If you want to bypass the many Hoffman apologists who arrived on the earlier thread and read something from people who did express concern, here's where to go:
DarrenR:
[forum.culteducation.com]
More information on this page.
The blog the material was copied from no longer exists.
[forum.culteducation.com]
That is why CEI is so valuable; so we can preserve information that would otherwise vanish in the Silicon Jungle.
One person who considered Hoffman in 2000 said it was difficult to find information and chose not to attend
when he or she learned more after registering. That person is at pains to state
that possibly things have changed since then.
His or her main grievance was that it was so difficult to find information needed
to make an informed decision BEFORE paying to register.
[forum.culteducation.com]
DarrenR:
[forum.culteducation.com]
More information on this page.
The blog the material was copied from no longer exists.
[forum.culteducation.com]
That is why CEI is so valuable; so we can preserve information that would otherwise vanish in the Silicon Jungle.
One person who considered Hoffman in 2000 said it was difficult to find information and chose not to attend
when he or she learned more after registering. That person is at pains to state
that possibly things have changed since then.
His or her main grievance was that it was so difficult to find information needed
to make an informed decision BEFORE paying to register.
[forum.culteducation.com]
Quote
Re: Hoffman Institute
Posted by: ChrisM (c-98-192-101-221.hsd1.ga.comcast.net)
Date: November 17, 2010 06:29PM
I first heard about the Hoffman Institute about ten years ago through Sonia Choquette. Now, I have to say that I read her first book, "The Psychic Pathway," and I really enjoyed it. I also enjoyed a few of her workshops. However, after a while they felt a bit repetetive and when she joined the Hay House group I felt that the quality of her work suffered. Oh well.
Back to Hoffman. Sonia had a few brochures and I took one. I didn't like some aspects of the intensive program because I'm not a believer that you must be reduced to screaming hysterics in order to heal old emotional wounds, but thought I'd check it out anyway, just to see.
It was hard to find a lot of information about the program.
I ended up sending in a deposit to the place in Virginia. That's when I got a more complete kit with lots of information not included in the brochure. What bothered me the most was that on top of the intensive program, they also control your diet. It is supposedly "health food" but I've always been taught that when you're changing one part of your life, you don't mess with everything at once or it's a shock to your system and nothing takes hold for the long term. (example: Don't start a new, rigorous exercise program AND start a vegetarian diet at the same time) I was very wary that this place would take you to deep emotional issues while controlling your food. Isn't that something cults do? It worried me.
Another piece of information in the larger kit, which was not in the brochure, was a statement that if you were in therapy, you needed to get your psychiatrist's permission to do the course. This annoyed me only because it's not in the initial brochure (or wasn't at that time, they may have changed it later). I was angry I had to send in money in order to get more information. To their credit, when I called and said my therapist would not give me permission to go, the girl refunded my money quickly without argument. Nevertheless, I've since wondered if I did avoid a cultish weekend. The whole tofu/"health" diet they force on you for that whole time is very disturbing to me. How does one know if the emotional reactions are real or just reactions to the new diet? I was also afraid the new food would weaken my resistance to anything they might suggest.