Question: Do you receive criticisms for your beliefs?
Andrew Cohen: Well, I think anybody who is pushing the edge, if in fact that’s what one is authentically doing, then any individual who is truly ahead of their own time is usually not appreciated and also is seen as a threat. So most pioneers have had to suffer, some mortally, because they were ahead of their own time and that seems to be par for the course. A lot of people think it’s a very romantic thing to be a pioneer but for those individuals who authentically are obviously on a personal level it would be- it would definitely be challenging and in my case that- yes, that’s definitely been the case, especially because I have- especially over the last ten years I have been speaking very passionately about- I think we- as I was saying earlier, we need to reorient our spirituality and the goal of our spirituality from the urge to transcend the world to the aspiration to create it. And I find it very ironic that so much of postmodern mystical East meets West spirituality, and I’m- we’re speaking about an interesting conglomeration of ideas that is designed specifically for the wealthiest, the most privileged, most educated people that have ever lived that really is about escapism it’s- it- because when we hear some of these spiritual teachers speak to us they’re talking about the need to discover inner peace, they are promising us release and relief. And I often telling people but first of all I don’t think God created the universe so you and I could be happy. In other words, we all want to be happy and there’s nothing wrong with being happy and I want to be happy too, but I don’t think that’s the reason that I’m alive and suffering is an inherent part of being alive. Suffering and chaos is part of the creative process from the very beginning. The universe wasn’t created out-- It wasn’t a peaceful act when the universe was created. It was dynamic and explosive and the creative process at every level is dynamic and chaotic. And what I feel we need to do is stop being so concerned with just seeking for our own sense of well-being and become more interested in taking responsibility for the evolution of the process itself because that’s very thrilling, it’s very exciting, it’s incredibly liberating, and to the degree that we’re able to do that we will discover a sense of self-confidence because we know we are really doing everything we possibly can to make the world a better place. And we’re also pushing the edge and whenever we push- whenever we are authentically and deeply and wholeheartedly committed to a higher purpose in a way that is, as I said, truly authentic and we are- and we’re taking enormous risks to do that it’s very empowering because we’re no longer trying to protect ourselves. We’re really here in this process and we’re committed to being and we’re committed to making a difference. That I think is inherently liberating.
Recorded on: 04/28/2008
Discuss
Musycks on May 29, 2008, 7:01 PM
Seems we need to add in delusions of grandeur here! Wow.. he really thinks he's ahead of his time and that's why he gets criticised? I was going to listen to all his stuff, out of courtesy… but after this guff, he's an embarrasment. There are contributors on here so far ahead of this guy, that make his twaddle look like childish gibberish.
Big T, please try again.
Musycks on May 29, 2008, 11:01 PM
Seems we need to add in delusions of grandeur here! Wow.. he really thinks he’s ahead of his time and that’s why he gets criticised? I was going to listen to all his stuff, out of courtesy… but after this guff, he’s an embarrasment. There are contributors on here so far ahead of this guy, that make his twaddle look like childish gibberish.
Big T, please try again.
Tom Huston on May 31, 2008, 8:52 AM
The NY Times had an interesting op-ed on the cultural resistance to "elitism" yesterday: "…Americans have come to consider both elite and elitist synonyms for snobbish." It's called "Best Is the New Worst" by Susan Jacoby (you can search on the homepage). It's interesting in light of Cohen's comments… It's just true that anyone who even suggests they might be ahead of the curve is instantly vilified these days, automatically and instinctively. It's funny. People can't stand the idea that we aren't all equal masters of all domains of life. It hurts our "self-esteem." :)
Tom Huston on May 31, 2008, 12:52 PM
The NY Times had an interesting op-ed on the cultural resistance to “elitism” yesterday: “…Americans have come to consider both elite and elitist synonyms for snobbish.” It’s called “Best Is the New Worst” by Susan Jacoby (you can search on the homepage). It’s interesting in light of Cohen’s comments… It’s just true that anyone who even suggests they might be ahead of the curve is instantly vilified these days, automatically and instinctively. It’s funny. People can’t stand the idea that we aren’t all equal masters of all domains of life. It hurts our “self-esteem.” :)
Musycks on June 1, 2008, 9:56 PM
mate… gullibility is the new black? a snake oil salesman is still a snake oil salesman.
McBhuddism 101? how much does he charge for his courses?
Musycks on June 2, 2008, 1:56 AM
mate… gullibility is the new black? a snake oil salesman is still a snake oil salesman.
McBhuddism 101? how much does he charge for his courses?
Pastor Jennifer on June 5, 2008, 12:04 AM
Hey Guys:
The best strategy that most of seem to be following for this guy is just to ignore him. Maybe then he will go away.
I try to warn people away from him because he is spiritual toxin.
Hey Andy: how is it for you in the real world outside your spiritual coven. You can't control the dialog here can you? Better you stay in your safe little sandbox away from the grit of real world criticism.
Pastor Jennifer on June 5, 2008, 4:04 AM
Hey Guys:
The best strategy that most of seem to be following for this guy is just to ignore him. Maybe then he will go away.
I try to warn people away from him because he is spiritual toxin.
Hey Andy: how is it for you in the real world outside your spiritual coven. You can’t control the dialog here can you? Better you stay in your safe little sandbox away from the grit of real world criticism.
Nisha Brouns on June 10, 2008, 1:16 PM
That's an interesting comment Kosmocentric. What I find is that it is part of postmodern pluralism and cynicism to flatten everything out.
The interesting thing is that when we are willing to let go of the image we like to project of ourselves, it creates room for development. And we can start appreciating people who have the guts and the heart to stand out and pioneer to create a better world.
Nisha Brouns on June 10, 2008, 5:16 PM
That’s an interesting comment Kosmocentric. What I find is that it is part of postmodern pluralism and cynicism to flatten everything out.
The interesting thing is that when we are willing to let go of the image we like to project of ourselves, it creates room for development. And we can start appreciating people who have the guts and the heart to stand out and pioneer to create a better world.
Simon Henderson on June 12, 2008, 2:39 AM
If we look at our own cultural conditioning, the sub-conscious triggers that really run our lives, it's interesting to see that most of us will dislike someone who speaks about themself with authority and conviction… calling them vain and self-interested… How dare he even suggest that he is ahead of the curve! Leading edge! The indignation that arises! And we love to cut these people down to size…
But if we suspend that reaction, suspend our condemnation, and actually listen beyond that, to what is actually being said… Maybe we will let something in and find out something new… that we live in a developmental process, society is changing, our world is not a constant state, but a dynamic flow, of interactions between beings that walk and drive and fly around the globe, a multi-cultural, multi-level interconnected hive of relationships and transactions, of agenda's, of belief systems, of ideas…
This is the level that Andrew Cohen speaks to, this is the conscious evolution that he speaks about… what does it mean to really take on our conditioned responses and to act from a conscious place beyond them?
Of course this all starts with ideas and isolated flashes of inspiration… But what if the human race collectively reached toward that unreachable goal? What if we consciously moved toward a more conscious existance?
But I am conscious you say… Great! So am I! But I want to be MORE CONSCIOUS!!!
It doesn't end, there is no 'There', there is only more and more and more… consciousness…
That is why what Andrew Cohen teaches is so exciting and important!
Simon Henderson on June 12, 2008, 6:39 AM
If we look at our own cultural conditioning, the sub-conscious triggers that really run our lives, it’s interesting to see that most of us will dislike someone who speaks about themself with authority and conviction… calling them vain and self-interested… How dare he even suggest that he is ahead of the curve! Leading edge! The indignation that arises! And we love to cut these people down to size…
But if we suspend that reaction, suspend our condemnation, and actually listen beyond that, to what is actually being said… Maybe we will let something in and find out something new… that we live in a developmental process, society is changing, our world is not a constant state, but a dynamic flow, of interactions between beings that walk and drive and fly around the globe, a multi-cultural, multi-level interconnected hive of relationships and transactions, of agenda’s, of belief systems, of ideas…
This is the level that Andrew Cohen speaks to, this is the conscious evolution that he speaks about… what does it mean to really take on our conditioned responses and to act from a conscious place beyond them?
Of course this all starts with ideas and isolated flashes of inspiration… But what if the human race collectively reached toward that unreachable goal? What if we consciously moved toward a more conscious existance?
But I am conscious you say… Great! So am I! But I want to be MORE CONSCIOUS!!!
It doesn’t end, there is no ‘There’, there is only more and more and more… consciousness…
That is why what Andrew Cohen teaches is so exciting and important!
Luke Allen on June 12, 2008, 8:23 PM
PLEASE go to www.strippingthegurus.com and read what this man really claims. It is free to read and his section is in chap. xxi (11)
Luke Allen on June 13, 2008, 12:23 AM
PLEASE go to www.strippingthegurus.com and read what this man really claims. It is free to read and his section is in chap. xxi (11)
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