Thursday 18 March 2010

Comments on Landmark

(Would you buy a used car from this man?)

AlfonsoG left a comment on my recent post:
As someone who has taken a variety of Landmark programs, I would take issue with a couple of things that you said. You imply that Landmark doesn't care about the health of the people who take part, not warning people that a course that takes a long, hard look at one's life is not appropriate for everyone. In fact, Landmark's Education explicitly gives a health warning in its paperwork, saying the courses aren't right for some people. I also take issue with the idea that Landmark is in it only for the money - in all my life of dealing with various companies, they are probably the group that is least interested in making a fast buck off of people and most interested in people having happy, fulfilled lives.
He has a blog called Transformation Musings but it's got nothing in it.

I thank AlfonsoG for taking the time. So let me respond.

Landmark has, for legal liability reasons, to place warnings about health risks in its paperwork. If it didn't it would be open day for personal injury lawyers. However, as we all know, the presence of risk management measures doesn't mean they are followed nor given any credence.

Much regulation and risk compliance is box ticking not active planning. And this is what Landmark does. For all its rhetoric, it does not take care of its devotees--certainly not their mental or psychological health.

Lars Berwick has talked about the danger of suicide through Landmark. And the "Inside Landmark Forum" by French television clearly shows the demeaning and crude tactics used by Forum leaders that can damage participants. The psychologist on the show argues that the Forum is psychologically risky and potentially harmful.

Again, the financial setup of Landmark is opaque and given what they do, there should be more transparency. Their over-use of so called volunteers has been criticized for failing minimum wage laws in some countries.

Thus on the basis of the evidence I think AlfonsoG has got it wrong.

18 comments:

Anonymous said...

I really enjoyed your comments and information. The landmark Forum messed up my life. After my boyfriend and I attended at the same time he decided to break up with me. He got alot out of it and thought i was too weak to be going to the forum. I got mentally sick from the forum lost my job, lost my apartment landed in the hospital multiple times. For psychological problems and was suicidal. I don't recommend the landmark forum. I too am anti landmark.
Thank you for posting

Anonymous said...

My wife enrolled me in it, well it only took 3 hours for me to realize this is a brain washing program. I got up and left, she stayed. I already see changes in her, for the better I don't know. But I did not want her to change. I have already ended a few of our conversation on the tone that she needs to turn off the landmark and talk to me as a spouse not a robot.
I have already been through brain washing, voluntarily. It was called Basic Training, and at my discharge I was evaluated by a psychologists to make sure I was ok before going home.
They have no one in that room with any real training other than that flow chart they follow. I am not a fan of monitors hovering behind us as we sat, they would tell people to sit down if they got up to stretch or go pee. Tearing people down in public, some people can have sever breakdowns.

Anonymous said...

I think enrolling for Bible classes will be better. Atleast its got nothing to do with money.

Why Claim No Win No Fee said...

It is very important that members of the general public are aware of their legal rights.

Kiora said...

Landmark forum is based on a combination of many philosophies with the main source being Existentialism. Soren Kierkegaard's work did a lot to develop this concept. He was not happy with the philosophers of his time concentrating on defining the description of human nature or the essence of man and believed that the important factor was man's existence, in that a man/woman becomes who they are through the choices they make. They create their own lives or character. Buddha expressed the same concept as did Jesus. I did the LM forum and found it solid in it's message and helpful in creating a paradigm shift in the way we can view our individual world. The problem with some participants may be that they are already 'brainwashed' when they enter the program and become terrified with the concept of personal responsibility. One can sympathise with their predicament but can hardly condem the messenger. However, LM does have a major flaw in it's marketing strategy. Marketing the product is done via the participants and whilst this may reduce their costs, which I assume is reflected in the cheaper fee, it also cheapens the whole experience. This is where participants feel manipulation and a sense of being used because it delivers truths then uses those truths to create a benefit for the organisation by motivating the individual to work as a marketing tool without payment. They should act more professional and keep participants free from this exercise. My message to them was that every organisation is only as good as it's weakest link. I found it very tacky indeed.

Kiora said...

Oh I forgot to add, for those Christians who condem LM for taking their money. Your organisation takes a lot more and against the very principles it holds. Tithing is an old testament Jewish practice created to support a society that had no social welfare system. 10% takings in our society and tax rate is nothing short of robbery and demanding it as a minimum is nothing short of heresy. The last church I entered into spent 30 minutes telling the congregation how God would bless them and reward them depending on how much they gave back to God HIS money.
Have you ever wondered why all churches NEVER have open finacial books for all church members to view? And a lot of the money is in cash.... Now that is a SCAM!

Anonymous said...

Landmark = extraordinary amazing honest must have experience for any healthy well adjusted successful person who is looking for what is next for them and their lives.

And the more impact Landmark Education has on the world, the more one can expect a backlash from people who are afraid of something where people come out of it putting themselves powerfully in the drivers seat in their own lives. There is just nothing like it on earth. IT IS AWESOME.

Anonymous said...

AND the book cover in this thread is an amazing read. One almost does not have to do the Landmark Forum out of reading that book, it is so full of what the Landmark Forum is.

I highly highly highly highly recommend the bio "Werner Erhard: The Transformation of a Man, The Founding of est is a biography of Werner Erhard" by William Warren Bartley, III.

triciajoy said...

Informational article! That is the kind of info that should be shared across the internet. I wish I could express my feelings far more eloquently.

www.n8fan.net

Unknown said...

You had a great and wonderful family. God bless you always. :)

Mario
www.gofastek.com

Unknown said...

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Anonymous said...

Hahahaha

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Berthabg said...
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Berthabg said...
This comment has been removed by the author.
Berthabg said...

How I left Landmark and how you can too:

I participated in Landmark for 20 years, it’s not true liberation having to continuously participate in seminars, the work does not last. Power plays a big role in the organisation and they demand your allegiance.

I’ve discovered true liberation through mindfulness. I recommend a foundational course in mindfulness called an MBSR (created by Jon Kabat-Zinn). Mindfulness gets you in touch with your own inner wisdom, there are many great teachers, ultimately it’s about finding your own true Way. (Capital W).

Landmark quote from Joan Holmes, Executive Director of The Hunger Project: “if you stop doing this work, it will come back in on you. The problems you solved in your life will be resurrected...it'll all come back to do again, only this time it will be worse." "If you stop doing this work it would be very dangerous to you, things will get very messed up for you if you do that". (quote from audio tape of Assisting Conference).

The Hunger Project was a spin-off of Werner Erhard, now known as Landmark.

It is a horrendous thing to do, to hold the promise of transformation in one hand and the threat of misery and discombobulation in the other hand.

I personally have seen many lives damaged by their being unable to control their lives without Landmark after the initial transformation. This is because Landmark omits a foundational practice of enlightenment, inhabiting your body, which is why I recommend an MBSR, in particular if you’ve done the Landmark work.

25 August 2020 at 04:24 Delete