-----BEGIN PGP SIGNED MESSAGE----- Hash: SHA1 <*>-<*>-<*>-<*>-<*>-< BEGIN USENET ATTACHMENT >-<*>-<*>-<*>-<*>-<*> ** The Original Message: >>From: dmunk@panix.com (DMR) >>Newsgroups: alt.self-improve >>Subject: LIFESPRING >>Date: 25 Mar 1996 09:51:13 -0500 >>Organization: PANIX Public Access Internet and Unix, NYC >>Lines: 19 >>Message-ID: <4j6bt1$d9v@panix.com> >>NNTP-Posting-Host: panix.com > >Hello group, > >My management has just signed me up (with my permission) to attend the >"Lifespring Basic Training" program. Just for info, I did a WWW search >on Lifespring, and ended up with a listing of "Dangerous Cults" with >Lifespring being described within it!!! Can anyone tell me if this >program is of any use, or is it a "brainwashing" program. My managers >are very excited about this program and think it will be good for me. >Comments? Thanks! > >Bill > >____________________________________________________________ > ____ __ Pulse Technologies, Inc. > (____ _ (__ 4455 Brookfield Corporate Drive >_______) (_/\_) (_\ \/ (__ Suite 100, Chantilly, VA 22021 > 703.802.3588 http://www.pulsetech.com ** A crosspost of the Original Message: >>From: dmunk@panix.com (DMR) >>Newsgroups: alt.support.ex-cult >>Subject: LIFESPRING >>Date: 26 Mar 1996 06:50:26 -0500 >>Organization: PANIX Public Access Internet and Unix, NYC >>Lines: 24 >>Message-ID: <4j8lm2$ppc@panix.com> >>NNTP-Posting-Host: panix.com > >Hello, > >I recently posted this message to "alt.self-improve" and was told to post >it here for an opinion. Please feel free to reply to my business e-mail >address: > > bswavely@pulsetech.com > >I'm really concerned about this now. THANKS! > >PS: My managers have gone through the program (Basic and Advanced) and > are otherwise "normal", great guys. ** The Responses: >>From: janused@aol.com (Janused) >>Newsgroups: alt.self-improve >>Subject: Re: LIFESPRING >>Date: 26 Mar 1996 19:20:52 -0500 >>Organization: America Online, Inc. (1-800-827-6364) >>Lines: 44 >>Sender: root@newsbf02.news.aol.com >>Message-ID: <4ja1l4$mai@newsbf02.news.aol.com> >>References: <4j6bt1$d9v@panix.com> >>Reply-To: janused@aol.com (Janused) >>NNTP-Posting-Host: newsbf02.mail.aol.com > >Thanks; didn't know Lifespring still had anything going. I did it myself >some years ago. I enjoyed it - however, I got it at no charge, as an >educator\ consultant. >This note ran longer than I expected; scroll down and down... >Personally, I recommend daily meditation. But how many people would sit >still and pay attention to their breathing? You can use 'vipassana' to on >any web browser to find the Vipassana Meditation Society, which does free >meditation retreats. That kind of initial support seems to help most >people. >Back to 'transformational trainings' >Before attending any such event, arrange to stay in close contact with >friends and family during and immediately after it. Also, to have a rough >idea of how some of it works, you should read a few books. I recommend at >least two. >"Life 102" by Peter McWilliams, (he previously wrote "Life 101" for >John-Rogers) a subjective yet very detailed and well researched account >which describes his experience with a group led by John-Rogers . >"Influence" by Cialdini, an objective yet informal description of how to >manage and control people. >While and after attending such an event, PLEASE avoid making any major >decisions. >I could say worse about many other such groups, but take the opportunity >to learn from the mistakes of two among my friends in Lifespring >specifically. One, previously financially responsible, went into serious >debt in the following months because, "I won't let money be a reason why I >don't do things." Another, previously sexually responsible, unmarried, and >sexually active for more than a decade, got pregnant for the first time in >her life. > >Within my experience, all such trainings depend heavily on the people and >leader you do it with. Still, Lifespring seemed, to me, more responsible >and better designed than most such trainings. Many people seem to get a >lot out of it. > >janused >>From: Steven Hassan >>Newsgroups: alt.support.ex-cult >>Subject: Re: LIFESPRING >>Date: 27 Mar 1996 21:58:58 GMT >>Organization: Your Choice or Blank >>Lines: 17 >>Message-ID: <4jcdn2$ou3@news.tiac.net> >>References: <4j8lm2$ppc@panix.com> >>NNTP-Posting-Host: shassan.tiac.net >>Mime-Version: 1.0 >>Content-Type: text/plain; charset=us-ascii >>Content-Transfer-Encoding: 7bit >>X-Mailer: Mozilla 1.12(Macintosh; I; 68K) >>To: dmunk@panix.com >>X-URL: news:4j8lm2$ppc@panix.com > >I have a big problem with any group that does hypnotic techniques on >people but claims there is no hypnosis. I have a problem with a group >that will not tell you in advance what will happen at the workshop. I >have a big probelm with a group led by a man who is proud that he has no >training in psychology (Hanley). > >BE careful!!! Ask questions! 20/20 did a two part series on this group >in the 80's and profiled people who either died as a direct or indirect >result of the "training". > >Steve Hassan M.Ed, LMHC >shassan@tiac.net & Home Page: http://www.virtumall.com/mindcontrol/ > >"I know but one freedom & that is the freedom of the mind" >Antoine de Saint Exupery >>From: djrtx@aol.com (DJRTX) >>Newsgroups: alt.support.ex-cult >>Subject: Re: LIFESPRING >>Date: 27 Mar 1996 02:18:36 -0500 >>Organization: America Online, Inc. (1-800-827-6364) >>Lines: 67 >>Sender: root@newsbf02.news.aol.com >>Message-ID: <4jaq4c$3t6@newsbf02.news.aol.com> >>References: <4j8lm2$ppc@panix.com> >>X-Newsreader: AOL Offline Reader > >On 26 March 1996, At 06:50:26-0500, Bill (dmunkApanix.com [DMR]) wrote: > >Bill, your decision to investigate the program before you attend is wise. >The saying, "Where there is smoke, there is fire," appears to be >applicable to Lifespring. Although I have only minimal (second-hand) >knowledge of this "human potential" group, I'll share what I have heard, >and make a few suggestions. There should be other people on this >newsgroup who are far more familiar with it than I am. > >1. Lifespring has a noble goal -- to help people discover themselves and >handle problems. However, a noble goal does not make the vehicle sound. > >2. It *claims* to be *neutral* regarding religion, yet, some of the >presuppositions and beliefs are remarkably religious in nature (resembling >Eastern mysticism). > >3. As I understand it, Lifespring teaches that man is perfect (a mystical >view) -- that's yet to be proven over thousands of years of man's >existence -- and flies in the face of reason. Questions you might ask >yourself include: >a. Is their premise, that man is perfect, a rational, valid one? >b. If someone can prove to me that man is perfect, am I deluded? >c. How much money must a person "shell out" to test the claims of this >program? >d. Is there always another recommended seminar/program yet to be taken >which is necessary to achieve your goal? >e. What are the credentials of the instructors/leaders? > >4. Lifespring teaches people must assume responsibility for what happens >to them -- >ie., we cause most of our own problems -- mental & *physical* (again, a >religious view, with which I have firsthand experience). > >5. Former adherents and mental health professionals have charged its >"behavior modification" techniques cause emotional and psychological harm. > There are numerous stories of such damage, for which there has been >successful litigation against Lifespring. It is this aspect of Lifespring >which has prompted others to label it a "dangerous cult." > >6. The best way to determine how Lifespring affects your managers is to >study them over time, a long time. > >7. Cultic organizations usually dismiss former members' criticism with a >response such as, " You can find former members of any group who complain >about it." That response "supposedly" relieves everyone from the >responsibility to investigate or respond to those claims. > >8. Remember the Tylenol(R) scare? A capsule needed to contain only a >small percentage of cyanide to be dangerous. > >For further information, you might read "Cults in Our Midst," by Margaret >Thaler Singer with Janja Lalich, and "Combatting Cult Mind Control," by >Steven Hassan, and/or call: > >1. The American Family Foundation @ 212-533-5420, or >2. The Cult Awareness Network @ 312-267-7777. > >Joanne >>From: WalksInSun >>Newsgroups: alt.self-improve >>Subject: Re: LIFESPRING >>Date: Thu, 28 Mar 1996 12:18:27 -0800 >>Organization: The Loop >>Lines: 58 >>Distribution: world >>Message-ID: <315AF413.AC9@mail.loop.com> >>References: <4j6bt1$d9v@panix.com> <4ja1l4$mai@newsbf02.news.aol.com> >>NNTP-Posting-Host: pma1_116.loop.com >>Mime-Version: 1.0 >>Content-Type: text/plain; charset=iso-8859-1 >>Content-Transfer-Encoding: 8bit >>X-Mailer: Mozilla 2.0 (Win16; I) > >Janused wrote: > >I read with much interest the postings regarding Lifespring and espcially >the well-placed recommendtions from Janused. However, Janused, I must >comment; if one needs to do these things in order to participate in >Lifespring and return with one's psyche intact, why even bother. I too >have heard about the 'cult' style methodology of Lifespring. Quite >frankly, if my place of business suggested I take their program, i would >give them a copy of the many articles written about Lifespring and their >negative effect on participants' minds. If my place of business insisted >that i attend in order to keep my job, I'd sue 'em!!! SpiritSong >-- <*>-<*>-<*>-<*>-<*>-< END USENET ATTACHMENT >-<*>-<*>-<*>-<*>-<*> ** Here's what I sent to Bill: <*>-<*>-<*>-<*>-<*>-<*>-< BEGIN ATTACHMENT >-<*>-<*>-<*>-<*>-<*>-<*> From: ruthj@delphi.com "Jon Ruth" 7-APR-1996 18:10:21.04 To: @BILL Subj: Lifespring Bill, I've seen a few of the follow-ups posted to alt.support.ex-cult and alt.supprot.self-improve. The comments by Steve Hassan about the use of hypnotic techniques are appropriate. The use of hypnotic techniques without the fully informed consent of the subjects, the trainees, constitutes unethical behavior on the part of Lifespring, Inc. Deception has no place in a true educational environment. It does have a place, a very important one, in a thought-reform program. You are probably more familiar with other terminology that has been used to describe thought-reform programs: behavior modification, Pavlovian conditioning, mind control, and the "B" word -- brainwashing. Regardless of the term used, the essential aspect of the deception in such programs is that no appeal is made to reason. No attempt is made to persuade you with carefully crafted propaganda. Rather, in my experience, the object is usually to circumvent the intellect, to run around it and sneak up on it from "behind" by appealing exclusively to the emotions. If the "learning environment" is carefully designed, as is the case with the Lifespring trainings, then you do not have time to reflect on the information, such as it is, that is being presented. You certainly do not have time to evaluate the situation in your usual manner. Actually, that's the whole point. The pace of the trainings and the high emotional pitch at which they run are intended to disconnect you, to dissociate you, from your old way of doing things; from your old way of thinking. And into the resulting confusion, the Lifespring philosophy is ready to step in and calm everything down. I did the Basic Training, the Advanced Course, the Leadership Program, the Masters Course, and the Graduate Review in 1986 and 1987. Granted, it has been a while since I was immersed in the Lifespring milieu, but every time I speak to other ex-Lifespring members about my experiences, they agree with my descriptions of the processes. The details may have changed, but I believe that the core program and ethics (or lack thereof) of Lifespring have not changed. I have attached a bibliography of articles and books, both positive and negative, about Lifespring. The articles will provide specific history, information, and opinions about Lifespring. To make the best choice for yourself, I recommend that you read some of the books on influence and cults in general. It is best to have an idea of the entire issue of thought-reform and mind-control. > My managers >are very excited about this program and think it will be good for me. I would expect them to be enthusiastic. I consider one of the main objectives of the Lifespring trainings, besides producing Lifespring sales reps, is to train you to like the training. Think about it. What better way to pump-up word of mouth advertising than to train (condition) the trainees to like the training? Another factor you need to be aware of is that[, based on my observations,] at all levels of Lifespring, everyone, and I mean EVERYONE, is pressured to recruit [enroll] their friends, families, and colleagues to do the trainings. Generally, [again, based on my observations,] one is not treated as being successful inside Lifespring unless they recruit ("enroll" is the Lifespring euphemism). [I expect] Your managers are no different. <*>-<*>-<*>-<*>-<*>-<*>-< END ATTACHMENT >-<*>-<*>-<*>-<*>-<*>-<*> -----BEGIN PGP SIGNATURE----- Version: PGPfreeware 6.5.8 for non-commercial use iQA/AwUBOrOayTL5APkWv2amEQIlfwCgkLfX7PbTiXx8inJbtdwlPZLEBWcAoKbP qcxPMlpiJKRGgqatw41mdrjL =u+hX -----END PGP SIGNATURE-----