Recently, everyone has been very concerned about the various spiritual trainings on the market, and there are divergent opinions. In view of this, Mr. Wu Xie is here today to talk to you about the things you don't know behind the "spiritual training".
The source of "spiritual training"-large-scale group awareness training
Many of the so-called "spiritual training" or "spiritual training" in China can be obtained from large awareness training in the United States (large awareness training, for short) LGAT) find the source.
LGAT originated in the 1970s and 1980s. The more well-known "source of life" began in 1974, and its origin can be traced back to the popular psychodynamics in the 1960s. The "Executive Success Programs" (ESP training, later renamed NXIVM) for female training started in 1998 and was founded by Keith Lanier. The Erhard Seminar and Training Course (EST Training) was founded in the 1990s. In 1991, the training course was resold and later renamed "Milestone Education".
The most typical operating mode of LGAT organization or company is to sell the philosophy of its founder. In essence, the purpose of this type of training is not to make money by promoting a certain product of the company or organization, but to persuade the trainees to accept and believe in a specific life creed or philosophy. This goal is achieved through intensive training in just a few days. Therefore, the training class is filled with intense emotional tension, often accompanied by conflict and confrontation within the group.
The LGAT organization claims that the philosophy they believe in can solve almost any problem in the world, is an all-encompassing action guide, and can even cure all diseases of the entire mankind. Training is usually promoted by a main instructor, and the most frequent job of the promoter is to perform the training procedures in detail. The potential training goal is: adopting LGAT's belief system can make people's lives richer and better.
People participating in LGAT often have to experience several days of emotional confrontation and accept strict supervision. In this process, the organizer uses carefully designed group pressure to make the trainees emotionally cathartic and extreme psychological changes to achieve the expected "insight" state. Although many new entrants feel uncomfortable with this, they dare not leave due to the pressure of other students and the restrictions and constraints of the group. After the meticulous design and education of LGAT organizers, the members finally accepted LGAT's related theories convincingly. In this sense, LGAT organizers require trainees to have a high degree of unity of will and full loyalty to the concept of the group. In view of this, some former trainees said that LGAT is a kind of "brainwashing."
LGAT generally goes through the three stages of compulsory persuasion described by psychologist Edgar Schein: thaw, change, and refreeze. This is similar to the trilogy of Awakening, Transformation, and Inspiration advertised by some training institutions. Thawing is a process of shaking self-awareness, usually carried out without people noticing it, accompanied by a lot of painful repentance and severe criticism and criticism from the instructor. The purpose is to destroy the previous belief system and sense of belonging and create The emotional dependence on the group needs. The change is the hunger and thirst for group attachment created in the previous stage, so that students can accept the concept declared by the group, weaken their normal thinking ability, and instill a dependent behavior habit. After the first two stages are completed, the result will be that a person begins to become more dependent on the training group in terms of beliefs and emotional patterns. re-freezes, can also be called the symbolic death and rebirth stage. In this stage, the trajectories of cognition and emotion are intertwined and support each other, which often brings individuals the experience of rebirth. The cognitive goal at this stage is to cultivate a sense of belonging and satisfaction to the group and become an agent that can be driven by the group.
The famous American psychologist Margaret Singer noted that "LGAT training requires at least four days of accommodation, usually five days." Singh explained, “I feel that this kind of training design is more about making the trainees emotionally excited first, and then making them lose their judgment and fully obey the instructions of the instructor.The training itself does not impart any knowledge about how to improve job performance to the trainees. "After the trainees complete the initial training, there is often continuous group education, which makes the trainees promise to continue to participate in the coaching training organized by LGAT. In this way, the effect of the first training can be greatly enhanced. After participating in the entire training After the process accepts LGAT’s initial indoctrination, trainees may fall into a LGAT-centered subculture, including volunteering for LGAT, although in fact most LGATs are for-profit private companies and not charities. LGAT graduates will be encouraged to recruit and recruit other personnel to participate in the training and become a volunteer sales team, which can not only bring more paying customers to the company, but may also make those already loyal students more stable.
Margaret Singer, a famous American psychologist and world authority on cult problem research
This type of training uses a lot of hypnotism. Hypnotism is a Western psychology used to explore people's subconsciousness and treat psychology A technology of disease is divided into quantum hypnosis, OMNI hypnosis, NGH hypnosis, etc., and it is used more and more in modern times. Hypnosis itself has no distinction between good and evil, but some of the genres show a tendency to witchcraft. For example, "quantum hypnosis" Hypnosis, the full name of Quantum Healing Hypnosis Technique (QHHT), was invented by the American Dolores Cannon (1931-2014) at the end of the 1970s and claimed to enable people to enter the “previous life” "A kind of hypnotism", it is also said to be able to treat heart disease, AIDS, diabetes, and regenerate damaged liver, kidney, and muscle. Many trainings use it as a so-called "Past Life Regression", which may develop It has become a means of creating fallacies, pretending to be ghosts, implementing mind control, and defrauding money and sex. In fact, the various "healing" methods in "spiritual training" are often referred to as "spiritual healing" or "energy" "Drugs" (Energy Medicine) are collectively referred to. The medical community regards it as a branch of alternative medicine based on pseudo-scientific beliefs, and research in the past 20 years has consistently concluded that there is no evidence to support its clinical effectiveness.
Research by foreign experts and scholars also shows that many of the concepts promoted in training involve psychodynamics and technical coaching, but are also deeply influenced by certain cults, and adopt a similar MLM model in the company's operating structure. For example, the "Ehhard Seminar and Training Course" mixes the concept of "Scientific Sect" with other concepts, including , Dale Carnegie, Zen Buddhism, Gestalt Psychology, talk therapy session, and German philosophy Martin Heidegger’s thoughts, and on this basis created the Erhard doctrine. Lanier's "Successful Training for Senior Managers" was filled with the jargon and terminology of the "Scientology" and eventually developed into a cult organization. It is worth noting that among the concepts advocated by some large training institutions, they believe in the American Protestant evangelical faction, and regard it as the only way to salvation. They have a strong sense of expansion and therefore have developed rapidly worldwide.
The controversial and lawsuit-ridden large-scale group awareness training
The controversial LGAT in the United States includes the "Executive Success Programs" (ESP training); "Ehhard seminar training class" (Erhard Seminar Training, EST for short), later renamed to "Landmark Education" (Landmark for short); and "Life Spring" and "Mankind Project" (Mankind Project). These LGATs continue to receive media attention and continue to receive complaints, and some have also led to many personal injury lawsuits.
1. "Senior Manager Success Training Course" (ESP)
In May 2004, 35-year-old Christine Mary Schneider committed suicide. This female plant ecology master and environmental consultant left a note Suicide note: "I participated in the'Senior Manager Success Training Course',I was brainwashed, the emotional center of my brain was killed or shut down. My body still feels, but my internal organs are rotting. If you find me or this note, please contact my parents. I can't take my life. I know that I am already dead. May we continue to move into the future.
And this ESP, later renamed "NXIVM" (NXIVM), was founded by the notorious American sex cult leader Keith Raniere (Keith Raniere).
Keith Lanier
In the 1990s, Lanier packaged himself as a "master of human psychodynamics", a "super genius" who has made achievements in many fields. He preached that he could talk fluently at the age of 1 and read literary at the age of 2 Hyphenation, self-study of high school mathematics courses within 19 hours, etc., has obtained 3 degrees from Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute in the United States. In 1993, Keith Lanier founded a pyramid-shaped MLM company, which was influenced by the United States. Investigations were filed in 23 states. In the end, he reached a settlement agreement with New York State and paid compensation. In 1998, Lanier and a former psychiatric nurse who claimed to be a “human potential expert” co-founded “Nexam”, headquartered in Albany in New York, USA, claims to be a mutual aid organization based on humanitarian principles. It aims to fight for the rights of women, eliminate psychological and emotional barriers, and promote better self-realization. The organization’s slogan is " Efforts to build a better world", with the banner of "leading the new era of human evolution" to recruit members. "Nexam" has attracted more than 16,000 members and has operations centers in the United States, Canada, Mexico, and Central America. Its The members also include Hollywood actresses, heiresses of well-known companies, and even the daughter of a former Mexican president.
The cover of Forbes magazine on October 13, 2003 reported on Lanier with the title "Cult of Personality." Personality), describing him as "the strangest manager coach in the world." In fact, Lanier also controls female members through the slave and master system. In this organization, female members must serve the "master" like slaves. Including having sex. Some female members even branded Lanier’s initials on their pelvis.The entire "surgery" will be recorded for about half an hour without any anesthesia, which is very painful. These deceived members also regarded having such a mark on themselves as an honor.
Sarah Edmundson, a Canadian actress and former member of "Nexham", shows her imprints
Lanier will require all members to hand in collateral to show loyalty: such as nude photos, financial information , Family and friends information, and the scandals that you hide in your heart, etc., and these information must also be updated monthly.
Once anyone attempts to withdraw or leak the existence of the organization, these collaterals may be made public.
On October 27, 2020, the U.S. District Judge sentenced Lanier to 120 years in prison and fined $1.75 million in federal court in Brooklyn. The charges included racketeering, sex trafficking, possession of child pornography, and other crimes.
2. "Ehard Seminar and Training Course" (EST)
Werner Erhard
"Ehard Seminar and Training Course" Werner Erhard (Werner Erhard) Originally a salesperson, he founded the training class in San Francisco, California in October 1971. Erhard preached that his training class is "exploit logically, so that students can gain a deep understanding of themselves, thereby improving the quality and efficiency of life." The instructor will adopt an authoritarian attitude, insulting and mocking participants who have different opinions. . Participants will take turns being insulted, accepting motivational speeches full of jargon, and preaching narcissism, solipsism, and existentialism. After being resold in 1991, EST was renamed "Landmark Education", and in 2013 it was renamed "Landmark Worldwide" again. Margaret Singer strongly criticized "Milestone Education" during his lifetime and was prosecuted. The lawsuit lasted for several years and finally reached a partial settlement. Singh declared in 1997 that "milestone education" was not a cult group or heretical sect. However, in 1995, Dr. Singh stated in his important book "The Cult Among Us" and twice in 2002: "I do not approve of what they did.Never agreed. "At present, "Milestone Education" has become a multinational enterprise with branches all over the world. However, people's worries about Erhard EST training are not groundless. As early as 1977, it was reported that some people suffered from mental illness after participating in the training. In an article published in the American Journal of Psychiatry, some experts in psychiatry warned their colleagues anxiously: EST may bring catastrophic consequences to some people.
"Milestone Education"
3. "The Fountain of Life"
"The Fountain of Life" was founded by John Hanley in 1974. It is reported that in the 1960s, a professor named Alexander Everet founded the Mind Dynamics course, and there are Scholars believe that the course is actually based on the ideas of spirituality master Edgar Cayce and the Theosophy. "The Source of Life" has absorbed the concepts of spiritual power. At least 30 prosecutions have been filed against the "Source of Life". 1983 On September 6, 1991, the American media reported that a student died suddenly due to psychological pressure in the classroom. In 1984, a student who had participated in the "Source of Life" training was in the Virginia Court Received a compensation of 800,000 US dollars, the student suffered mental loss. A lawyer in Washington, D.C., had received training in "The Source of Life" and also experienced the same injuries. Finally, he was sentenced to 300,000 US dollars in compensation. In 1982, he worked with the student. The company’s training-related suicide case was settled out of court. In 1993, the company agreed to pay 750,000 US dollars in compensation to a trainee who had received two years of training. The "Source of Life" company was eventually dissolved, but many of its faculty or company members Many LGAT companies have been established one after another, not only following the training techniques and methods of the "source of life", but also continuing to expand and prosper.
According to media reports, there have been many "spiritual training" in China that originated from the "source of life". company,Course names, stage settings, and charging standards are somewhat different, but the soup is not changed, and the tutors who teach the courses often move between companies. After the spiritual power was introduced into Japan and Hong Kong, China, it developed into "Life Dynamics" (Life Dynamics). In 1994, "Life Power" entered the Hong Kong market less than 4 years ago and already had more than 7,000 trainees.
4. "Human Engineering"
In 2005, near Houston, USA, a young man named Mike Snito participated in the "Human Engineering" training and completed the "New Warrior Adventure Training" He committed suicide on the 15th day afterwards. In the letter he left, he said: "They use constant stimulation to make people go crazy." The letter also said that when he asked to leave, the leader of a group told him, "If you leave, it will bring other members. harm". His family sued "Human Engineering", and this abnormal death lawsuit did not end until 2008. As part of the settlement agreement, Houston’s “human engineering” was ordered to rectify, including the need to accept the supervision of a psychiatrist when developing potential members. The agreement also specifically stated that the website must be marked: “Applicants are free to leave the training. Power."
5. "Spirit Warrior"
James Arthur Ray
On November 18, 2011, James Arthur Ray, who was a guest on the talk show of Oprah ( James Arthur Ray) was sentenced to two years in prison for 's manslaughter . James Ray has engaged in many jobs, and finally locked in the field of spiritual training, declaring that his goal is to become the first "billionaire of spiritual teachers." With the help of Oprah’s talk show, Ray’s training class has made a lot of money, earning 9.4 million US dollars in 2008. In October 2009, three trainees died of heat stroke after participating in a five-day "spiritual warrior" training hosted by Lei. The deaths were related to a ceremony called the "Sweat Bath House". Ray claimed that his retreat was the same as Lanier’s training,Can enlighten the mind in some way. Ray rented a retreat center in Cedo, Arizona, organized training activities, and attracted many students to sign up. During the retreat, there were a lot of lectures. The trainees were arranged to watch the movie " The Last Samurai" starring Tom Cruise, and then they were taken to the desert for the so-called "fantasy exploration". The trainees were asked to pretend to be dead in the training of "Samurai Game". On the last day, about 50 fanatical supporters were arranged to squeeze into the makeshift "sweat bath house". As a result, 3 people died and more than 20 people were admitted to hospital for treatment. The family of the deceased finally received US$3 million in compensation. In 2012, James Ray declared bankruptcy.
wandering on the edge of the law-"spiritual training" and illegally outside
In recent years, as various variants of large western groups "awareness training" have flowed into our country, some training institutions have waited for "awareness training" Under the banners of “Mind Training”, “Leadership Training” and “Spiritual Training”, it adopts mental control methods such as psychological suggestion, hypnosis and brainwashing to teach the so-called personal self-improvement, self-discovery, and self-realization skills, which not only collect huge amounts of money, but also endanger the people's body and mind. Healthy and corrupting the social atmosphere, it is actually 's new type of spiritual MLM group whose main purpose is to recruit new students and accumulate money.
Such groups basically appear in the form of holding various types of training, including "breakthrough" and "stimulation of potential" training; "quiet mind training", "hypnotism" and other training methods "body and mind" training; "physical fitness" "Inheriting traditional culture" health training, etc. In order to attract students, some also adopted the method of "sex games", which promoted sexual liberation and corrupted the social atmosphere, causing the husbands and wives to turn against each other and the family breakdown; some adopted methods such as "swearing attacks", which caused some students to have psychological obstacles and other consequences, which harmed the public. Physical and mental health. This type of training also requires trainees to develop new trainees in a similar way to MLM, causing many social instability factors.
This kind of training makes the trainees gradually dependent on the small training circle in the constant emotional stimulation, and finally falls under the collective pressure and constant repetition. Many parties often have sequelae after being brainwashed.There may even be mental disorders and even schizophrenia.
Constantly recruiting new members and continuing to charge fees are the tacit secrets of some training institutions. As long as these so-called "mind training" institutions can recruit the first batch of students, with skilled mind control, there will be a steady stream of students thereafter. Students pull students is their way to success. The interlocking training titles and continuous various group activities enable training institutions to continuously harvest "leeks" and obtain huge benefits.
Since such training institutions generally have formal business licenses, their activities are similar to daily management skills training. The training process and content are highly confidential, and trainees are required to promise not to disclose the learning content to outsiders. Therefore, it is difficult for the public to understand the true internal situation, and it is difficult to understand and grasp whether there are violations of regulations and laws. More critically, my country's current laws still lack clear definitions and guidelines for this type of behavior. According to the Regulations on Prohibition of MLM, MLM refers to the name of business activities such as promoting products and providing services, requiring participants to obtain membership qualifications by paying fees or purchasing services, and forming a hierarchy in a certain order, directly or indirectly The number of development personnel is used as the basis for remuneration or rebate, to induce and coerce participants to continue to develop others to participate. Therefore, determining that MLM generally needs to meet three conditions at the same time: paying entry fees, pulling heads, and forming three or more levels of remuneration. The "spiritual training" generally only pulls first-level heads. The puller is to complete the task and is not paid, so it is difficult to identify it as an ordinary MLM. The criteria for identifying "cults" are very strict and obviously not suitable for such institutions. This constitutes a legal problem in dealing with such problems. However, some legal experts also pointed out that the formation of MLM is not necessarily limited to direct remuneration. Indirect methods and inducement or coercion may also constitute MLM.
In a society under the rule of law, training the market is not illegal. The so-called "spiritual training" is not a precedent that has not been punished in accordance with the law.
In September 2018, the Shenzhen police cracked the first case of a new type of pyramid scheme that used "coaching skills" to implement mental control through illegal and harmful training, seized a business school involved in the case, and frozen more than 27 million yuan in funds involved. The training course is divided into "Awakening", "Transformation" and "Inspiration" trilogy.The so-called "awakening" is to guide students to "self-doubt" and to belittle themselves for nothing; the so-called "transformation" is "self-denial", thereby establishing a new cognitive model and value system. The so-called "inspiration" is to ask students to develop new students (called "starfish" internally). On suspicion of forced trading, organization and leadership of pyramid schemes, illegal business operations, false advertising, provoking troubles, and concealing and concealing criminal proceeds and proceeds of crime and other crimes, 20 criminal suspects were arrested by the procuratorial authority.
In 2020, the Shenyang Intermediate People's Court recognized "Creation Enrichment" as an MLM organization. This founder claimed to be the Empress Dowager Cixi , an organization that mainly carried out spiritual training for female elites, and it also instantly collapsed.
Authoritative psychologists believe that the use of so-called "personal attacks" and "self-denial" for psychological training is not the practice of mainstream psychology, whether it is cognitive psychologists or Piaget , individual psychology Alfred Adler, the founder of the school, and Rudolf Drex, the founder of the modern practical school of child psychology, both advocated that by encouraging people to feel good, they can do better. There are no shortage of headaches in life, such as family discord, emotional frustration, or poor work. Therefore, some people want to change their current state eagerly. Those mentors who are well versed in human nature have pinpointed the unbalanced mentality and needs of these people, gave the so-called love and encouragement, and let the trainees put down their psychological defenses, and then drew "promotion and salary increase, becoming general manager, becoming CEO, The big pie of "marrying Bai Fumei and reaching the pinnacle of life" tempts people to pay a lot of tuition. Faced with these rhetoric, people have to keep their eyes open.
Psychologist Singh concluded: "Through observations of many LGATs and interviews with many people who need to participate in training because of their work, I was surprised that the participants could be so naive, and the organizers could use various guise, such as Education and experiential learning are so harsh and insulting; they also claim that participants improve their work performance after this awkward and absurd training." Singh defined this type of LGAT as "highly confrontational psychological reinforcement training" and said, " This is under the premise that the audience has no cognition and understanding, and no expression of willingness, using a modern technique and influence that combines sociology and psychology.Use its temptation and pressure-this is the reason why I oppose cults. ”
END
The content comes from China’s anti-cult
The purpose of this reprint is to spread
If there is copyright infringement, please contact to delete
Beijiang Fengyun ∣We are always on the way to fight against evil_ p1p .
