Andrew Cohen's Downfall - How I Created A Cult - S01 EP03 - Cult Documentary
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- Опубликовано: 20 сен 2024
- Explore the riveting journey of a spiritual community under the charismatic leadership of Andrew Cohen. Witness the highs and lows, the enlightenment pursuit, and the ultimate collapse of the organization. Unveil the complexities of spiritual transformation and the human side of the guru-student relationship in this eye-opening episode.
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Delve into the enigmatic world of a notorious American guru in How I Created a Cult. This compelling three-part documentary series unveils the shocking truth of psychological manipulation, financial exploitation, and relentless control exerted over devoted followers. With candid interviews from former disciples and 25 years of archival material, the show traces the descent from idealistic origins to the downfall of a global spiritual empire valued at millions. How I Created a Cult scrutinises the allure of charismatic leaders and how noble intentions can spiral into darkness under authoritarian rule. It's a profound exploration of power's corrupting influence, the perils of charismatic figures, and the high cost of surrendering all to an idea or individual.
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Wow. I have never seen a cult leader talk about his/her downfall. Really fascinating.
Truly
As someone who watches an insane amount of true crime/documentaries/ RUclips these are wonderful. Ty for your hard work ❤
Same same
Mistrust all, until you are convinced. The true Guru will never humiliate you, nor will he estrange
you from yourself. He will constantly bring you back to the fact of your inherent perfection and
encourage you to seek within. He knows you need nothing, not even him, and is never tired of
reminding you. But the self appointed Guru is more concerned with himself than with his disciples. ~ Nisargadatta
Maybe we just don't need any gurus at all. Self appointed or 'true' ones.
@@agaobi573when the student is ready the master will appear.
Fascinating documentary series. I have a strong interest in cults and how they operate so I have watched heaps of documentaries on the subject. What sets this series apart is the range of different perspectives presented.
Especially interesting to have the perspective of the fallen leader, I get that many people doubt how genuine his remorse is but he struck me as someone who started out on a genuine quest for enlightenment but got sidetracked and corrupted by power. A tragic irony really.
My favourite quote came from ex follower Sam Rosen :"I actually believe that there is validity to the idea that there can be spiritual authorities... at the same time I don't think that those spiritual authorities who have these deeper transcendent experiences and mystical insights have any special insight in what it means to live a moral or ethical life"
Please read my blog Language Enlightenment I look forward to talking with you
Word salad
Great observation!
Am I the only one who still doesn't understand what the actual teachings were?
nope.
Don’t think they’ve elaborated on them
I guess collective enlightenment is kinda hard to explain in words🙄
A true cult. They developed terminology that only the insiders understand (or pretend to). It’s just too complicated for us simpletons who aren’t enlightened. So many similarities to Scientology. In the end, they’re all like this.
Nope, it sounds like they didnt know either.
I was so disappointed that this experience didn't change Andrew's obsession with self-actualization through being in the saviour role. People don't have to be pathological to be toxic and harmful to others. Andrew never learned to be a regular person who has a personality of his own without reliance to the validation of others and he is still trying to seft actualise through the validation of others. This is the "urge to continue" that he is talking about. He finds that he is nobody if he is not in the saviour role as described in therapy language. This may be true for now, maybe he hasn't developed a personhood yet. Maybe he was so lost in this saviour role for so long that he doesn't currently have real emotions and interests that would complete his personhood. But if he ever reads this: you don't need this Andrew. You need to work on your past traumas that you haven't realized you had, which pushed you into this saviour role. You normalized this role, you think this is what everybody is seeking in life. It is wrong, healthy people don't need this. When you start healing your past, self actualisation will come slowly but this time it will be real. You will develop real feelings and interests in life that is beyond this saviour role. You will be a writer maybe or something else and will have a small circle of friends, and it will be enough. There will be no more need of validation. You will focus on your life. You will be content as other people.
Once a narcissist, always a narcissist
@@aliciaflores7095and the church says AMEN
@@aliciaflores7095 I agree: Classic case of narcissism. Incredibly hard to cure. Even for Andrew who apparently shrunk himself and groveled profusely, "disappeared" (which was probably still somehow about exerting control) and went on a sabbatical, sat with many Masters, did a lot of volunteering, reached out to apologize to former students...Which all is actually quite amendable, I feel. He still has the pathology of a narcissist. It's actually quite sad if you think about it.
Did you know that his own mother wrote a book exposing him?
He is mentally ill. He will not change.
He says ‘I lost absolutely everything’ …….. he never invested ANYTHING apart from his ego. These followers of his paid for him to live in a beautiful house with beautiful gifts for 25 years.
He will reemerge in another place with new ‘suckers’ to fleece.
I went to one of Andrews meditations in the 80s. He had an ability somehow to create a feeling of bliss in the room, which fooled a lot of people into thinking he was in lightened. I noticed right away, that he was downright cruel to people. So I never went back. And I can’t believe he still calling himself a spiritual teacher. Even his mother wrote a book about what a charlatan his. He was, and still is delusional.
….and yet, he is teaching again right here in Tiru where I am currently visiting. Knowing something of his history and the harm he has caused I had to go along to his satsang. I could see straight away how he manipulates people right from the first moment he speaks with them. He knows who can can draw in closer through that control. He’s about as close to evil as I’ve ever encountered.
Anyone who wears a waistcoat like that is a walking red flag.
😂
"Andrew, You're Wrong", William Yenner. I know that had to have healed in ways that years of therapy never could 😂❤ 👏
High quality production value. On par with a Netflix doc. Fascinating!
in 1990s cohen spoke in santa monica..i walked out during his talk....never returned to hear his stuff again.
I'm sad to see this film. ANDREW EXHIBITS NARCISTIC BEHAVIOUR AND ATTITUDES
The guy at 39:45 drops some of the most direct and profound spiritual truths I've ever heard stated so clearly. If more people understood this simple truth about the difference between spiritual and moral/ethical authority, we would be a much more enlightened society.
This is the first documentary to really bring home to me the similarities between narcissistic mind control in romantic relationships and leader control in cults. The emotions here are so raw and personal. I am also astonished by his confession which in my experience is unique. This is one of the best documentaries on the subject of cults I have seen in my decades of watching. I feel sure there had to be some kind of gentleness involved in the production team to achieve this result. Congratulations on your achievement. It is remarkable.
You can't force enlightenment no matter how much power you gain over others. This is games. Cruel games.
This was the most honest and insightful exposes on guru cults that I've ever seen. I am just blown away. AMAZING work.
I also had enlightenment experiences at one point, and I can say that though they changed my life for the better instantly, they left all of my inter-relational wounds and immaturity completely intact. It took decades of personal growth work to heal and evolve those parts of my ego. Meditation and transcendental insight just didn't scratch that itch.
I can also remember one time, during one of my "enlightened" periods when I was hanging out with a friend and she was confiding in me over her relationship problems with her partner. She was in so much emotional pain and yet listening to her, I felt absolutely nothing. In my lofty state, I saw very clearly that her suffering was imaginary, and in truth she was limitless awareness. It was a strange experience, to feel so intensely intimate with her, like it was the same awareness in both bodies, and yet to feel no connection to her human suffering whatsoever. I wonder if Andrew Cohen was in a state like that?
Same here, I had my final awakening in 2012, where my lifetime of seeking suddenly stopped and I realised there was nowhere to go and nothing to do. It was then that the torturous process of ego dissolution began along with working through trauma from being human on this planet, and figuring out how to live in the world from such an altered perspective. I think this is called integration, and it's still not done 14 years later. I've also experienced the sense of there being no separation between me and another and failing to realise the difference in our emotional experiences of a situation, it's like I was seeing a potential rather than their current limited perspective. I expect Andrew Cohen has experienced altered states like this, but a temporary state doesn't qualify someone to call themselves a spiritual teacher or a guru and profess to have all the answers.
The irony hearing Andrew talking about all he lost- all of it from ego! There is nothng quite as egostistical as spending time on a spiritual quest to lose your ego- when it is self-obsession, if you want to be useful and reduce your ego- go volunteer to work with the homeless or the dying.
Yes! Someone once asked Neem Karoli Baba (a 20th century holy person) how to achieve Liberation. His answer: "Feed people."
Amen
As a person who studied with Osho in India circa 1978, have practiced Wiccan wisdom and am the sum components of my journeys into EST, Rebirthing, Direct Centering, Judaism, and more, I have come from my home roots to embrace Swedenborg, the Christian mystic who wrote about humbleness, forgiveness, charity, wisdom and love This is for all of us. Life is the spiritual lesson.
Wiccan wisdom? Lol
@@klh-arts9464 ...yeah don't worry about it, these people are all barking mad.
Osho is the guy who started Rashneehism cult in Wa., and Oregon.....see documentary "Wild wild Country". Nutzo.
I'm sorry for you.
@@klh-arts9464 Why the snarky
close-mindedness? The wiccan belief system is founded on the decision to not harm yourself or other people, while
exploring psychology and the world through the lens of nature. I call belief systems like this “psychology for the easily bored.”
People stuck in their heads so far from the Holy Spirit where we need no gurus. Just prayer simplicity and love. I feel sorry for these people
Judging by these interviews, Cohen remains a deeply narcissistic person (not surprising) and his biggest remorse is not being clever enough in his manipulations
Explosive collective enlightenment sounds like group psychosis
Indeed
Have you seen the MAGA's???? Group hysteria.
That part about the collective consciousness in unity was actually real, however it can and does happen between people often in many spiritual communities. There was another Guru who knew Andrew. His students attempted to tell Andrew’s students that this was often experienced in groups practicing together. But everyone at Foxhollow flipped out over it. They misinterpreted this collective experience of oneness (and out of their ignorance) interpreted it to mean they were special, some elite force that would use this technique to change the whole world. It was very megalomaniacal but intoxicating to be a part of.
I will say that this experience was happening often and it was amazing to be a part of it.
Kudos to AC for having the courage to be interviewed about this. But I agree with those who said he should never teach again. If he wants to do the right thing by the truth, why can't he do it in his own house and not have to involve others, like pretty much everyone else in the series is doing?
Also even though I really enjoyed the series and thought the makers did a great job, why was no-one interviewed who actually experienced the collective consciousness? It seemed like everyone talked about it in the 3rd person as having happened to others. If it really was as amazing as it was made out to be, maybe there was some justification for what AC did. But not having any first hand testimony of it means that we are left wondering if in some way the ends did justify the means. I have to say I doubt it.
Because it’s all BS. Either way, whatever state of consciousness he facilitated, it was clearly temporary, no different to the experience of stubbing your toe. What value is there in any temporary state ?
I saw him once standing in Amsterdam next to Hotel L'Europe. I was on my bicycle. I saw he was completely caught up in his mind thinking some stuff going on in his mind. No presence there. The thought came up; aha, do this is what enlightenment looks like. The guy was a complete phoney. I never understood the fuzz going on around this guy. Everyone who is a little awake who has been around an enlightened individual could see Andrew was not coming from a no mind space.
It was maybe the cookies?
@25:25, this is narcissistic mortification in NPD. You experience the same thing when your lies get out of control. But this man here, he chose life. Not really sure why but he did.
Once a narcissist, always a narcissist. Maybe they change their behaviour, of course they change their behaviour, because the same tactics rarely last for a lifetime. Andrew is brilliantly using his past 'mistakes' to reinvent himself in order to carry on serving his own needs in a way that may appear different on the surface, but the narcissistic agenda underneath remains intact. My guess is that he's still predatory in nature, in spite of admitting mistakes and attempting to 'make amends'. People shouldn't be surrendering to external gurus anyway!
Well...On a positive note; For ONCE, despite of the abuse of power, no mention of SA. (And strangely, that kinda restores my faith in men in general and particularly men in power).
I really found it fascinating to have the fallen leader/guru’s perspective in this documentary. I hope he isnt just bullshitting and has really and truly gained insight into the errors of his ways.
I would think that he's gained insight into the errors of his manipulation tactics and is working on improving them for a better outcome (for himself) next time.
@Jen.K
You hit the nail on the head!
came across his facebook page recently, he already has a devoted following again...
I notice he got some plastic surgery. New nose - so much for “enlightenment”
Ageing is a narcist worst nightmare.
It's an enlightened nose.
Thank you for this documentary, it answers lots of questions for me and brings some closure.
Are there any other cult leaders, who were ousted by their followers and were then interviewed and provided some reflection on the whole experience? Utterly fascinating
That's the most fascinating part of all of this. At times I thought he displayed genuine introspection, but at other times my spidey senses smelled a charismatic ploy. It was like he said one thing but his body language and vibe said another.
People don’t understand that having some spiritual experiences don’t mean you’re enlightened. True teachers know the difference.
This looks like sleep away camp for a bunch of arrested development adults.
Andrew pay the compensation for the abuse for people that you treated like they were below you
The Buddha couldn’t be more clear: no one is going to hand you enlightenment. You must find your own path. Anyone claiming otherwise is selling you snake oil. Find your own Bodhi Tree.🏳️🌈☸️🏳️🌈
There were key players in his cult that are nowhere to be seen or heard from in this doc. Why?
Maybe they're embarrassed! At least, I hope they are!
Well made Doc. However, I feel no empathy for these students other than the fact that they are probably lost and feel very unfulfilled. I am in no way a fan of or a student of trying to achieve enlightenment but it seems like the best way to go about it would be to at least make a vow of poverty and chastity. Living in a $2.8 million mansion is not going to help you.These people will never achieve enlightenment solely through meditation and prostrations.
I don’t have a clue what these people are talking about
...yeah well the problem is that whilst they come across as being 'together' and reasonably intelligent, they were actually a part of Cohen's cult, therefore a part of the problem. It takes a certain kind of person to get drawn into this sort of nonsense, it simply couldn't happen to many of us, we are just not wired in the way these people are.
It is not always the question of 'attraction' to a cult. Some people are born inside a cult, and are forced to that kind of experience. In those cases it takes really enormous amount of courage and spiritual power to break out of it. Documentarys like this one can help as a reference to those who doubt themselves being in such a situation.
While the “guru” is at fault for the cult, so are the individuals conforming to and enforcing the group norms, even when they knew they were wrong.
Fascinating. But I thought the money should have gone back to his students.
He’s got “main character syndrome.”
Even showing remorse for his past behavior, he can’t seem to let go of being in a teaching/leading role.
If one looks at the dynamics of this kind of cultic positioning, the is agressor and the socalled victim share equal responsibility. Even the title " how i ceated a cult " is misleading. The responsibility goes two ways. The abuser of power and the enablers of the abuse are all in the same boat. Two sides of the same medal. Taking real responsibility is to see that this positioning is basically an inmature relating which comes out of childhood trauma of attention seeking needs.
oh, he lost control and was devastated
Transformation is ego, it’s becoming. That’s the actual ego: trying to become something and wanting to be special. Andrew to me is the worst “teacher” I have ever heard. All the sadhana these people did was on their own merit and all the fruits were and are their own. They could have done that in a any setting, Andrew was just a hindrance in the end and will be for all the new students he attracts. Please, I wish we could all be done with these charismatic grifters and just trust ourselves and the present moment. It’s all there is.
I agree! Well said .. ✌🏾
I lost my position of a teacher - please that pathetic
This man is straight up dangerous. He needs to be like, unable to do what he wants bc I think he demonstrates a perfectly clear and present danger to the public.
OH, wait a minute. I thought this guy had said that he was enlightened right from the beginning. So how could an enlightened being be so miserably ignorant of his own ego trip? So for me, he is a liar and a narcissistic. When he presents himself as a person who made mistakes that are very human, people tend to forget that he said he was enlightened.
He had such an inflated ego. Of course he was upset when he was no longer a cult leader. He will have to work for a living now.
I wonder if people's thirst for salvation and belonging makes them beling to such cults.. following another human being is just so weird
Is this a joke ? Seriously, I've never heard of him at all. You would think a CP or tax fraud.
Wow. Sounds like evangelical Christianity.
Wins YT Daily award for most ignorant comment
It sounds like most religions or should I say all religions.
...there's not much that is as bad as evangelical Christianity. I can't stand this Cohen critter but I'd trust him over a Christian anyday.
@@yanifree114are you kidding? They've destroyed so many lives and families it's an epidemic.
Not all Christians or Churches are like that, even amongst Evangelicals.
Religion at it's best
If you call yourself a spiritual teacher or a guru, you want to have matured to the level so that you don't have the need to be the "king on the hill" or "alpha person".
That is the least quality to be an authentic teacher.
What happened to the wife?
How did he pay for all the plastic surgery?
yes people went through breakdowns from you
It doesn't seem like any of them had financial issues. This cult is so odd all that meditation must have dampered everyone, get mad people You did not earn a living and retirement all those years.
This reminds me of synonym
He is a disgusting scammer with no real regrets. The damage he did to individuals, is unforgivable!!!!!+!
he knew what he was doing for many years no excuse for his behaviour
And so did his students who equally carries the responsibility of mistreating others.
This guy is still very, very lost!!!! He needs to let go of his need to become the messiah!!!! Very out of touch with reality.
Once a narcissist, always a narcissist
These people talk and say a lot and it goes in circles and makes no sense.
Sad.
Andrew - stop the bludging - just go get a job like the rest of us have to. And for heavens sake leave everyone alone.
Is this a satire?
There is no specifics . It seems acted
he needs tp get a real job
😂😆😂😆😂😂😆