Europe
October 2008 
11 Days At The Edge
Posted on Aug 3rd, 2008
by 
Albert
Albert
I am reading the prologue of Michael Wombachers book:
And it impresses me very much. Especially the passages about a silent retreat with Andrew Cohen in Spain.
I did myself silent retreats within another teaching. And the conditions, Michael descibes here. are profoundly challenging . To act then, afterwards, in the circumstance of daily life, to integrate it and engage in the evolutiionary impulse to create and shape future and presence is the real social signifcance.
No speaking, only during teaching to Andrew, eating separately, and making no eye contact for full 11 days.
In fact, making no eye contact is absolutely demanding. As Sarte once said....Ego begins when perceived and perceiving another with the eye.
While direct eye contact has value in other contexts, to break the spell of referencing constantly to another is one of the most demanding exerises. With the potential to drive one crazy.
And on the other side of this void to enter the absolute. The freedom.
Have ordered the book and will write about my complete reading experience later.
I am curioud too about Appendix 5 which adresses:
On beeing German - Reflections on Facing Everything and Avoiding Nothing
Michael grew up in Germany the first 10 years and now lives in US. So these reflections have certainly their own value...
The first chapter of this 500 p work is freely downloadable.
And it impresses me very much. Especially the passages about a silent retreat with Andrew Cohen in Spain.
I did myself silent retreats within another teaching. And the conditions, Michael descibes here. are profoundly challenging . To act then, afterwards, in the circumstance of daily life, to integrate it and engage in the evolutiionary impulse to create and shape future and presence is the real social signifcance.
No speaking, only during teaching to Andrew, eating separately, and making no eye contact for full 11 days.
In fact, making no eye contact is absolutely demanding. As Sarte once said....Ego begins when perceived and perceiving another with the eye.
While direct eye contact has value in other contexts, to break the spell of referencing constantly to another is one of the most demanding exerises. With the potential to drive one crazy.
And on the other side of this void to enter the absolute. The freedom.
Have ordered the book and will write about my complete reading experience later.
I am curioud too about Appendix 5 which adresses:
On beeing German - Reflections on Facing Everything and Avoiding Nothing
Michael grew up in Germany the first 10 years and now lives in US. So these reflections have certainly their own value...
Access: Public
The best plus I found to refraining from eye contact during retreats had to do with something revealed in the early NLP research. That the lowering of the gaze increases cerebral access to emotional awareness. Somehow, aside from freeing up our concentration from much of the social energetic exchange which automatically follows eye contact, we are put in more constant touch with the flux of our own heart. So, at the expense of a social dimension, we gain a personally centered focus-state. Also the practice allows other, less dominant sensativities to be excersized to greater degrees.
Here's not looking at you, [sir].
I'm awaiting my copy and should get it tomorrow, Albert….thanx for linking to the first chapter…..
To follow on from what kerry has written (Hi Kerry) I would add that we spend a lot of time finding face-to-face ways of shoring up our visions/versions of ourself through manipulative transactions with others, conscious or otherwise…..to see another is to touch them…..untouched and untouching, we rely on inner resources to fuel us, not the acknowledgement of others….the egg-white of socially-determined identity fries to dust in the heat of protracted introspection revealing a yolk….yoke…yoga….of ones identity predicated from within…..
Hmm…just repeated what Kerry said….well…no matter…
Looking forward to reading the whole book.
Warmly, Jon x
Kerry, Jon,
certainly lots to say. Will read the book first and comment more in detail.
Espcecially connections and aspects of a silent retreat to clearly pictured states of mind in Japanese Culture and Martial Arts like Mushin, Isshin, Zazen, Zanshin, KI; Haragei, Shibumi, Kiai, Aiki, Kokoro..etc.
Albert
You know me, Albert, so don't take this too personal :-)
”The clarity, simplicity and integrity of Andrew Cohen’s teaching offer important
guidance for modern spiritual seekers…”
Not guidance but misguidance. Actually it fit very well with everything subtly and not so subtly totalitarian as I've pointed out a few times in the past. (about spiritual violence by Andrew Cohen & Ken Wilber - about Andrew Cohen abusing we-fullness - and some more well researched material about these matters).
And again this “transmission” nonsense! There is hardly any transmission beyond projection going on here. Transmission by the master, the type of evolution AC teaches, and most of his methods are just modern ways to prove some imaginary altitude that he supposedly has. Sometimes one can dispair of the intelligence of the mind and heart of people of this day and age, doing the same old thing the Catholic Church has been doing for 2 centuries in a quasi 'evolutionary' way…
You think Zen is enlightening? Read Zen at War by Brian (Daizen) Victoria and learn about some of the famous Zen Masters and how they blessed Kamikaze flyers (remember, those people forced into airplanes to become a living bomb for the Emperor and Japan)… and much more.
Being quite able to co-create circumstances with people in which they can go to very deep and enlightening spaces, I know from first hand experience both as a student and a teacher what the social and cultural consequences of this type of teaching are in practise and theory.
This way there is no real emancipation, no future that is new - it's just the ancient guru and power game in a new garb.
Well….I am neither defending nor attacking any teacher. Here we have a students view and I respect it. As long as students of Andrew do not comment it we have no basis for a fair discussion.
The discussions about Zen teachers and their role in WW 2 are known to me. We could discuss ANY teacher in this way. But what will be the fruits?
Transmission is in every man or woman. Just what he or she transmits.
The whole consideration cannot be conducted with Misuse criteria only. then EVERY person with realization to on degree or the other is potentialy under supsect.
Come on Mushin…..where does this lead to???
Jesus probably a pomeic psychotic. Buddha a fatast. Mother theresa a schizoid working fanatic.
Add your favorites…
This discussion is very, very dangerous without massive participation of involved persons.
Every organization to be suspected as cult, as psycho-movement which is centred around charismatic teachers. Lets begin to examinate Gaia for dangerous elements.
Lots. lots more is necessary to gain clarity. We have thes discussions in Germany for decades now. I know them all.
I wish more debate would happen in public spheres about purpose , superordinate goals and dynamics for real widening perspectives and seeding new dimensions in hearts and minds.
Maybe you can next time meet Andrew Cohen in public and put some questions to him, This would be ok. And an audience of students and critics deal with it all in a balanced manner.
Here at Gaia it could all begin.
The ancient power games…they are all over the place as soon as ANY organization is gaining maturity.
Albert, you have a sweet way of defusing the energy of the critique. I just think it is being called for when you post such a rosy account by a student - a chapter of a book, endorsed by apparently wonderful people.
So by saying, what I do - and I have been putting that up here (in comments, on my blog and elsewhere) - there is never any real response by the 'incrowd'… and why would they? I'm just a very little nobody barking a bit. And that's okay. I'm not in the league of those that generally go out of their way to put guru's down.
So, just a matter of balance, brother. Balancing out the 'propaganda'… at least, I hope so.
Re.: Putting critical questions to guru's in public. I've done that with Punjaji and some others, and it isn't a road I'll voluntarily take (paying, to get in). The dynamics when putting critical questions from a crowd of admirers are dreadful… and I'm sure it won't be different in AC's company.
Mushin..whether you call this book “rosy” or so..its simply something Michael Wombacher has the right to say.or? And why do put the “wonderful people” against Wombachers sight?
Sigh…:):)brother….
Every popstar has admirers today..every bestseller author….everyone is rubbing shoulders with and at Oprah….etc…men and women..and stardom is certainly even more spreaded in USA than here.
So what?
Life is short…lets celebrate all the wonderful, colorful stars in the night….and not forget….the space in between is the biggest one:):)
Anitta, have I in any way vented the view that MW does not have the right to say what he does? Certainly not. There is nothing wrong with him expressing his view. As I can find basically no problem with expressing the view that this is just something that deserves critique of the kind I've given.
And, mind you, I would also use the word Propaganda, but it looks rosy to me… and the 'wonderful people' are those, that have put their endorsement there. I don't think, that is so wonderful - but that's obvious from my original critque, isn't it?
If the emperor wears no clothes, however much of a star he might be, it's all right, I think to point a finger and say, that it's all pretense and not much substance. And that is exactly what I think of AC - so how come, my critique gets such a weak counter from you, my dear?
No problem with some 'tough love', I think. And a guy that slaps his students - and has them slapped (I can back this up if you like) - well, it's okay to point out that this monument has clay feet.
And, you know, I also dance to heavy metal at times…
TY for posting this Albert. After reading the first portion of the book I am intrigued. Most likely I wouldnt have found this book for a while otherwise…so TY for sharing it. Blessings always.
Hi Julia,
yes..I found it unusual and indeed epic to elaborate such a short time of demanding retreat in this way. We need hubndreds and thousands of these endevors, What writers like Emerson, Rilke, Hölderlin, Shapespeare, Rimbaud, Virginia Wolff, Anais Nin, and hundreds of others already did in 20th and 19th century.
And then to put experience into context. Connect with narrative follies. To discover its not about experience per se but the perspectives , values and develomental frame. Including modes of interpretation. Etc etc.
But of course, as in god science and research, go into the experince zone. No references, frames, concepts….
Then describe what happened. Simply describe as it is done in the arts , in the sciences.
Pioneer John Lilly f.e. did it in his work and mostly has this precision and described the algorithms of his work too. Stanislav Grof, with his LSD aproaches and later Holotropic breathing too.
The approach of Evlutionary Enlightenment is often difficult to describe. Its NOT about experiences, emotions and perceptions per se. Its about the relaltionship to it all.
Its important for later comparative studies to describe a spectrum of approaches which use the term “authentic self”.
I just ordered MW` book to read all 500 pages. I can see already right now that the scope and structure of the book is unique. Remember my last volume of this kind was 25 years ago the book of Irena Tweedie “Chasm of Fire” where she described on over 900 pages her time with a Sufi Master in India. Roundabout 5 years.
Will write something about the book more when I have finished reading.
Best,
Albert
Hi ALbert,
I ended up ordering the book as well…the little portion I read thanks to your posting the chapter really drew me in.
You and I have had a number of discussions on the work that needs to transpire in order to grown and allow the authentic self to come forward in a deeper way…this book looks to be a good read to be sure. Look forward to your perspectives once you have read it.
Thanks for always stimulating deeper thoughts and fire walking.
warmly
Julia