The Puffer Forum

Ok... I ask this because I trust your opinions.

I have researched the "Landmark Forum" and there are mixed reviews. My sister insists that I go and is willing to sponsor me. I am of 2 minds: 1) I am a little sacred simply because of their brain washing and forcible conform to unity. I am also a smoker and don't think I can go 15 hours with only 3 breaks. 2) If there is something to gain / learn from it I'm for it; my sister and her husband believe that they have learned and gained from it so because it is free (other than time); if there is a chance I will learn something, is it not worth it?

My instincts tell me not to go... my heart tells me to do it because I will network, meet new people and make my sister happy.

If you believe there is brain washing going on then I would go with your gut instinct. Sounds like a Cult to me but that's just me though.

they are some what of an off shoot of Scientology.

Trust the poop butterflies.

sevenyearnight wrote:Trust the poop butterflies.

Hahaha

"brain washing and forcible conform to unity". Well sounds like an occult to me. Something I sure would not want to be part of. Turn you into a mindless sheep,imo.

Trust your gut.

wtf/???????? what is it?

http://www.landmarkforum.com/
I would never choose a spiritual path just to please someone else.

Pufferpunk wrote:http://www.landmarkforum.com/
I would never choose a spiritual path just to please someone else.

It is not supposed to be spiritual. It is supposed to be about breaking down your personal limitations and going above and beyond what you "think" you are capable of doing. She swears by is and her husband also swears by it. Sure a personal development program may be nice, it is the delivery method that scares me.

I had a long talk about this with an elderly friend of mine last night and we were kind of making jokes about it. These are the reasons why I got out of organized religion to begin with:

I'm not going to bash anyone's beliefs here these are just my personal experiences:
When I was in High School, I was also in a program to train as a Jesuit priest. It is a fairly intense program and decided not to go after speaking with an ex-priest who was also my teacher. What happens (and I was brought up in a strict Roman Catholic family), the priest does his thing and through out the mass you are sitting in an uncomfortable wooded bench chair. You stand when told to stand, kneel when told to kneel and pray and listen. When the Priest gives his sermon he has the lighting and volume controls at the pulpit. He adjusts these as the sermon goes on so as to very subtly appear to become more brighter and louder (more powerful). The sermon is long and tiring and at the end he applies it to a real life situation (like abortion). BLAM.. the suggestive thought enters your head and it is easier to accept because your are more open to suggestion at this point (the end of the mas).

Later on in life I became a Buddhist and really enjoyed it. It calmed me down, helped with anger management and was very educational. Then I was told that if I want to "..save myself, I'll have to save others. Please bring in your friends and family". WTH??!!?? No, I'm here for meditation and helping myself. They don't need it At that point I quit going.

Landmark Forum seems to use both of these techniques to the extreme. Forced obedience, being uncomfortable, sleep deprived and hungry, makes you very open to suggestion. It seems they enforce a scene of satisfaction when you "help others" (join the group) you are in fact helping your self level up within the company.

As mentioned earlier, (even though it is a for profit company) I don't think they are "evil" or that any religion is "poison", I just have my doubts about the delivery method. I just want to get into that "inner circle" and start handing out my resume


P.s.
If my sister is the signer on the mortgage I'll feel obligated to go. It almost feels like blackmail. They want me to go before finding a new home because it will "change my perspective" on what my real needs are. Which may or may not be the case. Also, most hate / enjoy the program but feel they have benefited from it.

yea no kidding!!!

so here I am KNOWING that they will use these tactics against me. Yet if I don't, I will be ostracized. My question to myself is .. "am I stronger than they are?" That is where the self doubt arises.

Maybe I am making a mountain out of an ant hill... but from my research... this is to the core scary stuff

LOL, if you can't even say no to your sister...

that decision may or may not hold out mortgage.

or being homeless in Canada or going back to Japan. ... trust me it is a VERY hard choice.

I feel that if I don't go, she and her husband won't sign. If they don't sign, we'll loose our home and have to relocate overseas.

So have them sign & don't go.

My twin sister attended a few Forum seminars (or whatever they call them) years ago. She found value in some of the principles AND she's chosen to implement those principles without further contact with the Forum folks. They got a little pressure-y and coercive toward the end of her involvement.

J-P wrote:If my sister is the signer on the mortgage I'll feel obligated to go. It almost feels like blackmail.

I feel for you. Just thinking about the above situation gives me the heebie-jeebies 'cause I have some similar stuff in my family history. For what it's worth from me, a stranger who shares your love of puffers , I say:
- Skip the Forum sessions
- Save the money (and time) that'd you'd spend
- Tell your sister that you greatly appreciate her support and assistance (assuming that's the case
- Tell her that you'd rather explore your own path to enlightenment independently (assuming THAT's the case)

If you'd like, I can put you in touch with my sister to get her first-hand account.

Sending you good vibes, regardless of what you choose!