Looks like What Enlightenment, the blog exposing the control tactics of Andrew Cohen, is signing off.

I can fully understand this, as at some point, you simply deal with - as much as possible - any abusive tactics thrown at you by an abusive guru, step away from the PAST, and then continue on into the now.

Still, lots of gratitude for the exposure, to Hal and friends.  A quote:

Three former editors of What Is Enlightenment? magazine, including myself, spoke out strongly here about the abuses in Andrew Cohen's community. Other close students have also put their names on the line to attest to what went wrong with the community's beautiful dream of creating heaven on earth. The woman who financed Cohen's Foxhollow EnlightenNext world center wrote about how he unfairly took advantage of her vulnerability and largesse. Numerous other students have also contributed here, both named and anonymous, shedding light on the authoritarian abuses around Cohen, their causes and their harmful effects. In contrast, not one specific or credible factual denial has emerged from Andrew or anyone associated with him about what has been reported here in great detail and depth. Instead, we have only heard the refrain that we have failed to include the "context," as if any overarching purpose could justify the abuses described here and the pain they caused. No cry of "context" could obscure the devastating truth that the participants in this blog have had the courage to reveal.

The number of individuals alone, involved for many many years, high up in the organization, speak the tale, not to mention previous exposes, such as Mother of God, and Enlightenment Blues.   That much smoke, over more than a decade, it speaks for itself. (When your mother outs you as an abusive control freak, while at one time an enthusiastic supporter, that is really strong evidence.)

Hal hopes for a final exposure, but this isn't usually how this happens.  Most of the time, there is no "final exposure" for a guru.  The guru or other followers, modulate their tactics a bit  (which has happened with Cohen in this case, after the outing by WhatEnlightenment, and that is to the good), but the charisma, speaking ability, writing skills, etc, that initially attracted people, still operates, and still continues to attract people.  How many older cult leaders, and their cults, still exist?  Quite a lot, even after exposure.

And so it goes.

My own interest remains is to not have Cohen's spirit and energy contaminate Integral Institute, or Zaadz, but clearly both these organizations have taken a neutral "I see nothing!  I know nothing!"  mentality regarding Cohen, and do the branding thing together.  Luckily, Cohen is fairly easy to avoid on Zaadz. 

It's been demonstrated to my satisfaction that What Is Enlightenment magazine, doesn't have independence from Cohen.  No "I disagree with what you say but will defend your right to WRITE it to the death" at What Is Enlightenment.  As long as you know that, you are good to go.

Came across this post from Marginal Revolution, titled - Harry Potter and the Mystery of Inequality.

And I had an "aha!" moment, in regards to one of my frustrations with how holistic/integral "products and services", seem to be continually re-inventing the wheel.

In various bodywork services, it seems, there is always a new naming - rolfing, heller, network, etc, etc - when it is pretty clear that the base of the services, is very similar, and builds on each other.

Same thing with various movements.  People who are "following" a various movement, whatever that may be, constantly and continually "re-invent" the movement, with some small little advance, and then claim a revolution.

I think this can be cynically understood, by looking at the concpet of branding.  There is no branding "cachet" in advancing massage, WITHIN massage.  If you refine a movement, well, you may get a note at the college course, but no other credit goes to you.

This same thing happens with various meditations.  You look at Tibetan Buddhism, and the vast realm of meditations practiced, still are UNDER the rubric of Tibetan Buddhism. 

But people take those basic meditations, do a little song and dance change, and, presto-chango, they are the "originator" of an entirely new brand, with the books, tapes, videos, instructions, that come from that.

Is this too cynical?