07.08.10
More on Tikkun and New Atheists
MBFM (many posts at The Gurdjieff Con) has a comment re: Bo Scoffield and much material on that (more apt for The Gurdjieff Con, but welcome here too). We will repost/link at the Gurdjieff Con.
MBFM comment link
Be Scofield said,
July 7, 2010 at 11:11 am ·
My latest article:“What Christopher Hitchens and the New Atheists Can Learn From Malcolm X”
http://www.tikkun.org/tikkundaily/2010/07/06/what-christopher-hitchens-and-the-new-atheists-can-learn-from-malcolm-x/
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MBFM said,
July 7, 2010 at 4:46 pm ·
More perspectives on Tikkunhttp://americanguru.net/news-and-reviews/integral-abuse-andrew-cohen-and-the-culture-of-integral-enlightenment/
(quote)UPDATE – Integral Abuse: Andrew Cohen and the Culture of Evolutionary Enlightenment
Review by William Yenner
In late April, I received an email from Be Scofield telling me about his new article “Integral Abuse: Andrew Cohen and the Culture of Evolutionary Enlightenment”, which he said was posted at Tikkun Daily, a blog at Tikkun Magazine which he writes for. Upon reading it, I felt his article to be a very comprehensive, insightful and disturbing piece revealing the depth of abuse and corruption within the Integral spiritual scene.However within a couple of hours the post disappeared from Tikkun, with no explanation. (The article was saved, however, by blogger Goeff Falk on his blog here(unquote)
Geoff Falk’s preservation of the article
http://www.geoffreyfalk.com/documents/TikkunComplete.htm
(Mr Yenner continues:
(quote)The following day I heard again from Be Scofield, saying that Tikkun took it down due to stylistic and tone concerns, and not due to content or subject matter. He said that with the guidance of editor Dave Beldon at Tikkun, he will be preparing a new version which will be posted later on Tikkun Daily. The article is quite critical of not only Andrew Cohen but also of several other well known spiritual teachers, including Ken Wilber, Craig Hamilton, Marc Gafni, Terry Patten, Sally Kempton and Diane Musho Hamilton. I have since heard that it is highly unlikely that Tikkun will post any version of “Integral Abuse.” Given the fact that it was Tikkun that first posted this article, and Tikkun’s normally high journalistic standards, a fuller explanation is due from the magazine.
For any readers wishing to request a fuller explanation from Tikkun about this, here are contact details:
* rabbilerner@tikkun.org (Rabbi Michael Lerner, founder of the magazine)
* dave@tikkun.org (Dave Belden – Managing Editor)
* webmaster@tikkun.org (Web Site Comments and Questions)
* letters@tikkun.org (Letters to the Editor)Mr. Scofield has now reposted his entire article on his own blog: God Bless the Whole World. Additionally the article has been posted on Integral World.
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
UPDATE: Since originally posting the above commentary, I have received an email from Rabbi Lerner stating that he feels Be Scofield is wrong to publicly criticize Andrew Cohen for what Lerner believes to be private conduct. He calls this type of criticism “evil speech.”
Whether or not private conduct is a fair target for criticism or discussion, what is being discussed in the case of Andrew Cohen is not private conduct. The issue here is about how Cohen conducts himself in his very public role as a spiritual teacher, a role which he advertises himself in, a role where he travels and meets interested, and vulnerable, spiritual seekers all over the world. When some of those seekers become closely associated with Cohen, and find themselves subject to abuses as described in countless detail in three books and a former student blog, then the issue is of true public concern and Be Scofield has done a public service by bringing more people’s attention to it.
The fact that Rabbi Lerner, who is also a participant in various forums and publications of Cohen’s, objects to the public exposure of Cohen and bases it on a false use of the idea of right speech, is really further cause for concern. Why do so many of the spiritual luminaries and leaders seem to turn a blind eye to the predations of all too many of the spiritual teachers?
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
Here are some brief excerpts from “Integral Abuse” by Be Scofield -As Frank Visser [founder of Integral World] says, “Integral confirms integral confirms integral.” I have heard people defend Marc Gafni by stating that Andrew Cohen and Ken Wilber support him. But it actually is a silly game they all play because they all defend and support each other. It goes something like this. Patten, Hamilton, Gafni and Wilber support Cohen. Cohen, Wilber, Hamilton and Patten support Gafni. Wilber, Gafni, Hamilton and Patten support Wilber. Wilber and Cohen support Patten and Hamilton. Wilber and Patten support Adi Da….etc. And they all appear on each others integral programs, websites, conferences, book chapters, magazines and platforms. Among the various offerings is Integral Life Practice, Integral Naked, Integral Institute, Integral Spiritual Center, Integral Enlightenment, EnlightenNext magazine…etc. And as Yenner notes above, they seem to employ the same tactic: surrounding themselves with other luminaries, celebrities, and public faces who agree with them and provide much needed support. If all of these amazing people support Cohen he must be ok, right? Now adays it seems all you have to do is add the word integral in front of something to boost its credibility. Add the word integral and you have a sexy and attractive product ready to be sold to eager spiritual seekers who are hungry for idealism and more purpose in life. The whole thing equates to a very large money making machine.
… Is it wrong to call out Cohen’s enablers? Is it wrong to expect them to break the silence on Cohen’s legacy of abuse, manipulation and cultish behaviors? In the face of the sadistic acts of Cohen isn’t it problematic when Wilber says “Cohen is here to tear you into a thousand pieces?” What about accountability? Responsibility? Ethics?
…In a post-Jonestown and present day Catholic Church scandal era we simply cannot afford their silence. I doubt any accountability will be had because this particular integral community is a family of “evolutionary thinkers,” who has discovered a revolutionary truth and will defend it to the end. They simply employ a form of group think that rationalizes, justifies and spins the truth to meet their agreed upon conclusions about each other. The ultimate irony is of course that these spiritual teachers are supposedly on the forefront of instructing us on how to confront the shadow. However, I won’t take their advice until they confront the very large shadow of Andrew Cohen. (unquote)
My hunch is that some of the folks who profess to be interested in evolutionary or integral spiriutality are actually, without being fully aware of it, more interested in maintaining a culture of impunity in which bullies can function, and even be celebrated as bullies, so long as they claim the title of guru or teacher of enlightenment.
A sincere seeker who unknowling ventures into an area claiming to be all about spirituality but in which the actual agenda is fostering culture of impunity soley for the benefit of powerholders, has ventured into a dangerous neighborhood and one in which the street signs are absent or misleading.
A friend living in London says there are some areas where residents have removed street signs and apartment numbers and in these neighborhoods the police cannot function–which is exactly the desired outcome. How can you call for help and get help if no street signs or numbers exist?
This isnt social justice, folks. Its a fog machine.
nemo said,
July 8, 2010 at 1:27 pm
This material was long under discussion here (check the search box for Cohen, sillykitty, gurdjieff, etc…and/or New Age category) until we moved it to The Gurdjieff Con. It is useful to post this twice since it is a matter related to the evolution/religion/science debates.
I will comment on Cohen again as appropriate.
The whole morass that MBFM points to indicates the way that attempts to transplant Indian religious issues into Western culture derail and chaotify.
Andrew Cohen is a notably confusing individual who got the makings of spiritual credentials (later repudiated) from a power figure surrounding the Ramana Maharsi legacy. Since that’s virtually a licence to print money, it is important to recall the circumstances of that episode of most unfortunate nonsense, and to suspect that the power guru in question was ambitious in some way (perhaps he was jealous of the Be Here Now figure who got zapped in the same way a generation earlier and wanted to advertise himself with a similar power transfer, one that backfired and didn’t work very well, clearly the guru chose a Jew preferentially for the expected smarts. Bad mistake, Cohen is a real dummy).
Keep in mind a few things: people never get enlightenened through power transfers of that type.
Andrew Cohen had done no homework and still to this day can’t see the cognitive dissonance he creates in flaunting a Jewish prescence in front of a variant of neo-Brahmanistic guruism, a tradition he clearly doesn’t understand. People can’t figure out where he is coming from. His inability to produce a decent version of Indian religion is a further sad confusion.
In fact, I suspect that confusion is deliberate and that Cohen is involved with efforts to make Indian religion submit to a rightwing theistic co er (run by chauvinist Jews who believe that Hindus and Judaists are the only true spiritual peoples, a hoary bit of dangerous nonsense).
That may be unfair to Cohen, but he seems unaware of the dark legacy of figures like EJGold, discussed here many times.
Rule of thumb as self-defense: you should consider the enlightened, but you cannot take anyone else’s word for the reality of that status.
So you cannot submit to a guru in any real sense until you are already enlightenened and no longer need a guru.
Be altogether wary of complicated and undecipherable fakes like Andrew Cohen, a tragic figure who got messed up by the fringe gang near the Ramana Maharsi world.
Learn the lesson: don’t hang out with mephisto types.
Your path is already set. Go see the PBS documentary about the Buddhist monks who carved out a cave from granite on a cliff, and then threw the ladder away. That’s your competition. Start by meditating up to four hours a day, and wait for the real spiritual world to find you.
Don’t hang out with these New Age derelicts like Cohen. (or Ken Wilber, who never quite made equal outrageous claims)
I will transfer this discussion to The Gurdjieff Con and continue some commentary. As usual MBFM’s reasearch is invaluable.
The Gurdjieff Con » MBFM at Darwiniana said,
July 8, 2010 at 1:46 pm
[...] MBFM has a good comment/post at Darwiniana [...]
nemo said,
July 8, 2010 at 1:46 pm
Anyone who wants to post the material here is welcome to do so.
MBFM said,
July 11, 2010 at 10:29 am
I take breaks now and then, but try always to bring quality material.
PS full disclosure. I am Jewish on my dad’s side.
What I cant stand is bullying in any way shape or form.
And what bothers me yet more is when spiritual leaders who are supposed to know better, participate in contructing a culture of impunity by enabling
known bullies such as Cohen and company.
Liked nemos remark about the Buddhist monks who carve caves in the cliffs and then kick the ladders away–thats our competition.
Actually, they did have means to grow some food, but it would have been the same simple food, day after day after day. None of the variety that we take for granted. It was the eat-it-now-or-die-in-your-cave-diet. No place to run off to if bored.
I heard someone discribe modern malaise as ‘going crazy on a full stomach’
Another reality check: Get and read the book, How to Shit in the Woods if you want a take on how complicated it really is to widdle or bust a grumpy in the woods or a cave.
Jan Willem van de Wettering did a year’s residence at a Rinzai Zen temple that was 500 plus years old. Did it in the 1950s and their toilet facilities were a stench ridden outhouse with a board over a hole, a hole in said board through which one dropped one’s eggs, and flies that hankered after the taste of naked fannies.
Rats were kept away by the presence of a large,tame snake.
(The Empty Mirror by Jan Willem van de Wettering)
Those folks are our competition, too.
PS Nemo and others, theres now a book out that may aid in research. Its a biography of one of the very earliest of the yoga teachers in the US. He was named Pierre Bernard, set up as a tantrik (thats how he spelled it) yoga teacher in Nyac New York in an area where there was already an avid interest in Theosophy, masonic lodges, etc.
His nephew Theos Bernard also grew interested in yoga and published books. I read a couple, wondering how on earth Theos learned about yoga in the 1920s, and from whom he could have obtained contacts to go to India and get the necessary referrals. I was annoyed that Theos did not give any credit and felt he made the whole thing un-necessarily mysterious.
Turned out he had learned much of this from his uncle, Pierre, aka Oom the Omnipotent and after his uncle’s social disgrace in a scandal, Theos never mentioned him by name when on his own path as a yoga instructor.
So…nemo, you may want to study up on Pierre Bernard via this new book. It may be that Rudradnanda and EJ Gold and possibly Lozowick (or Lozowicks own early teacher, Hilda Charlton
Theos published a couple of books but died young, with little time to teach or assemble disciples. Pierre had a longer teaching career.
They are mostly forgotten figures today, but Pierre lasted into the 1950s, though in failing health and he may have played an unsuspected role.
Turns out Hilda Charlton was a friend of Albert Rudolf aka Rudi/Rudranananda.
And Hilda is named as one of Lee Lozowick’s early influences, and as Lee and EJ Gold have collaborated at some events (do searchs on Google), there may be ties between EJ and Rudi as well.
And holy moly, Rudi had studied Gurdjieff work.
(For descriptions first hand of Rudi, get and read Alan Lew’s book, One God Clapping. Lew’s brother was a Rudi disciple. Alan used to visit and would see Rudi touch disciples and make them shake like leaves.)
So for pleasure and instruction, get and read the new book about Pierre Bernard, aka Oom the Omnipotent.
Google Citations here
http://www.google.com/search?q=oom%20the%20omnipotent&spell=1&ie=UTF-8&hl=en&source=hp&btnG=Google+Search
and here from Wikipedia is information about Rudi, Hilda Charlton, Muktananda and Nithyananada and….eeeeek, Da Free John.
—–
Middle years
At age 20, Rudolph – now calling himself “Rudi” – “experienced a deep spiritual awakening”. He also developed a serious interest in Asian art and began collecting sculpture.[4]
Albert Rudolph (Rudi)
Due to downsizing at the textile company, Rudi’s employer helped him to enter North Carolina State college, where he studied textile engineering. After college, Rudi returned to New York, where he became an engineering trainee at a textile company. During this time, Rudi began to attend meetings based on the teachings of Gurdjieff, which he continued for 5 years.[4]
Rudi wrote that when walking in Greenwich Village, he saw a storefront with a “FOR RENT” sign in the window. It was small and in terrible condition. He reported that he heard a voice whisper, “This is your store, this is your store, this is your store.” He soon opened “Rudi Oriental Arts” in the Seventh Avenue space, with just a few hundred dollars and some of the sculptures he had collected. Early on, Rudi supplemented his income by working evenings at the Village Vanguard nearby. In the next years, Rudi established an international network of Asian art suppliers, collectors, and distributors in several countries.[2]
Rudi joined the Subud organization, studying with its founder, Pak Subuh, and helping to establish the group in New York. In 1958, Rudi met Shankaracharya of Puri during his first visit to the United States, and lived with him in New York for 4 months.[1][2]
In early 1959, Rudi declared himself a spiritual teacher and began teaching students individually in his store. Rudi’s method was to sit opposite a student and gaze intently into their eyes for perhaps five to ten minutes, said to allow him to transmit shaktipat energy.[2]
In 1960, Rudi began to hold classes in his apartment, which consisted of an open-eyed meditation where he “transmitted shaktipat energy” in a group setting, followed by a lecture. Spiritual teacher and friend Hilda Charlton was frequently in attendance. Occasionally after classes, Rudi would invite the students up to his living room to play poker, or he would take them to dinner in Chinatown.[2]
In early 1961, Rudi sat for a painting by Edith Montlack, an artist in New Rochelle, New York.[5]
In 1961, Rudi first met Swami Venkatesananda in India, and they became lifelong friends.[5]
In 1962, Rudi became a student of Swami Muktananda in India. In 1966, Rudi traveled to Ganeshpuri with the intention of obtaining the title of ‘swami’ from Muktananda. Muktananda did not want to give Rudi the title, and so Rudi spoke with Chakrapani Ullal, a Vedic astrologer, about the situation. Chakrapani Ullal agreed with Rudi and persuaded Muktananda to give him the title, ‘Swami Rudrananda’. In 1971, Rudi dissolved his affiliation with Muktananda.[1]
In 1964, Franklin Jones, who later became the controversial guru Adi Da, became a close student. For two years, Rudi’s influence on Jones was pervasive. Jones eventually traveled to India to meet Swami Muktananda, who encouraged Jones to abandon his studies with Rudi and study with himself directly, which Jones did. Later, after joining the Church of Scientology, Jones severed all contact with Rudi, though they spoke again years later.[6][7]
By 1967, Rudi’s business had expanded. He traveled to the Asia at least two or three times per year.[1][2][5] In 1968, Rudi moved his store, Rudi Oriental Antiques. The new location was five times larger, and in attendance at the gala opening was Japanese Zen master Eido Tai Shimano.
That autumn, Rudi began searching for a location to establish an ashram. After a few months, he discovered a small Borscht Belt resort in the town of Big Indian, New York. Rudi purchased and named it Big Indian Ashram. He traveled there on weekends, giving classes and supervising the restoration of the property by his students.[2]
Rudi was said to be an excellent chef.[2] He enjoyed the performing arts and music, movies, television and mystery novels.[5] Rudi was gay, and was often frank about his homosexuality with students.[8]
[edit] Later years
Albert Rudolph (Rudi)
Rudi’s 44th birthday party was significant. Hundreds of people attended, some traveling from around the U.S. Renowned pianist Garrick Ohlsson performed for the guests.[2][5]
In September 1972, Rudi traveled to India with four of his students. While in India, they visited Swami Chidananda at the Divine Life Society in Rishikesh.[2]
By end of 1972, Rudi had established fourteen ashrams in the US, and three in Europe.[1] His Manhattan store housed one of the largest Asian art collections in the world.[2] In early 1973, Rudi published Spiritual Cannibalism, his only book.[1]
On February 21, 1973, Rudi died in a small plane crash in the Catskills. The three other occupants walked away with only minor injuries. He was dictating a journal entry, and his last words were, “…a deeper sense of surrender”.[4][9]
The Gurdjieff Con » Tikkun, Cohen, and New Atheists said,
July 11, 2010 at 2:45 pm
[...] MBFM at Darwiniana, after Scofield comment Be Scofield said, July 7, 2010 at 11:11 am · My latest article: [...]