed off its attack on an Internet critic after the Electronic Frontier Foundation (EFF) intervened in the case.

Landmark Education, known for its Landmark Forum motivational workshops, served a subpoena for the identity of an anonymous user of Google Video last month, claiming that a French documentary posted by the user infringed Landmark's copyrights. The piece, entitled "Voyage Au Pays Des Nouveaux Gourous" (Voyage to the Land of the New Gurus), is highly critical of Landmark and included hidden camera footage from inside a French Landmark Forum event along with panel discussions about the group. The piece had also been posted with English subtitles on popular U.S. video sites YouTube and the Internet Archive.

In a settlement reached Tuesday, Landmark agreed to withdraw the subpoena to Google and end its quest to pierce the anonymity of the video's poster. Landmark has also withdrawn its subpoena to the Internet Archive. EFF represents both the anonymous critic and the Internet Archive.

"We're glad that Landmark withdrew its subpoenas, and our client's right to speak anonymously was preserved," said EFF Staff Attorney Kurt Opsahl. "Hopefully Landmark has learned its lesson and will cease its campaign to stifle criticism by misusing the DMCA."

The Digital Millennium Copyright Act (DMCA) allows a content owner to issue a subpoena for the identity of an alleged infringer without first filing an actual lawsuit. The provision can be used to intimidate Internet users who wish to remain anonymous online. As part of the settlement, Landmark released any and all claims it may have had against the anonymous poster, and the poster agreed not to re-post the video. The video is currently available online from other sources, including the Australian Cult Awareness & Information Centre, and bit-torrent.

"Landmark's legal threats took an emotional toll," said the anonymous poster, known as "John Doe" in the settlement. "When I found out that my identity might be revealed based on a bogus copyright claim, I was really worried that Landmark might try to retaliate against me."

The settlement is part of EFF's ongoing campaign to protect the right of anonymous speakers on the Internet. Earlier this year, EFF helped to preserve the anonymity of online embroidery fans critical of an industry group, and also protected the identities of users of an online message board discussing Oklahoma public schools.

Contacts:
Corynne McSherry
Staff Attorney
Electronic Frontier Foundation
corynne@eff.org

Kurt Opsahl
Staff Attorney
Electronic Frontier Foundation
kurt@eff.org

More Information:

Letter confirming the subpoena withdrawal

For the full settlement agreement

For more on Landmark's subpoena campaign

For the video

Media Coverage:

Landmark Education stumbles stupidly to hollow settlement
Cult News

Landmark Education wants to make French news report a “forbidden video” on the Net
Cult News

Why did Landmark Education leave France?
Cult News

Landmark Drops Copyright Infringement Subpoenas On Google And Anonymous Critic
InformationWeek

Google faces legal challenges over video service
Reuters

See also the Related Prior Posts section in the post:

Second EFF Interview on Landmark Education.

Missing - James Brian Rowe

2006-11-30T11:53:00.000-08:00

The bulk of the text for this post was taken from a recent blog entry by James' sister on his MySpace Page. This is how they introduced the story at Project Jason - Voice for the Missing, in an October 11, 2005 post entitled "A "Landmark" Decision" :

Laura Hebert is certain that she lost her brother, James Rowe, when he decided to attend a personal development seminar called “The Landmark Forum”. He’s been missing since July of 2004, after having gone to the seminar. In her own words, Laura tells us the story.

This is the text of the recent blog post by James Brian Rowe's sister :

I am glad Landmark Education is receiving attention for their questionable tactics. My brother would be here today if it wasn't for his attending a Landmark Forum two years ago. Read on...

James Rowe attended a Landmark Forum July 24-25th in Denver, Colorado. He was living in Crestone, CO at the time. He called my mother and me after the forum and sounded very strangely on the phone. He was first and foremost a believer of Landmark and all they stand for. He told me that he found "the answer" and urged me to attend a forum myself. He started laughing and told me that we create our own reality, and said, "do you know what this means?!". He then started crying and said he felt so connected to me. I immediately became suspect of the seminar he attended and asked him more about it. I told him to call me soon, to be in touch, because I was worried. This was the last time I heard my brother's voice. He disappeared July 30th, days later.

According to James' friends, they noticed a marked change in his demeanor after the forum. He had very strange behavior. He shaved his shoulder length hair and took out all of his jewelry (he has gauged ear disks and piercings). He abandoned his vehicle 20 miles outside of Crestone, with his camping and hiking gear inside, and hitch-hiked back to town. He asked a friend for a ride to the trailhead so he could go for a hike to clear his mind. His friend obliged. James showed up in his friend's backyard later that day, barefoot and confused. He said he was having a hard time telling reality from illusion. His friend asked him if he was okay, James said "no". He then walked into the woods. This was July 30th, the day of his disappearance.

A missing person's report was filed with local police, and the woods surrounding Crestone were searched via air and land. No trace was found. There were unconfirmed sitings in nearby towns shortly after his disappearance, it seems he (thankfully) left the woods. The next time he was supposedly seen was the day before Thanksgiving, in 2005. He was seen at a truckstop in Hainesville Georgia. We are fairly certain this was a true siting.

My family is extremely angry at Landmark Education. We received a call from one of the higher ups after James' disappearance, and he had no explanation for James' behavior, which was obviously related to the forum he attended. We feel strongly that James disappeared due to a mental breakdown he suffered because of the Landmark Forum.

For More Information:

"10/11/05 A "Landmark" Decision"
The post mentioned above from Project Jason - Voice for the Missing

"Landmark Education- the reason James is missing"
The blog post quoted above from James Brian Rowe's sister, at the James Brian Rowe MySpace page, as originally posted at the Cult Education Forum message boards.

Help Find James Rowe
The main website for information on how to help find James Rowe.

See also the Related Prior Posts section in the post Second EFF Interview on Landmark Education.

Second EFF Interview on Landmark Education

2006-11-27T14:43:00.000-08:00

Jason Schultz at EFF on DMCA Take Down Notices - Part IV

This is another interview by Enric Cirne with Electronic Frontier Foundation representative, Jason Schultz.

Enric Cirne's description of the interview:

Continuing the discussion with with Jason Schultz at the Electronic Frontier Foundation on using the DMCA to inhibit internet speech. Landmark Education's DMCA usage and a new users response to DMCA notices is discussed.

The video in question is "Voyage to the Land of the New Gurus", a French expose film on Landmark Education. Recent events surrounding the film and attempts to suppress it from the internet are detailed at the Cult News report: Landmark Education wants to make French news report a “forbidden video” on the Net.

Related Prior Posts:

Interview with Electronic Frontier Foundation

Protecting Children from LGATs

LGAT News Blog Update - Take 2

LGAT Updates from the Blogs

Self Improvement or Selfish Profit?

Interview with Electronic Frontier Foundation

2006-11-24T05:25:00.000-08:00

EFF on Landmark Education's DMCA subpoena

From Enric Cirne:

On November 8th, 2006 I interviewed EFF lawyer, Kurt Opsahl, on EFF's defense of the Internet Archive from the Landmark Education DMCA Subpeona. Landmark Education subpoenaed the Internet Archive, Google Video and YouTube to reveal the identity of who uploaded the France TV 3 video on the Landmark Forum. Kurt recommends bloggers, whether using text, audio or video, review the EFF: Legal Guide for Bloggers. Another source of information for online rights is the Chilling Effects Clearinghouse with a database of take down notices. Should you receive a Cease and Desist notice(s) they can be put up there.

More information on this continuing saga of litigation and threats of litigation across the globe by Landmark Education:

Voyage to the Land of the New Gurus
Rick Ross Institute informative page about the France 3 documentary

Landmark and the Internet Archive
Electronic Frontier Foundation's legal case page

Freedom of Speech
Posts related to Free Speech at the Electronic Frontier Foundation

Self-help Group Bullies Net Critics
Kansas City Infozine

Landmark Education vs. a link on Apologetics Index
Landmark Education threatens Religion News Blog in Amsterdam over a hyperlink to a website in hosted in Australia - Cult Awareness and Information Centre.

Landmark Education wants to make French news report a “forbidden video” on the Net
Cult News report

Google faces legal challenges over video service
The Washington Post, originally from Reuters

Protecting Children from LGATs

2006-11-23T03:38:00.000-08:00

United States Representative George Miller introduced House Resolution 1738, the "End Institutionalized Abuse Against Children Act", on April 20th, 2005. The legislation seeks to regulate facilities in the United States and abroad, that service families and "treat" children and teenagers.

Related Links

Write Your Representative
To find and write your local United States Representative on the issue.

The Real News
Related news regarding teenagers.

Sign the Petition
Petition for the passage of the End Institutionalized Abuse Against Children Act of 2005.

Petition to Close Provo Canyon School
A school with teen "treatment programs" that has been sanctioned with injunctions by Federal District Court and been found guilty of controversial treatment of children by other courts.

Stress fear in $700 child forum
WA children as young as eight who attend "life-changing" coaching sessions by a controversial US company could have difficulty with their schoolwork afterwards, according to experts.
The Sunday Times, Australia, June 11, 2006 - by Peta Hellard

Unregulated Residential Treatment Facilities Exploit Children and Families,
Say Mental Health Experts and Advocates; Urge GAO Inquiry, Passage of Legislation
U.S. Newswire

LGAT News Blog Update - Take 2

2006-11-22T13:54:00.000-08:00

Recent posts from the blogosphere related to Large Group Awareness Training :

How To Know If You Are In A Greed Group (aka a Capitalist's Cult)
A very funny laundry list of things to watch out for.
The Nite Owl

Landmark Forum abuses copyright to suppress criticism
Sums up some of the latest developments.
The Lippard Blog

The Gentle Wind dropped
More on the strange saga of the overly litigious "Gentle Wind Project", since defunct in Maine.
Strange Maine

EFF on Landmark Education’s DMCA subpoena
An interview with Kurt Opsahl of the Electronic Frontier Foundation.
Tech Alley

November 18, 1978 - Mass Suicide at Jonestown
Blog post about the horrific event, from someone indirectly connected to it: "Two friends of my family died at Jonestown."
Constructive Bitch

Related Prior Post:

LGAT Updates from the Blogs

False Gurus and LGAT Teachers

2006-11-21T03:18:00.000-08:00

Many thanks to the Guruphilliac blog for their short article on this blog, and for linking to us.

I think there is a pretty significant overlap between the ideas used in Large Group Awareness Training and the methods used by the many false gurus who are out to exploit people.

Today, many people are making a move to spirituality, as opposed to religion, and this has spawned a rapidly growing industry where a guru or teacher is willing to lead pupils to the promised land – but at a price.

Many of these gurus use mind control methods as described by Robert Jay Lifton to gain the confidence of prospective devotees. One that would immediately come to mind is that of Mystical Manipulation. Get that one right and it is amazing how many people becoming instantly willing to hand over their power to someone else.

And funny, isn’t it, how often someone else finds the answers in a divine revelation? Just like Werner Erhard, aka Jack Rosenberg, after he walked out on his wife and kids, and then suddenly – BOOM! – while driving into San Francisco it all came to him in a divine revelation and the Est Training (which was then reinvented and became Landmark Education) was born.

So, how much came to him from this great revelation and how much had to do with his self training as described in The Skeptic’s Dictionary? Indeed, did part of Erhard’s revelation include studying all the influences described in the Skeptic’s Dictionary article?

Erhard’s story is simply an example of many similar stories out there.

Apart from Guruphilliac’s excellent blog, another source for finding out more about gurus is the website Guru Ratings. Also, James Randi has made a career out of exposing people’s false claims.

There is a great video featuring Randi on Xenu TV called The Power of Belief. It is an ABC News special. It shows, among other things, how people can be tricked by someone claiming psychic powers. The amazing thing is that even when the hoax was shown, people still wanted to believe in the false guru!

And if you thought Uri Geller was the only one who could bend spoons and read minds, you're wrong. Randi did it too!

As a word of warning about the high ideals and dreams false gurus sell, I want to share the following quote with you (not that the works of false gurus extend to this degree, but the potential for serious damage is there):

"When you meet the friendliest people you have ever known, who introduce you to the most loving group of people you've ever encountered, and you find the leader to be the most inspired, caring, compassionate and understanding person you've ever met, and then you learn that the cause of the group is something you never dared hope could be accomplished, and all of this sounds too good to be true, it probably is too good to be true!

Don't give up your education, your hopes and ambitions, to follow a rainbow."

-- Jenne Mills, former member of the People's Temple and subsequent victim of assassination a year following the November 18, 1978 Jonestown suicide/murders of 911 adults and children.

Are LGATs like Con Artists?

2006-11-19T14:05:00.000-08:00

This post will examine the similarities between helpful information posted at the advocacy website FraudAid: First Aid for Fraud Victims, and a description of common Large Group Awareness Training tactics, as outlined in Dr. Philip Cushman's 1993 book, The Politics of Transformation, also another excerpt from the work here at Mass Marathon Trainings.

Aggressive recruiting tactics
"As a result, participants and leaders may unconsciously distort their feelings and responses when reporting to researchers about the group or recruiting for future groups. This might result in a deceptive "oversell" that could undermine informed consent and lead to unrealistic regressive expectations in new recruits, the specific type of problems that have been found to lead to psychological casualties. Since these liabilities are so similar to the techniques used in some mass marathon training's, they may also cause psychological damage in that setting as well." - Dr. Cushman

"On the other hand, sometimes a con will merely play the game on someone who may not have a lot of money himself but who has relationships with others who do. In that case, you will not be aware that you have been duped. Or you may be made aware at a later date and threatened with repercussions if you do not continue to bring in money. " - FraudAid

Obsessive compulsive manipulation
"Participants are instructed and guided to move directly to the seat nearest to the front I the room. They are not allowed to save seats, move the chairs around, or take a seat at the back or on the side. After everyone is seated the unused seats are quietly "whisked away-" One subject noticed this and thought this was done in order to hide the number of no-shows. Participants are instructed to be seated before the music stops, or they will be considered late and will not be allowed to continue the training. Then there is silence until the trainer strides quickly and purposefully onto the center of the stage and takes the microphone. The staff applauds loudly." - Dr. Cushman

"In most instances, the middleman stars in the first two scenes. Once you have been carefully manipulated into a state of confidence and excitement, the middleman introduces you to the insideman. In today's world of financial scams, the insideman - the person running the show - is often the one who directly approaches you. If that's the case, then there is always the concept of someone higher up. This higher-up person is frequently a myth, created in order to apply pressure on you once money has changed hands. He is created to provide the con artist with an alibi, allowing the him the appearance of being at the mercy of a higher authority and therefore in the same fix as you, and therefore making him appear to be your friend. Regardless of whether you are approached by a middleman or the insideman himself, the con artist will always present himself to you as one who has to respond to a higher authority, in whatever form will pose the greatest threat." - FraudAid

Intimidation and legal threats
"This is where terror tactics are used. This is the step where the swindler will use every sort of threat imaginable to induce your deepest fears in order to prevent you from contacting the authorities for as long as possible, or maybe never. The swindler will threaten you with anything from total loss of all funds, convincing you that you have involved yourself in some sort of questionable activity, or threaten you with maiming or death. The swindler will use stall tactics by telling you that funds are tied up in a bank audit, or that transfers are frozen during bank mergers, or that the SEC is investigating the investment fund and no money can be disbursed until the investigation is finished... The results are always the same - it gives the swindler time to wrap up his scam and make a clean get-away, and/or it gives him time to clean out other victims he has on the hook before making his getaway." - FraudAid

Certain Large Group Awareness Training organizations have historically developed policies which involve the use of copious legal threats and indimidation as a form of inducing a chilling effect amongst their would-be critics. In fact, certain LGAT organizations have actually initiated litigation in their history against virtually every single media/press organization and individual who has publicly criticized these groups. This is not the standard of practice amongst reputable for-profit companies. Most companies will simply spend money on advertising campaigns - illustrating the postive nature of their organizations as a way to counter negative criticism in the press. However, most LGAT's do not operate in this manner, and instead of attempting to advertise and reinforce positive ideas, they will often go after critics in an attempt to silence negative ideas and destroy their enemies financial resources and their reputations.

Attorneys Peter L. Skolnik & Michael A. Norwick elaborate on this type of legal methodology:

"This type of lawsuit -- typically accusing the defendant of defamation and related torts -- is known in various American jurisdictions as a SLAPP suit: i.e., a Strategic Lawsuit Against Public Participation; a lawsuit brought not for its merits, but for the specific purpose of silencing a vocal critic, often one who is unlikely to have the financial resources to defend himself. "

The organization in question which Skolnik and Norwick refer to here will not be mentioned in this particular post, for fear of similar reprisal in the form of frivolous intimidatory legal actions, as further mentioned in their article. Now isn't that funny and ironic?

Actually, this particular segment of the typical Large Group Awareness Training's tactics - the heavy usage of frivolous legal threats, lawsuits and intimidation as a way to permanently silence critics - could be a book unto itself, and will be elaborated upon in further posts.

Conditions for Mind Control

2006-11-17T00:33:00.000-08:00

Plenty of accusations get bandied back and forth between pro-Large Group Awareness Training (LGAT) people and anti-LGAT people about the methods used on these courses. Some call them cults. Some say they aren't cults. Others say they use cult-like methods, while their opponents deny this.

What is clear is that many hypnotic methods are used on these courses. So, I thought I would post this checklist that outlines the optimum conditions for brainwashing, thought reform, mind control, coercive persuasion - call it what you will - to occur.

If these conditions look familiar to you, and not all of them need apply , then ask yourself why the group you are dealing with needs to create such an environment.

IN ORDER TO INFLUENCE OR BRAINWASH PEOPLE, THE FOLLOWING METHODS WORK BEST:

Isolate them in new surroundings apart from old friends or reference-points
Provide them with instant acceptance from a seemingly loving group
Keep them away from competing or critical ideas
Provide an authority figure that everyone seems to acknowledge as having some special skill or awareness
Provide a philosophy that seems logical and appears to answer all or the most important questions in life
Structure all or most activities so that there is little time for privacy or independent action or thought
Provide a sense of "us" versus "them"
Promise instant or imminent solutions to deep or long-term problems

And employ covert or disguised hypnotic techniques.

Now, think critically about the group you are checking these criteria against. Try to objectively assess whether conditions similar to these are used. If they are, do Due Diligence. Research the group well. Take a look at the links provided to the right, do a Google search, and then make an informed decision.

Also, take a look at this video, called Mind Control Cults. It has been mentioned before on this blog, but this short satire is incredibly accurate and it contains a lot of the jargon and claims you might hear from a questionable group, organization or teacher.

Finding YOUR own way

2006-11-15T02:01:00.000-08:00

Looking through the Rick Ross message boards, I, some time ago, came across a post by a former moderator, who goes by the username Corboy, which I would like to share with you. In it, he talks about life coaching. The concept and the points he makes could as easily be applied to Human Potential Seminars and Large Group Awareness Training (LGATs).

A legitimate Life Coach should resemble a gas station:

You get fuel for the journey, get your car fixed, and can check a road map in case you think you've got lost.

But the people at the gas station are there to help you reach YOUR chosen destination. They should not trick you into abandoning your plan to follow their plan, nor should they trick you into pitching your tent in the gas station's parking lot, and calling that your vacation!

The thing with LGATs is, they trick you into camping in the gas station parking lot and convince you it's as good or better than seeing Yellowstone, Yosemite--Sherborne Forest.

Life Coaching seems to spin off in some very legitimate ways from career counseling and brief, problem-oriented psychotherapy. If life-coaching stays within certain parameters it can be legitimate and helpful. But if it strays beyond these parameters, it is easily corrupted.

In my opinion, Life Coaching is legit only if:

1) It is made clear that life coaching is suitable for essentially healthy persons, who have clear cut goals and need to know what resources or skills they need to reach those goals.

There must never be 'bait-and-switch'

*The Life Coaching process should serve the stated goals of the client, not subtly recruit or indoctrinate clients into abandoning their goals to serve the covert goals of the group or its leader.*

**It would be a good sign if the Life Coach encourages clients to write out his or her goals and then check and re-check the goals throughout the process.

If the client is tricked into abandoning his or her goal to follow the agenda of the group, the life coaching process is no longer coaching but indoctrination and is an existing LGAT, or something in the early stages of becoming an LGAT.

2) The life coach or career counselor aims to have only short-term contact with the client/customer and is eager to foster the client's autonomy and be part of his or her continuing education, not monopolize the process.

3) The 'here-and-now' approach is only suitable for very clear cut goals (eg how to transition from one type of job to another), and only if a person is essentially healthy. A really ethical Life Coach will know how to refer you to a psychotherapist if it turns out you need one, and will have a list of qualified therapists available if referrals are needed.

4)It should therefore be a big red flag if a Life Coach tries to keep you attending course after course. That would subvert your autonomy and signal that the Life Coach's intentions are not in your best interest.

Above all, there should be no hidden agendas, such as fronting for an existing LGAT or using Life Coaching to test one's hypnotic skills or room arrangement experiments on an unsuspecting group.

Interesting article:

Do You Need a Performance Coach?
BestLife magazine, article by Christopher MacDougall

LGAT Updates from the Blogs

2006-11-12T15:31:00.000-08:00

In the tradition of sharing the link love, here are some interesting recent articles related to Large Group Awareness Training that have come out recently:

Muckraking Landmark Education
Touching on some of the more controversial aspects of the organization. From ben's commonplace book.

Google faces legal challenges over video copyright
Landmark has landed itself in some sort of legal entanglement with Google Video, and this has been spread on the Reuters news service. All because of a documentary made in France almost three years ago, Voyage to the Land of the New Gurus. More on this in a later post. From South Punjab Blog.

Lifespring Memories
This one comes from the blog, Sufferin' Succotash. A very interesting take on this controversial, defunct organization.

Gentle Wind Project becalmed
Great post about the Gentle Wind Project, as per the blog: "a cult that for more than two decades defrauded its members of millions of dollars." As taken from the blog, disinterested party.

WARNING: Survivors of Sexual Abuse Could Be Easy Targets - Landmark Forum
The views of other sites/blogs are not necessarily those of the editors of our blog, but this post has lots of interesting resources, including a 2005 article from GQ magazine. The blog is Jewish Survivors of Sexual Violence Speak Out, and it's also related to their associated site, The Awareness Center, which has some more resources on similar topics.

Nobody Joins a Cult

2006-11-10T23:14:00.000-08:00

Jonestown: The Life and Death of Peoples Temple

This is a trailer for the film, "Jonestown: The Life and Death of People's Temple".

The opening text of the trailer begins with:

On November 18th, 1978 in Jonestown, Guyana, 909 members of Peoples Temple died in what has been called the largest mass suicide in modern history.

Deborah Layton, author of the book Seductive Poison: A Jonestown Survivor's Story of Life and Death in the People's Temple, is quoted in the trailer:

"Nobody joins a cult. Nobody joins something they think's going to hurt them. You join a religious organization, you join a political movement, and you join with people that you really like."

This quote is extremely ominous and telling at the same time.

It certainly hits home why the resources contained in the previous posts are so vitally important to anyone who is considering or who has friends or relatives considering becoming involved in organizations or Large Group Awareness Training groups that they consider to be suspect:

Six Danger Signs of Harmful LGATs
To learn what to watch out for in friends/family members newly involved in Large Group Awareness Training.

Mind Control Made Easy
To watch a short film that accurately spoofs key characteristics of cult groups and cult leaders.

Seven Key LGAT Articles
To read articles from seven sources that research Large Group Awareness Training.

Doing Due Diligence
To begin to learn how to question and start the due diligence into these groups. When educating yourself about "personal life transformation" you should check out potential groups/companies as thoroughly as you would when buying a new car or house.

Six Danger Signs of Harmful LGATs

2006-11-09T23:52:00.000-08:00

So, you're on the outside looking in. Someone you know has attended a human potential seminar and when he/she returns you notice some changes - changes that you are not comfortable with.

Should you be concerned? What do you need to look out for?

Take a look at some of the points below. If some of these things look familiar to you, don't hestitate to read up more on them. There is a wealth of information on the subject, much of which can be found from the links provided, or else by doing a simple Google seach.

But even before I get there, I want to say a few things. If you recognize that someone close to you has been involved in a group using cult-like practices, DON'T rush in crying "Cult, Cult" or "Brainwashing!" Please read this article on coping strategies from Rick Ross first.

You may save yourself a lot of pain, and it may help you put together a constructive plan to help the person close to you.

A couple of things I have noticed for myself:

Often people who have been on these courses are told not to say what goes on there because this will spoil the experience for others who might want to do them in the future. Rubbish! This is a means of not revealing what happens on these courses. If it was known, I would suggest that many people would choose not to do them.

Another thing I have seen is that people who have been on such courses are also very vague about them when questioned. This is a Red Flag. Beware! Some people I have spoken to have had problems remembering what happened on these courses. A number of factors play into this such as confusion, lack of sleep, lack of food, and in some cases (which occur far too often) dissociation. Dissociation happens to people when they are put under extreme stress - this is how the body protects itself from that extreme stress.

The following warnings signs were posted by Chris Mathe, a Ph.D. candidate in clinical psychology. He has worked as a trainer, facilitator, consultant, executive coach, and senior-level manager for over twenty years. I believe the six points he makes are very useful:

1. Radical change in personality or behavior.
Change is normal with any religious, philosophical, political, or social "conversion," but the key here is the word "radical."

Has the person gone from being a quiet introvert to being an outgoing extrovert? Has he or she suddenly begun talking about new ideas or using new words or expressions such as the drift, enlightenment, getting it, holistic, human potential, resonance, transformation, transpersonal, transcendental, life force, etc.

2. Severe depression or anxiety.
These symptoms can be indicators of post traumatic stress disorder, sometimes experienced by participants in New Age seminars.

These disorders can be triggered by negative episodes undergone during sessions of guided imagery or past-life regression often included as part of such seminars.

Both depression and anxiety are often accompanied by an inability to concentrate, chronic distraction, and inappropriate emotional response.

3. Confusion about reality, values, or knowledge.
Since Large Group Awareness Training and Human Potential Seminars are designed to "transform" the way one views and relates to the world, as well as to the tasks at hand, the transformational process can result in a disjuncture between the individual and everything else that makes it difficult to determine what is real, valuable, or true.

The insistence that "we create our own reality" can, when inculcated by means of hypnotic or assaultive techniques, cause one to suffer psychotic episodes.

4. Diminishing or loss of critical thinking skills.
The basic Eastern-mystical concept of the unity of all things includes as one of its corollaries that there are no distinctions between truth and falsehood, right and wrong, good and evil.

In fact, Eastern/New Age teaching generally attempts to invalidate Aristotelian logic in toto, so that "A" can also be "not-A."

This, if carried to the "logical" conclusion, makes nonsense out of language, and meaningful communication becomes impossible.

A typical New Age statement is, "That may be your reality, but it's not my reality."

5. Sudden onset of a series of physical ailments.
As Margaret Singer and Richard Ofshe have found in this article, radical thought reform programs can cause a variety of physical as well as psychological problems.

These include strokes, heart attacks, ulcers, stomach problems, increased pain related to periods for women, and lowered resistance to communicable diseases.

People need to be alert to these as they can be signs of psychological distress brought on by these types of training programs.

6. Marital or other relationship discord.
Seemingly normal "spats" between spouses, siblings, partners, or parents and children can be precipitated by attendance at a New Age (or other) seminar or program.

The radical transformation or conversion that often occurs frequently produces a fanatic out of the convert, whether the conversion is to New Age thinking or Christian fundamentalism.

Unconverted relatives normally find it difficult to endure the religious/metaphysical obsessions of the fanatic.

People should be prepared to inquire discreetly of the employee who is experiencing such discord at home to find out if the cause may be of this nature.

Mind Control Made Easy

2006-11-07T23:15:00.000-08:00

Mind Control Cults

Mind Control Made Easy, or How to Become a Cult Leader -
a film by Carey Burtt

This 12-minute film has already been mentioned in the posts Doing Due Diligence and Why am I doing this? It is a great short-film that both spoofs cults, and describes some of their most dangerous aspects.

Right from the get-go, the narrator warns that cults often "establish front groups." The "cult members" then appear on camera and state which front group they are from:

"We're a bible study group."

"We're a management course."

"We're a meditation center."

"We're a world peace organization."

"We're a personal development center."

"We're a drug rehab center."

At the YouTube location where the video is posted, some users have posted comments comparing the video to groups they feel resemble aspects portrayed in the film. Some of these comments are amusing, while others are quite revealing.

Seven Key LGAT Articles

2006-11-06T04:31:00.000-08:00

There is some great research and articles on Large Group Awareness Training methodologies that is available right at your fingertips. New "Research" and "Questions to Ask" sections have been added to the helpful links sections to your right. The Questions to Ask section is pretty self-explanatory. This includes lists of carefully formulated questions that you should ask yourself, the friend who introduced you to the group, and the group's leader in order to gather more useful information.

Here is a bit about the newly added links to the Research section:

APA Task Force
Officially titled: "Report of the APA Task Force on Deceptive and Indirect Techniques of Persuasion and Control," this report was headed by Dr. Margaret Thaler Singer through the American Psychological Assocation in November 1986. This report covers a wide variety of topics related to Large Group Awareness Training, Psychotherapy Cults, Brainwashing and methods of influence.

In the Image of Man
Written by a Marcia Montenegro, this is an article entitled "In the Image of Man: An Overview of the Human Potential Movement and Motivational Seminars," written in June 2003. The article contains some useful resources, including a list of warning sign traits to watch out for, at the end of the article.

LGATs, Cult Observer
"Large Group Awareness Trainings," written by Dr. Michael Langone, appeared in the Cult Observer, Volume 15, No. 1, 1998, an academic take on the "encounter group movement.

The LGAT Experience
The writer walks you through a step-by-step process of an LGAT course, which in this particular article takes place over a 4-day period.

Mary Polaski "L" Series
Polaski begins the preface with: "The Mary Polaski "L" Series is intended to provide my opinion about Large Group Awareness Training (LGAT) programs such as The Landmark Forum, Lifespring Basic, and others. My opinion is informed by extensive research that I have conducted on the topic, as well as my own first-hand experience."

Mass Marathon Trainings
An excerpt from "The Politics of Transformation: Recruitment - Indoctrination Processes In a Mass Marathon Psychology Organization," by Philip Cushman.

Thought Reform and the Psychology of Totalism
Excerpted from Chapter 22 of the book by Dr. Robert Jay Lifton, published by University of North Carolina Press.

Doing Due Diligence

2006-11-05T01:10:00.000-08:00

When considering taking a course with a group or someone, a person is considering taking a look at life and making a change in how they are approaching it. This is an important decision. It is about your life and how you live it.

If you feel the need to make a change, make sure you are heading in the right direction.

When you buy a house, you need to do due diligence. When you buy a car, the same applies. Considering changing the way you do life is every bit as important and it too should be given due diligence, maybe even more so than in the case of a house or car. After all, a house and a car are inanimate objects, but your life, the way you move through the world, is something you are in contact with every second of every day.

So, here are some suggestions if you are considering taking a course:

- First up, do an Internet search on the group and any individuals involved. The Internet is a wonderful, relatively new source of invaluable information on these groups.

Probably the best source of information available is the Rick Ross Website.

Take a look at the Group Information Database.

Then visit the Rick Ross Message Boards where you will find a section titled Large Group Awareness Training, "Human Potential" Seminars. On the message boards you will find many first person accounts of people who have gone through these courses.

There are many other useful links on this blog to other sources apart from Rick Ross under Resources to the right.

Obviously, I come from a skeptic’s viewpoint, but this is necessary when one is considering such an important decision.

- Secondly, if you can, talk to people who have done courses with the group or individual that you are considering taking a course with.

- Look into the background of the facilitator/s. Don’t blindly accept their qualifications to be true.

There are many con artists exploiting people today, and they often make false claims, so check their qualifications out properly.

The LGAT industry is unregulated and thus people are at great risk of being exploited. Don't be one of them.

- Consider what the program you are interested in is promising. Read critically what it claims to offer. Then use your critical thinking to assess whether what they promise can be delivered or not.

Consider the following well-known saying and apply it critically: “If it seems too good to be true, it probably is.”

- One of the warning signs, I would suggest, is the idea that the prospective attendee is told to get out of his/her head and trust the process.

This is, in many ways, a suggestion to bypass critical thinking. Reasonable questions you have deserve reasonable answers, not vague-sounding generalities.

Be wary of being asked to place too much trust in someone or some group too fast.

- Steve Hassan’s Freedom of Mind website provides a list of questions to ask when you are making an assessment of a group or an individual.

- Another self quiz can be found from the Psychotherapy Cults & Isms website.

- It’s a satire, and it has been mentioned previously, but take a look at this short video from YouTube about Mind Control. Many of these groups and individuals have introductory sessions, see if you hear some or many of these ideas.

- Also look up what mind control is all about. Too many groups use methods of mind control on course participants and the attendees are unaware of what is going on. Robert Jay Lifton defined the criteria for mind control/thought reform in his book "Thought Reform and the Psychology of Totalism".

- Finally, consider that, if you are dealing with serious life issues, it might be a better option to consult a trained, licensed professional.

Many LGATs use psychotherapeutic methods, and many of them have no one qualified in working with psychotherapy. The potential for damage is great.

Many of them use a one-size-fits-all approach. But they don't know you at all. You need to be molded by them in a certain way before they apply their simplistic, one-size-fits-all approach.

Beware. It is your life, and by extension the lives of your family and friends, we are talking about.

Family and friends are so important. Any teacher/guru/course leader that attempts to turn you away from family and friends, saying he/she has the answer is waving a massive red flag in front of your eyes.

Blood is thicker than water. Most of us are lucky enough to know love from family and friends. Many teachers/gurus/course leaders know money from us.

Self Improvement or Selfish Profit?

2006-11-04T15:26:00.000-08:00

Many have accused the culture of Large Group Awareness Training, the Human Potential Movement, and Self Improvement as nothing more than vehicles of profit-mongering - for those behind the various companies, religions and organizations that dole out the "self improvement" in the first place.

A 2002 documentary by British film director Adam Curtis delves into these questions at great length, in the film, The Century of the Self. The film may be downloaded in entirety at Internet Archive, or viewed in streaming format, at Google Video.

If you go to the streaming format version, there is a most interesting segment which begins at 31 minutes into "part 3 of 4", in the documentary. This segment of the film analyzes the "Est Training", began by Werner Erhard in 1971. The Erhard Seminars Training company later changed its name to Werner Erhard and Associates, or "The Forum". Werner Erhard and Associates sold its coursework and "technology" in 1991 to a group of its employees which included Erhard's brothers and sister as well as his personal attorney - they then formed the for-profit company now known as Landmark Education.

This segment of the film includes interviews with Werner Erhard, Est graduates John Denver and Jerry Rubin, as well as journalist Jesse Kornbluth.

"What Erhard did, was to say that only the individual matters - that there is no societal concern. That you living a fulfilled life, is all you need be concerned about. Est people came out of those trainings feeling that it wasn't selfish to think about yourself - It was your highest duty." - Jesse Kornbluth, quote from the film

This quote then begs the question: What would a world full of "graduates" of these various types of seminars look like? Would "transformed" individuals be self-improved, or simply selfish? Were the motives of the founders of these various organizations self improvement of their customers, or selfish appreciation of their retirement accounts?

As most of these groups are either private, for-profit companies, or organizations cloaked under the protective mantle of religion, full financial disclosure and rigorous objective academic study is a rarity if not an impossibility within the "self improvement" movement.

Indeed, point five of the petition designed by the Landmark Education group of graduates known as the Transformation Reformers, also calls for financial disclosure, transparency and openness to criticism:

"A commitment to transparency and openness, including openness to criticism, openness to straightforward and public discussion of all aspects of Landmark, its history, and other transformational methodologies, as well as greater transparency into Landmark ownership, decision making, and financial information - openness also to graduate-led reforms such as these, and to changes in Landmark leadership itself if leadership serves as an obstacle to positive reform. "

To date, the inherent culture of the key management within Landmark Education and other human potential movements does not seem to be one which fosters full financial disclosure, transparency and an openness to criticism, to say the least. This is most obviously evidenced by the Landmark Education Litigation Archive, which clearly shows a pattern of intimidation through legal threats - of many individuals and members of the press who have criticized the group throughout its controversial history.

Why am I doing this?

2006-11-03T00:39:00.000-08:00

There are a lot of groups today, selling themselves as having the solution to the problems people are experiencing in their lives. It is a massive industry, but it is unregulated. Any person can set themselves up as a teacher, and that means that this human potential seminar industry is open to serious abuses. And serious abuses are happening every day.

Some of the groups I am talking about: Landmark Education, Personal Dynamics, The Mankind Project, Millionaire Mind, PSI, The Human Awareness Institute, Impact Trainings, Peak Potential, MSIA (Messiah), Rapport Leadership International, Life Success Seminars, Sterling Institute, NXIVM, Avatar.

Many of these groups use methods that should only be used by trained psychotherapists because when handled by unqualified personnel the results can be very dangerous. Hypnosis, group pressure, lack of sleep, lack of food, meditation, shaming, blaming, confessions are some of the methods used to make people more susceptible to an often twisted ideology that can totally screw up a person's perceptions and understanding of their world, including of their families, their finances, and their responsibilities.

These methods are the same as those used in cults.

I have been exposed to it indirectly. I lost the woman I have loved the most to a man who claimed to be a 'master', one Louis Smit, a South African, who has messed up many people's lives in South Africa, Hong Kong, and the UK. He claims two esoteric degrees and two diplomas that are false.

He used every method as outlined by Robert Jay Lifton in his seminal book "Thought Reform and the Psychology of Totalism" to break apart my relationship with my ex, all for his own sexual purposes, and for the purpose of selling another course, and then another, and then another...

Many individuals such as him exist, and so too do many groups. Sadly, I discovered my story was hardly unique. A visit to the Rick Ross website's (The best resource on cults and contoversial groups on the Internet) message boards confirmed this.

Pay a visit there at http://www.rickross.com/. Check out the Group Information Database. Take a look at the message boards and see how this industry is being exploited.

If people are considering doing a course that could be life changing, then they should treat it with even more due diligence than buying a car or a house, so check out the information on whomever you are interested in very carefully.

I don't want anybody to go through the trauma I and countless others have gone through.

Take a look at this spoof on cults on YouTube because if you attend an intro seminar for any of these groups, you might hear a lot of this stuff.

I'll have more to say, but let this be my introduction. Don't be caught out. Don't allow yourself to be hurt. Don't allow your family and friends to be hurt. Learn what mind control, thought reform, brainwashing is. Make informed decisions. Most of all use your own critical thinking.

You have the answers to your questions, not some group that doesn't know you from a bar of soap pushing their one-size-fits-all story. And pushing course after course upon you.