Some ideas and thoughts on the Fellowship of Friends. Taken from the previous discussions, which are to be found here and on Animam Recro.
Collected and assembled by UnoAnimo.
January 20, 2008 by Pavel
Some ideas and thoughts on the Fellowship of Friends. Taken from the previous discussions, which are to be found here and on Animam Recro.
Collected and assembled by UnoAnimo.
Some possible ‘Headings’ for your postings ~
Fraud
Sexual harassment
Wrongful discharge
Negligence
Joint Negligence
Negligent Hiring
Intentional infliction of emotional distress
Negligent infliction of emotional distress
Negligent misrepresentation
Misdescription
Willful misconduct
Misapplication of funds
Misapplication of property
Misappropriation
Misbranding
Affirmative misconduct
Official misconduct
Malconduct in office
Corruption in office
Wanton misconduct
Fraudulent misrepresentation
Material misrepresentation
Violation of the False Claims Act
False advertising
False-association claim
False news
False impersonation
False pretences
Falsifying a record
Falsity
Discrimination
“Negligent Novation”
Fault of Omission
Favoritism
Contractual fault
Delictual fault
Violation of fiduciary duty
Breach of duty
Breach of covenant
Breach of the peace
Breach of trust
Breach of warranty
Child endangerment
“Fetus endangerment
A list of circumstances and convictions upon the Fellowship of Friends and Robert Burton that are as applicable now as they were 10 years ago.
Fellowship Of Friends-A Cult In Oregon House, California.
Another lawsuit filed against F.O.F/Renaissance Vineyard &
Winery, Robert Burton, Girard Haven, Abraham Goldman, Helga
Ruth Mueller, and Clair Bowen–directors of Fellowship of
Friends, Inc. The lawsuit brought by Troy Buzbee and filed
on April 29, 1996 in the County of Yuba.
Complaint for Damages is in Case # 060209
1. Fraud
2. Intentional infliction of emotional distress
3. Negligent infliction of emotional distress
4. Breach of fiduciary duty
5. Negligent supervision
6. Sexual misconduct with a minor
7. Sexual harassment
8. Wrongful discharge
9. Negligence
10. Failure to pay minimum wage
11. Battery
Fellowship Of Friends Cult – By Michelle M. Milligan
“Within the pages of the case are facts and details concerning sexual and perverted acts practiced by Burton, his philosophies and ideologies expected of the members.”
According to the case, Robert Burton, “The Teacher”, as referred to by members, began the corporation Fellowship of Friends in 1971.
The “Fourth Way philosophy is taught and practiced by the Fellowship of Friends. The location of The Fellowship of Friends herein referred to as the F.O.F. is in Oregon House, however the F.O.F. refers to their location rather as “The Renaissance”.
Troy Buzbee’s father became a member of the F.O.F. in 1976. Richard Buzbee’s son Troy was only seven years of age. Richard Buzbee was told that if he paid his teaching payments each month and followed the tasks and suggestions of the teacher, Robert Burton that he would
enter “the way,” become “conscious” and “immortal.” He was told that Burton was a “conscious being” and that he was “celibate.” He was told that he could trust Burton completely with his body and soul.
From 1976 through May 1994 Troy’s father was a member of the Fellowship of Friends. As Plaintiff Troy Buzbee grew up he regarded Robert Burton as a God.
According to the case distinction between Burton and Troy’s father were not clear to him at times. Troy Buzbee became a member on October 10, 1966 when he was 17 years of age, virgin.
After Defendant Burton and Defendant corporation Fellowship Of Friends, INC’s factual representations and undue influence caused Troy Buzbee to lose his ability to think independently, he became increasingly subject to the domination, control and undue influence practiced, implemented, and used by said Defendants.
In direct consequence of such deception, coercive persuasion, brainwashing and undue influence, Defendant Burton used Troy Buzbee, among hundreds of
other young men, for the partial gratification of his satyriasis, an uncontrollable compulsion to engage in sexual conduct with scores, if not hundreds, of men. In addition thereof, Defendant Burton exploited Troy Buzbee for the provision of cheap labor, well under the minimum
wage.
Said exploitation continued off and on until the time when Troy Buzbee terminated his membership with Fellowship of Friends, Inc., in August 1994.
Commencing in December 1986, Burton, would have “teaching dinners” during which he would ply Troy with alcoholic beverages. After one particular such meal in December 1986, Burton instructed Troy to come to Burton’s room and to shut and lock the door. Burton told Troy that
Burton was “an angel in a man’s body”, and the gods wished for Troy to be close to Burton. Defendant Burton then held in an embrace.
Defendant Burton said, “influence C wishes you to be close with me. “He repeatedly assured Troy that his “soul was not (his) body, and that the angels wished for (Troy) to be with (Burton).” Burton explicitly told Troy that the “angels” wanted Troy to disrobe, and the “angels” wanted Troy to submit to Burton’s sexual advances because Burton himself was an “angel”, a goddess in a man’s body.”
Burton said to Troy, “I promise you I am an angel in a man’s body.” “You have to remember that I did not write the play about Robert Burton.” Burton would kiss Troy on the forehead which he said represented the seat of the soul and then instruct Troy to “separate” from his body and just “let go”. Burton reminded Troy that Troy’s
body would soon decay while his soul was immortal.
Burton told Troy that he would talk to him after he died using the same soft voice he used at the time. Burton explained that for him the interaction with Troy went beyond conventional sex and into “supersex”, which was a
method characterological evolution.
Defendant Burton stated, “My
sexuality is on the level of Super-Sex.” From December ‘86–April ‘94, Troy submitted to Burton’s demands, which were: Drop out of college, provide Burton with sexual favors and provide hour long massages after Burton had been sexually serviced.
Burton used money from the corporation to pay other members for performing specific sexual acts. In denominations of $50 or $100.
The case mentions one case of “specific sexual acts” performed on Burton by Karl Feldman, Troy Buzbee’s best friend. Burton spoke openly about his sexuality in the form of jokes at the all-male dinners that he would often lavishly host at all-male, all-you-can-drink “symposiums.” He would boast that “one hundred boys would not be enough(for his sexual appetite).”
Troy worked at the gatehouse on F.O.F. property. Burton directed certain members who are “guards” to arm themselves with firearm-type weapons. Burton then had him become his “personal” guard. During the next four years Troy observed numerous men in Burton’s room in a single night. Troy was asked to massage Burton after his lovers left.
According to the case, Burton suffers from sexually transmitted diseases. He made no effort to tell Troy. As a consequence, Troy acquired viral herpes. In addition, Troy suffered from stomach ulcers.
Renaissance Vineyard & Winery, Inc. was built as a bomb-
shelter in obeisance to Defendant Burton’s prophecies regarding massive and wide-spread disaster and chaos in the near future.
Defendant Burton uses Renaissance Vineyard & Winery, Inc as his alter ego in the same way he uses Defendant Fellowship Of Friends, Inc.
According to the case…..
At all times mentioned herein Defendants Girard Haven, Abraham Goldman (also an attorney), Helga Ruth Mueller, and Clair Bowen were members of the board of directors of the Defendant corporation, Fellowship Of Friends, INC.
At all times mentioned herein all of the Defendants were acting as the agents and servants of each other and in doing the acts complained of acted within the scope of their agency and employment and at the direction and with the knowledge and ratification of the other Defendants.
The Defendant Burton at all times mentioned herein, dominated, influenced, and controlled, and does now dominate, influence and control the Defendant corporations and the directors and officers thereof, as well as the business, property and affairs of the Defendant corporations.
At all times mentioned herein, there existed and does now exist, a unity of interest and ownership between the Defendant Burton and the Defendant corporations; the individuality and separateness of said Defendant and Defendant corporations has ceased; and despite
knowledge of these facts, Defendant corporations and its officers and directors have had notice of acquiesced in and agreed, consented to, and ratified the conduct of Defendant Burton as herein alleged,
At all times since its corporation to the present time, the Defendant corporations have been and are now a mere shell and naked framework which the Defendant Burton has used and does now use as a conduit for the conduct of his personal business, property and affairs.
Defendant corporations are subject to a unity of control, and its corporate structure was created as an attempt to avoid payment of taxes and civil judgments and to confuse courts and those seeking redress for these Defendant’s acts. Due to the unity of personnel, commingling of assets, and commonality of business objectives, these Defendant’s attempts at separation of Defendant corporations and
Defendant Burton should be disregarded.
Defendant Robert Burton directs, controls and operates Defendant corporations and uses them to enforce his orders and carry out his attacks on groups, agencies or individuals, including the acts against Troy alleged herein, to the extent there is no separate identity between Burton and said Defendant corporations and any claim of such separate identity should be disregarded.
The Defendant corporations were created and are being continued and maintained pursuant to a fraudulent plant, scheme and device, created and operated by the Defendant Burton, whereby the benefits and
product of the income and revenue of the Defendant corporations are diverted to the use and enjoyment of the Defendant Burton through the Defendant corporations to himself while concealing the truth of his financial relationship with Defendant corporations.
Prior to the formation of F.O.F. and Renaissance Vineyard & Winery, Burton formed a conspiracy in concert between the corporations for the express purpose and intent of developing and implementing a plan and scheme which would permit Burton and co-conspirators to:
a. use, abuse and exploit the fiduciary relationship between the Defendant Burton and the Defendant corporation Fellowship Of Friends, INC,, on one hand and the members of and contributors to the Defendant corporation Fellowship Of Friends, INC,, on the other hand
for their own personal unlawful gain; and
b. to use, abuse and exploit the fiduciary relationship between the Defendant Burton, as ‘founding minister’, and selective members of the Defendant corporation Fellowship Of Friends, INC., for the express purpose and intent of performing unlawful and perverted sexual acts upon the persons of said members, including Troy, and by causing certain of the members, including Troy, to work for Defendant corporation Renaissance Vineyard & Winery, INC.,
and Defendant corporation Fellowship Of Friends, INC.
That all times pertinent hereto, the Defendant corporation Fellowship Of Friends, INC., and the Defendant Renaissance Vineyard and Winery, INC, were formed and operated by Burton and said other Defendants for their sole and exclusive aggrandizement and to create an ambiance of neo-religious import which was and is currently being used by Burton and the other Defendants to manipulate, unduly influence, and control the minds, bodies, and the assets of the members of the Defendant
corporations for the sole and exclusive purpose of 1) satisfying Burton’s satyriasis-his voracious appetite for perverted sexual pleasure and elegant life-style; and
2) diverting the contributions and donations of the membership to their own use and purposes.
Members of the Fellowship are required to donate ever-increasing sums of money as they become further and further vested as members of the Fellowship with the caveat that when donations required of them are
not timely and completely made their membership is either revoked or they become indentured servants of the Defendant corporation in residence at its principal place of business for nominal compensation and required to perform degrading menial tasks of a full-time basis
at the whim and caprice of the Defendant Burton
and other authorized representatives of the corporate Defendant Fellowship Of Friends, INC., and Defendant Renaissance Vineyard And Winery, INC.
All donations made by members of the Fellowship are devoted either to the continuing worldwide recruitment of new and replacement members with fresh money to contribute to “the cause,” or the acquisition of assets, including but not limited to, Defendant Renaissance Vineyard and Winery, INC,
which are ostensibly being acquired for the use and
benefit of the membership but which are in reality being acquired for the personal benefit and aggrandizement of Defendant Burton and some or all of the other individual Defendants named herein.
Meanwhile, Defendant Burton annexes free and unfettered use and enjoyment in and to the assets of the Defendant corporation Fellowship Of Friends, INC., Defendant corporation Renaissance Vineyard And Winery, INC., and the benefits to be derived there from, including, but not limited to, the provision money for bribes to young male members to prostitute themselves in an intensification of
Defendant Burton’s compulsion and demand for sexual servicing of his long-standing state of satyriasis.
The entire, purpose, scope and extent of the aforesaid plan and scheme as implemented by said Defendants is to effectively deny the members of the Defendant corporation Fellowship Of Friends, INC., not only the right to participate in its rituals and teachings on an ongoing basis but also, and of equal importance, to deny members of said Defendant corporation, including Plaintiff, of their just right to participate as beneficiaries entitled to use and enjoy
the property of said Defendant corporation.
Troy suffered from fright, horror, grief, shame, anger, humiliation, embarrassment, chagrin, disappointment, worry, self-loathing, self-betrayal and self distrust.
Haven, Goldman Mueller, Bowen knew of all these afore-mentioned practices of Burton.
They have agreed and abetted Burton in his efforts. They knew of Burton’s diseases and said nothing.
At all times pertinent hereto, Defendant Burton, and the other Defendants, caused Troy’s mental and emotional centers to become deceptively and coercively inculcated with the following tenets:
a. Defendant Burton communicated with “C-influence” which was provided by “44 angels” which were each individually named including, but not limited to, Jesus, “Benjamin Franklin,” “Lincoln” and “Bach,”
and that Burton was the Fellowship’s only connection with
said “angels.”
b. Defendant was and is the most important person on the planet since Christ.
Defendant Burton claims a numerology of consciousness where he has already advanced to a man number 7.3, with Christ being a man number 8.
Burton is above man-made laws, a moral law unto himself.
c. “C-influence” brought Troy to the Fellowship and Defendant Burton, and that Troy’s interactions with Defendant Burton would be the most important relationship that Troy could ever have.
d. Defendant Burton is assisted by “C-influence” to guide the spiritual evolution of the member “students” with “shocks” designed to help them “awaken”.
e. The members of the Fellowship are special, and set apart by higher forces for survival. Members of Defendant Burton’s “inner circle” must associate only among Fellowship members must disregard non-members, and demonize ex-members who are critical of Burton whom “the =gods” will “destroy.”
Such ex-members’ opportunities for growth and
development are terminated failing to submit to Burton.
f. Defendant Burton possesses gift of prophecy that is infallible.
g. In 1998 California will “fall” in huge earthquake whereupon people will die in massive numbers.
h. In 2006 there will be an Armageddon, where all humans everywhere except for members of the Fellowship will be expunged by higher forces.
i. Members of the Fellowship will inherit the world’s material goods and act as the “Ark” for a new civilization based on that of the Greeks of about 450 B.C., and are thus presently preparing themselves to bear the torch of civilization now and in the future.
j. By following Defendant Burton’s directives so as to gain “being” (depth of character) through separating from suffering and immersing themselves in culture, mostly Western art, classical music, opera and ballet, Fellowship members, including Troy, are preparing themselves
for being the “Ark”.
k. Everything the members of the Fellowship, including Troy, had learned since birth was “false” and caused him to exist in a kind of “waking sleep.”
The Defendant Burton informed Troy that in order
to “awaken”, he had to replace what was “false” with what was “true” which was defined as the system of ideas as The Fourth Way, including all the “new” knowledge that Burton had added to that system.
l. Defendant Burton stated, and states, to the general Fellowship and to Troy, that without “C-influence” Troy could not “awaken”.
m. Defendant Burton stated, and states, to the general Fellowship and to Troy, that to “awaken” was the only way to avoid having the purpose of his life be to provide “food for the moon.”
n. Defendant Burton stated, and states, that Troy’s people outside the group as “life-people,” he said were “tragedies.” Burton said Troy’s own mother was such a “life-person” and that the Fellowship was Troy’s “real” family and Burton was his “Father.”
o. Defendant Burton stated, and states, to the general Fellowship and to Troy, that any challenge to the extent of Burton’s excesses of greed and satyriasis to be a lack of understanding of his practice of “crazy wisdom” which he asserts that he must force himself to perform is forcing himself to live that way for the good of the members as a “lesson.”
_______________________________End Quote
Misappropriation
‘La Cucina’ the restaurant on the property that was burned down a couple of years ago. First, put aside the fact that it was originally paid for by FOF ( our donations ). The insurance money from the fire.Where is it? It was spent on gods knows what.
So, you will have been aware of the ‘auctions’ held over the past couple of years specifically to raise funds so that ‘We’ can rebuild our beautiful La Cucina. ….well over $100.000 was raised.Then it kind of ‘went quiet’ So, where is that money ? and where is the new restaurant ? ‘We’ have now paid three times over for a restaurant that does not exist.
Care to comment ?
16/17/Mole
This event was also used as a sales ‘gig’ by RVW for nearly 6 months; the sales calls by RVW Telemarketing would start off like this ~
“Oh, hello Mary, did you hear about it; Oh! No, don’t worry no one died, but… Can you please… We really need your help with rebuilding our restaurant, etc. RVW spun this story hundreds of times and by this dramatizing effect sold hundreds of thousands of dollars worth of wine… the proceeds never rebuilt anything concerning the restaurant… and although it was said that RVE lost the whole restaurant, this was not true, only 40% of the building was lost.
Misapplication of Funds
I can suggest where possibly is the money (at least some of it).
About a year ago me and a friend were walking through Galleria, just looking, admiring the beauty. I was showing him various rooms, kitchen, library… The door to the teacher’s room was wide open and I remember that it was OK in the past to simply walk in… So we did. There was no one there. I said: This is the teacher’s room…
And my friend noticed a bunch of brand new mens shirts laying by his bed… They were fancy looking, in their packaging… We noticed the price tags. Shirts were $ 1500 plus per each. We were… a bit shocked. These are the kind of shirts the “boys” wear…
Another true story: once at our house a “boy” got slightly drunk and carried away bragging to other students about his teacher’s many gifts to him. He was showing us his ring, tie, pants, shirt – and exclaiming: This is 1800 bucks, this is 900 bucks, this is 2400 bucks… He was going on and on. It was truly pathetic.
We heard enough and went away and my boyfriend said to me: This jerk over there is wearing 10 of my teaching payments!
Well if you think how many “boys” there are and the amount of expensive shirts, rings, pants, suits, etc they wear – it starts to makes sense where the Bistro money could possibly be.
16/23/Janna
This practice is ‘ancient’ amongst the FoF inner circle; hundreds of thousands of dollars are spent yearly on custom tailored suits, both for full time galleria staff and visiting students that had been ‘picked’ by Robert Burton upon his travels abroad to be his ‘possible lovers’ and by those ‘scouting’ for him. Gifts of jewelry, the giving away of gifts Robert Burton has bought himself with fellowship proceeds to the boys and ‘courting boys’; when these courting rituals do not work out, the visiting student is often sent back to Russia or wherever ‘to think about it’, ‘to work on their King of Clubs denying force’ (physical, psychological and conscience repulsion of certain ‘things going on in the Galleria). Monies for shopping trips, plane tickets, housing, motel rooms, etc. all paid and invested in Robert Burton’s private pursuits in the name of the Fellowship of Friends; these actual expenditures are never shared with the Fellowship of Friends members, the exact annual amount spent and for what is not known by the body of the ‘church’ at large, although it is their money he is spending; donations that are not being regulated or monitored in any way by the church as a legal body to represent such expenditure directions of their money.
Misrepresentation
The idea of alchemy, as taught and practiced in the Fellowship of Friends, has been quite skewed towards external manifestations that require investing large sums of money, which is an extension of the Fourth Way as promulgated and sold by Robert Burton. Alchemy is esoterically about the transmutation of coarser energies into finer energies, as in Hydrogen 12. This may or may not have anything at all to do with the fine impressions that money can buy.
16/125/Nancy G
Misdiscription and Willfull Misconduct (among others)
Why was it essential for FOF-style evolution that Isis/Apollo/Renaissance be preserved as the seat of squalid, deeply entrenched poverty over decades? How can anyone in their right mind think Isis lifestyle is or ever was actually good for their children, YOUR children? How much more time out of your brief lifetime are you willing to throw away, your precious time bleeding away like good money after bad, because waking up from the FOF dream is just too unthinkable? When do the wives realize that their hubbies didn’t just have a few isolated experiences of sex with RB, but still do it every time they go to a wine cellar dinner? When does the young newlywed realize how at-risk she is of a nasty sexual disease from that gorgeous RB-boy import she snagged? When do we stop being mad and just become sad, because it is all too sad and pathetic and soul-sucking? Maybe that’s the whole question: RB sucked a lot of cocks, but what about the souls, your souls, that he continues to suck and suck…and suck?
16/152/Joseph G
Discrimination and Favortism
I’m sorry my language and tone offended you. Obviously you have not experienced the ultra-inner-circle verification of having RB “receive you.” Must be the lifetime thing I always heard about. You could have been one of those lower life-timers that RB would speak about. He was always positive about your possibilities, but, well– how do I say this without offending you– my feeling was he considered you all to be very well intentioned losers, less so if you could write a fat check. Or the clue to me should have been your nick, Fat Boy. You are probably not the right body type as well as being stuck in a lower lifetime. Still–Keep working on yourself!
16/141/Dick Moron
Discrimination and Favortism
Although I did embrace it (well, everyone told me I had a “golden” alchemy, so it was really easy to accept) now I see this “tool” as just another tool for judgment and condescending attitude towards others with so called “lower” alchemy. In a way, it’s almost RACIST. And you know that people DO use this “tool” to discriminate and judge, you know that, we all know, all did it. When this “tool” is used to confirm something about oneself – it strokes ones vanity. When it is used to blame or judge something or someone – it again strokes ones vanity and promotes a false sense of superiority.
16/162/Janna
Misrepresentation, False Pretenses, Breach of Duty
So, expensive clothes and furnishings is just one (questionable) way to get high, and not the cheapest. But it happens to be Teacher’s way of lifestyle, so he invented a “tool” to make it look like the “only” way.
16/162/Janna
Emotional Distress (not in the list above)
In layman’s terms, if you want to keep members of a group in line, you create an environment of anticipated reward, not actual reward, such as in the next lifetime or reserved exclusively for those in the ‘inner circle’, as well an environment highly sensitive to the aversive stimuli of negative emotions, which is how we learn ‘good-awake’ (=positive emotion) from ‘bad-asleep’ (=negative emotion). This will produce more dopamine in the member’s brains and inhibit learning from aversion by minimizing it.
16/178/Whalerider
Undue Influence (not in the list above)
Ni_k Spa_ldi_g (around) 192
Fat Boy
Simple Truth
(All others please ignor……..)
Dear Fat Boy & Simple Truth : and of course (Mole)
Let’s chill out together for a few esoteric seconds….
You know who I am and my email is listed…..
and meet me for a beer (coffee) and my usual
location (apollo d’oro)…..
Love to those who wish…..
************************
Current Fellowship members, show some backbone and post to the blog – if you’re not too frightened of the cult retaliation.
16/195/Graduates
Nick wrote this (and another) post; his reputation on the Fellowship of Friends Blog is that of the ‘FoF Police’ and ‘individual voice crusher’.
Misdescription, Misrepresentation, Fraud
When I first joined the Fellowship of Friends I was told that it was in direct lineage from Peter Ouspensky.
I find out years later that it was NOT in direct lineage. That its inception was founded on deception. That it continued producing half-baked, half-lies until it has descended into a quasi-religion based not only on half-baked, half-lies but pure and simple delusion.
Speaking again without permission from Vera-Mente we wants our money back. Not based on time contributed nor money donated but based on half-baked, half-lies, deception and delusion.
16/199/Arthur
Outrageous Conduct, Emotional Distress
From the ‘fact’ of multiple lifetimes, to the ‘fact’ that people who leave the Fellowship of conditional “Friends” are ‘food for the moon’, to the ‘fact’ that Burton is at a ‘higher level’ than anyone else on the planet, to the ‘fact’ that Beloved Teacher is the necessary intermediary between a student and higher forces, only able to ‘progress’ through Burton’s intervention, to the ‘fact’ that Burton is a goddess trapped in a man’s body (!), to the ‘fact’ that the Sequence represents the highest product of ‘higher schools’ stretching back to prehistoric times…
and on and on and on…
All designed to put one in the classic bind. No way out but to swallow and take a big gulp of “faith”, and watch one’s conscience shrivel away, a sacrifice to Burton, the gift he demands so one can stay safe in his shadow, nestling like chicks under his wings. But unlike real chicks, which must grow and fledge, choosing to stay chicks forever.
16/201/Ames Gilbert
Connivance (not on the list above), Joint Negligence
I have personally experienced the greedy, grabbing completely selfish ass ault of the “beyond feminine dominance”Queen of the hive and the blind eye and closed hearts of the procurer drones and their paradoxical judgement/envy.
While they watched the constant stream of situationaly compromised young and not so young men enter the heavily over loaded to one side arena of the Queen, with what seemed like the complacent attitude of, as long as my security isnt compromised, who cares if there are some casualties, if they leave then surely they were weak and unsuited to evolve thats why “C influence released them.
16/203/Cyclops
Sexual Harassment, Emotional Distress, Breach of Trust
Bruce 216: “Even though many of us lived together in the boy cottage, many of us were walking around in a daze asking ourselves “why was it happening to just me”. We were so shell shocked that none of us could assume it was happening to others. No one would speak of it. ”
16/216/Bruce
False Impersonation, Material Misrepresentation
His first conversations with Bonita, by her testimony, were composed of many lectures and some observations Robert Burton had gleaned from his studies. But even here, with her, were always the implicit lies. The first was that he had more being than she just because he ‘knew’ more 4th Way theory, and could convincingly regurgitate it. The second was that his method of teaching, a one–way authoritarian transmission from the ‘more knowledgeable’ to the ‘less knowledgeable’ was valid; in other words, that Bonita had nothing to teach him. His “teaching being” was exactly what he in turn had been taught, both by Horn, and by the educational system we have in our society; it was unmodified by actual experience.
16/228/Ames
Breach of Duty, Heedlessness, Recklessness (not up there)
Maintaining the First Lies for so many years, not going back over his life (in the Ouspenskian sense) to ‘repair the damage’ (tell the unvarnished truth, apologize, explain without self–justification, heal), clinging to his lie and building on it (squashing rumors, attacking whistleblowers as liars in public, pronouncing his ‘celibacy’ anew), all this clearly shows his being, and that is very very low, lower than any ‘student’.
16/228/Ames
Sexual Exploitation, Sexual Predator, Sexual Harassment, Enticement, Breach of Trust, Willful Tort, Negligent Tort
Worse, and this is important, living these lies dishonored the efforts of his students, made a mockery of their truths. Then on, ever downwards, the web of deceit was woven thread by thread. Countless times, Burton told the lie of celibacy in the morning and that same evening raped one of his students (fucked them against their will), used blackmail and further lies to complete the deed, used the Work language to serve his own base purposes. Used their shame as a weapon to ensure their silence. Bruce has told it, how isolated each of the ‘boys’ in the Blake Cottage were, each thinking they were the only one. This poison contaminated every aspect of the Fellowship. What do the grandiose dreams of good declared by Burton mean in the face of this? In the balance, far less than nothing, a negative amount. The horror outweighs any possibility of good.
16/228/Ames
Emotional Distress, Personal Indignity, Fault Liability
For me the last two years before leaving were extremely oppressive, and the weird thing is I was blaming myself for about 80% of this negative feeling, then blaming myself for not blaming myself for the other 20%. And if my soul was being sucked, who other than RB could have been the biggest soul-sucker, and how many others was he sucking – is he still sucking – all thinking (like me and Bruce?) that they were “the only one”?
16/230/Joseph G.
Fraud, Misapplication of Funds, Misapplication of Property
And then there is always “the property,” that magical place full of palm trees and gilded staues and banners and fountains. The place that is one’s true home. Home of the king of hearts. Paradise found; until it becomes paradise lost.
16/230/Joseph G.
_______________
Robert Burton Has spent millions upon millions of dollars of church goers money to surround himself in an oasis of personal ‘dreamscape’… All the while, for 37 years, has not ever had a church structure built, planned or expected.
Fraud
Did anyone who was around during the Age of the Cameo learn that their cameo appraised at exactly 1/3 the price they paid for it?
I decided to sell mine after I left. After I had it appraised by a reputable jeweler, I spoke with others who had the same experience, and the numbers were the same — the appraised retail value was 1/3 what was paid (to the FoF) for it.
I clearly remember being approached about buying it. “Robert would like to know if you feel ready to have a cameo.”
Gosh, golly, I sure didn’t want to say that I’m not ready for something the teacher thinks I should have.
I had the first one for about a week, then the same inner circle person approached me and said that Robert felt a different one would be more appropriate for me. The second one was nearly twice the cost of the first one.
I don’t remember the exact details about this next part, but there was some convoluted transaction with the exchange. I didn’t just exchange the cameos and pay more money. I think I gave the first one back, paid the entire amount for the second cameo, then received the cost of the first cameo directly from the student it was sold to next.
A receipt was included with the second one that appeared to be from a jeweler in Europe. The receipt said that it was made in the 1700s in England. When I had it appraised they told me it was made in Italy (showed me a mark that indicated this), probably in the 1920’s.
16/236/Kathleen W
Favoritism, Misappropriation of Funds, Breach of Duty, Undue Influence, False Pretenses
Ah, the cameo era. RB, the patron saint of shopping. Why not a cameo for every lady? Such a thrill to shop for someone else, with their money. This happened so much. Any student who happened to have a little money they were not using, and let RB know about it, can probably contribute a little story about how they were assisted in gradually blowing it on on pricey fashion accessories, fine leatherbound books encrusted with semi-precious stones, ostrich skin Hermes bags, shoes, belts, whips etc.. And, RB would select everything for them. I will never forget observing him slowly coerce a very adult professionally successful student into buying an expensive briefcase that the student did not like or want. Guess who won?
Does anyone remember the details of the time (during the cameo/tuxedo set era) that a member of the entourage neglected to declare some expensive jewelry purchased in Europe and RB and party were submitted to all kinds of searches by U.S. Customs.
16/241/Dick Moron
Fraudulent Marriage, Green-card Marriage, Clandestine Marriage, Breach of Duty, Sham Marriage
A story. (It could be good for the INS – let them figure it out)
I learned that Asaf who is Robert’s successor is actually married. No he doesn’t live with his wife and never did. The marriage is on paper only. (which kinda means illegal and against the law in this country.) His listed wife is E—ta and he was married to her for quite some time.
I guess Asaf needs a green card ASAP – otherwise how is he going to be our next teacher?
16/254/Purchasing Awakening
Fraudulent Marriage…. continued from above story
I thought Asaf was engaged to a very nice, very young daughter of followers, right at this moment. If what you say is correct, then there must be some very interesting conversations going on between the two affianced, the parents, the present wife, and Burton. I’m sure the phrase “C–Influence wants…” is being overworked as well. Adding the INS investigators and the INS judge to those conversations would certainly liven them up!
16/259/Ames Gilbert
Fraud, Misappropriation of Funds, Misrepresentation, Breach of Duty, False Advertising, False Pretense, Favoritism, Breach of Trust
So, you will have been aware of the ‘auctions’ held over the past couple of years specifically to raise funds so that ‘We’ can rebuild our beautiful La Cucina. ….well over $100.000 was raised.Then it kind of ‘went quiet’ So, where is that money ? and where is the new restaurant ? ‘We’ have now paid three times over for a restaurant that does not exist.
Another true story: once at our house a “boy” got slightly drunk and carried away bragging to other students about his teacher’s many gifts to him. He was showing us his ring, tie, pants, shirt – and exclaiming: This is 1800 bucks, this is 900 bucks, this is 2400 bucks… He was going on and on. It was truly pathetic.
We heard enough and went away and my boyfriend said to me: This jerk over there is wearing 10 of my teaching payments!
16/264/Somebody
Misappropriation of Funds, Fraud, Connivance, Tax Fraud
I have personally carried funds from outlaying centres in the form of teaching payments in cash to I’s I’s. Unregistered tax free cash flow.
I have personally experienced the dismay of newly wed young and not so young wives who asked me if their husbands were having sex with Burton as their husbands were lying to them and even then couldn’t bring myself to feed the lie to my female friends just to make them temporarily feel better.
16/264/Somebody
Misrepresentation, Fraud, Infliction of Emotional Distress
Back before RB was forced to “come out” of his idea of “celibacy” he was surreptitiously “doing” only one boy at a time. Even though many of us lived together in the boy cottage, many of us were walking around in a daze asking ourselves “why was it happening to just me”. We were so shell shocked that none of us could assume it was happening to others. No one would speak of it. Finally it became pretty obvious what was happening, that RB was living a lie. Yet RB still clung to the big lie until lawsuits etc. forced a change.
16/264/Somebody
Connivance, Misbranding, Discrimination, Breach of Duty, Breach of Trust, Breach of Covenant, Enticement of a Parent (A rare tort)
Prospect students are recruited. Young men’s pictures taken and send to Robert with or without measurements.
That is what I want to stop, stop, stop and I feel powerless and again angry at myself…
Yes I am still angry, now I think of it…of many more things, the way women and men were treated in the fellowship. Elena was right that women were treated like second rate citizen. How we were exploited and our money taken from us in the name of building a civilization ( Where? in the bedroom). For the children who were often second or third choice and will never feel like they were worth the love of their parents. The parents were busy, surviving, working to make ends meet, ooo I can go on, but I will stop.
16/264/Somebody
Illegal Structure, ‘Fraudulent Construction’, ‘Endangerment of Participants and Public’, (Totally unknown to Yuba County Officials from Beginning to Completion), Hidden from bank-loan-assessors by camouflaging with large canvas tarps and hundreds of palm trees in pots and wooden crates, soil, etc. prior to their visit to assess the value of ISIS property for a consolidation loan or new-mortgage loan.
And what about all the hundreds of thousands of dollars raised to build/finish that ridiculous Theatron that Robert coveted when he was enamoured of the Greeks? It seems to have been abandoned. Any one know how much was spent on it thus far?
I have been waiting to hear about the fund raisers for a pyramid. Who knows, Isis might even be taken over by a theme park operator some day.
16/268/Vena
Invasion of Privacy, Enticement of a Parent, Intensional Infliction of Emotional Distress, Child Endangerment, ‘Fetus Endangerment’ … See ‘Administration of Children and Families’. Inhumane Treatment of Animals
I learned that earlier in his reign Robert asked married women not to have kids and if they already did to give them away. Many apparently listened and obeyed. Apparently Linda was persuading pregnant women to have an abortion “to follow the will of the Teacher”. Gently ask older female students in FOF what happened to their kids.
Also teacher gave a task to students to euthanise or give away their non-pedigree canine companions. Many obeyed and killed or abandoned their dogs. Please read Stella’s story. Then not so long ago he ordered to kill all black cats around the property because of his superstitions (apparently he thought black cats bring bad luck and are connected to the devil).
16/273/Purchasing Awakening
Invasion of Privacy by intrusion, Intimidation, Inveiglement
There was also a time where hysterectomies were being suggested to women for birth control because once it’s done, that’s it, no more problem.
To my understanding some even took the advice.
16/276/Bruce
Enticement of Parent, Enticement, Invasion of Privacy,
When I got pregnant I was leaving at Renaissance and my husband was on salary. We did not have the money to go to a doctor and were worried about future hospital bills.
My husband called Robert, but not until years later did he tell me what the teacher had said in response to a request for financial help for the birth, namely, that we had missed an opportunity to oppose our catholic upbring by not having an abortion.
A student on salary with family later suggested we go to County Health Services. Fortunately I had excellent care.
BTW our child is an absolute delight, a gift beyond measure.
16/282/vera.mente
Invasion of Privacy, Connivance, Enticement of a Parent, Discrimination, Undue Influence, Undue Influence, Child Endangerment, ‘Negligent Eloignment’
I never understood the few, lovely, women I met who had left their children in the care of others at the behest of the FOF leaders. Please note that the directives may have come from Robert after Center Directors told him of situations that might threaten the student’s devotion and or payments. (Darn those silly outside influences.)
16/284/A Former female student from long ago
Recklessness, Prenatal Tort
I knew of a visit from Fran, an older women, who was sent to escort a happily married women to a hospital for a late term abortion of healthy twins. Why was this married student in a happy relationship guided to go to the hospital to abort two healthy fetuses? Robert loved the beautiful, handsome husband and it was during the mid/late 70s when the School could not afford to have students be distracted by the emotional or expensive aspects of children.
This potential mother and father were in in pain but followed Robert’s directives – it was not a pretty situation. Years later Robert got his guy back and the wife was left to earn money outside of Renaissance while her husband was on salary.
16/284/A Former female student from long ago
Invasion of Privacy, Intensional Infliction of Emotional Distress,
Tortious interference with contractual relations *a
The “exercise” of terminating friendships with those who left the school – is one of the most cruel and heartless expressions of Robert. It’s based on selfishness, fear and jealousy. I have a feeling this man has never experienced true friendship or love, regardless what he says.
Otherwise, how he could order lovers to separate, children to be given away, friendships to be cut off, pets to be killed?
16/287/Janna
____________
*a Virginia Jenkins was asked to leave her own home and property as part of a punishment/price laid out by Robert Burton; she came back after two weeks unable to survive away from her home, resulting in here having to dissolve all the renters (FoF students not allowed to be around her since she was on 6 month leave) who at the time were living on and about in caravans stationed on her property. She is also one of the few who defied Robert Burton in the early years and kept her child, Eli.
Negligent Misrepresentation, Fraud, Misdescription, False news, Falsifying a Record, Desecration
Quotations are frequently altered, or taken wildly out of context by the panel. For example, one quotation from Ibn Arabi: “If you do not see Him, he certainly sees You”. The ‘Him’ here is Allah, with the rough meaning that God/Presence is always available, two millimetres underneath the ’skin’ of Life. When the quote was used (frequently) by RB at meetings/events, however, ‘Him’ was mysteriously translated as the King of Clubs, with the idea ‘Be fearful, KC is always watching and waiting to pounce’. The difference in Life-attitude this change represents shouldn’t require any further comment!
16/297/Crouching Tiger
Wrongful Discharge
Consider this: those who disappeared in the past did so quietly and quickly, we never knew the exact reasons or details, so they went into the “silent” cubbyhole. Those who were louder, were “negative”, so we could put them in the “negative” cubbyhole. Now, the silence is broken, but the straw that will break this camel’s back is UNDERSTANDING.
16/299/Bass Ackwards
_______________________
Recently 8+ students of the Fellowship of Friends were asked to leave ‘the church’ based on the fact that they had attended lectures by another spiritual teacher in the Bay Area other than Robert Burton; they were forced to make a choice and choose ‘a teacher’, not to do both… There is nothing in the church canons to justify this, nor any mention of this ‘rule’ upon joining…
Many rules are quietly ‘made up’ as Robert Burton ‘changes his mind’, oftentimes the student is not given the benefit of the doubt that this ‘new rule’ came about through their ‘first offense of it’s sort’ and unwarranted expulsion as a result and is used to set an example for the rest.
Discrimination and Favoritism, Sexual Predator
How can you live with the fact that young men are recruited for Robert, by sending pictures and asking for the size? How does your conscience see this? You can not compare this with courting, with young adults R spins a web for his “younger, non homosexual men”. That is very unequal, out of wack. Not an example for a new civilization to my understanding.
16/304/Another name
Misappropriation of funds, Fraud, Corruption in Office, Wanton Misconduct, False Pretenses, Discrimination
How can you explain the disappearing of funds and sick people like J e-s-a, who can not afford medical treatment?
How do you live with the fact that Robert uses money from inheritances for different purposes then the original plan of the deceased student?
The way he lets students go especially the one who are not rich and do not have a lot of importance in art or the financial world is very cold and painful.
I encountered many students who were alcohol addicted and the pain they have/had. How do you live with this info?
16/304/Another name
Intentional & Negligent Infliction of emotional distress
Nearly 15 years after I left the Fellowship of Friends, I discovered I was very angry about what had happened to me there. In the intervening years, I had actively tried not to acknowledge it, mostly out of fear of some sort of divine retribution, I guess. After many years of chronic illnesses and chronic pain, things kind of came to a head, as they say. I acknowledged to myself that I was angry. It was quite shocking, actually how angry I was. I surprised myself.
I recommend: 1) a good therapist and 2) screaming into a pillow (to avoid upsetting the neighbors/family).
16/310/Innernaut
Intentional infliction of Emotional distress, Misappropriation of Funds, Negligent Hiring, Discrimination, Favoritism, Breach of Duty, Fraud
He uses the donations from the members (most of whom think the money is going to be spent for the common good) to buy outrageously expensive trinkets and clothes for his boy whores. Furthermore, most of those boys only give in to his advances because he says he is their conscious teacher, goddess, etc.
16/311/David B
Connivance
Forget morality, subjectivity, and all that. That’s just your way of justifying Robert’s behavior. What about just plain common sense? If a survey was conducted in the general public regarding the propriety of Robert’s behavior, how many do you think would approve? I doubt if a single person would. Why do you think that is?
16/311/David B writing to a current member of the FoF
Fraud, Misrepresentation, Falsifying a Record, False Pretenses, Desecration, Connivance, CONSPIRACY TO DEFRAUD, CONSPIRACY TO INFRINGE
And here is an example of visual distortion: an altered Tarot cards manufactured to fit the ‘keying’. A student was actually hired to redraw the original cards.
(I’ve included an original card with various animals and fake ones with sheep and goats)
And here’s the description to confirm the lie (note that Robert doesn’t admit the card forgery in his ‘keying’):
16/320/Purchasing Awakening
________________________
All of those involved in the Fellowship of Friends ‘keying octave’; check your hearts, check your conscience; you may be considered players in a Conspiracy to Defraud.
Intentional and Negligent Infliction of Emotional Distress,
Invasion of Privacy, Undue Influence, Outrageous conduct, Unprofessional Conduct, Wrongful act.
There are few stories from wives of RB boys for good reason – the shame involved is incredible. But, believe me, we are around in numbers. The shame is two fold, one at being a wife or serious girlfriend who’s beloved man is having regular sex with someone else. But the shame I most want to talk about is living with, witnessing, the man’s shame. My husband was with RB a long time ago and he is NOT homosexual and the sex was coerced (he was an ‘idiot’ type). He was shamed into it by not being a ‘high’ being as RB. After being shamed into the sex, it was incredibly shameful for him to have enjoyable physical sensations. It haunted him for years and impacted his manhood – his perception of his manhood. This is VERY IMPORTANT for a man, it goes to the very CORE OF HIS ESSENCE and has ABSOLUTELY NOTHING to do with feminine dominance or morality. RB shit on these men a festering scum cloud deep into their core. It takes extreme measures to heal from that and clean it out. I feel very sorry for you and very sorry for a woman who loves you – your cloud is still festering.
16/331/That Girl
Sexual predator, Fraudulent Misrepresentation
As a parent, I can empathize with other parents, that if I would not want my child to be subjected to the perverted acts of Robert Burton, then by God I would not want any other parent’s child to be exploited by him either. Out of respect for my Mother, so she passes over to the next world in peace, I will never divulge to her what I experienced under Robert Burton’s sick tutelage.
16/339/Whalerider
Connivance, Collusion to Defraud, Joint Negligence, Negligent infliction of emotional distress
It makes the inner circle who has put layer over layer on top of it so much more responsible for our having payed endlessly for nothing and supported all the other abuses.
The degree to which their hands are filled with mud is shocking and so many things make so much more sense about the extent of their coldness. Cold and sick, my Girard, the lindas and Karens and even all those beautiful people like Dambecks and Gideons and the whole lot of us who ever participated in it going against ourselves because everybody else was doing it. But it wasn’t everybody else so much. It was the few in the inner circle who sold their soul and bent to make it look real. The few who’ve taken too much of what they wanted and can’t let go of it, to their own misfortune. Like monkeys that can’t let go of the coconut: Trapped in their own greed. Maybe not the money, but the power, the prestige……but what prestige when Robert stripped it from you against your own power so that he could justify being the only recipient of it and you accepted it in your guilt.
16/340/Elena
Fraud, Discrimination
And his actions? They SCREAM of lack of love and compassion, they show coldness, selfishness or just indifference! Oh, I saw it, I have experienced it, not once and not twice. Many people have verified his true “love”, so many stories, too many…
His “love” is purely conditional and it depends on his personal interest in you. If you’re useful to him in some way – here comes “love”(or clever manipulation). Not useful anymore – you’re dumped and don’t exist for him. If you cross him or object him, or (God forbid) compete with him for his boys – he hurts you so cruelly, without any human compassion…
Really, he simply DOESN’T CARE for any person but himself. Can’t you see this? When he hurts someone you know – what do you say to yourself? That it doesn’t matter? That this student was a jerk anyway? Or do you just close your eyes and repeat: “Teacher loves me now and forever”…
Where is his unconditional love to me now, after I spent over 10 active years in his school and paid him over 50K? My friends who spent over 20 years and gave him hundreds of thousands of dollars were cut off and forgotten, without good bye and thank you, and wouldn’t even be acknowledged as human beings by your loving teacher…
“I love you now and forever” – yeah, right.
16/342/Janna
Green-card Fraud, Religious-Visa-Fraud, Non-Profit Organization status Fraud, Fraud, Misrepresentation
There is no INS it is now part of Homeland Security and they might be very interested in Roberts importing male prostitutes using green cards as Church ministers.
What is important to think of is that we, those who have been participating on the blog did not not of many other parts of the play of crime until exposed to the information here. There are statutes specifically designed to combat interstate criminal conspiracies. Claiming to be a church for tax reasons then marketing the Fellowship as a 4th way school is fraud. Not giving members a copy of the Canons is fraud.The Fellowship just changed their own web site due to pressure from those who consistently challenged their wikepedia article to reflect their legal status as a church.
16/354/A former student
Negligent and Intentional Infliction of Emotional Distress, Fraud, Misrepresentation, Invasion of Privacy, Defamation
Anyone remember a hair dresser amongst other things, Richard F. A sweet good looking gay guy who died of aids, contracted after having taken a walk on the wild side outside of the pseudo school. What a strange contradictory situation he must have found himself in, living in O house, in a sea of sex energy and being schooled by a rabid queen who was having sex with the frequency of a machine gun, as if the world was going to end tomorrow. Yet himself having to work with the no sex outside of marriage and especially no homosexuality exercise. Plus no gay marriage!
What the hell was he supposed to do? turn straight?
16/355/Cyclops
Sexual predator
Richard WAS one of the few gay students who RB did exploit sexually. It happened in the boy cottage while I was there, I remember being surprised by it, but if I remember correctly it was before he was diagnosed.
16/356/Bruce
Sexual Predator
It’s not that he didn’t like gay guys (Richard was very pretty, too much for RB to resist, and I don’t think it was often, and I don’t know exactly what occurred behind the closed doors, but I do remember Richard’s face when he walked out), but I think,for him, the power thing in relation to debauching straight guys was just another ego boost to his already sick psychopathology. Any gay can fuck a gay, but ALL STRAIGHT BOYS??? what a conquest.
16/364/Bruce
Intentional and Negligent Infliction of Emotional Distress, Invasion of Privacy, Sexual Predator
I remember a few years ago one Russian woman was crying (she left FOF) because she was raising a baby while her husband was sleeping with Robert and “to smooth things over” RB gave her a gift – a Russian scarf… Plus demanded to wear it every time she was going out where he could see her. That was pure sadism!
16/389/Somebody
Wrongful Discharge, Fraud, Sham, Discrimination
OF COURSE Robert was nice to you! Were you nice to him in the bedroom??? This is exactly my point – he is “nice” when you’re nice. This is not the “unconditional love” that he announces all the time in public! But have you ever tried to question him, critique him, confront him or tell him straight something unpleasant but true? No, I don’t mean little boy’s prank that he didn’t punish you for. I mean – have you ever refused him your sexual services? Have you? Or have you ever stood up for somebody else that was hurt by his cruel actions? Have you? I know personally people who have been thrown away by him like garbage when they tried to stand up for themselves…
So your verifications are based on your own good and careful behavior. You “verified” what was safe for you to verify, what you wanted to verify to justify things for yourself. And you didn’t look where it was not pretty and didn’t ask uncomfortable questions – so not to ruin your positive verifications.
16/390/Janna
Sexual Predator, Invasion of Privacy
How do you know?
My first husband said “yes” to Robert.
My second husband said “no” and I can tell you that sometimes you get tired to play to hide and seek for years with your teacher. That is not the game we were supposed to come for.
16/411/ For the best_1
FRAUD
“And, guess what, he gets a huge salary for himself, and legal my friend.”
And guess what, he also has arranged for many of his closest devotees to get a huge salary on the books then cash their fake paychecks and give money to Robert to spend. In return for this service FOF pays their personal taxes. And this is very illegal my friend.
“And the money he raises at teaching event in my view is his money as far as I am concerned”, –
Firstly it is questionable if the church leader is allowed to earn personal income in such way. Secondly do you think he pays taxes on this? We are talking millions in personal income, my friend.
“but the fact is most of the donation money goes torward the infrastucture of FOF.” – Oh yes? How do you know that my friend? Do you have any idea how much Robert spends on himself and his harem?
I bet you that vast majority of the money goes to his personal spending.
The whole FOF thing is one big financial and tax fraud, my friend. It is a cleverly arranged business designed to build one twisted man’s dream with illegal cheap labor and illegal tax free income.
IRS will have a field day when they get to investigate it in detail and they will.
16/416/Purchasing Awakening
Sexual Predator
I was first herded into Robert Burton’s bedroom in the middle of the night after an exhausting 12 hour workday in the hot sun when my king of clubs and will was weakest-under the pretense of doing some ‘cuddling’. I understand only now, years later how numb and dis empowered I was from the layers of paralyzing psychological double binds systematically instilled in me by Robert Burton and the ‘form’ of the ’school’. When I lay down next to him, he put his leg across my groin area in direct contact with my penis.
16/422/Whalerider
RECKLESS ENDANGERMENT
I repeat. The way is clear: we must fly from evil behavior. What will motivate us to take action to stop him? Horror? Tragedy? Will some poor soul need to choke to death on Robert Burton’s Viagra-enhanced penis before we take action? Will it be a STD inadvertently passed on to someone’s child from the ‘inner circle’? I willingly choose anger. Individuals standing up alone will not make a difference! Donald McD, Thomas E., Samuel S., Troy B., Miles B….. Only collectively will we make a difference.
16/422/Whalerider
Fraud, Breach of Fiduciary Duty, Sexual Predator
At the height of Robert’s abuse of me he persuaded me (at Clare Bradford’s house in 1973) to give him a blow job as a necessary step to achieve awakening. During that time he praised me daily for my talents and my great desire to awaken. But all such praise stopped once I refused to enter a bed with him. I thought then that Robert’s love was only as great as my usefulness to him but I ignored the thought.
It has taken great effort and many years for me to heal myself; to establish the proof within that a man’s worth to himself is greater that his usefulness to others. I don’t know if the Fellowship can heal itself of the same ills, but I do know it needs to. Someday members must face the truth about Robert. He is not all good and wise. Four to five hundred male students have been abused by Robert over the past twenty years. All have been led to believe that they would profit spiritually by succumbing to Robert’s advances. I have verified for myself that self remembering does not hinge on submitting one’s body to the desires of the teacher. I therefore cannot support attitudes and behavior in the Fellowship which justify such acts.
16/423/Ames Gilbert
CONNIVANCE
It is the aggrandizing of his faults along with his virtues that I object to. Idealistic and troubled young people are quite suggestible and very vulnerable. Robert has taken undue advantage of the young much too frequently while we older students just sat by and watched.
16/423/Ames Gilbert
Wrongful Discharge, Fraud
So—in response to all this I stepped out in the open, stated in no uncertain terms what my point of view is and asked for an apology. Robert, with his customary response of calling such actions instinctive, promptly called and asked me to leave the school. And of course he offered me no apology. He did admit, years ago, to molesting me but now as it was then, he felt it was his right to do so.
16/423/Ames Gilbert
Wrongful Discharge, Fraud, Connivance
I remember when he left. He (Thomas Easley) was spoken about in hushed whispers, with plenty of “C–influence has taken away his understanding” and “Those whom the gods wish to destroy…”, and “Food for the moon” angles.
16/424/Ames Gilbert
Misrepresentation, Desecration
One of RB’s sarcastic little jokes over the years was calling an “active force” an “active farce. In other words, be silent my beloved students. Be passive. Be compliant. Be submissive.
16/427/2b
Favortism
One rumor that is doing the rounds is that the property is now in AG’s name. It seems unlikely, but Graeagle (Robert’s old Sierra Nevada apartment) and the Palm Springs apartment are/were in the name of Abe G.
16/428/Critical Mass
Fraud, Misrepresentation, Defamation
“It’s the least you can do for your teacher”.
“Higher Forces wishes you to have this turmoil”
“I’m a princess in a man’s body”. (of course this one didn’t carry much weight)
“I’m insatiable. I share this with many of my students” (during the time I was avoiding him).
16/430/Bruce (Quotes from Robert Burton)
Sexual Predator, Breach of Fiduciary Duty
(Concerning Robert Burton’s method of sexual approach.)
And even then he doesn’t give up!
No, now he changes tack…and the veiled threats begin,
about how he has gone out on a limb for you
“we all know which limb”, how if you’re not able to help and support him then he wont be able to reciprocate.
God dammit he tries a huge arsenal barrage after barrage trying from every possible angle with all his knowledge of mechanics, he tries to appeal to your vanity your tramp your wish to awaken and if you stay resolute,
he can hardly contain his disgust with you.
Then you can feel like a piece of shit that has somehow materialized in front of him. Then you feel the coldness the iciness. There is an old saying hell hath no fury like a woman scorned. Well one could re write it to …hell hath no fury like a queen in a large male body who is refused sex.
16/439/Cyclops
Sexual Predator, Negligent Infliction of Emotional Distress
(Concerning the story of Brian Sisler)
I (Ames) went to nursing school, and caught TB from a patient. I couldn’t work as a nurse, we got into financial trouble, and moved to Sacramento. During our time there, we were told that Brian had been stabbed and was in hospital. The official story, given by the center director, was that he had been stabbed 44 times, that this was a signal from C-Influence, and that he had been ‘released’ from the Fellowship, and had returned to his family in the mid-west.
I found out that the 44 stab wounds were mythological, invented by Burton. There had in fact been five.
About six months ago, I heard the rumors that he was dead. I checked around, and they appeared to be true.
This is what I can piece together, but I stress I have no first–hand information. I hear he went to the FoF gatehouse, and asked to see Burton. Burton refused to see him. He made his way down to Marysville, checked into a motel, and hanged himself.
She describes their deep friendship and his emotional and physical pain as Burton brutalized him, how he lay groaning on the floor of the Blake Cottage for hours after a session with him. This went on for years. She had first–hand knowledge, her job was to clean the Blake Cottage around the comings and goings of Burton, —and to clean the soiled underwear. She recalls the perfuming of Burton and the air around to cover the sordid smells.
My understanding is that Brian was a schizophrenic. The “higher being” that is Burton took ruthless advantage of his weaknesses and used him as his personal property, to do with as he wished. There was no compassion, no love, no understanding, Brian was just an object for his gratification. And when things became too uncomfortable, he was thrown away, like a soiled tissue, and with as much compunction. Compost. I channel my anger about this and other things that have happened as best as I can, right now mainly through the blog, and hopefully in a constructive way. There are many other stories yet to be told, by many, many people; they are slowly being revealed, and Burton will be shown, once and for all, for the horror that he is. That is my hope.
16/446/Ames
Fraud, Enticement of a Parent, Intentional and Negligent Infliction of Emotional Distress, Negligent Supervision, Discrimination, Invasion of Privacy, Sexual Predator
I loved James G. my first boyfriend in the fof, mid-70’s. We lived in a teepee up the hill with a red couch and carpets. James was a poet, a sweet gentle man who went head to head with Robert. I remember my confusion when I realized I was competing with my teacher for the affection of my boyfriend. Confusion, sadness, anger, uncomprehending shock. James left the group and I regret that I cannot access more clearly what happened. There is so much shame mixed in with the excitement of having found a “school of evolution”. I’m sure I did not talk about the shameful parts and just moved on with the “evolution” parts.
Being a female “second class citizen”, I settled for “second-best” closeness to rb, by getting involved with Thomas E. There was a big triangular struggle going on there, too, but again, the shame shrouding the situation did not allow us to talk openly about it and I remember just being very confused. Thomas and I fought often about it and eventually moved farther and farther apart. I remember calling him from the pay phone in the Lodge while he was traveling with rb to tell him I was pregnant and him telling me to just take care of it. I knew it wasn’t wanted, by him, by me, by Robert, so was shortly thereafter driven to Yuba City by Fran for an abortion. I know I’m leaving out the next chapter, but one step at a time.
I had permission to play the piano in the Goethe Academy during lunch when no one was there. It was one of the happiest hours of my days. When Robert would come smilingly back after lunch in the company of those from his entourage, his face would fall upon seeing me, and although it is not exactly the reptilian conversion Cyclops referred to in his powerful post above, that look of revulsion, disappointment, annoyance was one that I and many other women were on the receiving end on many occasions.
One other memory from my days of a woman in the company of men around the Blake Cottage/Goethe Academy was sadly watching while RB walked around and around the outside perimeter of the lawn trying to convince one of his wonderful young men that he and his lovely girlfriend/or wife, can’t remember the timing, must not have a child, and that in fact they must have an abortion. I had an opportunity to see this sad childless couple years later (when I was “out” and they still “in” thus we didn’t converse) and my heart has always gone out to them.
My tears are for you, Whalerider, Cyclops, THAT GIRL, Joseph G., Richard M, Elena, and many others who lost faith in themselves, were deceived, coerced, had abortions, gave their children away, shared their husbands with another, for all the suffering you experienced. They are for me, for the teenager I once was, for the world I’m leaving to my children. May tears of joy fall once again on us all.
16/447/If Memory Serves
Fraud, Discrimination
Dear Susan.
The moment of him seeing a woman in the academy that I was most shocked by, was when one day Mildred who normally came by and set out amazing floral arrangements was replaced by a younger perhaps more attractive young lady. His comment and the shocking vehemence out of proportion to the event is what I remember to this day it was ” who let that woman in here.”
Try to envision Clint Eastwood as dirty harry on amphetamine saying it and you will be closer to the energy of the situation. The poor girl was completely stunned.
Its shocking how we could let stuff like this just run of our feathers.
16/450/Cyclops
Fraud
I just talked with a friend who came after “his night on duty” from Robert. I heard in his voice zero complaints and a lot of endurance, embracing of suffering. He said: “How else you are going to awaken? This pain is necessary for transformation and awakening. What else did you expect from an esoteric school?”
Later he added that he understands prostitutes, that they are the closest people to the God on Earth…
The pain factory which makes me so angry is a preferred influence for him. What could I say? I don’t know…
16/457/Somebody
Fraud, Misrepresentation, Favortism
I thought it was real interesting the way your friend tried to justify his sexual submission to RB. You quote him as saying, “How else you are going to awaken? This pain is necessary for transformation and awakening. What else did you expect from an esoteric school?”
By that line of reasoning everybody in the FOF should be forced to have sex with Robert because they need all that pain so that they can transform it and awaken. What about all the unfortunate ones (most of the school) who don’t get this special “opportunity to transform suffering”? Isn’t Robert neglecting them? What a load of crap!
16/468/David B
Green-card-Fraud, Connivance (on part of the parents)
Crouching Tiger, thank you for your information. So it seems true that Asaf’s present marriage is indeed a sham designed to get a Green Card. I wonder how the current fiancée (who used to be really good friends with my daughter) and her parents ‘buffer’ that.
16/483/Ames Gilbert
Fraud
Yesterday I could not help my fellow RB’s boy to see what is wrong with his thinking. He was so deep in that world of suffering, “service”, using the pain etc., that it almost made me worried that I do not suffer. He was so convinced that if he will escape this painful “service” – he will fall asleep, fall in chaos, lose an amazing opportunity to be close to such an evil and powerful guy.
16/488/Somebody
Fraud, Misrepresentation
If prospective students were told that they are about to join Robert’s school (and not the 4th way school), who is a very powerful person and a perverted gay with love to luxury; that they are going to pay not 10% of their income but much more, they will have to spend a fortune on teaching payments, events, auctions, gifts, to support his lavish appetites; that if they are young handsome looking men they will be asked to serve Robert’s sexual needs regardless of their relationships, that they will be demanded to give up their will for the will of Robert and give up their common sense and morality, their careers, families, children, love and more. Then people still will join, but at least they will know what they are signing up for!
16/491/Somebody
Fraud, Misrepresentation, Misdescription
But the distinct preference for the epigram rather than the long quotation or story, ’soundbites’ if you like… the juggling or omission of contexts, the ’short thinking’ and straightforward reversals of meaning – irritating at first – became difficult obstacles to surmount. The negative reason that kept me going was Vanity – vanity at hearing one’s research being used by RB as a central quote at an event. But the veneer wears thin with misuse.
16/494/Crouching Tiger
Conspiracy to Defraud, Favoritism, Fraud, Discrimination
I did not hate him for that and worked with it but as I look back what I realize is that the management of individuality in the fellowship works. In as much as each student is required to work only on himself, respond for himself, we all develop a certain strength in our self trust that is then completely mined by the fact that at the same time, no individual is given any authentic, lawful, participation in what happens in the fellowship.
Yes, there is Girard and Steven and Grant and Linda and all the rest who have a bite in the pie but it is only a bite of a nothingness, only a bite in as much as they can be used. Not a bite for their own worth or sake.
It is an amazingly clever mechanism because while it powerfully strengthens the sense of “I managed to make something of myself, put myself in good householder, control my emotions to a certain extent”, it at the same time takes away anything one can do with the strength, beauty or understanding that one has amassed by taking away the possibility of fully participating in the community, school or society that one belongs to.
16/507/Elena
Intentional and Negligent Infliction of Emotional Distress, Negligent Supervision, Discrimination (and later Defamation)
In relation to Brian Sisler’s story it would not surprise me in the least that Robert denied to see him and Nick is lying, so would any one of them protecting Robert.
In a similar desperate situation I called Robert twice from Colombia and wrote him a letter.
One of his assistants at the time called me back and told me Robert sent the message not to talk to him again for two years.
16/507/Elena
Fraud, Sexual Predator
(In relation to having a sexual role to ‘the teacher’ Robert Burton.)
Here’s my take. Your friend has truly been “brainwashed”. First, he is has accepted Burton’s subtle but far–reaching reinterpretation of the “Principle of Payment”. Secondly he has overlaid a layer of lunacy over his misunderstanding, by extrapolating payment to the infinite horizon. He imagines that consciousness is priceless in the material sense; this is spiritual materialism. Thirdly, he has been persuaded to abandon his “common sense”, given to protect him against exactly this kind of harm.
16/509/Ames
Sexual Predator
To young or even youngish men preparing to visit I’s I’s.
If you upon arriving are met by a group of young men, half of whom appear to be quite effeminite, be advised that your reactions to homosexuality are being probed.
Once you get to the property…..
If you are invited to stay behind after any function to meet “the Teacher” Be forewarned that it will more than likely end with him trying to get hold of your meat.
If you are invited to an intimate dinner, or any small gathering for that matter be advised that the same as above is likely.
If you are asked if you would like to do security work at night in the galleria….yep same eventuality.
If you are asked if you would like to take a tour anywhere even to a local restaurant, with “the Teacher” never mind abroad, then again be advised that you will be expected to pay in kind and if you refuse you will be shuttled back immediately and replaced.
After arriving back you might find yourself being demoted to working with some “octave” that you are less fond of.
If you find yourself in discussion with any “students” who have been there for a much longer time and it seems that they are trying to find out how you would react if you were to be propositioned by “the teacher” they probably are and you have probably been discussed much more than this before arriving.
Unless you actually wish to have sex with him then it is best to not get into any situation where you will be alone together.
It is best to politely refuse and to keep doing this every time, that way you can enjoy the company of your friends without the risk of compromising your own standards or being forced into a situation where you have to leave.
16/510/Cyclops
Fraud
Robert has failed on both counts. He has failed. It’s that simple. He has lied about every silly historical connection to support the magnitude of the sequence as an esoteric tool, and he has barely made an effort to actually teach his students how this tool really leads them to raised levels of consciousness. Moreover, and much much worse as has been dramatically demonstrated on this blog, even / especially during the past few days, he has knowingly caused severe psychological damage to many of his students over many many years, and has absolutely no compunction about continuing along this cruel path.
16/511/Joseph G
CONNIVANCE
I remember the mixed emotional messages I always got from Molly M., Frank A. and many more of the more upstanding and self contained citizens of the fof from that era who ALL KNEW FULL WELL WHAT WAS GOING ON WITH ROBERT! ‘Mature’, ‘responsible’ center directors/traveling teachers types WHO WERE SELF CONTROLLED ENOUGH TO KEEP THEIR MOUTHS SHUT ABOUT IT. They appeared to be your garden variety upper/middle, middle class people , the perfect poster children who looked like they would be OUTRAGED if indeed they knew such information about our leader! In retrospect it was a little club within the club. I wish more of them would speak on the blog.
–
When I married Thomas in 1981 I had no idea he had lived this nightmare. Non of my ‘girlfriends’ enlightened me and he never spoke about it. I saw only a hard working super energetic young man.
So, blogging on it all now I am more and more amazed at the silence. I already wrote about how I Linda T. enlightened me about RB in ‘82.
16/515/Shelley M
Fraud, Discrimination
Robert sent a message asking me to apply for a religious visa and to move to Isis, because he predicted that the apocalyptic event of 2006 would actually occur at some point later that month. When called by a friend at Isis about an application I explained that it would be impossible for me to move so quickly. I had a child and no means to do so.
I sent Robert a note thanking him for his attention and received back the message from him that my King of Clubs and Lower Self were holding me back… and I cared too much about my child and my apartment in Amsterdam. Robert’s diagnosis was not particularly shocking or mortifying to me. I considered what he said and tried to find the truth in it. Yes for sure I was in my Lower Self most of the time, and yes I didn’t hold my work in great esteem, but on the other hand I didn’t feel especially pre-occupied with lower things; I was immersed in the three lines of work and had never given any energy to the acquisition of material property.
At that moment I couldn’t in all honesty find a way to agree with his diagnosis; if I was going to be struck by the magnitude of his insights that would happen later. In the meantime I trusted that he would forgive any temporary lapse on my part.
During one such conversation a student MJ (who incidentally is very reserved and disarmingly beautiful) told us about a photograph that Robert had given her. She used to wash dishes in the Academy kitchen as often as possible so as to be closer to the heart of things. Her husband (who incidentally was an overtly sensual and extrovert type) saw her struggling through the task and massaged her shoulders in passing. Robert happened to walk through the kitchen, and a few moments later sent back a message to her stating that she was extremely lustful and that he did not want her to work in the Academy anymore.
Her story was well stunning. We sat there silenced for a moment; we did not allow ourselves to say his photograph was untrue, because we wanted him so much to be meaningful, yet we knew his diagnosis to be impossible, and his treatment of her so unfair.
I asked myself “Does Robert really know her? Does he really know me?” Quite suddenly a quiet space inside me had opened up in which it was possible to admit that Robert could not see things as they really were; that he could be wrong.
Cycling home one day MJ called saying that Charles and Angela Taylor had been asked to leave. Charles was a good friend, we had both joined in London, we had directed the centre in Hungary together. When I made my annual pilgrimage to Isis I would always seek him out, we would wrestle with the ideas and try to come to terms with aspects of Robert’s teachings which seemed obscure. He really wanted to understand, and his mental precision, his integrity, individuality and commitment had always been inspiring.
I called him immediately. He told me he had been called on Robert’s behalf because he had been attending meetings led by an Advaita teacher named Adyashanti who according to Robert was a “B influence virus” and Charles was asked to either stop seeing him or leave. Charles answered that he did not want to stop and was expelled.
I knew a fair amount about the ‘behind the scenes Robert’ because I had been in relationships with people in his entourage. Apparently in the 80’s and nineties he had been frequently depressed and negative, his energy was often very heavy. His state had dramatically changed when ‘the Russians’ joined his entourage; he had become electrified and invigorated and emerged from seclusion to begin teaching and travelling on a tremendous scale.
At the same time more and more items were arriving from my past and placing themselves in the foreground. First hand reports of his anger and his jealousy, his irrational rages, and punishments and banishments, orgies with young men who did not want them… Birthday treats of 60 men… and so on; they all arrived and settled in full view. The first time I heard these things I had not flinched; I had simply admitted that I did not understand them and re-focussed on ‘my own’ Work so as not to be pulled down by possible unpleasantness. But this time I did not change the subject…
It wasn’t that I was reveling in indignation or anything, in fact at the time, there was only one emerging memory that really hurt. It was the fact that Robert had said that he did not enjoy the meetings and the teaching events, and that he only did them so that he could be with the boys…
I saw people talking about their verifications and knew that they, as I had, were actually talking about their beliefs. I saw students quoting poetry from Conscious Beings instead of expressing their own beings, I heard them using work language to fortify frailties and inconsistencies in their own limited understanding, but I couldn’t say anything. I saw them using classifications such as Body Types and Centre of Gravity to avoid experiencing more fully the wholeness that was before them. I saw all these things in myself of course too, but bit by bit these tendencies were dropping away in me, not because of any new found virtuousness or strength, but because I didn’t want them anymore. I had seen my lies and it was repulsive to reproduce them.
In January a friend in the Council called on behalf of Asaf. He had heard rumours about TH and wanted to make sure that there was no danger of the Fellowship being sued. I reassured him, but was struck by the implicit assumption that I would not find this question tasteless and cold. For Theo’s parents his apparent madness was a tragedy akin to death: their beloved son who had been musical, bright, self-disciplined, energetic and with a wealth of potentials ahead of him had been reduced to a silent almost vegetable existence.
In February I received two messages from Robert. In the first he said that it was my King of Clubs and my Lower Self that were resisting the Sequence (this was a similar message to the one he had sent when he heard that it was painful for me that he was having sex with my husband). In the second message he sent me his love.
Is Robert interested in me? I asked myself, or is he simply attempting to align me, with the minimum possible personal involvement.
A farewell
Just before the end of the month I stopped all payments to the Fellowship. I could not bear to pay Robert another penny.
I did not feel anger towards him; I did not know who he was really. It was as if he had been some type of mirage. My teacher had been a dream, the sum the sum of my projections, my hopes and hopefulness.
I knew that he was not awake, but could not imagine him to be particularly malevolent: deluded seemed to be a better word, and hadn’t we all supported him in his delusion?
On May 28th I finally read the Sheik’s first report on the Fellowship. On May 29th I left.
16/520/Anna
End of Postings from Part 16
If anyone would like to take a Part; please let me know or
just go for it… If I see postings from Part 15 or any other, I will assume you’ve taken it upon yourself to do similarly what I have done here… You can copy, paste and Google the terms (headings) if need be…
Love to you all.
False Impersonation, False Pretenses, Wanton Misconduct
AG is the FOF lawyer. That’s it. You can make of it what you want, including an epic, if that’s your thing.
Otherwise, as long as he is in that position, there is no reason for his invitation to GF. Business is business. It’s conflict of interest. Period.
He himself said, you are right to ban me.
The exact quote from the correspondence” with William was:
“I asked Abraham if he could say something that would help people be less afraid of him. He did not say something like “I am here ONLY for personal reasons” or “Don’t worry, I have only good intentions for the group”. His honest answer was that it was wise to ban him.”
27 & 28/15/Bruce
Sexual Harassment, Hostile-environment sexual harassment, Quid pro quo sexual Harassment, Sexual Predator, Intentional Infliction of Emotional Distress, False Pretenses and Misdescription
In the name of Religion ~ Church leader’s sexual trysts cause membership defections / The San Diego Union-Tribune/March, 1995 / By Gordon Smith – Staff Writer
Topics
Psychological trauma
Philosophy supports sex drive
Taken advantage of
Members nervous around leader
Departures create financial bind
OREGON HOUSE, Yuba County- Five months after he had a sexual encounter with Robert Burton, the founder and leader of the Fellowship of Friends, Richard Laurel wrote an open letter to his fellow members in the group.
The letter explained that Burton had asked Laurel to become a night guard at his chateaulike home at the Fellowship’s headquarters, called Apollo, here in the tiny foothill community of Oregon House. Among the duties of the guards, Laurel said, was to give Burton massages.
Like most members of the Fellowship, Laurel went on to say, he considered Burton to be practically a god, and someone whom he “could fully trust in every regard.”
So it surprised and shocked him, Laurel said, when during a massage, Burton pulled down his (Laurel’s) pants and, without a word, performed oral sex on him.
“I felt betrayed and used by the man who I thought was my spiritual father,” wrote Laurel, who prefers to be identified by the surname he used while in the Fellowship.
It bothered him even more when he found out that many other members, including his teen-age son, had been pursued for sex by Burton for years, added Laurel, who is married.
Laurel’s letter led to a wave of resignations and expulsions of longtime members of the group. The resulting loss of as much as $500,000 in annual dues may have in turn sparked a financial crisis, according to some former members.
But a spokesman for Fellowship denied that it’s in financial trouble.
And Abraham Goldman, Burton’s attorney, insisted that the sexual encounter between Burton and Laurel was consensual.
“It was not the only time they had physical affection with each other,” Goldman added. “Mr. Laurel’s letter doesn’t tell the full story.”
It did, however, lead some longtime members to question Burton s behavior-partly because Laurel’s complaint echoed charges made against Burton and the Fellowship in a lawsuit by former member Samuel Sanders in 1984.
Sanders claimed he felt betrayed when he discovered that Burton made a habit of having sex with rank-and-file members, most of them heterosexual males and many of them married.
38/15/Refresh your memory
Sexual Harassment, Hostile-environment sexual harassment, Quid pro quo sexual Harassment, Sexual Predator, Intentional Infliction of Emotional Distress, False Pretenses and Misdescription
Philosophy supports sex drive
But he gradually came to believe that the philosophy was being used to support Burton’s personal desires for control and sex.
“I was needy for spiritual guidance, and I guess if you’re needy, you re willing to take certain things for granted more than you would if you’re not quite as gullible,” said Van Gaal. He began resisting Burton’s advances after getting married in 1990, and left the Fellowship last October, he said.
Attorney Goldman said Burton had a consensual sexual relationship with Van Gaal.
“I can’t say how long it lasted or how often it occurred. But there were times when Mr. (Van Gaal) initiated the meetings.” Goldman said. He pointed out that laws vary from state to state regarding whether sex between a religious leader and a disciple-or a doctor and patient, for that matter-is illegal.
“Mr. Burton has never abused his position of power or trust with a member, either involving a sexual relationship or any other aspect of his teaching,” Goldman added. A current Fellowship member who said he became one of Burton’s Lovers for a time while separated from his wife agreed.
“Robert’s in a position of power being the founder of the Fellowship… but I don’t think he misuses that position”, said the man, who asked to remain anonymous. “I’ve refused Robert sex,” he said, “If someone feels pressure to give in it’s basically their imagination.
“One thing that rules most of our lives is what people think of us,” he went on, “I feel I took a big step in the direction of being free from that” through having sex with Burton.
However Carl Mautz, a former lawyer for the Fellowship who helped defend the group during Sander’s lawsuit, said Burton’s sexual relationships with members are “an obvious abuse of power.” Like many other former members of the group, Mautz said he wasn’t offended by Burton’s homosexuality, but by the inherently domineering aspects of a leader having sex with his followers.
Taken advantage of
Not all members of the Fellowship are approached for sex by Burton, Mautz noted. But Johan Van Gaal “was completely taken advantage of.”
Goldman insisted Burton did not seduce Laurel or Van Gaal, “Sexual relations can arise from mutual attraction,” he said.
However the member who is currently Burton’s lover spoke of originally turning Burton down “when he first approached me,” and added, “It is always up to the person he, Burton, is propositioning to say no.”
The Fellowship is no exception.
Members are taught that Burton is a higher being with understanding they do not have, said Mautz. “People in the Fellowship who aren’t close to Robert act around him the way your ordinary 14-year-old would act around Michael Jordan,” Mautz said.
Members nervous around leader
“They’re nervous. They fumble for words. It’s a totally uneven playing field.” Joel Friedlander, a former spokesman and board member for the Fellowship who resigned last year, agreed.
“One of the teachings of the Fellowship is that doubts come from the false part of yourself. That’s an effective control mechanism,” he said. Cynthia Hill, the Fellowship’s director of public relations, insisted that while members strive not to express negative emotions, any topic can be discussed as long as it’s in “a neutral tone of voice.”
And longtime member Colin Lambert said the Fellowship has a teacher-student relationship that is based on established spiritual tradition and is difficult for many Americans, schooled in democratic principles, to understand.
“We do not believe that a teacher has to explain himself to his students,” Lambert said. “But you voluntarily enter this relationship, and take responsibility.”
Such ideas support Burton’s continued leadership and lifestyle. But as Lambert acknowledged, only those who trust the teacher stay in the group. Those who don’t, leave.
Charles Randall, the Fellowship’s former business manager, left last October in the wake of Laurel’s letter.
After 21 years in the group, he said, he came to believe Burton was effectively manipulating the minds as well as the bodies of members through a self-serving philosophy.
“I’m kind of humiliated by the whole thing,” said Randall.
“I thought it was the one true way, but as it turns out, it was just a cult.” He’s among about 100 members who resigned or were expelled in the aftermath of Laurel’s letter, according to Mautz.
Departures create financial bind
The changes could put financial pressure on the group, Mautz said.“That’s a huge amount of money” to lose in the form of annual dues, he explained (most members give 10 percent of their income to the group).
In fact, the Fellowship is in default on most of its 1994 property taxes, and owes more than $415,000 in ‘94-’95 taxes, penalties and interest. The 1,300 acres owned by the group are valued at nearly $21 million, said a spokesman for the Yuba County assessor’s office.
Hill said the Fellowship will initiate a payment plan later this year to cover taxes in arrears. “This situation is not unusual for businesses,” she said. “As often occurs with young wineries in particular, cash-flow difficulties may arise as production and sales become equalized.”
Others say that whatever the group’s finances, Burton’s predictions of a catastrophic earthquake followed by nuclear holocaust could lead to a crisis down the road.
Friedlander said he doesn’t think the Fellowship’s doomsday scenario will lead that far. “But you can’t rule it out,” he said. “‘The Fellowship certainly has the idea of gathering the faithful for the coming holocaust, of creating a self-contained community, and believing that former members are out to get them.”
Randall believes the Fellowship will almost certainly endure, as it did after the lawsuit by Samuel Sanders. Burton is unlikely to destroy the vehicle that enables him to indulge his whims, Randall said. And as doubters leave and loyalists stay. he pointed out, the group becomes more cohesive than ever.
39/15/More refreshment needed?
CONNIVANCE
So, why aren’t we all jumping out? Well, many have built their lives around the fof. Until recently it was a very rich experience up here in the hills. Much of our lives here revolved around the arts, in one form or another, and for a musician, painter or actor to be able to actively pursue their passion, well, that is a little like the searchers I mentioned earlier finally finding a group. Those of us who aren’t ‘artists’ (not many of us are really that great, but there are many who are competent) had a lot to do going to all the concerts, watching the plays, building the amphitheater, building the vineyard, etc. All of this was done with the hopeful goal of ‘awakening’ — that it was possible to have a rich life yet still achieve a spiritual goal. There were lots of other reasons for all we did, mostly added on by an Armageddon type of prophecy from the leader. As many took it seriously as didn’t just so you don’t think we’re all loopy. :)
Finally, a further reason why many hesitate to leave is because for a long time there has been a requirement of sorts (taken seriously by many) to not have contact with those who leave. This was not an invention of the fof — it was a requirement in Gurdjieff’s group. It had a purpose, and many (most?) of the current and former members now think it is no longer useful. This is yet another reason why the exodus is quite large now.
121/15/David
FRAUD
When I entered the fof I was in many ways a damaged person and running away from that. Damaged by….who knows…an incomplete essence….basic stupidity…some really bad crap from childhood…not being able to deal with it….attracting situations that reflected that bad crap which could help me. It helped me to come to a rejection of the horridness of the ‘leader’ …the ‘teacher’ and the thinking that was pervasive. For me, it was a way into first escaping, and then addressing some (some) of that bad crap.
After I left the fof I was so ashamed of ever being associated with a group such as that. And, I moved to Oregon where the criminal group of Rashnish had been located who actually tried to poison neighbors at a salad bar. Gross. Horrible. In spades.
That shame stayed with me for a year, then two then …..then…..then…. Now it has been 22 years since I left and the shame had become like background muzak and I never even noticed it – just didn’t “”””””share””””””” any of my life before moving here and being a ‘good person’. I was born just 17 and 1/2 years ago (hahahahahaha)
I wanted SO MUCH to be a ‘normal person’ (meaning I wanted to **feel** normal and good inside) and I have spent so much energy and time with it. That meant denying my real deep interests in these ideas and most of all, these folks —-this community. When I got connected with the noble Sheik’s blog – about two months ago – things started to unloose in me and frozen parts started to thaw. And, funny thing, it has been the ‘normal people’ like you both and all the wonderful breathing folks in my life who have shown me deep compassion. It is partly thru your accepting words that that I am able to start to not be ashamed of my life and of ever being in the fof. Thank you so much!
258/15/Ka
Sexual Harassment, Hostile-environment sexual harassment, Quid pro quo sexual Harassment, Sexual Predator, Intentional Infliction of Emotional Distress, False Pretenses, Misdescription, Connivance, Fraud, Blackmail
I’m putting an excerpt from Zanymystic’s description of his life in the Fellowship of Friends, taken from his website. It is taken out of context; visit the link Tim Campion gave for the whole story, which I personally find rather remarkable.
http://zanymystic.tripod.com/id11.html
—Ames
______________________________________________
Life at “the Ranch” was a constant wonderland. One might go from pulling weeds to peeling carrots, to dressing in suit and tie to dine in the most magnificent room in California, the “Meissen Room”. Of course, that was over 27 years ago, and I suspect these descriptions are long outdated. Robert was truly “King” of this Empire, and everyone emulated his “self-effacing, humble walk”.
Tall, broad shouldered, he carried himself as if he was but a lowly servant, slightly hunched down with a peasant’s shuffle. Of course, he wore silk suits and magnificent rings, not unlike Liberace, but a tad more elegant and “discreet” about his obvious penchant for the Divine Feminine. His Queen was safely tucked away inside, for private consumption only. With student donations pouring in, and “special donations” ranging from $400.00 and up, the man raked it in. By now, he must be a billionaire several times over.
A day later, I was told “the Teacher wants to see you at the Lincoln Lodge”. Somewhat excited, yet apprehensive, I sat next to him in an overstuffed chair. He told me that my architect friend had asked if it was okay to have sex with another male and had spilled his guts. Bad idea. We were both given “the task” of not ever having sex with other males. Robert said, with a sweeping gesture in the air, “Can’t you see… there’s so much more…” and that was that. You didn’t argue with the Teacher. Period. Depressed, I felt that the school was be-coming “too restrictive”. Slowly, like a society that is being modified and controlled, it goes largely unnoticed – until it’s too late. I felt the school was turning into, or already was, a cult. I couldn’t see why being homosexual should limit my spiritual advancement. Not only that, I was one horny male, after years of celibacy. I told Randolph that I was going to leave. He hated to see me go, but understood completely. We embraced and said goodbye. It seemed “logical” to make my escape to San Francisco, a doomed failure and raging alcoholic.
Dealing with leaving a school, believing one is basically doomed, is a dark shadow from which to emerge. Many other students either left at that time, or were asked to leave, especially if they “knew too much”.
My good friends, Stella and Harold, who had opened a center in Amsterdam, were asked to leave, having disobeyed the “no smoking” rule. Several years later I got in touch with Stella, and the truth came out.
Robert had been blackmailing the straight male students, and their underage boys, into having sex with him. They were told point blank if they didn’t comply, they’d be out of the school. This had been going on from the beginning. Robert’s “inner circle” had nothing to do with level of consciousness. It had to do with who could do his bidding and keep their mouths shut. Those were the ones who ended up in “special positions” either traveling with him, sitting next to him at enormous meetings, or taking on “executive duties”.
One fellow was used as his “boy toy”, which left indelible scars. He worked through it to eventually become a well–known artist. Those at the top seemed a bunch of arrogant scoundrels. One of the men who sat in front was a Doctor, who I bumped into at the San Francisco baths one night. He cringed and left upon seeing me. I was delighted to have left the school on my own terms, having taken what I needed. “Life is a banquet, and most poor suckers are starving to death!” says Auntie Mame.
Stella, in the meantime, began a support group assisting those who left or were asked to leave. Many folks were suicidal. I joined the group, and more sordid details of Robert’s sexual machinations were revealed, including a class action lawsuit that ended up settling “out of court”.
_____________________________________________
276/15/Ames
Fraud, Discrimination, False pretenses, Fraudulent misrepresentation, Favortism
Which could be one reason I languished in the outer circle. Of course, other reasons might be the Lower Self, the King of Clubs, lack of valuation, poor householder, believing the ‘I’s, negative attitude, lack of refinement, lack of effort, using the wrong triad, wrong thinking, lack of being, lack of understanding, and basically just wrong everything. Bad, wrong, negative, weak, and so on.
285/15/2B
Fraud, Wrongful Discharge, Negligent Infliction of Emotional Distress, Discrimination
I never met “the teacher” but did see him on stage with Stella at a large meeting at a Masonic Hall in San Francisco. And, I believe to this day that it was the original students and their influence that created the school and “the teacher”. His stuff I have since found out (unverified) was a lie.
I believe in the 4th Way reading material it states plainly that lying to “the teacher” is not good. Well, “the teacher” lying to the students is not good either.
I got the boot from FOF by a double lie. I didn’t spend a quarter century in it, but I did spend a quarter century in a mental state of unrest because of being booted.
When I first went “on-line” I searched for Gurdjieff and began finding “awful stuff” about FOF. I even went to the Stella Wirk site and saw a picture of her in her death bed. I couldn’t believe what I was seeing and reading.
Then I found this blog in March or April and began reading with my mouth open. Jesus, did G. Haven do me a favor or not?
338/15/Arthur
Fraud, Negligent Misrepresentation (FoF), Connivance (?)
I am still a Fellowship member. Even though I am sick of the sequences and Robert’s criminal activity, of dysfunctional, delusional folks, alcoholics, “high society princesses” etc. – it is hard to leave now because:
1. my friends are my family, and the only family (I left my real family for the school many years ago)
2. I am a bankrupt ( due to practicing of “being in the moment” and going to the Robert’s events on my credit cards) and can not rent an apartment “in life” because they check your credit history.
3. I abandoned my career to move to Isis “to build the School” and I can’t find a reasonable job in the area – I don’t want to work in Starbucks in Marysville. I don’t fit with Marysville people…
4. I have a nostalgic feelings for Apollo d’Oro, when people could have a great time there – laugh, love and be in essence… plus
5. I feel responsible for people I love and care for – how can I leave them in this situation…
351/15/Somebody
Connivance, ‘Joint Negligence’
I´m learning how to be present more and more, and that is because I have a Teacher, that exist only for to help to wake up his students.
many of you are confusing many Ideas,
the work is simple, to try to be present one and another time, be carefull and don´t get lost with complicating and confusing to the people who is starting to learn.
If you does not want to make this work, why you dont move to the next thing?
Move to where you consider there is some oportunity to evolve “do something” instead to spend all your time in criticism, judge, expresing negative emotions,
Look for a school that you think is the right, and start to work.
352/15/Simple Truth
Fraud, False Pretenses, Misdescription
The single greatest force RB utilized whilst creating the fof was synchronicity. A force that, according to Dr. Carl Jung, Dr. Alice Miller, Dr. M. Scott Peck and Dr. Jean Shinoda Bolen, increases proportionally in frequency and depth according to a person’s desire to risk exploring the truth about their life and the relationships/people who influenced their becoming who they are.
388/15/Shaman
Fraud, Tax Fraud, Collusion (Possible application to Hearsay)
Rumored word has it from inside sources that several individuals close to Robert Burton get very high salaries (somewhere in the neighborhood of $30,000 – $50.000 a year, in monthly increments). This money is not kept by the individual, but is cashed, and the cash given to Robert Burton for his use.
The taxes , on this amount ,are then paid for by the Fellowship of Friends on the individuals behalf (so they do not incur any added expenses for their increase in income).
This is another method that re-directs money (made through teaching payments, or events) to Roberts pocket.
Of course, Robert makes good use of it, by, in turn paying young men who perform for him.
396/15/Howeird Carter
Fraud, Desecration
Founder: Robert Earl Burton
History: Founded as a non-profit church in 1971 by a former elementary school teacher and S.J. State alum, FoF members believe their leader is “an angel in a man’s body,” whose spiritual authority is trumped only by Jesus Christ. Followers also believe that Burton has the ability to speak with up to 44 other angels, including Benjamin Franklin. Burton is renowned for his strange rules (no swimming, smoking or jokes are allowed – and homosexuality was banned until 1993, despite Burton’s allegedly renowned appetite for men) and even stranger predictions (though he was wrong about predicting a 1998 earthquake that would destroy California, he sticks by his claim that a nuclear holocaust will ruin the earth in ’06 and only FoF members will be spared). More than 600 FoF members live on their infamous Y. County vineyard known as Apollo, where they produce up to 40,000 cases of wine per year under the R.V.W vineyard and Emery labels. Their award-winning wine is so respected in the industry that it has been served to the P. of Wales, former president G.H.W.B, at one of R.R’s birthday parties, and the Ritz-Carlton in S.F. sells the RVW Cabernet 1996 for $10 a glass.
Sex scandal: Though the church is more noted for tax evasion (they’re currently paying off more than $2 million in back taxes), the FoF was slapped with a $5 million lawsuit in 1996 by a former member who claimed he was brainwashed and sexually abused by Burton. The suit stated the church was a front for Burton’s “voracious appetite for perverted sexual pleasure and elegant lifestyle.” The case was settled out of court for an undisclosed amount.
400/15/Newspaper Article
Connivance, Collusion
For along time I thought that those who chose to remain in the school were simply misguided, wasting time and in denial about being complicit in something verging on the criminal. It seems that it may be much worse than that. I have been struck by how closed, furtive and disturbed a number of the older members (the major zealots and enablers) seem when I have encountered them out in public. These people are indeed struggling against conscience and it occurred to me recently that they were in danger of losing all possibilities for spiritual growth and development. It was a chilling perception and I felt a moment of genuine concern. How ironic when that is the very fate the Fellowship claims to befall those who find their way out of the madness.
405/15/Vena
Discrimination, Favoritism, Fraud
The play was such that I ended up becoming involved with one of Robert’s boys. Only then did the Teacher take center stage in my personal theater, and I was appalled at what I saw. This coincidentally happened at the same time as the Troy scandal, so I was outta there pretty fast.
441/15/Laura
Fraud, Tax Fraud, Collusion, Civil Wrong
“Rumored word has it from inside sources that several individuals close to Robert Burton get very high salaries (somewhere in the neighborhood of $30,000 – $50.000 a year, in monthly increments). This money is not kept by the individual, but is cashed, and the cash given to Robert Burton for his use.”
As I recall, this procedure has been happening for over 25 years to varying degrees of currency amount. Also, cash collected in European centers was often held until RB’s visits, so he would have spending money for his “ministerial duties”, such as buying mink fur-lined raincoats, gaudy trinkets, etc. I’m sure some of the former members who ran the financial & accounting part of FOF and were the center directors could elaborate further.
I remember years ago, when the collection of Meissen dish ware was being “sold” to various centers, where students had to cover to the cost, a cheeky Irish student asked RB if he thought it odd that students were asked to pay for something they had already paid for. I believe the answer was a simple “no.”
458/15/Dick Moron
Misrepresentation, Fraud
A teacher who creates a cult of personality has lost his way, and is no fit guide, is in fact the most danger to your internal work that you can have the misfortune to encounter. Any person who claims he is a necessary intermediary between you and your divine Self is a mere priest, a fraud and a thief.
459/15/Ames Gilbert
Collusion, Connivance
Looking beyond the current vintage, Beinstock says, “Our vision at Renaissance is to be amongst the leaders in the California wine world for wines that are truly uniquely expressive of their terroir. That is what I am proud of.”
“There is an endless amount of fine tuning to bring more balance and expression of the terroir,” says Beinstock, and he and fellow wine makers in the appellation appear up to the task.
==========================
Meanwhile, there’s no mention whatsover of the elephant in the room.
461/15/More Propaganda
Joint Negligence, Wrongful Discharge, Negligent infliction of emotional distress, Fraud, Malconduct in office, False Pretenses, Violation of Fiduciary Duty
For money you can always go back in. That’s the key to the door—money.
I needed something to push me not out but in. An incident happened Mr. Haven called me for a meeting and gave me 24 hours to leave. I didn’t because I had to make arrangements.
The push came and it was out. But, he did say for $2,500.00 I could have another meeting.
The next day the phone rang and it was Mr. Haven. I answered the phone because I was the only one in the house.
He said, “are you still here” and he chuckled.
I finally had everything prepared and had Ameila drive me in a borrowed Volkswagen to the Greyhound bus station.
468/15/Arthur
Fraud, Misappropriation of Funds, Falsity, Discrimination, Favoritism
If I had had a hint in these and directions, I would not have joined. I would not have lived a lie for so long….this hurts…to instead of supporting a spiritual community working towards consciousness, conscience, I supported a man to gratify his lusts. So many lies Prospect students are recruited. Young men’s pictures taken and send to Robert with or without measurements. That is what I want to stop, stop, stop and I feel powerless and again angry at myself…
Yes I am still angry, now I think of it…of many more things, the way women and men were treated in the fellowship. Elena was right that women were treated like second rate citizen. How we were exploited and our money taken from us in the name of building a civilization ( Where? in the bedroom). For the children who were often second or third choice and will never feel like they were worth the love of their parents. The parents were busy, surviving, working to make ends meet, ooo I can go on, but I will stop.
473/15/Another Name
Fraud, Collusion, Connivance, Desecration
There should be nothing to hide in a conscious school. A fourth way conscious school, should have been able to make all the effort of its participants return to them with creativity, solidarity and great love and it made of us nothing but people to be discarded, people willing to discard each other with the motto that IT IS ROBERT´S SCHOOL, my husband’s favorite sentence. That is why it is so difficult to leave, because we were indoctrinated to feel that we were discard-able, that if we lost the fellowship and stood on our own, we were not good enough, that we failed because we did not become conscious, because Robert did not give us a diploma of recognition, that nothing that we did was worth more than a grain of insignificant sand in Robert´s golden beach.
I struggle every day with the Is that think I am not good enough and am much tempted to try banning myself from the planet as I did before I joined the fellowship but I also struggle every day to make an effort that will connect me with the rest of a world that I can appreciate in its simple generosities. What is wonderful about not being in the fellowship, is not having to pay anyone for the right to not participate and realize that participation is free. Free to work, free to be, free to fight, free to die, free to suffer and acknowledge how far we are from being human or conscious beings and still feel the beauty of the sunset.
I am glad a few people are still thinking of suing because the fellowship is a FRAUD and there is no legitimate reason for it to continue.
There is nothing legitimate in sexual and economic abuse of people. If it goes down because of the taxes, may that level of matter stand up for the rest of us and those lucky ones that will not have to go through it for any number of years.
What you are asking from the rest of us, is the freedom to continue exploiting people emotionally, intellectually, sexually and economically and you cannot have that. NO, you cannot have that. You´ve already exploited too much of that from us but WE ARE STILL HERE at just the right distance from your power. The few of you that have enough money to support the game at nobody else´s cost can go and play where ever you like, run, but as long as it is at any one´s cost you are sick and corrupt inhuman beings and it is at your cost as long as you are paying for Robert to stand above your own being.
495/15/Elena
FRAUD
No one is seeking perfection…but let’s have a look at “verification”.
If you indeed went to the Ouspensky Office and asked to look at the books, and if indeed you were shown them, and if indeed you have at least done Accounting 101 at college and know what double entry book-keeping means, and were given and took the time to sit down with a calculator and check the arithmetic—I’d be very surprised.
If you then took the next step and looked at all the bank records, income statements, cash flow reports, credit card expenses of both the FoF and the vineyard/winery, and did your own trial balances to check, I’d be even more surprised.
If you did all this with a forensic accountant at your side, someone with the knowledge and authority to look at true copies of wage stubs, interview the FoF accountants and recipients of those wages separately, look at the bank account, credit card accounts, tax returns and financial activities of those receiving wages (including Burton) from both organizations, and then look through all the hard drives, backups through the years, searching specifically for evidence of a second set of books, then I’d agree you are on the road to verification.
If you continued and explored the financial connections of the companies that are “privatized” spin-offs from the two entities, such as Hans–Michael H’s marketing operation and the various others, with all their financial records (including loans and startup costs), reports and tax returns, together with the all relationships to Burton’s financial records including all bank accounts domestic and foreign—still under the guidance of the forensic accountant—then I would agree, you have verified the finances of the FoF.
If after all this, you could now look at the setup, both generally and specifically, of the FoF as a non–profit organization, at the FoF canons, and can tell me how Burton lives the lifestyle he does, spends as he does, and can still say with a straight face that the FoF is managed very efficiently, using standard financial terms such as “Rate of return on investment”, then we are indeed living in quite different realities here on the planet. I mean, $85 million or so input, assets $5 million at the most… But, I’m prepared to be surprised.
Look, here’s just one example. We know about Roger Greene’s estate, how he carefully and intentionally and in full generosity liquidated all his assets as his death approached in London. How he got together the quarter million dollars in cash. How he planned his gift, so the FoF could build a decent place to stay for visiting students. How he was led on, making plans for the building, playing “what ifs”, taking joy in the expectation that he was solving a practical problem, how he could express his love for his fellow students. How he made his farewells, how his son helped turn his wishes into reality at his death. How the cash was smuggled into the States against the law and brought to Renaissance—and how Burton spent most of it at the Toyota dealership on cars for the boys within two weeks, and the rest within the month. Do you know all this? Did you find out sleuthing through the books? Did the FoF CFO or Treasurer tell you?
508/15/Ames
Fraud, Desecration, False Pretenses, Collusion, Connivance, Violation of Fiduciary Duty, Breach of trust, Breach/Violation of contract, Misappropriation of Funds, Negligence
(Re-Posted for separate examination & a double take.)
Look, here’s just one example. We know about Roger Greene’s estate, how he carefully and intentionally and in full generosity liquidated all his assets as his death approached in London. How he got together the quarter million dollars in cash. How he planned his gift, so the FoF could build a decent place to stay for visiting students. How he was led on, making plans for the building, playing “what ifs”, taking joy in the expectation that he was solving a practical problem, how he could express his love for his fellow students. How he made his farewells, how his son helped turn his wishes into reality at his death. How the cash was smuggled into the States against the law and brought to Renaissance—and how Burton spent most of it at the Toyota dealership on cars for the boys within two weeks, and the rest within the month. Do you know all this? Did you find out sleuthing through the books? Did the FoF CFO or Treasurer tell you?
HERESAY *b
Since RVW has ceased being of interest to RB (soon after Karl W. death), and since it has been run by Gideon B, it is no longer a source of propaganda. If anything, RVW suffers from the negative publiciity FOF receives. It is run by a very small group of students, with very limited means and virtually no direct help (financial, volunteer or otherwise) from FOF. The vineyard has been considerably reduced in size to become more manageable and to allow specializing in the varietals that seem to do best locally. Student body no longer receives significant discounts and very few can afford the high prices that RVW has placed on its wines (by necessity), many of them very good. I have a lot of admiration for Gideon B. for what he is trying to accomplish, pretty much all by himself. Member of the inner circle, he certainly is not.
510/15/Opus 111
___________________
*b I am posting this because it may either be ‘hearsay’ or a Fellowship of Friends corruption of fact; being that the RVW vineyards are an intimate ‘part’ of ISIS (Robert Burton’s School); it is my opinion, any student or ‘person’ involved in harvesting from said ‘Burton area’, knowing the stories and facts contained in this ‘Res Ipsa Loquitur’ data and the Fellowship of Friends Blog at large, and continues to do so is in ‘spiritual collusion’ with Robert Burton, The Fellowship of Friends and all that it stands for, does and proceeding results of such actions.
End of Postings from Part 15
Love to you all.
Fraud, Intentional Infliction of Emotional Distress, False Pretenses
There is no justification under the sun for what Robert has done and continues to do to naive, young men and women who come with their hearts and minds open trying to find their truths.
5/14/Wake up little suzy wake up
Negligence per se ~ Breach of the Duty
“Renaissance Vineyard & Winery, has done “whatever it can to fill the cups of justice” for families of the victims.
No family members of the victims attended the plea hearing and sentencing, which was scheduled on short notice. ”
46/14/Bruce
Fraud
It is a crime for a human being to place himself in a position of a God and have another human being to be his subject. It is not a liberation, it is enslavement.
This puts all of of his “students”(subjects) in an inferior position (self-pity) out of which it is impossible to get out as long as one remains in this relationship of Student-Master.
It is very obvious after all these years many of us have experienced in the School that the Robert has no interest in our freedom. He is more interested in all the benefits he gets: sexual slaves, power, luxury, comfort, etc..
It is very easy to see the negative results of this corruption: the lack of common human
external consideration. A lot of students have given so much to Robert that they have no provided for they own basic needs.
Robert has no concern for this, however his personal desires and sick fantasies are fulfilled to extreme levels.
95/14/Normal Human Being
Fraud, Sexual Predator, Negligence, False Pretenses
Dear Howard Carter
I appreciate your postings. I like how you are keeping your line consistently and “in the kings”. I would sleep better if you were right and not the “rest of the blog”. All these “negative people”… But any time I think that for 38 years (and right now and will continue) RB is screwing the guys, my friends, damaging their essences, causing this never ending craze, FEAR. How he confuses them by lying to them, manipulating them, uses them and throws away – I can’t sleep anymore. I have a child and I don’t want anything bad to happen to him. I don’t want him to know about what is going on in this organization, were his mom belongs. I can hear the question of the child: “Why is Robert having sex with all these men?”
So, WHY? They don’t want it. They hate it. But they do it. Tonight is someone’s “visit time” after the dinner. And tomorrow. Can anyone, anything STOP THIS CRIME???
108/14/Confused
Fraud, Misdescription, Falsity, Fraudulent Misrepresentation
That is fine, but has nothing to do with the Fourth Way, which demands that you verify everything for yourself. You yourself have abandoned the Fourth Way and taken up the way of religion, which requires faith in the priest class. Good for you, but don’t pretend otherwise. In your Church of Robert Burton, the high priest has explicitly claimed that he is vital to your future spiritual welfare, and that any progress is due to his intercession. And it is noticeable that the self–appointed intermediaries do quite well for themselves in this lifetime, accumulating power, authority and often (and especially in the case of Burton) wealth. Why not, it’s a good gig, if you’re into that.
I have not verified that there are future lifetimes, so to put any energy at all into that idea, to alter my present life one jot to accommodate such a possibility, especially as some kind of spiritual ‘insurance policy’, as you and your co-religionists do, is completely wrong work for me, not to mention a waste of my time, the only capital I truly have. I studied the Fourth Way precisely because I could not make all the ‘leaps of faith’ required by the ordinary religions. You did not; from the beginning you must have mistaken the Fourth Way for some kind of new religion, because otherwise a simple comparison with your aims when you joined and the aims you have now would show you that you have deviated so much that you are now traveling in exactly the opposite direction.
126/14/Ames Gilbert
Fraud, Misdescription, Falsity, Fraudulent Misrepresentation
Burton is restricting your freedom in every direction; you may be happy with that, you may enjoy having your life managed, but the extra will you imagined might be possible (in a previous post) will remain out of reach, and also all the territory beyond the fence Burton has created for you. Above all, it places you in the peculiar situation where you simultaneously work very hard, yet are easily satisfied. You work in areas determined important by Burton, at things determined by Burton, for as long as Burton wants. At the same time, because whatever efforts you make are never enough in this lifetime (Burton says you’ll need the next lifetime or more to achieve your aims), you remain satisfied that the direction and amount of your efforts are enough to get you to the next lifetime, and even, and this is important, Howard, that these “efforts” are necessary at all.
126/14/Ames Gilbert
Fraud
On the other hand, he says some things which I cannot follow without becoming identified and losing hope. This is a problem, because I feel like I am going against him if I disagree with him. Furthermore, I feel like I am doing something wrong if I exist for myself rather than for him.
I want more to exist for what I know is right, rather than for a man. But that possibility is not a guarantee. I want to serve higher forces, to be sure, but it cannot always be on the basis of what someone else has told me. This sounds childish as I write it, but it will become large in the coming years. Eventually I have to exist on my own understanding of right and wrong.
I can see the effect of not doing so. It is eating me up, literally. If I compare my state now with the one I experienced before I inner-considered Robert, it is obvious that it is much worse now. Interesting that I wrote inner-considering so lightly. That is exactly what it was.
Is it right to look up to someone? I am beginning to think not. I think a person should only look up to God and not to any other man. Certainly it is not incorrect to admire greatness, but how so? It is very harmful to believe someone simply because he says something.
What do higher forces want from me is the question. And what do I want from myself. What I want from myself is to not live any lies — of any kind. I appreciate everything Robert has done, but somehow I feel he wants something from me — like he wants me to like, respect, or adore him. Rather, my ‘I’s want me to place him above me, to limit myself somehow. They want to exist for him, rather than for myself.
It must return to this my friend. You are born to this planet. You live among people. You try your hardest to determine what is right. You cannot know what is true about another person. It is blatantly obvious that the school is a real school, blatantly. This much you can know.
But you must pose this question to yourself. Can you expect to evolve and hold on to inner-considering, or, in other words, can you evolve if you compromise yourself based on what you experience being the reality that other people experience. You must live in the reality that you feel is closest to reality, even if this means not being understood.
128/14/From Rourke’s Journal
Fraud, Sexual Predator
There have been real schools that taught the use of physical sex in spiritual development. The Fellowship of Friends is not one. Robert Burton is not only addicted to the physical act of sexually violating read Raping his students but the negative emotional energy and shame that accompanies such an activity. Robert knows little about healthy sex and this which should be at the core of a real teaching is proof of his failure to achieve the consciousness he claims.
144/14/A Former Student
Undue Influence, Invasion of Privacy, Connivance, Collusion
To ask Howard Carter
Siddiq…and
GOlb (if they are truly
current students)
to discontinue posting to the blog.
Since my many efforts to find who they were had failed,
using the Shiek as a private go-between off the blog
itself, was the next step…….until seeing my name today….
My thoughts are these:
Dear Howard, Siddiq, and GOlb:
Please consider not participating in the blog….
Paraphrased:
Rodney Collin said that giving knowledge and attention
to issues esoteric, when someone is not asking for them,
violates the principles of esoteric transmission.
Robert has asked not to have discussion amongst
ourselves, about students who have left…This helps
to “leave their space clean.”
Robert has also asked that we avoid “unnecessary”
association with friends who have chosen to leave.
So, if you would consider that no one has been officially
asked to participate on the blog except probably the
legal people, and that considerable energy has gone
from you, into the blog that is confrontational and
provocative, maybe…. could you find it beneficial
to stand down?
Also, from the view that the blog may offer a doorway
to a place of peace and healing for pain and suffering
that you may consider real or imaginary, this is their
process, not yours. Give them their space. Generally,
people consult with those they trust before
making big decisions. If there were any confusions,
misgivings, or questions….they usually ask before
making choices……please consider “Hafiz, step
aside…It is you who are in the way.”
Also……Howard, Siddiq, and GOlb,
If you feel that the blog is a neutral space for discourse,
you may be naive…..
in addition to offering a doorway to peace and healing, it also
seems to offer another doorway to a “War Room” where
sincere and heartfelt plans for action are being made.
This truly being my first and last post……
229/14/N. Spaulding
Fraud
If a sufficient number complain to the government agencies like the office of the state attorney general or the United States atone for the Northern Ca. region then there can be a criminal investigation. If there is sufficient cause for an indictment and a trail then that material becomes available for a civil suit.
What grounds. Fraud, making false representations, violations of immigration laws, soliciting prostitution, embezzlement of funds, Falsifying financial records, conspiracy to defraud, make the whole board of directors libel.
The Fellowship is even a school of relative awakening. Robert Burton if he crystallized at all is a hasnamuss individual. The Fellowship still has devoted “students” whose whole life is centered on the belief in the divine consciousness of Robert Burton.
236/14/A former student
Collusion, Fraud
Saw Asaf in YC… Got me thinking…
What does that nice, talented & sincere young man tell his mother and father about his life? What a quantity of deception must be necessary. Asaf is not much older than my own son. What a terrible grief I would feel if Asaf’s play were his, and I lost my son to Robert, in the way that Asaf’s family must have lost him. What indescribably rage I would feel towards Robert, if my son were used as Asaf is used by Robert. Involvement with Robert necessarily separates parents and child: the need for lies and disconnection is absolute. Robert deliberately usurps the parental role, explicitly denigrates familial relations, engages his “boys” in a corrupting lifestyle that burdens them with the need for secrecy and falseness, effectively separating them from all, excepting those in the same predicament. What a f**king sad mad pathetic tragedy is going on here, embodied for me in the sight of that nice young man, Asaf.
I feel outraged now for all the parents that are “bereaved” of their sons…every boy that Robert consumes is somebody’s dear son — subject to debasement, emasculation, degradation, and other subtler psychic damage.
Those young men believe they do not need help – reminiscent of the syndrome in which victims eventually willingly collude with and protect their abusers – but their resistance only increases the pathos.
I wish I had known more, earlier. Would have left much earlier had the “school” maintained the proper transparency. Perhaps – like so many – I am guilty of intentional ignorance.
270/14/Parent
Sexual Predator, Fraud, Sexual Harassment, Violation of Fiduciary Duty, Fraudulent Misrepresentation, Intentional infliction of Emotional Distress, Negligent Infliction of Emotional Distress, Joint Negligence (Robert and Dorian)
Hello Nicholas ~
You wrote ~
“If there were any confusions,
misgivings, or questions….they usually ask before
making choices……please consider “Hafiz, step
aside…It is you who are in the way.”
___________________
It’s very emotional for me to have started reading your first few paragraphs, then a profound shock at the end; I want to share this ’shock’ with you, because I think it will be useful, similar to my ‘Rumi post’ some days ago.
The Hafiz quote you quoted ~
That is the very exact quote Robert Burton used on a young man after he said ‘no’ to Robert’s wish to sodomize him.
He said, “Feelings? No, those are not yours; Hafiz said, ”
step aside (let me sodomize you)..It’s you Hafiz who are in the way.”
We are all saints and beggars in our disclosure of words.
309/14/Unoanimo
Collusion, Connivance, Joint Negligence, Fraud
∞ Sounds nice. But when I asked hard questions of “older students”, I was lied to by commission or omission, judged, reported to Burton, or given yet another ‘official angle’ that discouraged valid exploration and encouraged alignment with the institution—that is, sleep. This is useless or actively harmful for a genuine truth–seeker. Like KA, I wish I’d had something like this blog to consult.
The Hafiz quote is out of context. The FoF appears to specialize in quotes taken out of their original context, and put in a new context to suit official purposes; and, almost all are taken from dead authors who are not around to protest their misuse. In #14-306, Unoanimo gives a truly hideous example of this. The best interpretation I can put on this subject is that deliberate misuse is tantamount to a lie, and in Unianimo’s example, is high crime.
316/14/Ames Gilbert
DESECRATION
The intentional misuse of b-influence quotes to further one’s perversions…high crime as you say, Ames….sure feels like a ‘spiritual crime’ to me…yup, offending the spirit(s) of the quote…using it to abuse and manipulate someone in such a vulnerable state, your young ‘student’ follower (for goodness sake!) is a total desecration of the intent behind the poem!
By supporting the organization of the Fellowship of Friends, members are complicit in this play of crime. You pay, you play. There’s no middle ground, I am sorry to say.
You guys…its kinda like paying for an insane insurance policy that’s on acid…and the twisted nightmare is that you end up in servitude to freakin’ insurance agent…even having to pay to see or talk with him after you’ve signed your whole damn life off to him…and the trip just gets weirder and weirder…and you keep working harder and harder and paying more and more in hopes of building up some kind of credit in the ‘afterlife’ each time the light bulb of presence goes off in your head??? Which you realize way into it that it is a great deal for Robert, because he doesn’t have to pay out your policy until after you are dead…when you presumably…hook up with him or something?…in some other ‘limbo’ plane to get your credits?…or maybe he’s going to be there to vouch for you or something…but that’s starting to seem a little suspect since c-influence doesn’t appear to have a very high regard for him…cuz they kept showing him all those wrong ‘signs’ about everything…and you are really not sure one way or the other what’s going to happen in the end until it happens…
Well, sounds fishy to me…still does after 22 years.
322/14/Whalerider
Tax Fraud, Fraud, Violation of Fiduciary Duty
I think the majority of posters ‘in or out’ feel the FOF is a church based ‘loosely’ upon fourth way ideas. Those ‘in’ have to make the church argument to preserve the IRS non-profit status. Churches are for religions, are they not? Those who resent the direction that the FOF has taken over the years also claim it is now a religion, not a fourth way school, based on the definitions of the fourth way authors. So nobody is “deciding” anything here.
The issue is: there are no viable checks and balances in the FOF organization for Robert’s ‘activities’ because of fear of being excommunicated. Robert believes his ‘celestial’ morality trumps civilized society’s mundane morality; that is unethical, and in the case of sex with minors, unlawful. I don’t believe Robert is entitled to make such a distinction using the buffer (and lie) ‘‘the lower cannot see the higher’, no matter how exalted he claims to be.
351/14/Whalerider
Conspiracy to Defraud, Fraud, Negligent Misrepresentation, Misapplication of Funds, Misappropriation, Official misconduct, Corruption in Office, Collusion, Connivance, Desecration, False-association claim, Fraudulent Misrepresentation, False Impersonation, Contractual Fault, Violation of Fiduciary Duty, Breach of Trust.
It may not be easy but I will tell you rather than feeling bad, taking action against an injustice feels great. Its can be hard, take time and commitment and can leave you open to reprisals but not acting is worse. The best action those who are displeased with Robert Burton’s corruption, venality and arrogant abuse of his position is to take legal action. This does not need to be a lawsuit but can be in the form of complaints to the state and federal attorney’s as well as the IRS.
-Robert Burton is a criminal and those who support him are part of a criminal conspiracy to defraud. It might be possible for a federal prosecutor to use legislation designed for organized crime to investigate and prosecute an interstate conspiracy to defraud. If the Fellowship has not informed all prospective and present students of the Canons it is fraud. Advertising as a 4th way school and operating as a religion is fraud. Not revealing the true cost of membership is also fraud. Members should be able to make the minimum donations and have full rights other wise it is extortion. Members should be able to vote on the board members and major decisions. There should be a yearly report with a full and accurate accounting of all funds donated to the fellowship. There should be no separate funds available to Robert Burton. This is illegal.
To not seek legal action for the reasons you state is wrong. It indicates a lack of character a lack of conscience. These are characteristic of a Fellowship member. It is a form of institutionalization. Obviously leaving the Fellowship is not sufficient to free oneself from the programming.
354/14/A Former Student
COLLUSION & CONNIVANCE
If anyone really loved their Teacher they would have the courage to face him and say that his behavior is not acceptable.
354/14/A Former Student
Violation of Fiduciary Duty, Fraud, Intensional Infliction of Emotional Distress, Fraudulent Misrepresentation
Here is what Gurdjieff has to say about black magic:
“Black magic may be quite altruistic, may strive after the good of humanity or after the salvation of humanity from real or imaginary evils. But what can be called black magic has always one definite characteristic. This characteristic is the tendency to use people for some, even the best of aims, without their knowledge and understanding, either by producing in them faith and infatuation or by acting upon them through fear. ”
Here is what Gurdjieff has to say about a Hasnamus:
“One of the first things about a ‘Hasnamuss’ is that he never hesitates to sacrifice people or to create an enormous amount of suffering, just for his own personal ambitions. How a ‘Hasnamuss’ is created is another question. It begins with formatory thinking, with being a tramp and a lunatic at the same time. Another definition of a ‘Hasnamuss’ is that he is crystallized in the wrong hydrogens.”
359/14/Bass Ackwards
DESECRATION, Intentional Infliction of Emotional Distress
#359 ‘So a real guru will encourage you to discover your own Conscience and will never estrange you from it.’
I have repeated it here because I think it is the key to understanding what is missing in the Fellowship under the direction of Mr. Burton, et al.
361/14/Wake up little suzy wake up
Sexual Predator, Desecration, Negligence, Fraud
Robert has to have sex with people and tell them he’s an angel at that moment to crystallize the thought in them. Then the victim is faced with a choice: believe that Robert is an angel or face the stark reality that they have been manipulated as a dehumanized object into fulfilling Robert’s perversions and satyriasis. Which would you chose?
So from one idiot to another…this is what I would have wanted someone to tell me back when I was lined up at Robert’s door.
363/14/Whalerider
Negligent Infliction of Emotional Distress, Fraud
I stopped believing in the dream of anybody’s “permanent consciousness” long, long ago. I stayed for emotional and instinctive bonds, just as did many others. I didn’t join for a guru; I didn’t leave because of the guru (though he certainly helped!) – I left because my life in the FoF stifled me to the point of withering away to almost nothing, and my own hypocrisy in my silence about my perceptions of RB finally became too painful.
368/14/Sharon
Fraudulent Misrepresentation, Material Misrepresentation, Conspiracy to Defraud, Misdescription, ‘Wiseacring-Apollinaire’
Robert has pointed out that the task of our school is to gather all the expressions of the system historically, and that we have now come to the earliest expressions of the system in prehistoric times, before Egypt. He requested that the following message with accompanying images and quotations be sent to the School:
Although the prehistoric school did not use written language to transmit their knowledge, we can understand their images with the help of the writings of other traditions. In particular, our understanding of the Egyptian School is now serving as a bridge to help us understand the Prehistoric Tradition, as pre-dynastic Egypt is essentially the end of the Prehistoric Tradition. Below are three examples of Prehistoric images with accompanying quotes that help explain their keys:
369/14/Purchasing Awakening
Collusion, Connivance
The Fellowship is organized, unified under the command of RB, while those that in many cases bitterly oppose what is happening in the FoF are divided individually into their own subjective sense of reality that precludes the possibility of making any practical efforts to take responsibility for their convictions. Having dinner parties does not diminish the criminal activity of the FoF. Talking and complaining does not hurt the FoF, the marginal members might be drained off at first but then the hardcore Burton followers will become even more resolute and even more active at increasing their numbers through the seduction of new recruits from all over the world.
374/14/Graduates
Desecration, Collusion, Connivance
There is no conscience in a play of crime. All who support the criminal Burton are criminals. All those who earn a living off the Fellowship are vampires sucking the life force out of genuine seekers. The real crime of the Fellowship is the harvesting and abuse of magnetic centers.
Sure that’s one way to defend the Fellowship’s Criminal activities this apologist turns the tables so that victims who speak up become perpetrators on the poor innocents who might suffer.
391/14/A Former Student
SPECIFICATION (Fourth Way) *c
Gurdjieff on the First Initiation (and the real principle of payment):
You will see that in life you get back exactly what you put in. Your life is the mirror of what you are, it is your image. You are passive, blind, demanding. You take all, you accept all, without ever feeling indebted. Your attitude towards the world and towards life is the attitude of one who has the right to demand and take. Of one who doesn’t need to pay or gain. You believe that all things are due to you, only because it’s you! All your blindness is there. It doesn’t catch your attention. It is however what, in you, separates one world from another.
You have no measure to measure yourself with. You live only between ‘I like it’ and ‘I don’t like it’. Which means that you have appreciation only for yourself. You do not allow for anything above you – theoretically or logically maybe, but not in reality. This is why you are demanding and keep on thinking that everything should be cheap, and you can afford to pay for anything you want. You don’t recognize anything above yourself, or outside yourself or inside yourself. This is why, I repeat, you have no measure and live only to satisfy your whims.
Yes, your ’self appreciation’ makes you blind! It is the biggest obstacle to a new life. One has to be able to pass this obstacle, this threshold, before one can go further. It is the test that separates the ‘chaff’ from the ‘wheat’ in people. No matter how intelligent, how endowed, how brilliant a man is, if he doesn’t change his opinion about himself, he will be lost for inner development, for the work based on self-knowledge, for a real evolution. He will stay as he is all his life.
The first demand, the first condition, the first test for he who wants to work on himself is to change his appreciation of himself. He cannot just imagine, or simply believe or think, but actually see things in himself that he did not see before, really see them. Never will his opinion about himself change as long as he will not see inside himself. And in order to see, he has to learn to see: it is the first initiation of man into self-knowledge.
Before anything else, he has to know what to look for. Once he knows it, he has to make efforts, focus his attention, look constantly, with tenacity. By maintaining his attention on it, by not forgetting about looking, one day he may see. If he sees once, he can see a second time, and if this is repeated he cannot ignore seeing. This is the state to look for in our observation; it is from this that the true desire, the desire to evolve, will be born; from cold we’re becoming hot, vibrating; we will be deeply touched by our reality.
Today we have only the illusion of what we are. We overestimate ourselves. We do not respect ourselves. To respect myself, I have to have recognized in me a part which is higher than the other parts, and to which I show respect by the attitude I have towards it. In this way I will respect myself. And my relationships with others will be ruled by the same respect.
We have to understand that all other measuring units, talent, erudition, culture, genius, are changing units, units of detail. The only true measure, never changing, objective, the only real one, it is the measure of inner vision. ‘I’ see – ‘I’ see myself – and you have measured. With a higher, real part, you have measured a lower one, also real. And this measure, defining by itself the respective roles of each part, will bring you to self-respect. But you will find it is not easy. And it is not a bargain. One has to pay a lot. For the bad payers, the lazy, the losers, no chance. One must pay, pay a lot, pay immediately and pay in advance. Pay from oneself. With sincere efforts, wholeheartedly, without expectations.
The more you will be willing to pay without reticence, without cheating, without falsity, the more you will receive. And from then on, you will meet your true nature. And you will see all the tricks, all the dishonesty it goes to in order to avoid paying cash. Because you have to pay with all the gratuitous theories, all the deeply rooted convictions, all the prejudice, all conventions, all ‘I like it’ and ‘I don’t like it’. Without bargaining, honestly, not just make believe; trying to see while using fake money.
Try for a moment to accept the idea that you are not what you think you are, that you overestimate yourself, therefore that you lie to yourself. That you lie to yourself always, every moment, all day long, your whole life. That the lie rules you to the extent that you cannot control it anymore. You are its victim. You lie everywhere. Your relationships with others, lies. The education you’ re giving, your petty conventions, lies. Your learning, lies. Your theories, your art, lies. Your social life, your family life, all lies. And what you think of yourself, lies too.
But you don’t stop from what you’re doing or from what you’re saying, because you believe in you. You have to stop inside and observe. Observe without prejudice. While accepting for a time this idea of lies. And if you observe in this manner, paying of yourself, without self-pity, by giving all your false riches for one moment of reality, maybe someday you’ll see all of a sudden something you have never seen in you before.
You will see you are someone else from what you thought you were. You will see that you are two. One that is not, but takes the place and plays the other’s role. And the one that is, but so weak, so inconsistent, that just brought forth it disappears immediately. It cannot stand the lies. The smallest lie kills it. It doesn’t fight, it does not resist, it is vanquished in advance.
Learn to look until you have observed the difference between your two natures, until you have seen the lies, the impostor in you. When you can see your two natures, that day, in you, the truth will be born.
Intro to a meeting from September, 1941: Premiere Initiation, par G.I. Gurdjieff Question de Gurdjieff (no 50) ed. Albin Michel, 1989, p.34-35,/i>
402/14/Truth is Where You Find It
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*c I am posting this quote as a sort of ‘stew ingredient’, not for a traditional theological comparison; rather, something to read and consider as your own, as if you wrote it in a trance and later ‘woke up’ to find it in front of you, then to consider the Fellowship of Friends, your own the same way; to sit awhile and let things brew around and see what happens. To me, if there was ever a Fourth Way Constitution, not about automatic & obvious liberties, rather pointing to The Work, this would be near the front of the back of the bus.
Violation of Fiduciary Duty, Fraud, False Impersonation
Part of my waking up and leaving the Fellowship was due to the palm octave. I recognized, not long after Robert had begun collecting palms, that I was noticing palms everywhere – Yuba City, Grass Valley – and they obviously had always been there, I just hadn’t seen them.
Having my attention managed by my guru made me notice something I had never seen before. Sitting atop a Chicago skyscraper as Apollo burned, I decided, through an appropriate ritual of liberation, to manage my own attention and direct it towards my own aims.
Startling what one can see, when one takes responsibility for one’s own attention. I began to see how much of Robert’s “charisma” was under my own power. The recent maligning of Robert as instinctively centered or as a criminal is a buffer to the realization that we, each of his “students”, were/are the ones providing the energy for his consciousness, charisma and power.
Of course he willingly accepted it, and took more if he could. Normal primate behavior, whether a priest, crook, or politician.
426/14/Walter Tanner
Connivance (depending on entire facts known & avoided)
WT: The recent maligning of Robert as instinctively centered or as a criminal is a buffer to the realization that we, each of his “students”, were/are the ones providing the energy for his consciousness, charisma and power.
Yes. On the other hand, it’s been much more common for all of us to avoid the notion that Robert is a criminal. And we also tend to avoid criticizing him in any way. That’s what we were taught in the Fellowship, and many of us (myself included) carried that into our time away from the Fellowship… “He’s really not that bad. He doesn’t want to hurt anyone.” and so on. Any criticisms of the School or Robert were almost always met with disapproval unless they were expressed in private settings.
Now, that’s a buffer.
However, I still really like your comment… It focuses the attention to something within our control — i.e., our own reactions. So, in this case, we obviously don’t have control over Robert’s behavior, but if we put more energy into our own response, something healthy can grow out of this.
429/14/2b
Sexual Predator, Intentional Infliction of Emotional Distress
anyone who says ‘no’ to Robert Burton does get the “brunt”, though its a very subtle ‘conscious’ brunt and as cold as ‘The March of the Penguins.’
After hearing ‘no’ there’s lot’s of wiseacring from Robert Burton about loosing the possibility to have a relationship with a conscious being (not that 44 isn’t enough all ready),
statistical mish-mash concerning the mechanical-ness of being a heterosexual (ah, all homosexuals have real will and can do?),
lot’s of maternal (”Oh, is it a woman you’re with?!) disdain,
reminders of what you’ll be missing, i.e., complimentary galleria meetings, events, trinkets, etc.,
reminders of your non-existent (futile) feelings,
intonations of self-justifying “You don’t have to do me, you know.” talk…
He’s a real Man #4 when he hears ‘no’ and (for lack of a better word or maybe not) smears the student with it, then calls for his ‘emergency backups’ from the Slave Pit, to take the ‘No’s’ place as a ‘Yes’ ace…
437/14/Unoanimo
Desecration
The issue of negative emotions in the fellowship is one that merits looking into carefully and I think much relates to Sharon’s “being too darned polite”.
It is easy to become “too darned polite” if the indoctrinating “form” is to not express discontent faced with the abuse and the consistent control inside the fellowship. Not expressing negative emotions has been artfully used by Robert to do whatever he wants without being questioned.
Presently I don’t think there’s any need to express negative emotions no matter how often I fail to do that, but that does not mean that one has to stop feeling horrified by what is abominable. Expressing that horror is not a negative emotion but an affirmation of what one wishes to live by.
“There’s no justice in the world” may be in the system but it is interpreted and used in the fellowship against students when they question anything abusive. It may be true that one cannot understand a great deal of injustice unless one connects it to karmic conditionings but to use such an idea to justify the abuses in the fellowship, is abhorrent.
One of the difficulties in the fellowship is that for many years it sunk, into at least me, that everything negative that I felt should be transformed and when unable to do that there was guilt or self discontent. This is also an aspect of indoctrination and idolatry. It weakens people by turning the difficulty they are observing against themselves and not the object of discontent, be it a person or situation.
Wishing to live by anything different to Robert’s forms in the fellowship is questioned by thoughts such as, “what makes you think you are right and not the many of us that wish things to be just as Robert puts them?”
The more we look, the clearer the different forms of indoctrination become.
439/14/Elena
False Association claim, Material Misrepresentation, Fraud
From the email about the Tuesday meeting led by Peter Ingle “Peter explains the topic as follows: “The sequence comes to us as the objective science of awakening from schools of the past. Using it in the present, however, is a conscious art that must become deeply personal and practical.”
It is amazing to hear students talk about sequence as “the objective science from the past schools”.
3 meetings earlier Carlos Ca _ _ncho gave a following angle: “I asked Robert, why is that Asaf made up a sequence and we all have to do it? Robert replied: “You love me too much to blame ME for it?”
Isn’t it strange?
460/14/somebody
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It still creates ‘awe’ in me to wrap my spirit around the idea that C. goes around quoting ‘let downs’ given to him and his family by ‘his teacher’ all the while carrying a sort of tongue in cheek smile, a sort of squirmy poor me sorta demeanor…
C.,
For me, I have verified that features are ‘real’, at least in their objective I-creator position in the mind; Robert Burton plays both sides of your card, i.e., Non-existence, Self Pity and the Vanity that’s created having had your strings played… I love you and your family with all my heart, your children are truly ‘gifts from the gods’… Please, get a grip, tear the strings from your harp and use it to plow a field, plant something all your own and stop letting M. watch Robert’s meeting videos, what happened to Pokemon? Geez.
Fraud, Conspiracy to Defraud
This is what I have been alluding to when I suggest that the FOF keeps one out of balance, forever doubting oneself, and never able to attain complete consciousness or higher centers (that which is already there anyway). One is kept striving for the unobtainable. That’s the narcissism that the FOF attracts in its followers. The level of ‘conscience’ that is ‘cult-ivated’ in the FOF follower is a foreboding feeling that one is inadequate, is not present enough and Robert always is. Robert just provides the unobtainable goals. Hence, one can only succeed in the ‘next lifetime’
It takes self respect to leave the FOF.
461/14/Whalerider
Fraud, Violation of Fiduciary duty, False Pretenses, Negligent Infliction of Emotional Distress, Corruption in Office, Fraud in the Factum
I spent many years observing that Burton learns nothing from his students, except in a low, cunning way, how to control them or fleece them the better. You can tell this for yourself by following the “conversation” (read, “monotonous disjointed dialog”) at one of his dinners, or by studying the form of his pronouncements in publications such as “Thoughts from the Teacher”, or by his tens of thousands of arbitrary decisions made in order to control the lives of his followers in the minutest detail. Every one of these decisions is made to close down possibilities, to reduce his surroundings to always simpler terms that he can better monitor and control for deviance, and to satisfy his untrammeled desires.
See him raise the license plate in a meeting, purposing to draw admiration from the audience or transmit fear to it. See the members of the audience trying hard to get just the right sappy look on their faces, and at the same time memorizing gems like, “We are playing the master game, and C-Influence has chosen us all here in this room to be winners”. That is the source of your wiseacring, Eva, not your experience, not your being. How can I tell? Because there is nothing personal in your post, nothing to indicate the angle is yours, or how you made it so, or that you live it.
In a ‘win-win’ or co-operative situation, a teacher lights a fuse, and is delighted when the explosion of new possibilities in the student lights up the sky, including his own (the teacher’s) spiritual firmament. In contrast, the only movement allowed by Burton in the FoF is if it supports, glorifies, or magnifies his own position. Look at Girard, declared the sole fruit of 38 years of unremitting work by ‘44 conscious beings’ plus Burton himself, allowed to be a ‘man #5’ under the condition he stays the eternal student of Burton, subservient and obedient to the last, all his accomplishments and work dedicated to the glory of Burton, his whole being twisted to be merely a reflector of Burton’s supposed superhumanity. Burton has literally eaten him, negated all his potential (and that of many others)—a new Caligula. Look, I mean really look, at the rest of the high muckety-mucks; paler, bloodless versions of the same. This is your idea of a good game, Eva?
Trick indeed, he is the trickster and you are the tricked; he is the joker and the joke is on you.
462/14/Ames Gilbert
Fraud, Violation of Fiduciary duty, False Pretenses, Negligent Infliction of Emotional Distress, Corruption in Office, Fraud in the Factum, Collusion, Connivance
The reason most people join the FOF is because they are interested in the Fourth Way ideas of Gurdjieff / Ouspensky. The FOF claims (or at least did until recently) to teach these ideas. Robert used the prestige of the Fourth Way to lure unsuspecting people and create his own cult. He claimed to be a highly evolved master of this way. It’s not so easy to prove or disprove that claim, especially when you might not even see him for a few years until after you join and all your information about him is filtered through center directors, etc. In the mean time, you’re meeting with other people – most of them quite intelligent and well-meaning, and you’re studying these ideas together and sharing your experiences with them. That part was usually okay. For myself, there was always an issue of differentiating between the teachings of Gurdjieff /Ouspensky, which, for me at least, were quite substantial and legitimate, and Robert’s own stuff, which was flaky and weird. Eventually most people reach the conclusion that there is something wrong with Robert and leave.
Why do people stay? Of course the vast majority don’t, but it takes a while to verify that Robert is fraudulent, especially if you don’t live close to him where you are privy to some of the weirdest of the weird stuff. Furthermore, any kind of scrutiny of Robert is totally frowned upon. If you persist in doubting and probing into the truth about Robert you will be alienated by the others and maybe even kicked out. In the meantime there are lots of interesting distractions, people you become involved with, ballets, operas, plays, etc. and you tend to buffer your doubts about Robert because of those other things. And you’re told things like: ‘those are just ‘I’s, don’t be identified, that’s negativity, etc.’. Basically distorting Work ideas to create an uncritical atmosphere.
But the good news is that, by means of this blog, Robert’s deceitful ways are coming to light and hopefully there will be fewer and fewer new members.
466/14/David B.
Conspiracy to Defraud
When Robert first mentioned how HE uses the sequence, I was very confused. Everyone I knew in the school talked about when Robert crystallized there was a bolt of lightning at the Academy or some such nonsense (whenever I hear stories like that I usually shut down right away. It does not compute) and I assumed that this guy was on such a different level- he was ALWAYS conscious. No need for no stinkin’ sequence. I mean how is it, that for 37 years everything BUT the sequence was the way to awakening. It wan’t that long ago that he had us counting how many times a day we “remembered ourselves”. Students all over the place were running around with those “clickers” that they use to count patrons as they enter a concert and keeping tabs on the number of times they remembered themselves. The goal was 100 times a day. Suddenly, one day the exercise disappeared.
487/14/Steve Lang
Fraud, Fraudulent Misrepresentation, Wrongful Discharge *d
“Robert said: The school never has lost a true student.
It `s that simple, C-influence has taken away their understanding, so they forget completely their own divine verifications, which have kept them all the years in the school.”
The greater question is: Is this a true school?
This once Fourth Way school, that said “religion was the sleep of the masses” is a now a center for “esoteric Christianity” .
And why, is the IRS/INS breathing so hotly on the Galleria, that Hallelujah we’ve all found religion?
The spinners keep spinning. Reinventing, rewriting with every succession to the pretender’s throne. Changing direction more times than a weather vane.
Extreme makeover indeed.
And why keep using the Fellowship of Friends? Why not be “true” The Fellowship of the Pretty, Full Pocketed and Those Still Able to do a Full Turn at the Plow.
Fellowship of Friends indeed.
Banishes its own when they become an unpleasant impression. Raises $62,000 for a garden expansion and leaves true students to raise money for medical treatment through private appeal.
And as far as C-influence goes, it seems far more beneficent, less vindictive that we were ever lead to believe.
When you walk out those gates every divine verification you every had walks right out with you.
488/14/Cake Please
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*d
This ‘wrongful discharge’ relates to the deeper picture of such lines as “Banishes its own when they become an unpleasant impression.”
For instance ~
Take the S. Milton situation; here’s a guy who has a legally classified ‘eye disease’, had been working outside for a large part of the day, went to one of Robert Burton’s lunches the same day, was facing the hot sun and had the need to close his eyes from time to time in order to rest them from the strain of looking with bright sunlight in his face…
Later, he was asked to leave the Fellowship of Friends for ‘sleeping’ or ‘dozing off’…
I believe you can thank Asaf or some ‘boy’ for that hawk-eyed, un-conscience-able perception of S. Milton…
Who brought it to Robert Burton’s ‘attention’ is hearsay, yet, the fact of his dismissal on these grounds is not… stay tuned for the REST OF THE STORY; on a train coming to your neighborhood soon.
And, no, Steven D., your part won’t be left out of this story…stay tuned for a conscience near you.
Fraud, Fraud in the Inducement
Besides, do you know what puts you among the “chosen” in this case? No, not C-influence. It’s your monthly teaching payments, dude. Skip a month – and there goes your imaginary superiority and unconditional love of your teacher.
494/14/No person
False association-claim, Material Misrepresentation, Falsity, Negligent Misrepresentation, Fraud
More Sacred mad teachings by the most Beloved Teacher ever!
The funniest of them all by far!
Excerpts from few teaching events:
6 POOPS
A cave painting from Lascaux, dating from 15,000-13,000 BP, depicts a rhinoceros hunt. It represents the sequence being intoned in imagination by the rhinoceros—the lower self. The steward is lying on his back, and rather than having five fingers on each hand, he has only four fingers. This means that he is taking the four wordless breaths in imagination. The six stools represent the sequence in imagination. Everything is in imagination. “You will see fantasies rather than the truth.”
The rhinoceros, which is defecating, represents the sequence in imagination.
A cave painting in Lascaux, dating to 15,000-13,000 BP, depicts a rhinoceros defecating. The six stools represent the sequence in imagination. The steward has been thrown down, and has four fingers in place of five, signifying that the four wordless breaths are not in prolonged presence, but in prolonged imagination. He has attempted to slay the bison—another symbol of the lower self—but rather than piercing him in the heart, he has pierced him in the intestines, which are coming out. Nevertheless, the lower self still had the strength to overthrow the steward and to destroy the sequence.
495/14/Purchasing Awakening
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Reckless Wiseacring (I had to post this one; this will go down in history as the final dung ball that broke the camels back or the Rhino’s, you choose.)
Intentional Infliction of Emotional Distress, Negligent Infliction of Emotional Distress, Inhuman Treatment,
Indignity, ‘Cruelty to the Dying’, Violation of Fiduciary Duty, Breach of Duty, Breach of Trust, Invasion of Privacy
“THE HELL LETTER”
Sharole Manering
Philadelphia Centre
Dear Sharole,
As you requested, herein are the angles the Teacher offered to you.
“Tell Sharole hello for me. And tell her to remember that she is working with Influence C and that she needs to be a good businesswoman with them. Tell her that she has held on this long and that there is no reason that she cannot hold on eternally; that is, until she becomes an angel. Remind her that this is C influence speaking directly with her through me. Remind her that this is their way of warning her and that she has to become current with her donations now or she will have to leave the Fellowship. Tell her that the only other place to go is hell.”
Those are his words, Sharole. Good luck to you.
Sincerely,
JB/dh
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496/14/Veronicapoe (From a link embedded in the blog)
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This message was sent to Sharole while she lay dying of terminal cancer.
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I would also add CRIME AGAINST HUMANITY
Fraud, Fraudulent Misrepresentation, Collusion
IMO, people exposed to the FOF get stuck in feeling that they cannot possibly live up to the level they imagine that Robert is and the institutional manipulation of what they don’t talk about reinforces being mired in the beginning stages of work, which is the realization that most of the time we lack the will to believe in ourselves. By abdicating our higher centers to Robert, we get to be included in his group, and bask in the non-existence of ‘otium indignatis’.
At some point, hopefully you wake up (or grow up) to the fact that you have higher centers too, (whether you use the sequence or not), and you begin to see the truth of the situation in stark contrast to the backdrop of all the insanity that is being spewed out of the FOF these days.
IMO spiritual evolution is not about higher vs. lower; it’s about integration and wholeness. IMO the FOF is leading people away from integration and toward separation and compartmentalization within its followers in order to put up with Robert’s crap, and it’s not healthy. We have Robert as a prime example of the result of inner compartmentalization, and his cowering, spineless followers are partly to blame for his illness.
514/14/Whalerider
RECKLESSNESS
Dear Parent and other Parents,
I suspect that as a parent, you would be sick to your stomach if you found out that your handsome young son of 21 was called by Robert and was drawn into his perverted circle of young ment. Like “Parent” you would probably want to kill the SOB.
Soooo, I have to ask the question. What about the parents that have gorgeous young daughters ages18-25 that are getting into relationships and marriage with some of Roberts closest ‘consorts ‘ or ‘prostitutes’? Young girls, naive, who only want attention and love from ‘big daddy’ or because their boyfriends are in the ‘inner harem circle’. And that gives them some kind of ’status’ from the onlookers. Doesn’t that make you twitch? Aren’t you worried that they may come down with HIV because of the dozens going through the portals of Roberts bedroom? Aren’t you concerned that their lives are getting screwed up before they even begin? That these young girls have been conditioned to believe that sharing their boyfriends/husbands with Robert Burton at any time of day or night is NORMAL?
As a parent, if you think this is normal and fine, well, all I can ask is ” what ever has happened to your conscience and your common sense of parenting’?
526/14/Flying Free
Collusion, Connivance, ‘Fraudulent Representation’
When Abraham Goldman subpoenaed me in 1996 to get documents relating to the Troy Buzbee case, I enclosed this letter with the material he requested.
21 October 1996
Abraham,
One final appeal to your conscience. As the person best equipped in the Fellowship to bring the reign of madness of Burton to an end, you must act to do so. You are the only one with complete access to the information, to all the evidence accumulated through the years, and you have been Burton’s confidante for all these many years.
Please think back to when you joined the Fellowship. Surely, if you had by a miracle been given the knowledge of knowing then what you know now, you would have turned away. It cannot have been your ambition to end up catering to a charlatan and a pervert, covering for his mistakes and predations, wearying yourself to the bone with lies to cover his omissions and commissions? Surely you imagined a life of openness, not lies? Surely you imagined a life among true friends into whose eyes you could look with joy and honesty, knowing they could see the same in yours? Surely you did not imagine a life where your final defense against your own conscience would be, “I was only following orders”? Please, wake up and follow your conscience. Do not be afraid. There is so much love and help and forgiveness—if you wish. Face up to your responsibility. You could help so many people by telling the truth, now. You could save so many people so much heartache in the future. But, best of all, you could be helping yourself. You must have lain awake many nights struggling with the latest revelations of the day about Burton, and your heart must have ached to be in a place where none of this had anything to do with you. Such a place exists, both psychologically and physically. Look within. Act and forgive yourself, as all others with a good heart already have. Nothing can take away your responsibility for your past actions; you must face up to them yourself, but there is all the help you need if you ask for it.
You can make your life exactly as you wish it. You have done so until now, and will do so in the future. It is your gift from God, to do with as you please. If you wish to continue as you have done—thy will be done. If you wish to break away from this mess—thy will be done. It is up to you.
Know, that even if I personally am sometimes angry about the situation, I am not angry with you. You have your lessons to learn, and you have chosen your path. But, know that I believe you are strong enough to create joyful changes, if you wish. I send you loving wishes and encouragement. (signed) Ames Gilbert
577/14/Ames Gilbert
Fraud, Desecration
You wrote:
“how did you tell yourself it was okay for people to talk to others that way?”
Well, you have to understand that this is just the kind of stuff that FOF members say to each other to convince themselves that they are right for staying and the people who leave are making a mistake. While I was in the FOF, I often doubted the truth of such statements but would only say so to a few close friends who I knew I could trust and who probably shared my doubts. If you were to express doubt or criticism of these kinds of statements publicly you would risk becoming a pariah.
Although I’m sure many students have doubts about Robert and his teachings, very few have the courage to give voice to those doubts and risk being ostracized, especially when they have severed all their ties to the outside world and have nowhere else to go. I remember in the days right before I left the FOF, I wanted to confront the other members at a meeting (that was back when they still had meetings) and stand up and challenge them all on some of these things. I thought it would be good to stir things up and at least get people talking, and what did I have to lose, right?
I had already made up my mind to leave. But somehow I just couldn’t bring myself to do it. It was just too uncomfortable and, perhaps even frightening, being only one person against all the others. I suppose I was just still too close to it all and wasn’t sure enough about it. I certainly hope that those who are currently poised to leave will consider not going quietly. You will be amazed how many others are also having doubts about the emperor’s clothes.
The camaraderie was a big part of it for me. I wanted to be in a community of people who were dedicated to working on themselves and I was willing to tolerate a lot of Robert’s weird crap in order to have that. I remember wishing that Robert would just die or something so we could get rid of the weirdness and have a ‘normal fourth way school’. I have spoken with others who shared those sentiments. Of course that was naive and knowing what I know now I would never rejoin the FOF even if Robert were no longer there.
One other thing. In your post you refer to the “intelligent, spiritually motivated people” in the Fellowship. I think that is attributable to the quality of the fourth way teaching, not so much Robert. Probably most of the truly sincere and intelligent ones are there in spite of Robert, not because of him, and they will eventually leave when they figure it out.
579/14/David B.
FRAUD
While I agree that there are some mean voices on the blog from time to time (not all of them ex-students!), I think you are missing the point: most people are actually trying to help each other more than anything. (The blog has provided some unexpected healing for me.) Moreover, some people feel there is a grave danger within the dogma of the FOF (just read the “hell” letter for a hint of it) that needs to be confronted and eradicated, if not in the organization, then in the minds and hearts of people we’d still like to call friends. You can say that that was a long time ago or that you –or others– don’t believe that stuff but it’s undeniably there until officially acknowledged and revised by RB and/or the FOF that members are led to believe they will lose their soul/c-influence/chances at evolving, etc., if they leave the school. Using fear to psychologically entrap members is one definition of a cult.
You cite religious freedom along with freedom of expression in response to the charges of RB’s repeated sexual entanglements, to put it mildly (–the judges presiding in the several court cases about this issue in the past have no doubt used other language). Robert has a great deal of power over the men with whom he has sexual relations and to purport that it’s simply their choice to concede or leave is unconscionable. I ask you, is it not beholden for a “conscious being,” or to use less loaded language, a leader of a religious group, to not flagrantly use his powers –real or imagined– to meet his sexual needs with so many men, some of whom have been undeniably damaged by it?
593/14/Dare To Dream
End of postings from Part 14
;.)
Material Misrepresentation *e
It should be added that membership fees consist of 10% of income, two extra payments each year and payments for dinners, talks and presentations. The Fellowship of Friends is not a cheap business.
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In other words it could be 25%-33% of your net income.
14/13/Chopsticks
________________
*e This also follows that most (if not all) students prior to joining the Fellowship of Friends are not shown the church’s canons; some who have been in the ‘school’ for 10+ years do not even know that such canons exist… Rules and Regulations change without a consensus and monies are misappropriated on a large scale… There is no sharing of the Financial Statements, expenditures, etc., as to what the 2000+ members millions of dollars a month goes towards, no legal contracts, no legal fund raising forms, no legal papers binding the church and the ‘required to donate’ church goers, to pay, pay, pay; although the church holds the exclusive right to terminate the membership of anyone who cannot pay or refuses to ‘donate’ based on any set of critical circumstances, i.e., personal disagreements or questions of conscience going unanswered or treatment by the church towards a spouse or other member.
TAX FRAUD, COLLUSION, CONNIVANCE, FRAUD
I wonder what REB would say about a license plate that read ‘501c3′ that was on a car that sped off down the road and disappeared into the glow of the sunset and vanished forever?
U.S. Internal Revenue Code
501(c)(3) Exemption Requirements:
To be tax-exempt under section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code, an organization must be organized and operated exclusively for purposes set forth in section 501(c)(3), and NONE OF ITS EARNINGS MAY INURE TO ANY PRIVATE SHAREHOLDER OR INDIVIDUAL. In addition, it may not attempt to influence legislation as a substantial part of its activities and it may not participate in any campaign activity for or against political candidates.
Organizations described in section 501(c)(3) are commonly referred to as charitable organizations. Organizations described in section 501(c)(3), other than testing for public safety organizations, are eligible to receive tax-deductible contributions in accordance with Code section 170.
The exempt purposes set forth in section 501(c)(3) are charitable, religious, educational, scientific, literary, testing for public safety, fostering national or international amateur sports competition, and the preventing cruelty to children or animals. The term charitable is used in its generally accepted legal sense and includes relief of the poor, the distressed, or the underprivileged; advancement of religion; advancement of education or science; erecting or maintaining public buildings, monuments, or works; lessening the burdens of government; lessening neighborhood tensions; eliminating prejudice and discrimination; defending human and civil rights secured by law; and combating community deterioration and juvenile delinquency.
To be organized exclusively for a charitable purpose, the organization must be a corporation, community chest, fund, or foundation. A charitable trust is a fund or foundation and will qualify. However, AN INDIVIDUAL WILL NOT QUALIFY. The organizing documents must limit the organization’s purposes to exempt purposes set forth in section 501(c)(3) and must not expressly empower it to engage, other than as an insubstantial part of its activities, in activities that are not in furtherance of one or more of those purposes. This requirement may be met if the purposes stated in the organizing documents are limited in some way by reference to section 501(c)(3). In addition, an organization’s assets must be permanently dedicated to an exempt purpose. This means that if an organization dissolves, its assets must be distributed for an exempt purpose, to the federal government, or to a state or local government for a public purpose. To establish that an organization’s assets will be permanently dedicated to an exempt purpose, its organizing documents should contain a provision insuring their distribution for an exempt purpose in the event of dissolution. Although reliance may be placed upon state law to establish permanent dedication of assets for exempt purposes, an organization’s application can be processed by the IRS more rapidly if its organizing documents include a provision insuring permanent dedication of assets for exempt purposes. For examples of provisions that meet these requirements, see Publication 557, Tax-Exempt Status for Your Organization.
An organization will be regarded as operated exclusively for one or more exempt purposes only if it engages primarily in activities that accomplish exempt purposes specified in section 501(c)(3). AN ORGANIZATION WILL NOT BE SO REGARDED IF MORE THAN AN INSUBSTANTIAL PART OF ITS ACTIVITIES DOES NOT FURTHER AN EXEMPT PURPOSE. For more information concerning types of charitable organizations and their activities, see Publication 557.
The organization MUST NOT BE ORGANIZED OR OPERATED FOR THE BENEFIT OF PRIVATE INTERESTS, SUCH AS THE CREATOR or the creator’s family, shareholders of the organization, other designated individuals, or persons controlled directly or indirectly by such private interests. NO PART OF A SECTION 501(c)(3) ORGANIZATION’S NET EARNINGS MAY INURE TO THE BENEFIT OF ANY PRIVATE SHAREHOLDER OR INDIVIDUAL. A private shareholder or individual is a person having a personal and private interest in the activities of the organization. If the organization engages in an excess benefit transaction with a person having substantial influence over the organization, an excise tax may be imposed on the person and any organization managers agreeing to the transaction.
http://www.irs.gov/charities/charitable/article/0,,id=96099,00.html
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Rumor has it that the U.S. Immigration and Naturalization Service (INS – part of Homeland Security) is privately and individually interviewing fellowship members holding religious visas and/or ministerial status to find out exactly what it is that they do with their time and how they fulfill the above mentioned charitable and/or religious functions in service to humanity. Are they doing traditional and customary activities for those privileges? Seems the INS believes the Fellowship of Friends could be a bogus religion in service to a despot.
26/13/Eyes Wide Shut
DISPARAGEMENT, ‘Spiritual Fraud’
1. It is easier to have an independent, non-conformist and evolving relationship with the “School” when living at a distance from Isis. At Isis, at least when attending events, one is confronted repeatedly by conversations where you have to bite your tongue in response to “blissed out” (as Dara used to say) remarks, or risk some pretty heavy, uncomfortable energy. Just a small, unloaded example: I got quite a few sharp, appraising glances (as in “she must be leaving”) when I would admit that I didn’t enjoy the circus/ballet extravaganzas at the Theatron. Also, many students at Isis are quite insulated from ideas outside of the mainstream of Robert’s current “teaching”. Usually, one can only have more radical discussions in private.
2. An attitude that is prevalent at Isis, and encouraged by Robert, is that one need not have a responsible, caring, truthful level of integrity in regards to other people, friends (including other students), family, community, etc. – only the “School” matters. Which often means, only what Robert wants today matters. So if you have a business arrangement, or partnership, or contract, or appointment, or confidence, etc., it takes a low priority if Robert should want something that is even slightly at odds with that relationship. This encourages a certain sociopathic growth of callousness to all others. Many try to emulate Robert in his callousness – they call it “practical” or “intentional insincerity”, or the “aim is more important”, blah, blah. I do not think that it is possible to progress as a School community without a lot of deep work on our level of integrity towards each other. I don’t think many of the “inner circle” care to do that, or even admit the possibility. While I’m pretty sure that you, for example, do have a such a high level of integrity, there are lots of students one just can’t trust, even minimally. So what do we do with them in the improved school?
31/13/Sharon
Misdescription, Negligent Misrepresentation,
Fraud in the Inducement, ‘Spiritual Fraud’
One thing that you have not mentioned but which has become important to me is Robert’s division of almost everything into good and bad (good impressions vs bad impressions; lower self vs steward; 9 of hearts vs king of clubs etc.). For Robert, (I have heard him say this) anything that does not lead to presence is the lower self. Perhaps he does not intend it, but the overall impression from the current teachings is to view the sequence as good and most other manifestations as bad or some sort of wasted moment.
I notice that when I am present (in a higher state) the division between good and bad disappears. Everything reflects the miraculous creation.
Presence is not about ignoring, fighting against or suppressing the impressions that we don’t like (including our own suffering, feelings of wrongdoing and negativity) but about being present to them.
When we start to see everything that is not feeding presence as bad (lower self) we foster a simplistic morality. The division into good and bad leads to a split in our personality (good OldFish vs bad OldFish) which leads to hypocrisy and diminishes conscience. In one moment I am the good OldFish and I am proud of myself. I forget about the other side. In another moment I am the bad OldFish and I cannot see the good side and I go towards self deprecation.
Conscience is the part in us that can see all sides at once. The division into good and bad tends to make only one side visible at a time. This kind of thinking is dangerous.
41/13/Old Fish In The Sea
Narcissism prevents one from acknowledging others due to an overwhelming ego deficit. This is why RB seems like a black hole. This deficit makes him more inhuman or insincere. It is not intentional nor a conscious choice. He uses the work language to rationalize his illness. His ego deficit creates an insatiable vortex, requiring new impressions, multiple sex partners, and complete adoration to sustain his feeble ego. As we all know, he is no intellectual giant. He silences his competition (anyone else’s intellect) with the rigid emphasis on being present to one’s surroundings, effectively stopping thoughts and blunting development of the higher intellect in his students. The sequence is yet another manifestation of this dominance. It is the higher centers that make one independent of the group, something he cannot tolerate. The functioning higher centers make one a virtuoso mystic who can sustain oneself in any environment.
For me to successfully leave the FOF I had to make a conscious choice to pursue a profession that required me to be more in the moment. As I stated in my prior posts, that’s what I took away from being close to RB. I perceived that it was his role as a ‘teacher’ that kept him relatively dialed in and present. But he needs to be a teacher with a constant supply of students to keep him going. You cannot graduate from his school or he’s screwed. I had to find my own path without entertaining the idea that I had to duplicate what RB duplicated from Alex Horn. In RB’s perverted world, there are only four types of people, dead life people, ex-students, students, and himself as a teacher. So that leaves his students who want to evolve with only one choice, to become a teacher like him. And what a role model! That’s how he holds his students captive, along with the ‘lifetime’ trap.
So in my opinion, in order to evolve out of the FOF, you must abandon the FOF group format and create your own circumstances in your life to sustain your work, always keeping your aim in view. Trust that you will be helped in ways you cannot foresee.
156 Is from 97/14/Whalerider
FRAUD, FRAUD IN THE INDUCEMENT
FRAUD
Bass Ackwards, post 82, states:
” Our spiritual poverty exists in the Teacher not using his time to explain to us where we are going by using it, what it should feel like, how it feels to him in terms of states, inspiring us with his own profound understanding, etc…
This reminds me of something that always puzzled me in the school. In one of the journals once there was a quote by Robert, something to the effect that “I do not have time to explain myself.” I found this curious, as he always seemed to have plenty of time to do just about anything he wanted — eat, drink, play golf/tennis, watch football, travel the world, get everyone else to tend to his every need — essentially live a life of ease. But he didn’t have time to explain his actions … hmmm.
99/14/Innernaut
Connivance, Desecration, Joint Negligence, FRAUD
Still, I truly believe that when you say things like:
“Some people know the difference between the things they are capable of knowing and the things they cannot know”
and inappropriately apply these wise words to justify your Beloved Teacher’s despicable and very earth-bound behavior, you are causing our Lord Sovereign Endlessness to suffer some very verifiable pain. It’s really a bit of a blasphemy.
I am really thrown off by what Sharon referred to in a recent post as the “callousness” of your school’s group think. See, by labeling them “same old stories”, you seem to be allowing yourself to dismiss former students’ (and possibly old friends’) very human disclosures about Robert’s constant abuse of power, money, sex and glory, so that you don’t even have to try to delve for one moment of your precious life into the pain that each of these stories contains.
At least consider the possibility of listening to these tales more openly, as if they had nothing to do with your personal life, maybe read them aloud like stories you would tell at night to your grandchildren. Try not to label, buffer, judge. Try to feel.
Maybe Robert’s so-called consciousness, the “high” he emanates, is just the vibratory result of all the sex energy he constantly sucks in from all the lambs slaughtered on his altar.
146/14/Laura
Fraud in the Inducement
What you are offering about non-duality and advaita has uncovered a deeper understanding for me of why I was inherently dissatisfied with RB’s teaching: he is identified with his self-ascribed role as teacher and identified with the expression of his sexuality and that limits his consciousness and being.
It would be a conflict for the narcissistic personality to give up its attachment to the sense of itself (or its inflated self-importance), which is why RB continues to be so indulgent in his sexual behavior and consistently refuses to enable his students to graduate. Why should he? Narcissism values the accumulation of money for its own sake more than what the money can provide. And there can never be enough of those narcissistic tools or objects, the need is insatiable. This identification with his role and his sexual bodily functions keeps him from experiencing the non-duality and selflessness that exists in the fourth state, objective awareness. He acts as though his selflessness is determined by how many blowjobs he gives!
Thus, in my opinion, RB’s prior legacy of overemphasizing the third state of self-remembering illustrates the limitations of his consciousness and being. Self-remembering is only one step of the staircase, as one poster put it. That’s where he camped out for decades. He rarely, if ever talks about his experiences of the fourth state. Could he have mistaken an experience of the fourth state for his so-called ‘crystallization’?
To me, this is what advaita reveals: RB lacks being in the fourth state. The ultimate goal is not just the third state of ‘self’ remembering, but more being in the fourth state where the self does not exist. Thus, in my opinion, the fourth way is not lacking in the non-duality concept; it is RB’s teaching and being that is lacking. Does that coincide with your current understanding as well?
158/13/Whalerider
Fraud, Negligent Infliction of Emotional Distress
REB is the expert at the fourth line of work (work ON other people) whilst all the time pretending to work on himself. He really believes that the sex burden he endures is his particular ‘intentional suffering’ visited upon him by the gods against his will. So, in turn, he does not hesitate to inflict his will upon others in like manner – hence the name Robert Earl Burden. [Ready to foist any kind of burden on anybody for fun, pleasure, and/or purpose.] All must endure this affliction and be unified in crime.
Criminals do it regularly: initiate their subordinates into ‘the life’ of criminal behavior so that they can join the ‘club’ (read: clubs, as in instinctive centered activity). This way all are loyal to the criminal way-of-life and have nowhere else to turn to due to shame, etc., and the fact that they can no longer function in ordinary life. Any criminologists out there who would like to comment? Some day the FBI will study REB as a classic example of certain type of criminal behavior…
“The play’s the thing wherein I’ll catch the conscience of the king.” WS
166/13/Prophet is a profit
Fraudulent Misrepresentation
In the new Fellowship of Friends website is written:
“Throughout the years, Robert’s spiritual teaching has never strayed from focusing on the practical moment-by-moment efforts necessary to awaken from sleep. He has taught the same message at all Fellowship gatherings, and has striven to be personally accessible to each member of the Fellowship. He has tirelessly sought new inspiration, introducing fresher approaches to each member’s internal efforts, and always providing loving guidance and support”
The biggest lie of all: “and has striven to be personally accessible to each member of the Fellowship”
189/13/The pearl of Great price
Conspiracy to Defraud, Collusion
Here’s my take on the re-vamped Fellowship of Friends website. As background, I managed a non-profit for some time and worked closely with the lawyers to make sure the website communicated the purpose of the organization such that no one could contest the tax exemption. There are many different ways to say the same thing. So I know of what I speak.
It’s clear to me that the Fellowship of Friends website is strongly aligning the organization with other “legitimate” churches and religions – raises a lot fewer questions than being a Gurdjieff-Ouspensky conscious school. Now, some may say that this is truly the direction the Fellowship of Friends “as it continues to evolve” but the timing of such dramatic changes is sure curious in light of the recent discussions and revelations on the blog, don’t you think?
194/13/mifis
Enticement of Parent, Invasion of Privacy, Negligence,
Child Endangerment
If memory serves, Mervyn Brady was in the London center in the early 1980s. An ambitious (power feature) youngish man clearly scavenging for some means to make himself into a guru. The Havens suggested that he and his wife (Melanie I think?) give up their 9 year old son for adoption because the boy was pretty out of control during meetings and a constant interruption to any adult conversation. (not kidding). I believe Melanie was from Spain and hardly spoke English so she couldn’t tell what was really going on. I was appalled at the adoption suggestion of the Havens and remember speaking to Melanie about what to do. This was around the same time the Anne Rodney articles came out in the London newspapers.
203/13/Shelley M.
They have given up their spiritual life to truthiness rather than exposing it to investigation and critical review. In fact, the attitude has only been reinforced by the Fellowship and by Robert Burton. Students at this stage go around saying things like “None of what the Teacher said made sense, but it was a beautiful experience anyway” and “It doesn’t matter what your many I’s say because they are just ‘I’s, the main thing is that you remain positive and keep trying to apply what Robert teaches”, and “While on some literal level the Teacher may be ‘wrong’, none of that is important as long as you are doing the sequence and being present – and anyway, it is emotional to think that ancient schools left messages for us”, and “It may seem like it’s not awakening me but that’s only because I’m not making enough effort, so I must learn to be more passionate about the sequence”. Rationality is beyond the ceiling of most of the Fellowship today. The school is about believing, uncritically accepting revealed truths so that you may be saved by doing the one right thing that will bring you the desired immortality.
The problem which arises is that in my feeling, nowadays there are many, many FoF students – those not completely trapped in the wheels of the political machinery and their public roles – who are eager to move beyond what they feel to be a spiritual kindergarten. Yet, since for years they have been programmed to believe that Robert is the highest ideal of conscious man, they consciously or subconsciously keep looking to Robert for permission, and when none is given, they unhappily strive to emulate him and to make his teaching compatible with their own understanding that sometimes far exceeds that of the Teacher. If I observed correctly, this is even true of Girard. Robert is stalling everybody…
204/13/Traveler
165
Sometimes it’s helpful to give ‘quotes’ to illustrate the ‘effects’ of the ’causes’…
FRAUD
Anyhow, let us accept your premise that RB is conscious, has a view of the truth unseeable from our perspective because he lives in a permanently higher state and we live in a lower state. This viewpoint reinforces the inbuilt desire in us as humans to follow an authority, rather than to rely on ourselves and look within ourselves and use our innate intelligence for finding the truth. Look around you and see that this is the human condition, everyone seeking outside themselves for someone, some group or religion or organization to align with and follow.
So RB is a higher being, he points the way by providing tools for students to use to reach higher states of prescence; do this exercise, stop imagination, practice the sequence, self remember…sometimes this seems to work in that moments of ‘prescence’ appear, at other times maybe not. All pretty benign and positive so far.
He also requests large monetary payments, lives like a king, has sex with many of his followers, and excommunicates followers who leave the organization, unless they wish to return in which case further large fees are demanded. He also reinforces the dependency that followers begin to form on the organization, by convincing them that this is a unique organization, and encouraging social and other forms of reliance on it. How can this be explained by the argument that he is a higher being? Does not your innate inner intelligence indicate to you that there is some discrepancy here?
Surely a genuine higher being would encourage you to find the higher in yourself, guiding you to more self reliance and true freedom, to a state where there is no conflict or battle, but a realization of what is true and right from the place which is within us all, but covered by layers of ‘thought’, ‘conditioning’ and ‘belief’.
Should a devoted follower admit the possibility that RB may be a charlatan, then they will naturally undergo a great deal of inner conflict, confusion and fear. It requires one to see that ones previously held beliefs or assumptions are flawed. As we invest our identity in our beliefs, this is naturally quite traumatic. However, continuing to rely on that which is beneath all thoughts, beliefs, assumptions, fears, concerns; our underlying innate being and intelligence, our awareness that we are, just as everyone and everything else is, allows us to let this go, and the scales that covered our eyes regarding the FOF fall away.
227/13/Lust for Life
EFFECT (Fraud in the Inducement)
Conversely, if your concept of ‘Influence C’ was mistaken, and Robert was indeed a deluded sociopath, then yes, the ranks of the school would be filled with those of lesser logic, correct? Isn’t that one of the main arguments from many on this blog? Once the lower self accepts a belief it will tend to deny all evidence to the contrary. This is lesser or irrational logic. At one time I accepted the belief that Robert had conscious being, yet once I experienced him up close and personal, my conscience would not let deny the mounting evidence to the contrary. I either had to sublimate my conscience to his will or take the hard road of leaving him with my conscience intact. Obviously, I chose the later, and I am eternally grateful that I did.
231/13/Whalerider
REFERENCE (Fraud)
In 1981 there was an exposé in one of the large London newspapers about RB’s homosexual behavior with students and the Fellowship as a cult. There was a connection between the article and the highly influential parents of a London student named Anne R. This article came out shortly after the article in the S.F. Chronicle. It caused a wave of “oh mys” in the London center, where Girard and Barbara were directors.
Linda T.R.K. visited London around that time and we went out to a pub together for a drink. I was telling her how horrible I thought the press was being and how absurd it was that ANYONE would accuse RB of deceiving us. She took pity on me and told me that everything in the article was TRUE. A chasm opened up from under my feet at that moment (wowie wooie, third state!) and the conflict between my experience with synchronicity, my friendships in the fof and the politics of the fof was born.
249/13/Shelley M
Fraud in the Inducement, Negligence, False Pretenses
I have a small example that illustrates the truth of the above two quotes from your post. About a year ago I was sitting with two very devoted students. One of them made the frequently heard comment that we are so lucky to be in the school because people in life are not interested in awakening. I very gently mentioned that there are, in fact, many people in the world now who are very interested in spiritual development and awakening. I pointed out that many in the school are unaware of this development and of all the wonderful resources that support spiritual growth because we refuse to acknowledge anything outside the Fellowship.
The student commented, “Well, that is not what Robert tells us and I intend to align my thinking with Robert’s.” Then the heavy silence that comes when someone questions or casts any doubt on RB or FOF enveloped us and I knew it was pointless to say anything else.
250/13/Vena
Collusion, False Pretences
It’s an interesting study to see how The FOF governing body makes it’s decisions. Governing body, of course, with RB in the CEO’s chair.
This realization first struck me back when the smoking exercise was first instituted. I was pretty close to the fire at the time and my “informed sources” said the idea came to fruition when RB was given an estimate of the amount of money spent by students each month on cigs, at the same time they were in a money crunch (which is pretty much all the time) and special donations were rising and coming more often.
251/13/Bruce
Fraud, Sexual Predator, Intentional Infliction of Emotional Distress, Negligent misrepresentation, False pretenses
You are buffering the fact that we clearly understand what is going there:
Foolofit) #595 Page 11
“The only thing you need to know is the R. does what he does and definetely doesn’t care if the student can actually digest or process the experience. Some of the guys that went with him were at their first experience with a man or a woman! R. was the first experience for them.
“Many of the young people left the school because it was the only way for them to stop traveling with R. I know the fof’ers will say that it was their choice. But then try to be a young solar-lunar(sorry for the language!) and resist your super-dominant teacher, very experienced in bending (figuratevely) people will …..
“As he said to someone (still traveling with him now) 13 years ago, that was trying to stop traveling after I stopped: “You are a gift from Influence C to me, don’t ever ask me again to stop, take a week off and come back”. His choice of course, but with a lot of manipulation”
“You are a gift…” He is telling this guy that he owns his body and can take it at will and the guy believes it. Anyone else see something more than sick in this “conscious” relationship.
All this talk of the higher ideals of “school” is obscene in the light of what goes on in the backrooms of “a conscious teaching.” Your teacher is a ruthlessly selfish cult dictator and the people around him are the weak-willed, weak-minded types that fall under the dominion of spiritual criminals, they only escape when all innocence within them has been destroyed. See…this is the reason they are not happy about their experiences once they get away. Only then do they completely realize that they were used with less than nothing in return.
307/13/Graduates
Joint Negligence, Intentional Infliction of Emotional Distress
“For your information, Robert has not read a single line of this blog and it is unlikely he will. He has not tried to dissuade anyone from leaving and will not do so. More important there is no judgment from him about it, or about the students–he is simply not even thinking about it or about former students. This may seem different from years ago (and it is)–a sign of evolution, as I see it.” Siddiq
**************
From:
http://www.freedomofmind.com/resourcecenter/groups/f/fellowship/fmrmbr_statement.htm
“Finally, Robert Burton relished destroying anyone who had the temerity to leave FOF. He had his assistant call me after I had left to inform me that, in his words “I had died”.”
The theory is that Robert Burton is actually evolving, now he doesn’t bother to order a boy to call and inform you of your death when you leave.
321/13/Graduates
Fraud, Desecration *f
But, what has changed? In the last years there has been an increasing emphasis upon an almost compulsory attendance to Events along with their attendant high cost. While the Teaching itself grew less and less personally interesting, the image of ‘Our Beloved Teacher’ seemed to increase in importance. These and many other impressions have served to make the School a currently psychologically unpleasant and uninteresting experience for many students.
Another idea relative to the existence of a School is that it exists for it’s own purposes, that is, to fill some need for humanity. From that angle it can be seen as to be guided by someone who is clued in to Higher Centers and thus knows what is needed. Robert has always maintained that the Fellowship serves as an Ark for Humanity, guided (through him) by Influence C. It still may be that, which is how the Sequence and the Keys have emerged into a new formulation of our School’s Mission on Earth. To fully accept that mission means to accept that Robert is fully Conscious, that his Higher Centers are accurately reading the signs from Influence C and that Influence C is best revealed to students through understanding the Keys and the Sequence.
325/13/Bass Ackwards
___________________
*f
It is interesting to note that although Robert Burton considers and portrays the Fellowship of Friends to The Fellowship of Friends as an “ark for humanity”, he, simultaneously builds this ark on the premise that everything else ‘in life’ (humanity at large), not referential to what he is doing in the Fellowship of Friends, is “worthless, pitiful, moon-food, etc.”
I ask the Fellowship of Friends ~ How is it that you have an ark “for Humanity” built with nails labeled “Contempt for Humanity”, not to mention Robert Burton’s total lack of humane treatment of the dying, the ones who say ‘no’ to his (possibly diseased and hiding it) sexual predatory attempts, wives of his ‘be available on my demand, no matter what your wife or child needs in the moment’ ‘boys’, ?
Yet, further up on my list is the question above even those concerning Robert Burton, after all, he’s simply ‘one’, how is it that a thousand people can support such a movie projection being played upon their inner-screen?
You guys must have some pretty funky popcorn to go along with this show.
Joint Negligence, DESECRATION, Collusion, Misapplication of Funds, False Advertising, False Pretenses, Violation of Fiduciary Duty, Conspiracy to Defraud, Fraud
Hi everyone,
I was looking through my old e-mails from 2004 and 2005 and was shocked to see that I was actually getting 1 to 3 solicitation e-mails from Fellowship EVERY DAY prompting me to buy something. Bookmarks, ruffle tickets, trips with Beloved Teacher, dinners, “Thoughts” publications, items for auctions etc etc. Buy, buy, buy! Log on on Propylaia NOW!!!
I recall someone said on this blog (long ago) that there is no pressure in the school to buy things or events, or something like that. Boy, I wish this person looked in my mailbox! I don’t get as much commercial spam from anyone else… I think even used car dealerships pale in comparison with agressive sales tactics used in FOF…
Is there ever enough? How much money does one need to extract from his students in exchange for his teaching? What are we paying for? Where all this money go?
Here’s some excerpts from solicitation e-mails :
THE PREMIERE $25,000 HOLIDAY DINNER
Christmas Day is approaching…..the day Robert is to announce the CHOSEN ONE.
We had 290 Students today receive gift certificates to Robert’s “Premiere $25,000 Holiday Dinner”
We need 710 more responses by FRIDAY CHRISTMAS EVE!!!!! 1000 X $25 = $25,000
Go to Propylaia NOW!
***********************************
Incredible
500 Gift Certificates were sold since our announcement at the meeting yesterday. How wonderful for Robert and for us. World 12……. Let us sell the next 500 by Christmas Eve.
***********************************
You must ask for what you really want!
Method of payment: Send a dollars check made out to FOF to PO BOX 100, Oregon House, CA 95962.
Enter your credit card information on our web site.
Everything you see around you will one day disappear, except Love, which lasts forever. Hafiz
Remember I love you, now and forever. Robert
***********************************
WE ARE NOW AT $85,000! This leaves only $55,000 to be raised for Robert’s Crystallization Gift, so if you did not have time to contribute last week you can go to https://www.propylaia.org now to enter your gift amount.
************************************
On May 12 it will be Robert’s Birthday! This is our Precious gift to him for this year 2005 – with love! 30 diamonds – 30 work I’s – $30,000 to be raised by May 12th! “God will ask at the ressurection: Did ou bring me a present? Did you forget? Did you think you wouldn’t see me?” Rumi
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WE ARE ALMOST THERE…..200 MORE NAMES TO GO….
BUY ANOTHER TICKET!
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BUY ONE MORE TICKET – WE ARE ALL THE WINNERS – 100 TICKETS TO GO……
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Better late than never! Some of you perhaps missed the email about Robert’s Birthday Present!
Go to propylaia and let’s surprise him with more birthday gifts before he leaves Apollo next week!
***********************************
The price for this special holiday dinner is $1000.,
or $500 plus four full-day vouchers.
***********************************
“Now is the time to take what the Gods allow.” Robert
There are still 2 more days to contribute!
Purchase a $44 or $12 bookmark and we will enter you in the Prize Drawing.
*********************************
Have you bought your tickets for the Holiday Prize Drawing? We have only raised $5000 by now!
Looking forward to see you at the Live Auction,
Apollo Auction Team
********************************
Dear Friends, Did you know that 80 students have already purchased a Birthday bookmark, which automatically enters them in the Birthday Prize Drawing? We still need another 280 purchases to reach our goal of $17,000. Have you bought your bookmark? Have you considered purchasing another one?
********************************
Maharajah Tent Inaugural Dinner – $300/ $150
The Imperishable Stars Dinner – $250
Turkish Tea in the Oasis – $150
Sunrise Breakfast with Robert – $250
High Tea at your home with Robert – $4,400
Reception at your home with Robert – $4,400
Breakfast at your home with Robert – $4,400
Dinner at your home with Robert – $8,800
Family photo with Robert – $150
Apollo D’Oro Parking Space – $750/ $400
Galleria Parking Space – $650/ $400
********************************
Our Beloved Teacher will move with presence across the globe once again this time in September to Tel Aviv, Florence and London. Please see Propylaia for Early Reservation and Couples Discount until September 1st.
********************************
38 years of meeting C Influence, 38 years of dedication.
Would you all like to add a $38.00 contribution to your card, it would then become a gift in a Love message?
*********************************
AND JUST REMEMBER:
I LOVE YOU, NOW AND FOREVER. Robert
403/13/Purchasing Awakening
TAX FRAUD, ‘501 Fraud/Violations’
The month before I left, a Burton cell phone bill from one of his cars was over $4,000, and the FoF couldn’t pay it; so Burton just called around and had students put it on their credit card. How does an accountant deal with this? What column in the books does this go on? I’d guess that much of the accounting of the FoF is fraudulent to bypass the requirements of the canons and the intent of non-profit organizations (that they are specifically required to avoid benefit to the organizers). There may be even two sets of books… But to answer in terms of the broad picture, say ten percent for necessary overhead, ten percent for salaries, and the rest to indulging Burton’s every whim and fantasy. Just the costs of maintaining and transporting the on-demand sperm bank has to be over a million a year.
The new FoF website has made it crystal clear that it is now officially “The Church of Robert Burton”, complete with new religion. There is the hook of the Fourth Way link when doing a Google search, in that there are redirects to the new organization; too valuable to abandon.
420/13/Ames Gilbert
Conspiracy to Defraud, Coercion, Collusion, Negligence
Thanks for taking the time to present the ugly facts.
Contrary to false claims by Siddiq that FOF members are not reading the blog, well, they are and whats more many are still being slowly awakened to the reality of the FOF and Burton by continued exposure to it.
Some recent changes that can be directly attributed to it’s influence are the relaxing of the no fraternizing with ex members ‘Rule’ , the freedom to explore other ‘Teachings’ without being thrown out for it and as a measure of how desperate the FOf is becoming at the loss of members/revenue, many students who were backing out of the Fof by saying they cannot afford the donations are being given huge ‘Discounts’ and having there outstanding back payments waived just to keep them in. Also the unprecedented step has been taken of actually calling members who have left recently ( those that just let their subscription expire without any formal departure) to entice them to rejoin again with the dropping of outstanding back payments.
422/13/Mole
Joint Negligence, DESECRATION, Collusion, Misapplication of Funds, False Advertising, False Pretenses, Violation of Fiduciary Duty, Conspiracy to Defraud, Fraud
“BUY! BUY! BUY! More effort! More effort!” – that should be true FOF slogan…
Here’s some more e-mails for your reading pleasure. (2004-2005). This kind of stuff comes to our mail boxes every day, often 2-3 a day… Notice the last message from RVW – it speaks of interesting separation between “Robert’s funds” and the rest of the funds… Which Robert’s funds? It’s all the funds he makes from his dinners, meetings, travels, breakfasts and teas… That’s “his personal money”. These days it means mostly 2 events a day, 2 meetings a week… That adds up to a nice personal fund!
But wait a second… I thought the orgnization was NON PROFIT… So which personal fund are we talking about? And I bet he doesn’t pay any taxes on his personal funds… Hmmm…
We raised $11,000 in the Crystallization 2004
Jewelry Prize Drawing! Please see winners below:
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You can pay in up to FIVE TIME PAYMENTS. This is on the website when you “check out” – it gives you the opportunity to sign up for all of the events with the possibility to pay over 5 months. Robert has asked that each person try to sign up for at least two events. Remember – there is standing room!
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Do you see your name below?
Do you see your friend’s name?
Wouldn’t you like to go to to Vienna and be with your friends and your teacher?
*************************************
There are 206 students that live less than 1000 km from Vienna. 71 are signed up to go.
Why don’t the rest of you get on a bus and go! Sign up on Propylaia….
*************************************
1,000 Tickets To The Vienna Opera House
With Only 72 Left For Sale…Not Bad…Want One?
Did you know that we bought over 1,000 tickets
to fill the Vienna Opera House with students
for Robert’s arrival June 7 – June 14?
Let’s finish this octave…72 tickets to go…
**************************************
We (RVW) face a large payment of $290,000 due at the end of this month – our line of credit that must be repaid in full at the end of June. This year our aim has been to raise the full amount through our own efforts and to pay the loan
off permanently. We have already paid off one half of this amount and are trying to raise the remaining $145,000 over the next two weeks. We are within $30,000 of our goal. If we are short, the Fellowship will need to pay this on our behalf.
12 DAYS to raise $30,000 in sales from the Apollo community…
Every order brings us closer to our goal of meeting our own needs without drawing on the energy and resources of our Teacher.
So an RVW wine purchase not only helps build Apollo today by not diverting Robert’s funds – it also helps build Apollo in the future by improving our credit rating!
****************************************
425/13/Purchasing Awakening
FRAUD, Wrongful Discharge
He has been given enough benefit of the doubt, the time has been far more than adequate, the experiment that has used up half of some people’s lives is fraudulent, the man behind the curtains is a sham. One declaration relayed to me by Peter Bishop, by Burton’s specific request, “Conscience is just a collection of “I”s; anyone accumulating too much material there should leave the school”, tells it all (Note: I have the tape, literally; I recorded the conversation. Advice to all people in the FOF interested in graduation: carry recorders—discreetly, of course— so you can review important conversations and “meetings” later, in a more objective mode, outside the prevailing “belief field”).
So, he feeds and thrives on the power of his students. Gurdjieff called this power, haverno, the power of kingship.
429/13/Ames Gilbert
When we join a school we are asked to give up the illusion that we own our bodies. We find our way into a school looking for awakening, but we are unaware of the payment. When the payment is presented to us, some balk at
the ultimate cost. This is why awakening is called the Pearl of Great Price.
And why shouldn’t it be costly if it guarantees us eternity? All pay differently but all pay the same; they are asked to give up their particular illusions; one of the main ones being that we own our bodies.
EFFECT (Quote from current Fellowship of Friends Member)
It is all grace or the opposite of grace, often both; but the choice is not ours. Conscious Beings are the only ones who are qualified to serve as a go between for Influence C for those who are not awake. This applies to the FoF
and its students; and Influence C, as I know them, do not miss the mark. They, after all, invented the mark.
The methods used in our school to remove the illusions of students do not come from any person, teacher included, but from Influence C. People have every right to leave a school and resume the illusion that they own their bodies.
But if they want to remain in and influence C is intent on lifting that veil, it’s a conflict they won’t win. I’m sorry if these statements offend anyone; it’s a reality that many have verified in our school, as well as in previous ones.
434/13/HC
180
Data info glitch (coincidence?)
Title is ~
EFFECT (Quote from current Fellowship of Friends Member)
Connivance, Fraud, False Pretences, Willful Misconduct *g
I have learned how to self remember from Robert, as well a number of other important tools for waking up. This has changed my life and is changing it still. This is deeply empowering the right part of ourself. As has been said many times over, no one needs to participate in what you call the pathological parts of the school–rather this is where character is built or lost.
450/13/Siddiq
________________
*g
Many hundreds in the Fellowship of Friends are under this impression, that one can ‘pay for’ the “empowering” part, while not supporting the “pathological” part; this is simply untrue, especially when considering the Conspiracy to Defraud students who are lead to believe that they’re in a spiritual fourth way school whose funds are equally dispersed according to their collected needs and wills; again, this is simply untrue and has been for 37+ years under the subjective and reckless greed of Robert Burton.
The attitude above is one of the major ‘buffers’ which keep hundreds of students tuned into imagining Robert Burton’s characteristics and qualities; yet, like the facts concerning the Misappropriation of Funds and Violations of Fiduciary Duties, they are assuming all of the time; very little of the adulation given outwards to Robert Burton from his students is based on Conscience and Essence-verifications, common sense quality of life and humane treatment assessments of the organization as a whole and it’s leader… it is simply ‘wishful thinking’, ‘hope’ projected upon ‘a leader’ who smiles, having practiced to do so, and who uses the name of ‘C-Influence or The God’s’ to coerce and Intentionally Inflict Emotional Distress upon sex candidates who initially say ‘no’ to his advances, so to coerce them into complying, through fear of the gods, their social reputation in close-knit community of friends, their ‘immortal’ souls going to the moon and so on.
Collusion, Connivance, Sexual Predator, Joint Negligence, Conspiracy to Defraud, Negligent misrepresentation
In regards to ~ Howard Carter #433 wrote ~
“We don’t own our bodies; that’s one of the biggest myths mankind perpetrates on itself. Influence C owns them.”
______________
This is one of the biggest myths the FOF perpetrates upon its members and is an example of institutional complicity in Robert’s sexual predatory behavior. Anyone who promotes this belief supports the play of crime. The fourth way literature is quite clear on the origin of ‘c-influence’, influences derived from person to person contact with a living, breathing conscious being.
467/13/Whalerider
Conspiracy to Defraud, Collusion, Connivance
There seem to be a number of central, recurring themes on this blog. One of them is the willful disregarding of the evidence on every level, physical and psychological, internal and external. So, you “turned it off”; that doesn’t mean it isn’t there. When you bury your head in the sand, the world above the sand still goes on regardless. Hiding your eyes with your hands whenever you come across uncomfortable dichotomies and chanting “nah-nah-na-na-nah” doesn’t bring you knowledge, let alone wisdom. You say there is much that seems to go on fine without you, but you are still involved, still responsible; saying “no” to a small aspect does not absolve you of complicity in the rest.
Members of the board of the Fellowship of Friends, take note: Ignorance (especially willful) is no defense, so too “just following orders” is no defense.
Hey, someone should pass on this blog to a PhD candidate in psychology who is looking for a thesis… such rich material!
469/13/Ames Gilbert
Fraud, Corruption in Office *h
Question from current Fellowship of Friends member ~
“Whalerider and all who think that remaining in the school is the equivalent of and condones the “play of crime” etc., does this also mean leaving the USA for some other country when we see Bush commit his atrocities in the world? Can we do something about all the injustice everywhere, all at the same time? Or is there room to make the world a better place, one moment at the time?”
_____________
Answer from Fellowship of Friends Ex-member ~
Bush is not the god of this country like Burton is the god of the fellowship of friends. But, yes we are culpable in the practices of our leaders and if we choose we can try to get rid of Bush, Cheney and the lot and replace with better leaders. Can you do that in the fellowship of friends?
__________________________________________
*h There are no ‘checks & balances’ in this ‘official church of California’; no methods of putting their leader Robert Burton under any level of personal accountability or call for change; every change is seen as ‘official’ and not through personal cause & effect; leaving those with concerns no clear picture as to whether their ‘issues’ are being addressed or even considered… One such student, E., who had issue with the ‘teacher’ (Robert Burton) called him, spoke to one of his ‘boys’ and was later called back to be told not to speak concerning such areas of concern for the next two years… Robert Burton is both Plaintiff, Defendant, Judge, Jury, Guard and stenographer in his office with the Fellowship of Friends: if such things do occur that may hinder his illegal access to funds, like RVW becoming a separate legal entity from the Fellowship of Friends, Robert Burton simply ratchets up fund raisers, special donations, finds ‘needy issues’ (like the need to re-construct the fire damaged restaurant on Fellowship property) within this small, intimate organization to call for aggressive fund raisers, whose proceeds are not applied to said fund raiser cause.
185
472/473/13/Siddiq & KA
Discrimination, Desecration, Disparent Treatment, Fraud, Negligent Infliction of Emotional Distress, Favortism
(This is about a CHOSEN ONE).
1. What is the Premiere $25,000 dinner?
C Influence will choose one student in the entire school to have a wine cellar dinner with Robert and Asaf for the Holidays.
Black tie. Candlelight.
The dinner will be a three course Galleria gourmet dinner accompanied by three wines from Robert&rsquos personal reserve.
Thank you to everyone who participated – we reached our goal of $25,000 …. $25, $25, $25, at a time….
Yesterday, Robert called the winner, XXX at Apollo and let him know that the dinner would be that same night!…
They were taken downstairs into the intimate wine cellar…
Robert spoke about the valuation of the whole school in the raising of the 25,000 dollars, and about the way C influence manifested through this event. …
Robert said that this dinner was worth doing because of the state we were sharing in the moment. …
As the winners were leaving the Galleria, an owl in the cypress tree called to them, “who, who, ‘are you’” reminding them of the great help they have – the owl remained until Robert was called and then the owl flew off. Robert remembered that on New Year’s last year there was also a shock of the owl in the cypress tree.
You are all winners.
480/13/Purchasing Awakening
EFFECT (Negligent Misrepresentation)
187
Note: The same type of owl was later found floating in the Fellowship of Friends ‘Poseidon Fountain’, the largest fountain directly stationed in front of Robert Burton’s home, the Galleria; it had broken it’s neck, having flown into the metal statue the night prior …
These sorts of omens rarely are ‘chosen by the teacher’ as they might upset his choosing which omens from the gods that put his ruling of the Fellowship of Friends in a divine light due to their positive affirmative tone (1/2 the picture he shows, the other half is kept on the dark side of the moon.)
Conspiracy to Defraud
DESECRATION, Conspiracy to Defraud
I am still reeling from your post, Howard! I am glad you finally got that out in the open…maybe now you can separate from it and grasp what you are actually saying!
“Conscious Beings are the only ones who are qualified to serve as a go between for Influence C for those who are not awake. This applies to the FoF and its students…”
Where in the hell did you get that idea? Gurdjieff is rolling in his grave! There is no work book that states that! The fourth way is for the mystic, not sycophant sheep. The fourth way is about gaining self-determination and will through contact with a conscious being and a school for a specific purpose and for a set amount of time! Mystics don’t rely solely on others to change their state or commune with higher forces for them! The fourth way is about personal evolution…creating one’s own connection with the conscious aspect of the Ray of Creation through development of the higher centers in oneself. IN THIS LIFETIME!! Robert only ‘qualifies’ himself; he is a self-proclaimed conscious being and self-appointed dictator of the FOF. Robert was only ‘qualified’ to teach grade school and tennis!
With your statement you separate the Fellowship of Friends from the fourth way tradition and relegate the FOF to a religion! Is this for the good of the members or to preserve your tax-exempt status and keep the money rolling in? For thousands of years religions have created a corrupt priest class who are the authoritative ‘middlemen’ for God and the ignorant believers. That’s NOT the fourth way, that’s the Catholic Church!
Yet you have only one high priest of your religion. He claims that his God commands him to have sex with his younger male students in order to be humbled and to help them in their evolution. Any other religion would ex-communicate a priest who performs his ‘duty’ in that manner. That is not the fourth way! Oh, I get it now…it must be the new fifth way!
BTW, stop lying to yourself and us. The reason you are so hip on obedience is because it is necessary for your own job security that you follow RB’s orders without question and not out of some ‘virtue’. You obey him to cover your own ass and keep your salary; you expect everyone else to do the same so nobody upsets the applecart and you can stay in business.
501/13/Whalerider
False Pretenses, False Advertising, Material Misrepresentation, Invasion of Privacy (no unsubscribe)
And apparently you missed the year 2006!!! The top has been raised, believe me… Thank you for your postings, I left just 4 months ago but I really needed this remainder! Unfortunately, I deleted them from my computer, otherwise I would paste some of them here.
I feel a kind of pain that it is still there…
Unsubscribing the mailing list was impossible (as No Person says, I suppose that there should be an “Unsubscribe” option, but in this case, you know, it was a “divine marketing”…), so the only option you had was buffering or marking the messages as spamming. Furthermore, the marketing messages were often coming from different senders, so you could not filter them in one single operation.
And one day before I left, a friend of mine who still in the Fellowship, told me that “the events do not cost anything…” Buffers?
504/13/Gabriella F.
Joint Negligence, Collusion, Connivance, Fraud in the Inducement, Fraud
What is really blowing my mind about this is that, yes, I used to receive these emails and, yes, I used to skim and delete them, and, no, they didn’t push me immediately out of the FOF – another verification of the deep hypnotism I was under. I still believed RB was a “conscious being” and separated that from the ghastly fund raising, which I blamed on Alison.
Fortunately the hypnotism gradually fell away and I started to see the FOF the way it actually is. You can’t separate RB from Alison’s activities, or any of their other absurdities. He encourages these things, he sets the tone, he’s directly responsible. Siddiq’s compartmentalizing is just another form of lying.
511/13/Rhino Neal
FRAUD IN THE INDUCEMENT
I must confess that I was probably buffering too when I was getting these solicitations years ago. I was quickly deleting them without thinking much about it. Sometimes I even donated money being crushed by ‘feminine dominance’ and ‘peer pressure’….
It was so shocking to see all these solicitations piled up in my Deleted items box. Now I can simply see it all for what it is: shameless money-squeezing scam designed to pay for a excessive life style of one greedy individual. Look they would sell anything – dinners, breakfasts, his published ‘thoughts’, his videos, tours, even pictures taken with him, even book signing! Every day there is a pressure to buy, buy, buy… What for?? And we fools were buying… And smiling… and going deeper and deeper in credit card debt…and declaring bankruptcy…and blaming c-influence… Could I be so gullible?
It’s humbling to see this now.
It’s amazing to see how much money these events were raising… Where did it all go? They say “Apollo belongs to all of us”. So what happened to ‘my part’ of it when I left?….
OK here’s more excerpts from 2004. Gabriella is right – things got worse in 2006… May be i’ll get to it too since I stilll have some from 2006. But let’s read some examples of ‘divine marteking’ of 2004 first…
Enjoy. (And YES it’s all real. I only copy and paste and shortened it a little to save space. Also I took out names and phone ## but I haven’t added a word.)
We have to raise $4,000 more to meet our $12,000 target.
So far, all tickets have been sold within Apollo. We’d like outlying centers to
purchase at least $2,000 for this auction.
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There are 2 more days to enter the 4 July Prize Drawing!
You can be the winner of one of the pieces of jewelry or a trip to Apollo/ Athens. We have raised $8750 by now and
we have to raise $3250 more to meet our goal.
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Touch the Gods with our Teacher in Greece. (2004)
The ATHENA Tour with Robert – $2600 euros.
The POSEIDON Tour with Robert’s teachings – $650 euros.
Reception with Robert -35 euros
Lunch with Robert – 220 euros (seated)
Breakfast with Robert – 220 euros (seated)
Dinner with Robert – 300 euros (seated)
International meeting with Robert – 180 euros(first row), 150 euros (second row), 90 euros (general seating)
Buffet reception with Robert – 20 euros
Tea with Robert – 200 euros (seated)
Credit cards accepted
When should I book a ticket for Greece? RIGHT NOW!
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Let us return again and again to the state of effort, to the miraculous present! The glorious gifts of the gods are not to be cast aside. Homer
New prizes selected by our dear Teacher!
Please visit our website and go to the Jewelry Prize Drawing
and enter the drawing by purchasing a bookmark.
Price is $44 (36 euro).
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One of us could join Robert in his journey to Russia, October 9-13! Any of us can have a chance for only $10.
95 students have already entered and we look forward for the next 85 entries. To enter: Reply in this moment to …
Contact the raffle coordinator in your center or your regional raffle coordinator if you are in a center. Call … or email right now to … if you are in Apollo.
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Dear Friends,
The present moment can even bring you thoughts about
the Jewelry Prize Drawing.
Presence please.
Visit our web site:
and go to the Jewelry Prize Drawing to find out about the Special Prize.
Presence please. The bookmark price is $44 (36 euro).
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Because the Drawing for the Buenos Aires trip will take place this Sunday, November 7 at the Galleria before the meeting, you will need to buy your ticket now! Reply now to …
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This year’s Holiday “Remembrance” Auction already started with the Thanksgiving Prize Drawing (have you bought your bookmark yet?) to be drawn on November 25th. Robert is offering more Holiday gifts that will be included on the Christmas Prize Drawing to be launched right after the Thanksgiving.
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Dining with Robert – Here is Robert’s schedule:
Monday 22:Goethe Room-Breakfast-8:30 a.m.-$150.
Tuesday 23:Goethe Room-Dinner-7:00 p.m.-$200.
Thursday 25:Thanksgiving Breakfast-8:30 a.m.-$200.
Thanksgiving Dinner-3:30 p.m.-$350.
Friday 26:Goethe Room-Breakfast-8:30 a.m.-$150.
Saturday 27:Goethe Room-Breakfast-8:30 a.m.-$150.
Goethe Room-Dinner-7:00 p.m.-$200.
Sunday 28:Goethe Room lunch for 20 at 12:00 p.m. after meeting- $250-at table/$200 with partner/$100 standing
Monday 29:Goethe Room-Bon Voyage Breakfast-6:30 a.m. $150.
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Can you help us reach the goal?
Robert’s goal for the Holiday Prize Drawing is $18000 and we have raised $2600 so far. Please purchase a $44 or $12 bookmark now and we will enter you in the Prize Drawing. The first 5 Holiday Prize Drawing winners will be chosen at the Live Auction on December 12!
Only 3 more days to enter!
Have you bought your tickets yet?
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How wonderful to see so many students from all over the world visiting Apollo! Robert is teaching more than ever having THREE teaching events VERY DAY!
A group of students in Apollo have produced at Robert’s request video recordings of what he considers highest moments of his teaching. Keep up to date with Robert’s conscious teaching and take the opportunity to purchase a video! Have one of your friends visiting here bring it back to you!Purchase your favorite video by visiting our web site by login into propylaia and click on the Apollo Auction link.
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Dear Friends,
Here’s a wonderful New Year’s Resolution for sustaining the New Man within you: Create or add to a personal Video Library of Robert’s Teaching Events.
This collection will provide nourishment for your higher centers for many years to come as well as help the School to grow by contributing much needed monies to our Projects Fund. It’s a win-win situation!
We offer you the following sale items to begin, or add to, your collection: Select 3 items for $100 or EU75
Select 4 items for $130 or EU100
Select 5 items for $150 or EU115
CD’s: Travelling with Robert – volume 1, 2, 3, Dinner with Robert – volume 1, 2, 3, Meeting with the Teacher – volume 1, 2, 3. Select 3 items for $44 of EU35
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Dear Companions,
As Robert has the first teaching events in Madrid this weekend,
Tel Aviv raffle, London raffle and another Milan Raffle are open for your entries from around the world!
New prices!
1 ticket $10.
3 tickets $20
6 tickets $30
12 tickets $40
24 tickets $50.
“When one gains, we all gain”. Love, Robert
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Dear Companions,
The table of Love is the table of the magician.
We have seen enough of the lower centers, it is time to see world twelve. Join us this weekend and the coming weekend at the Teaching Events with Robert!
******************************************
Dear friends traveling to Milan,
Robert is offering to seat with you and sign a volume of a book chosen by you at the reception after the meeting in Milan.
If you would like to purchase a volume of “Best Thoughts” or “Thoughts from the Teacher”, please contact X in Milan. You can also purchase a volume at the Apollo Media Products table after the meeting. If you would like to bring your own volume of a precious book, please do so and contact X.
Book signing: EU 50
Dedication: EU 100.
513/13/Purchasing Awakening
DESECRATION, Fraud, Violation of Fiduciary Duty
This is very true for most of those on salary. But there is also something else more insidious and unhealthy that keeps things going. Many of the men close to Robert (not necessarily the young lovers but the roles do overlap) spent years groveling and ingratiating themselves to get there. They seem to have a desperate need for approval and exalt over any little crumb of attention thrown their way. It was embarrassing to observe. There is something very childlike and immature in this behavior and to see grown men behave this way is sad. Howard Carter is one of these. I could name a dozen others but most people here know the members that I am referring to.
It is also true of some of the women who have maneuvered their way to positions near RB but the dynamic is a little different. It doesn’t seem quite so pathetic.
514/13/Vena
Fraud, Collusion, Connivance
To Rhino Neal 510: I still believed RB was a “conscious being” and separated that from the ghastly fund raising, which I blamed on Alison.
Yes, me too! I believed in ‘kind loving Robert’ for long time…
But think: who is behind all this relentless pushing for money, who selects all the trinkets, fountains, lamps and other ‘projects’, luxuriously travels the world to see ballets and to cruise the Nile and forces community to pay for all this? Do you really think it’s those salaried students who are so eager to collect your money and therefore keep sending you up to 3 stupid solicitations per day? Do you think it’s their ‘initiative’??? Of course not.
It’s Robert himself all day long and his insatiable greed for money. He orders people to do what hey do… And they do…
519/13/Purchasing Awakening
Sexual Predator
(Whalerider wrote to Vena) Vena #512 wrote ~
“They seem to have a desperate need for approval…”
__________
That hit home! I have to admit that was me too, 25 years ago. I was a young neophyte seeker, quite vulnerable and spiritually immature. I was understood that to become more spiritually aware I must relinquish my false personality or ego and place my trust in a teacher. But Robert used this to his sexual advantage to satisfy his own personal desires at my expense like a film director uses his ‘casting couch’.
The spell wore off when I realized I was not the only one sharing my sex energy with Robert and he started pulling my strings and arbitrarily playing me like a trout. I would not let myself become emotionally dependent upon him. I didn’t join a school to play the role of a teacher’s sexual satellite.
Only when you respect yourself can you gain the respect of others.
522/13/Whalerider
FRAUD, Conspiracy to Defraud, Collusion, Connivance, Disparagement, Misapplication of Funds, Favoritism
I had enough of all the unpleasant reactions to the constant emails. My reactions that is. They were unpleasant because they were correct insights into a corrupt organization that I could not buffer sufficiently. All the Hard sells, lies etc.
For example, for Robert Burton’s birthday in 2005 we were offered the opportunity to contribute to purchasing a lovely humming bird broach for him. The broach was already part of his extensive multi-million dollar jewelry collection. It turned my stomach to have such a blatant lie in a ‘real school’.
You cannot believe emails that come out from the corrupt people who run the institution of the Fellowship of Friends. There is no integrity, only manipulation and deceit. If they are honest it is because they need to be somewhat honest in order to continue to retain power.
It is not because they are sincerely honest from within. It is all power and politics. This is normal and would not be a surprise in a ‘life organization’ where one at least has laws to keep criminality somewhat in check. However in what purports to be an esoteric school of Christianity with a conscious teacher it is unacceptable.
Remember Gurdieff made a sheep conscious? When asked what he did with the sheep he said they ate it as that is what one does with sheep.
I suspect that we have been domesticated and are being farmed as relatively awakened sheep who have become dependent on the farm, farm laborers and of course the top of the food chain – the farmer, who milks his inner circle lamb sausages as well as shearing all.
The only way to survive in the school is to separate from reason and discrimination and go with the attitudes that you have created to allow you to stay. There is no doubt in my mind that this is a form of sleep. Even if it feels good and holy and you feel part of something big and important.
Time to leave for me.
524/13/Newcomer
Discrimination, Favoritism, Disparent Treatment
Well, the Powers That Be soon caught wind of my flippant love of my fellow student, and total disregard of all that should be. I was demoted and my religious visa application questioned. But was I good student? Not in their eyes, but oh yes I was. Truly.
527/13/Cake Please
Fraud in the Inducement
Dear Siddiq,
with thousands of dollars I used to contibute each year basically to pay for R.’s entertainment, travels, gardens and statues around his house – the question “was it worth it?’ – heck, NO!
With 1-2 brief visits to Isis per year these are damn expensive “impressions” for those who don’t live there (and for those who live there too!)…
There is a national park 10 minutes from my house, amazingly beautiful, with lakes and mountains and admission is free… Metropolitan museum in New York is also basically free – you pay what you want, often just a quarter… It’s unforgettable, too.
There is just something called “GREED”. Incurable insatiable greed that people refuse to see in their “Beloved Teacher”.
Voluntary fund raising? Dear friend, have you ever been aggressively approached and lectured by authority figures why you MUST contribute? Often it is done in front of others (who already did). It is intimidating, humiliating and very pushy. One feels cornered. No, I would not call it “voluntary”.
One is under heavy pressure, constant never ending very heavy pressure to donate and buy.
You are lying if you deny this.
RB is so busy preparing his “Teaching events” because that’s what brings him money – lots of money. He is searching for stuff to sell to you, silly stories and unverifiable interpretations – and hypnotized people are eager to pay for this utter BS and call it a “teaching”!
When are you going to finally see? Wake up already.
528/13/No Person
Favoritism, Fraud, Misapplication of Funds
In relation to the pseudo teachers excesses, it wasn’t the big things that made me begin to doubt, it was small personal incidents. Like one day being told to go with the secretary and buy some new trousers. When I protested that I didn’t need new trousers and that I didn’t want to use the money that some poor student had scraped together to buy something I didn’t need, I was over ruled.
It occurred to me later that RB liked gift wrapping on his gifts from C inf, that the wrapping enhanced the pleasure.
Another time he and I went shopping alone and I saw how totally unused he was to someone saying no to him, when an old queen antique dealer, refused point blank to haggle with him he was completely helpless he became completely tongue tied and flustered. His lack of ability to separate from it got me thinking.
It is amazing how much I was able to internally readjust in order to accommodate these kind of things and it helps me understand the mental gymnastics and bending over backward that poor current students must go through. Cy.
538/13/Cyclops
Desecration, Fraud, Discrimination, Disparagement
Bruce, I wish you could see the interior of the Galleria now. You would hoot with disbelief. The ceilings have grotesque murals (technically well painted but artistically and esthetically impoverished) of nude students posing as mythological characters, even Julian Hart, completely recognizable, with an erection in the entry way. The back ground color of the mural sin the main salon is pepto-bismol pink. I am not exaggerating.
539/13/Vena
TAX FRAUD
As many here have expressed, a “church” that publicly lavishes its leader with extravagant gifts, vacations and travel, while creating a community dependent upon public welfare for health support may arguably be in violation of its IRS 501(c)(3) tax-exempt status.
It is a moral, if not legal abuse of the non-profit classification, and reflects a general lack of conscience within the Fellowship of Friends leadership.
Perhaps the next Greater Fellowship gathering should include a very public, and media-covered vigil outside the gates of Isis. After all, tax-exemption merely redistributes the tax burden throughout society.
In other words, we all pay for Robert’s indulgences.
546/13/Tim Campion
CONSPIRACY TO DEFRAUD, Joint Negligence, Collusion, Connivance, Fraud in the Inducement, False Pretenses
More ‘Divine marketing’ from FOF:
The Abundance Fountain (Feb. 2005)
It will be a gift to our Dear Teacher as a combined celebration of Valentine’s Day and his Crystallization. The cost of the Fountain is $140,000. In order to purchase the fountain for our city, Apollo, we need to raise $70,000 by next week. It means that we may have to go above and beyond what our instinctive centers would “allow” us to do. To meet this aim we established minimum “gift levels” of $50 for salaried students to $2500 for the rest of the school (these are only a minimum, so please be extremely generous).
Clarification of Per Student Gift Levels: $50 / $100/ $250 / $500 / $1000 / $2500 (Make up to four payments) Please make your contribution before February 14th, Midnight
To make your contribution go to Propylaia – ROBERT’S GIFT.
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Dear Friends,
Would you like to support Robert’s aim of growing even more palm trees for Apollo? You can help by enjoying the Apollo palm jam from the last harvest.
We will also be there with the Apollo Media Products and welcome your generous donation of beautiful objects for the coming Auction.
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TEACHING EVENTS IN CAIRO – April 3rd 2005
5:30pm PHOTOS WITH ROBERT with Pyramids view
6:00pm RECEPTION WITH ROBERT CAIRO April 4th
6:30pm SPECIAL DINNER WITH ROBERT LUXOR – April 5th
5:30pm PHOTOS WITH ROBERT with Nile view
6:00pm RECEPTION WITH ROBERT LUXOR – April 6th
8:30am BREAKFAST WITH ROBERT LUXOR – April 7th
8:30am BREAKFAST WITH ROBERT
6:30pm DINNER WITH ROBERT LUXOR – April 8th
10:00am MEETING WITH ROBERT followed by reception
PHOTOS WITH ROBERT in the Garden
3:00pm TEA WITH ROBERT
NILE CRUISE – April 9th-12th
events on board (to be determined)
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Dear Friends,
The Teacher would like students throughout the School to know his travel plans for the coming year. (2005)
At Apollo :
April 20th – May 23rd
June 15th – July 25th
August 17th – September 26th
October 19th – November 28th
December 14th – January 9th
Traveling :
March 28th – April 20th
May 23rd – June 15th
July 25th – August 17th
September 26th – October 19th
November 28th – December 14th
*****************************
We have prepared a wonderful picture of Robert to celebrate his birthday and mark the beginning of our School’s study of the Egyptian mysteries. This picture shows Robert standing before the Nile River. The river appears in the background like a horizon, with our beloved Teacher appearing above it. Our Teacher will be sitting with you, before the Birthday Celebration dinner at Apollo d’Oro on Saturday May 14th, to sign your photo of him, allowing you to spend a few moments with him on this special day. Pictures without signature are also available. This photo is his way of contributing to the building of Apollo. Shall we join him? Please enter the Apollo Auction through Propylaia or contact us at 692-xxxx.
547/13/Purchasing Awakening
Conspiracy to Defraud, Connivance, Misapplication of Funds
As far as I can see, half his ‘working day’ seems to consist of phoning Alison or whoever, mentioning another ludicrous sum, dressing up the request with some gobbledygook about crystallization, “C-influence requests…” or whatever. Then off she goes to set the machinery in motion…
And this is imaged as a kind of private hobby—so he gets to keep all the gross proceeds and fob off fund raising expenses on the FoF. I’m sure the project is sold as him relieving some the burden of the cost of his lifestyle from the poor students—but they get to pay anyway, don’t they? I’d bet there is some tax dodge going on, as well, like transfers to students with lower tax brackets, payment of taxes at the lower rate, then a quick ‘gift’ back to the source. Hey Siddiq, could you do some research and tell me if I’m right or wrong?
553/13/Ames Gilbert
Fraud, Favoritism, Discrimination, Intentional Infliction of Emotional Distress, Invasion of Privacy, Collusion, Connivance, Violation of Fiduciary Duty, Disparagement
My tipping point.
Kind of slinky-like ring by ring, until there is no going back.
Relatively fast compared with some.
Somewhere between Journey Forth by Day, Bible Keys and Thirty Stars it began.
I was a dilettante working one day a week with the palm octave. It some how made no sense. These gentle women working in the most extreme conditions: mud to your ankles or 100 degrees in the shade to fulfill the will (whim) of the Teacher.
Did it really matter to him that this devoted student was still struggling to get legal status for her husband? So difficult because she did not make enough money on salary to support one of them, two was out of the question.
Or that the sweet Mexican student who suddenly disappeared. Catapulted to Europe because she and Robert loved the same man. And no one would say a word. They closed their eyes and shook their head. The will of the Gods. Please.
Something was definitely amiss.
But still last November, there I was at a small Intervention Dinner for a friend, who for all appearances headed out. Girard was the ringer, he was open and honest. But in the end it all went pie shaped.
My friend had more reasons to leave than most, but still he stayed, trying to make sense of it all.
Then he sent me the first links: one for Kiran, the other for the blog.
This is all so negative, and what are they talking about. Too late for me. I had already bitten the apple.
Question after question, my friends laughing in amazement that I was so clueless. So if ignorance is bliss, knowledge can be hell. But in the end it is the ultimate freedom.
So my tipping point, those I loved. And you, WhaleRider and those who took the courageous first step for all of us, the fearful and hesitant. Saying in the most gentle way, Wake up, fool your life is waiting for you.
And my com padre WhaleRider, I know it is so true
Still haven”t touched down
555/13/Cake Please
Fraud in the Inducement, Collusion, Connivance
As of nine months ago, when I left, Girard was doing the occasional fund raising dinner when RB was away. He had been pretty much marginalized. Asaf is the heir designate – he too leads fund raising dinners, and meetings, much more popular events than Girard’s.
I was a Girard supporter, being appreciative of his honesty, and would attend his events. It was generally the same small group of rather sorry people who couldn’t quite fit in with RB’s faith-based direction. Girard’s events chiefly consisted of him talking at length about obscure topics in a semi-comprehensible way, but it fulfilled some kind of need.
There was none of the excitement or glitz of RB events. For example, dinner service was usually a mess, the flowers would not have been changed since RB’s event a couple of days ago, and so on.
My last lunch at Apollo d’Oro was hosted by Girard. I asked him if he felt any of us were going to awaken in this lifetime. He said that if we made enough efforts we might awaken in our next lifetime. I said that this formulation seemed absurd to me and that I believed waking up in this lifetime was perfectly possible. He looked at me quizzically and changed the subject. I got up and left.
571/13/Rhino Neal
205
‘EFFECT’ is something I would like to add to this example.
Personally (somehow) I simply do not believe those are Girard’s words; so to speak, albeit he said them, they truly belong to the smoke stacks of the Robert Burton war-ship…(my opinion)
Fraud, Sexual Predator
About surrendering my will to Reb, I tried it and from trying it for a long time finally came to the conclusion that it was a mistake. He is not C influence, he is just someone so abnormal that he has you in awe for now.
His misuse of the trust of those young men who put themselves in his trust is an abomination and most definitely the process of crime. Please explain to me in detail how his interaction with them makes for any higher triad.
573/13/Cyclops
CONSPIRACY TO DEFRAUD
More stuff from 2005 marketing campaign:
Greetings!
This is the first in a series of bulletins that will be sent worldwide on the Journey Forth by Day events in August. (2005)
All of you have received a Journey Forth by Day kit. If this envelope is buried in a stack of papers on your desk, or sitting on the back seat of your car, now is the time to pull it out and use it – this is your Journey Forth workbook; it is very “user-friendly”. If you have put your poster on the wall, please take it down and look at the calendar. The little wallet-size card has all of Robert’s dining events on it. There are several very good reasons to register now: (reasons listed)
The revenue from our registrations will cover all the expenses for the 10 days, including 5 ballet performances. Which means that for the first time, Robert does not need to raise the funds himself.
At his Bon Voyage breakfast on Tuesday, Robert said simply that, after Paradise, Apollo was the most fortunate place to be in the Universe.
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We are here to announce a new Journey, a new quest for keys and understanding.
This coming November Robert will re-turn to Egypt.
We can follow him and witness the uncovering of great esoteric secrets.
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“The Golden Pyramid Press is grateful for the opportunity to publish for the Fellowship ‘The Thirty Traditional Stars’ – a publication of the Thirty Precious Work ‘I’s which lead us to the Divine Present.
The prices are:
– $50 – regular copy;
– $100 – copy signed by Robert;
– $150 – copy dedicated by Robert.
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Taste of Turkey!
FRIENDS
TRY YOUR LUCK AND YOU COULD BE ON YOUR WAY TO ENCHANTING ISTANBUL TO JOIN ROBERT FOR A WEEKEND OF TURKISH DELIGHTS. 23rd – 26th September.
1 TICKET $10
4 TICKETS $30
Winner drawn by Girard at the Sunday Meeting so enter Now!
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Last Chance!
Florence has to be one of the most beautiful cities in the world.
Enter the raffle and you could be there with Robert beginning September 30th.
The winner will receive a return flight, accomodation and a seat at Robert’s meeting.
1 ticket $10
4 tickets $30
*****************************************************************
Dear Friends,
We invite you to consider the extraordinary possibility of traveling with our Teacher in Egypt this coming November; not only during the seven days in Cairo and Luxor, but especially during the magical three days that will follow on board
a luxury ship sailing the Nile from Aswan to Luxor.
This experience is more than we can describe.
Our valuation is there. Our desire grows stronger each day.
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At each Auction, we renew our efforts to sponsor even more changes in the
future. We are aiming for $70K for the Project Fund at the Live Auction next
Sunday, October 9th.
Waver no more, think only of the Beloved. – Kabir
“I highly encourage students to purchase this package (Item #44) as it will surely be a keepsake that will continue to give back year after year. Not only is there the video of the Golden Moments, but also the July 4th Ballet, the final installment of the Robert in Egypt video, and the Theatron Meeting with Robert on the 30 Work ‘I’s. The price of the package is less than if you were to buy each video individually.” Linda T.
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Thank you to everyone who generously contributed to our Abundance Auction.
We raised $56k, which helps us to continue building the beautiful Park of Abundance.
We still need $24k more to reach our goal of $80k, however.
Won’t you consider purchasing one of
the following outstanding items that are available? Please take this precious moment to purchase at least one item. You can contribute for as little as $25.
****************************************************************************
FRIENDS!
Last chance!
Tomorrow at Robert’s meeting, we will draw another winner for the 7 day package!
We will have another drawing for the 11 day package, as soon as possible, after that.
So please try your chances again !
************************************************************
Dear Travellers to Egypt,
Do you remember Robert’s idea, initiated in 2001, to ‘Give a Gift and Buy a Gift’ to help build Isis by supporting the Auction?
Would you consider buying a quality item in Egypt and donating it to the Holiday Auction Faire that will be held daily at Apollo d’Oro starting on December 10?
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YES WE ARE GETTING THIS EVERY DAY. HUNDREDS OF THIS EACH YEAR. THIS IS WHAT THE SCHOOL HAS TURNED INTO.
BUYER, BEWARE!
590/13/Purchasing Awakening
VIOLATION OF FIDUCIARY DUTY, FRAUD
Cite the fourth way book that states one has to permanently give up one’s will to awaken. The only thing I recall one has to give up permanently is one’s false sense of oneself. The lower self has fractured wills and no main will other than self-preservation. Having an aim is what changes all that. (Basic fourth way.) I am not talking about the aim to be a good student the rest of one’s life. It is the aim to know thyself, to be true to thyself.
The main point we disagree on is the idea of giving up one’s will permanently and allowing Robert being the permanent guide. Do we need to be force fed our shocks or can we eventually learn to be self-sufficient and get our shocks from everyday life, our daily bread? To be or to follow (not to be), that is the question!
IN THE BEGINNING of work on oneself…it is necessary to give up one’s will. How is giving up your will and doing what you are told to do by a ‘higher will’ for fear of ex-communication more conscious living, especially if doing what you are told eventually goes against your conscience? (Remember that queasy feeling in the pit of your stomach?) When one is dependent upon another it creates a decidedly ungrounded, unbalanced state of mind. Don’t you think?
The REAL question, Howard, or whomever you are, is do you experience your higher centers or do you defer yours to Robert? I have been talking about mine for weeks now like a babe crying in the wilderness and nobody else seems to have the balls to talk about theirs. Can you?
BTW ‘c-influence’ doesn’t own our bodies, the Earth does. We just rent them.
591/13/Whalerider
TAX FRAUD, Disparent Treatment, Collusion, Connivance, Favoritism, Discrimination, Misapplication of Funds, Fraud
Purchasing awakening…
If what you posted is true, oh my god, RB is acting like a prostitute!
He seems to have a relentless creativity for getting money…
Here is a little true story:
Years ago RB was giving to some of the students in Renaissance his used luxury clothing items like shoes etc.
In the meantime these students had to re-pay RB back for the value of their gifts. How? A sum of 50 dollars was added to the already meager salary for a few months until the value of the gifts were repaid by the students themselves who had to write a check back to RB.
A way to make extra cash…. Obsessive compulsive disorder for sure.
RB’s defendants, please find a good excuse for this.
595/13/Vera.Mente
210
Another example of ‘subtle negativity’… Besides the obvious points in this story; there’s also the fact that his students paid for the gifts in the first place: so they paid for them twice. In essence Robert Burton is asking TWICE for the same gift’s measure of intent…
Conscious Being…? Cheez Whiz!
DESECRATION, Misapplication of Funds
“Better late than never! Some of you perhaps missed the email about Robert’s Birthday Present!
Go to propylaia and let’s surprise him with more birthday gifts before he leaves Apollo next week!”
This one got my attention. Ha! The man never tolerated, much less, appreciated surprise gifts. Do you really think he would allow students to spend $30,000 on “surprise” birthday gifts the HE DIDN’T CHOOSE??
The concept of a gift as a symbolic gesture of affection and respect was not present in RB, as far as I could observe. He was a pure shopper in the mode of the character “Elle” in the movie “Clueless”. Rodeo Drive in Beverly Hills sickens me to this day.
Looking at recent photos of RB, it would appear he shops at the “Super fly” boutique on Rodeo Drive. Who’s dat pimp??
602/13/Dick Moron
Fraud, Desecration
Howard Carter, Siddiq, et al, the Teacher you serve does things that hurt the Essence of other people, even or especially his students. He has no Conscience. And yes, a Teacher has all the right and necessity to destroy Personality (both False and True), and Nisargadatta was a master at it, but no, not Essence. Essence is where we start from, where we grow from. Only a damaged essence with no Conscience would think otherwise. Howard, I suggest you take a little time out and read some of Nisargadatta, he is the future of our School, if there is one to be had.
608/13/Bass Ackwards
Tim – the funniest thing about ‘gambling for enlightenment’ is that Robert himself issued an exercise ‘not to gamble’ few years ago.
You can’t gamble ‘in life” but please gamble away in the school! Every day there is some kind of raffle.
Don’t waste your money out there – bring it to me! We are all winners, remember? And I love you, now and forever…
What a joke…
619/13/Purchasing Awakening
_________________________
Thousands of dollars are spent each month at a chance for 1 or 2 people to have a ‘teaching dinner’ with Robert Burton; of course the ‘drawing’ is never ‘televised’… It would be a pity for some ‘not-so-good looking’ or ‘an outer circle member’ to win; it would be the India airport in miniature and at the galleria at that. (Hearsay? Go figure…)
214
False Advertising, False Pretenses, Favoritism, Discrimination
____________
! I just counted the initial list of culpable ‘offenses’ at the top of the page and by golly they equal 44 or $$… Well, now of course no one will ever believe that I didn’t plan that one, albeit I did not… Gives me a whole new (sorta new) idea of the meaning of 44 (I mean outside the $$ meaning)…
Let’s hear it for coincidences beyond Oregon House…
Conspiracy to Defraud, Sexual Predator
Let’s just say we will stick to spiritual laws for the sake of carrying on a discussion here…since sex with a minor is technically against the ‘other’ law… and technically a criminal offense. So anyone within the Fellowship at the time of the, shall we say, ‘Troy incident’ (excluding myself, gratefully) is complicit in that little play of crime due to your support of the institutional manipulation (i.e. form of the school, including the gossip exercise) that kept members in the dark about Robert’s predatory sexual behavior. I believe that very manipulation style was outlined in the civil complaint, making the board of Directors named in the suit culpable. One could argue that’s technically a conspiracy that includes anyone who ‘materially’ supported the FOF as well.
So why don’t you and I (and anyone else whom cares to) contemplate on what some spiritual laws are (that we could agree upon) and come up with some long thoughts about crime in that sense?
623/13/Whalerider
Conspiracy to Defraud, Material Misrepresentation, Misappropriation of Funds, Collusion, Connivance, Fraud in the Inducement, Violation of Fiduciary Duty, False Pretenses
He is paid to teach why not minimize his control over all aspects of Fellowship Life? Why not make him learn to work with a budget? Why not demand a say in “your school”. Has there ever been a vote on anything. Do you even know who is on the board. What difference if the condition for membership is Robert’s approval? Robert Burton has proven he is unable to prophesize anything. What will it take to gain a little common sense?
How much is spent on debt service monthly? Is there a yearly financial statement? Do you have access to the books? Why not? Shouldn’t an esoteric school have a sufficient level of being to be financially transparent or at least legal?
Have you seen the Canons? Do you know this is a legal contract that you agree to as a condition of membership? Do a search read the Canon’s Robert planned to control the Fellowship from the beginning and has driven out the real teachers like Miles Barth, Stella Wirk, Donald MacDonald and who knows how many others.
What Does Robert teach or do to help students understand the experience of higher centers? Shouldn’t this be one of the primary tasks for a conscious teacher-helping his students achieve a transition to man #4. He doesn’t do it because he doesn’t know how. He never reached the level of man #5 he has unresolved contradictions. This is not possible in a man#5. Man #5 is conscious of them selves. There is no way Robert did not know he was a predatory homosexual and to hide this from his followers is a crime.
To defend a crime is to be an accomplice. Being a fool is not a defense to this. The closer to Robert, the more one knows about his activities the more of an accomplice one is. Some who support the cocksucker for so many years with full knowledge like Linda Kaplan-whatever have no soul or possibility of developing one.
Those who truly want to develop have to find their own conscience and act on it. There is nothing to lose. What ever is real is yours forever. What ever is false is not worth clinging to. Robert had failed his followers in life what good will he be in death?
628/13/A Former Student
____________________
There is no authoritative body of persons above Robert Burton’s subjective, personalized will; it is his will that manipulates the taxes paid, the properties given to his ‘favorites’, the special financial gifts and loans to his ‘boys’, the illegal constructions, the illegal religious visa, the illegal green card marriages, the illegal discrimination of bringing ‘certain male students’ to ISIS free of charge while others are not ‘brought’ or (bought) to experience ISIS and there’s always the ‘payback price’, in which Robert Burton uses the fact that he brought so and so over, etc., in order to lean on them a sort of ‘abliged to return the favor’ deed/service.
There is no checking of the books, not financial statements; any inquiry into these official ‘concerns’, first result in a warning, secondly a leave of absence (resulting in a re-entry fee of $1500 – $2500 dollars) or complete exile from Oregon House and the Fellowship of Friends.
There is no such thing as demanding from Robert Burton; he is under the sway of an insatiable greed feature (redundant) and unlimited resources and power attached to his followers insatiable need to keep his ‘conscious-affirmative-impression’ seeming spotless, free, shinning and unlimited in it’s power to do anything he wishes, i.e., being ‘fully conscious’ means to the Fellowship of Friends, being fully able to use anyone and any set of circumstances for his will ‘not to be defeated’…
It is a notorious ‘crime’ at ISIS to defeat or imply defeating ‘the teacher’s will’, no matter what level of self-loathing or legal risk (Abraham G. being debarred for 6 months due to ‘not being formatory with Robert Burton’s needs) a person is implied to take; it also results in an inner panic and expression of impatience and a vehement negativity in the person asking on behalf of Robert Burton for you to please allow him to sodomize or do whatever he feels ‘he, as an angel in a man’s body’ has the ‘conscious right’ to do to you, regardless of your feelings, your wife’s feelings or that person’s asking on behalf of Robert Burton.
It is routine for Robert Burton (during weekly ’52 a year’) receptions to send out his ‘boys of the inner circle’ into the crowd of new visitors and familiar faces to recruit them for the ‘after reception-reception’… This results in some pretty bizarre confrontations with unsuspecting peoples… another book in the making. _
Sexual Predator
I had at least expected one of you to tell us that such behavior as tearing the trousers off of students and performing fellatio upon them is a consciously chosen shock to help them to separate from their physical attachment to their body and their sexuality. That Robert takes no pleasure in it and suffers it and the consequences of it in a selfless way for the benefit of his beloved students. That he just couldn’t come up with any other way of creating shocks for them. Its a HARD job but someone has to do it. Oh and by the way, you do realize that according to the idea of ladders Everyone including you will eventually have to play that role! So get practicing!!!
629/13/Cyclops
EFFECT (Collusion, Connivance, Joint Negligence)
Most current members are too busy with real work on themselves to be busy reading the canons but since all that stuff is posted here, knock yourself out and keep repeating the same old insulting language. It is very arrogant for you to think you can determine the work of someone else, and beyond that, why do you think anyone should care about your anonymous opinion?
630/13/Siddiq
EFFECT (Negligent Infliction of Emotional Distress)
I remember, while a student at my deepest level of commitment, developing a strange feeling of personal persecution by the “gods.” If something difficult was happening and I happened to see a 44, for example, I felt certain I was being singled out for suffering by Rilke or Queen Elizabeth. Surely this is a pathological state of mind, and one I have been glad to relinquish. But it is the inevitable state one arrives at when believing in the Fellowship’s peculiar world view.
635/13/Innernaut
220
It may seem that I am ‘grasping for straws’ on this one; yet, to me ‘friction’ is not something to be connected to being a ‘victim’ or ‘target’ of a god or by default ‘being one of Robert Burton’s students’… It is a deeply personal realm, untouchable by ego (although ego celebrates the effects of suffering) and truly inaccessible by others ‘objectively put’ definitions and say so concerning its origin and point of departure.
Robert Burton’s greed and dominance has even made it’s way into defining the origin and meanings of one’s suffering, from people dying for having broken the jazz-dance exercise to determining suicides by quadriplegics as ‘spiritual crime’, a crime against the gods, the school, etc., with no relative description of the person’s circumstances, only a cult-bomb of contempt for the suicide event, as though it were an insult to his dominance that someone did something without his permission…
Certainly, in my opinion suicide is a ‘spiritual something’, though exactly what, when the body and role of a soul is truly of very little relativity so far as it’s continued existence after the suicide; as all crimes seem to imply (excepting the ignorance of applying the dead sentence to the flesh and only crystallizing an aggravating aspect into the spirit even more so, upon its release) there is a chance of redemption;
there is no sense of redemption in Robert Burton’s school (excepting paying $1500-$2500 dollars to get back in, that is if he does not have an account with you; remember Paula’s story?) only suspended animation in paradise or digestible morsels for the moon, aka HELL.
EFFECT (Fraud, Intentional Infliction of Emotional Distress)
I remember when RB and I were at odds over his advances he’d drop shit like “George Gurdjieff is working personally with you” to make his repulsive overtures seem like a gift. Even now, thinking about it, the hairs on my neck stand up.
636/13/Bruce
REFERENCE (The Fellowship of Friends is a Fraudulent Spiritual ‘school’, posing as a Fourth Way organization.) One of the original three main contributors to the Fourth Way establishment in the West is Rodney Collin, the author of the article below ~
Excerpts from The Theory of Celestial Influence
Chapter XIII THE SIX PROCESSES IN MAN (ii) \
I CORRUPTION
THE PROCESS OF CORRUPTION OR DISEASE ARISES WHEN FORM, breaking loose from its proper function, overcomes life, and reduces the whole to inertia and dead matter. The order of the creative agents in this fourth process is, form, life, matter…
To understand the corruptive process, we have to understand the idea of poison in a much wider sense than we are accustomed. There are physical poisons, intellectual poisons, emotional poisons. There are poisonous drugs, poisonous insects and poisonous men.
One may suffer from a poisoned finger, a poisoned mind or a poisoned society. And in every case the nature of the poison is that it undermines the unity of the organism, cuts off the part from the life-flow of the whole and leaves it to fester helplessly on its own.
In the world of men the process of corruption appears as crime. And its understanding provides a test by which different social conceptions of crime may be objectively judged. Real crime will be that in which knowledge, skill, understanding or forethought (form) are used to destroy higher possibilities (life) leaving the situation of the victim at a lower level than before (matter).
By this criterion society is right in regarding murder -in which man takes thought to deprive another of life, leaving only the inert matter of his corpse, as the classical crime. Intentional stealing, by which the victim is stripped of goods, savings, or possibilities, is also crime. But so too is wilful lying which leaves a situation corrupted, and others -previously open-hearted -now full of malice, suspicion, envy or distrust…
…forethought (form) are used to destroy higher possibilities (life) leaving the situation of the victim at a lower level than before (matter). By this criterion society is right in regarding murder -in which man takes thought to deprive another of life, leaving only the inert matter of his corpse, as the classical crime.
Intentional stealing, by which the victim is stripped of goods, savings, or possibilities, is also crime. But so too is willful lying which leaves a situation corrupted, and others -previously open-hearted -now full of malice, suspicion, envy or distrust.
Sometimes it is objected that stealing depends on the nature of our society, that if there were ample goods freely distributed there would be no stealing. This argument misses the chief characteristic of stealing, which is an attempt to get something for nothing.
Since it is a universal law that nothing can be had for nothing, that everything must sooner or later be paid for in one way or another, such an attempt must always be at someone else’s expense. In this sense robbery of money or goods, plagiarism of ideas, even the stealing of souls, are all of the same nature.
Whether it takes place in a back-street or in paradise, stealing is not innocent.
In this way, much that society regards as criminal is not really criminal at all, but at worst inadvisable or merely foolish. While on the other hand many things which society itself supports and justifies as ‘patriotism’, ‘loyalty’, ‘freedom’, ‘duty’, ‘responsibility’ and so on, may contain a strong criminal tendency.
To what other process, for example, can belong propaganda, which -ingeniously using the skill of the artist, the experience of the psychologist, and the technique of the scientist endeavors to put to sleep or destroy natural living judgment and replace it with a single standardized attitude, temporarily expedient from the point of view of a single policy, a single government or a single advertiser? In the modern world, the deliberate and often
official killing of individual judgment and conscience constitutes crime on such a large scale that it becomes invisible,
and men can not even imagine living under any other conditions. For in this way, the chief possibility of all -that of conscious development -may be destroyed for thousands and even millions of people.
Such people, who no longer possess individual judgment, individual conscience, individual remorse, or the power of reacting as living individuals to the circumstances and demands of life, may continue to the end of their days…
the process of corruption on the contrary results in the reduction of the living itself to inertia and to death.
659/13/A Former Student
__________________________________________
This whole description applies to the affirmative deeds of Robert Burton and The Fellowship of Friends.
CAUSE
I could do an analysis of the ideas in Collin’s description of crime but do a little thinking for your selfs. Robert’s actions clearly fir the definition of objective crime. His is the greatest of crimes to steal potential souls. He has become a “hasnamus” He attacks essence to take the highest potential of a human being and twist it and warp it through his own weaknesses. To tell a devoted student that he is a divine being sent to suck his cock is an absurdity so ridiculous we would not believe it possible yet it is true, even Robert admits it.
661/13/A Former Student
DESECRATION
During auction events Robert Burton’s ‘discards’, ‘throw backs’, ‘doesn’t fit anymore’, clothes, ties, cuff links, etc., are up for sale ‘under the auction tent’, quiet like, though out in the open, (including shirts that he bought for the boys; having bought a few extra for the auction (making a profit off students), shirts for anyone who they happen to fit that its luster bit (a hook perhaps?)
Now, there’s some crazy stuff, his own students buying back (he making a profit) what they themselves purchased in the first place… whew! What a ride…
Who needs Disney Land in the off season? Putt putt in Oregon House… I think it’s a Par 1 from the entrance to the Galleria entrance.
672/13/Unoanimo
FRAUD, False Pretenses, False Advertising, False Impersonation, Negligent Misrepresentation
Dear FOF,
thank you for removing the Gurdjieff-Ouspensky-Center pages from the net like I requested on the 10th of May. See my post:
Remember to also stop advertising your organization as Gurdjieff-Ouspensky-Centers in the internet.
There are people who own the right to use Gurdjieffs name for their business, but the FOF does not have that right.
I ask you to please stop your Adwords campaign until July 15th.
675/13/A Friendtrademarker
REFERENCE (The Fellowship of Friends is a Fraudulent Spiritual ’school’, posing as a Fourth Way organization.) One of the original three main contributors to the Fourth Way establishment in the West is Rodney Collin, the author of the article below ~
From Rodney Collin, The Theory of Celestial Influence, pg. 239-240
“There is however a fourth way…this way consists in mastering instinctive, emotional and intellectual functions at the same time, in transmuting pain, fear, and thought into their higher counterparts of will, love, and understanding simultaneously…. And he (the student) tries to harmonize the work of these functions, to make them help each other, and serve the same aim…. (one’s own, not someone else’s) The fourth way is carried out in the conditions of ordinary life…The man going by this way has to carry out all his experiments and efforts in his usual surroundings, and all these experiments-apart from the inner results for which he works-must also yield external results which are reasonable and beneficial from an ordinary point of view.
For him, consciousness will not be dependent on special associations, but will be that which accompanies him always, fasting or drinking wine alone or in a crowd, laboring or meditating. It will be that which lights up all that happens….the fourth way (student) must learn to be brave, good, and wise at once. And if he fails to aspire to any one of these qualities, his work and development is help up precisely at that point.”
The fourth way is precisely what has helped me ‘yield external results’ that have benefited both me and my family. When I left Renaissance, I left with nothing more than a suitcase and my understandings for which I paid dearly. I strongly believe that the fourth way, when practiced in the manner in which it was intended can make you better at what you do. It must be practical for you or you are on the wrong path. The most important requirement: you need to believe in yourself.
The sooner those of you still ‘in’ take action based upon your understanding, exercise courage, love yourself, (including your ‘lower self’) get out and on your own, the sooner your development will commence.
Robert is where he is due to the role he created for himself. He has borrowed from others and looks for his validation outside himself in the form of ‘signs’ and synchronicities because deep down he is running on empty. I can tell you this based upon first hand experience, unless you are a ‘professional’, it is only safe to love a sociopath and pathological liar from a distance. They will eat you alive.
Robert would have you be stuck and dependent on the institution of the FOF for THE REST OF YOUR LIVES while he indulges himself at your expense. That’s the ‘fucking, sucking’ truth.
Your fate cries out…
677/13/Whalerider
REFERENCE (A Letter of Conscience) Concerning the Fellowship of Friends Conspiracy to Defraud
When Abraham Goldman subpoenaed me in 1996 to get documents relating to the Troy Buzbee case, I enclosed this letter with the material he requested.
21 October 1996
Abraham,
One final appeal to your conscience. As the person best equipped in the Fellowship to bring the reign of madness of Burton to an end, you must act to do so. You are the only one with complete access to the information, to all the evidence accumulated through the years, and you have been Burton’s confidante for all these many years.
Please think back to when you joined the Fellowship. Surely, if you had by a miracle been given the knowledge of knowing then what you know now, you would have turned away. It cannot have been your ambition to end up catering to a charlatan and a pervert, covering for his mistakes and predations, wearying yourself to the bone with lies to cover his omissions and commissions? Surely you imagined a life of openness, not lies? Surely you imagined a life among true friends into whose eyes you could look with joy and honesty, knowing they could see the same in yours? Surely you did not imagine a life where your final defense against your own conscience would be, “I was only following orders”? Please, wake up and follows your conscience. D not be afraid. There is so much love and help and forgiveness—if you wish. Face up to your responsibility. You could help so many people by telling the truth, now. You could save so many people so much heartache in the future. But, best of all, you could be helping yourself. You must have lain awake many nights struggling with the latest revelations of the day about Burton, and your heart must have ached to be in a place where none of this had anything to do with you. Such a place exists, both psychologically and physically. Look within. Act and forgive yourself, as all others with a good heart already have. Nothing can take away your responsibility for your past actions; you must face up to them yourself, but there is all the help you need if you ask for it.
You can make your life exactly as you wish it. You have done so until now, and will do so in the future. It is your gift from God, to do with as you please. If you wish to continue as you have done—thy will be done. If you wish to break away from this mess—thy will be done. It is up to you.
Know, that even if I personally am sometimes angry about the situation, I am not angry with you. You have your lessons to learn, and you have chosen your path. But, know that I believe you are strong enough to create joyful changes, if you wish. I send you loving wishes and encouragement.
(signed)
Ames Gilbert
I’ve reproduced this letter because I want to dedicate the ‘feeling tone’ of this letter to Girard Haven. Of all the sorry list of petrified “higher ups” in the FoF, I get the sense that you are in the most turmoil, and so have the most possibilities. Girard, if you left the FoF, and you should, all your work and efforts are still counted, they are not wasted. The goal you have sought for so long is attainable, it is literally a heart–beat away. There are guides available who are interested only in helping you make that one internal step from prison to freedom. Make the decision—leave now.
678/13/Ames Gilbert
EFFECT
Ames: “Girard, I’ve heard a vile rumor that you are calling yourself a man number five.”
Girard (after a long pause): “Well, yes, I’ve received certain indications there are changes that show that is a possibility.”
Ames: “Ohhh, Girard! If you become a mini-Robert, you’re digging a dark pit you’ll have great difficulty climbing out of.”
Girard: (!!)
(He looked pretty shocked, and I turned and walked away…)
685/13/Living the Questions
EFFECT (Conspiracy to Defraud)
I hope Girard is able to hear and consider your sincere wish for him. He will have alot of illusions to give up. He has had a role that required him to use his mechanics to explain anything that
Robert dreamed up. And he was always on que. His formatory apparatus was perfect for finding a way, no matter how illogical, to explain and justify Robert’s bizarre claims and actions. Unfortunately he seems to believe his own propaganda.
His book is a good example of this kind of reasoning. Almost every paragraph begins with something like “Thus we see”, “Therefore”, Consequently”, So it follows”, etc.
To Crouching Tiger #676:
‘I guess it comes down to how you see Robert’s connection to C Influence’.
It occurred to me years go that if he ever had such a thing it must be pretty faulty. Nothing that he has indicated that they have communicated to him has been correct. I was always amazed that he kept using this ploy and even more amazed that students kept buying it and even worse that some are still buying it. I once tactfully asked a student close to him if all the failed predictions didn’t make Robert question this alleged connection. The student was slightly taken aback that I would even suggest such a thing and the subject was dropped. Actually he uses Ouspensky’s idea of C Influence like a “boogie man” to keep students in line.
699/13/Vena
FRAUD IN THE INDUCEMENT
Siddiq,
Robert requires those monetary contributions and is fully responsible for all tacky solicitations. He is the ultimate authority and, despite all his snobby aspirations, resorts to begging for cash from beleaguered suckers.
(It would be interesting to know what “class” he was born in to. Probably middle class.)
Even if you have cut yourself off from the incessant solicitations, you are still beholden to them because it is an intrinsic part of acquiring consciousness under the rules of your school.
I remember all the twisted reasoning about making extra contributions and most times the extras were certainly NOT voluntary.
There is no doubt that the pressure and the members’ subsequent “willingness” to contribute was relative to the possibility of reaping the benefits of consciousness or not. There was no separation and there was an intrinsic threat that if one did NOT contribute, their goals toward consciousness would suffer.
There was always some sense of measurement of one’s commitment to the school and/or level of being and/or desire for consciousness in his or her willingness to eat Top Ramen for a few weeks in order to cough up the grocery money in exchange for gaining “consciousness”.
Any meeting I ever attended included the dreaded announcement about contributing for some statue or piece of art that the spoiled man desired and those requests increased over time. They did not mention these extras in the prospective student meetings.
I was, in no way, shape or form able to afford anything above and beyond the monthly payment. (I was young, living in NYC as an artist.) Still, I was told that most of the extras were mandatory, not voluntary.
Robert is a highly dubious figurehead, who requires cash in exchange for something that is free to anyone, anytime.
For heaven’s sake, I gave that man my pitiful coins, which probably payed for an occasional, but elaborate martini at a fine restaurant in Egypt. Sheer folly.
I no longer have any patience for anyone’s inability to see the contradictions. I can’t bear the pathetic, pitiful justifications. They entirely lack intelligence and reflect emptiness and desolation.
Siddiq, that now includes your stated awareness of the horrific nature of those incessant solicitations by virtue of the fact that you block them. Nevertheless, you are unable to see the crystal clear implication in those greedy, pathetic solicitations of corruption in your school and its teacher.
Why?
700/13/Laughing Love
REFERENCE – companion to 231
Whoever told you the “extras” were mandatory and not voluntary lied to you. We consistently and successfully resisted nearly every solicitation for extra donations – we simply said “no, thank you”. Never gave RB a Christmas gift, a birthday gift, a crystalization gift, never had my picture taken with him, wouldn’t buy a French gas street light, never bought raffle tickets after the first year or so (we don’t gamble, after all), and in the past 3 or 4 years, we went to maybe 1 event per year (they made me so depressed and disillusioned).
That said, we did have to say “no thanks” over and over and over and over…… and I wish that I’d had the courage to tell the fund raising crew to not bother us when we were having a conversation over potager lunch. Maybe wear a sign that said “No soliciting, please”. Ask if we could get on a “do not call” list. But that would have been subversive, “expressing negativity”.
701/13/Sharon
FRAUD IN THE INDUCEMENT
To Sharon (690)
I agree that all requests were not mandatory. It would also appear the the solicitations have increased ten-fold in the years since I departed.
Still, at the time in which I was a member, there were certain extra contributions that were mandatory and no one was lying. Of course the lines were blurred to further confuse and manipulate members.
More importantly and, as I tried to express in my post, there was a certain implication that one’s willingness to contribute monetarily was intrinsically related to one’s desire and willingness to work for consciousness.
That was my main point.
The idea of needing to sacrifice monetarily for consciousness was clear. Frankly, I don’t remember the language that was used, but it was manipulative and was clearly used to intertwine the desire for consciousness and the wilingness to open one’s bank account freely, irregardless of how plentiful a person’s means were.
In addition, and without a doubt, there is a hierarchy relative to economic status and an individual’s generosity or lack thereof.
Further, the implication is that a strong monetary contributor is a good student on a very happy path to the elusive goals.
Lastly, I had one experience in which I simply could not afford to make a DEFINITELY mandatory extra contribution for some faggy statue, and in my discussions with other students, they easily “photographed” my reluctance as a lack of commitment to my quest for consciousness.
(Sorry to use the word “faggy”. It is derogative, but somehow apt at the moment.)
Back in reality, I was simply a poor, young artist living in Manhattan. I wanted to create my own statues! I also really wanted to pay my rent and eat some food that would feed my tiny soul.
Best, LL
706/13/Laughing Love
FRAUD IN THE INDUCEMENT
Sorry, LL, I was not clear with you – I did not mean to imply that there was not a lot of manipulation and that it might feel like these extra payments were mandatory. Your point is very well taken. But, I’m pretty sure that we did not contribute to any statues. Maybe I misremember. Or, someone in your center might have been lying to you – I really wouldn’t be surprised – perhaps they wanted to be able to say that there was a 100% contribution level from the NY center, or wherever. Or Alison leaned on them to squeeze as much out of you all as possible.
Robert once made a comment at a Wordsworth room dinner that I took kind of personally, about “stingy Lunars” – yep! I’m quite stingy where superfluous trashy acquisitions, white elephant unusable huge Theatrons, flashy circus “ballet” galas and gaudy trips down the Nile are concerned. And yes, I got a lot of “photographs” from other, more devoted, students. Maybe it’s lucky for me that Robert’s taste is so different from mine – I might have been tempted to empty our pockets for a nice concert hall with excellent acoustics and decent backstage and practice rooms. (And then where would we have been when my husband lost his job partially due to his new boss reading so much about RB’s shenanigans on the internet. Declaring bankruptcy like some others?)
Anyway, we are really coming from a similar place, LL.
712/13/Sharon
FRAUD IN THE INDUCEMENT
To Sharon (701)
Are there reports of bankruptcies due to the expense of being a member?
I wouldn’t be surprised, but I’m curious.
Yes, perhaps I was lied to, or at best, pressed vigorously for a contribution.
I only know that I was constantly uncomfortable and felt that almost anything I did was wrong and certainly not right.
I was vulnerable, weak, strange and at odds with everything and everyone, most importantly, myself.
That was true despite the fact that I had heard of the pedophilia charges.
Pedophilia, from my perspective, is one of the most heinous acts any can engage in. It ruins the victim’s life.
One of my best friends was a victim of pedophilia and he can barely breathe, though his spirit is strong.
Sexuality is so complicated and beautiful. The idea of violating a youth’s privacy is abhorrent.
It’s strange that I felt guilty about not contributing to the purchase of a statue for a man who was violating at least one youth’s absolute essence.
I write on this discussion board because I know deeply in my heart that Robert Burton is not only a false authority, but a deeply disturbed human being.
I was deeply disturbed to believe in his circus and I deeply encourage any who is still involved to depart and find freedom from what is, clearly, tyranny. LL
715/13/Laughing Love
EFFECT (Misapplication of Funds, Collusion, Connivance)
Many students went bankrupt a few years ago. It was even fashionable. People would buy a new car and went to several events and then would sign for bankruptcy. I wish I would have made a list…
Maybe people can come forward ….There were more then two.
And I am sure there are many more…
Interestingly enough many of them were Americans…
What about medical care and insurance….many students had a play of needing medical care and were not able to pay. Several of them probably went bankrupt, one time or another. I know one person went bankrupt twice. Could be more.
Maybe some ex members dare to admit that they went bankrupt. The people who I mentioned above are all still in.
The roots of slavery are still silently noticeable and it is the “karma” of the US. It is what it is…we are all responsible from one point of view and yet we are not. Both is true.
722/13/More History Needed?
Fraud, Favoritism, Discrimination, Intentional Infliction of Emotional Distress, Invasion of Privacy, Collusion, Connivance, Violation of Fiduciary Duty, Disparagement, Negligent & Fradulent Misrepresentation, False Pretenses
“Howard Carter” and others have described Robert Burton as a “conscious being” and a conduit for “C-Influence”.
I have come to a different conclusion: Robert Burton is a seducer.
He is a seducer pursuing, first and foremost, his own instinctive gratification. The evidence overwhelmingly points to this simple conclusion.
When I departed the Fellowship of Friends twenty years ago, Robert was, for me, an enigma. I left it at that.
Only since being introduced to this blog several months ago have I been compelled to take up the subject of Robert once again and really consider it.
I am just beginning to realize how indebted I am to all who have contributed – on all sides of the debate (and to the Sheik and the Knight. Don’t forget the “PayPal”, folks.)
After thousands of comments, documents, exhibits, testimonials, and after reflecting upon my own experience, the above characterization is the only one I can logically arrive at.
Are Robert’s actions motivated by “consciousness”, as he states, something that eludes definition and, according to Robert himself, is beyond our verification?
Or, are they motivated by forces we can all readily recognize and identify? (I cannot allow the common “both are true” retort, since I’m questioning his overriding motivation.)
We must each judge for ourselves, and this is my judgment (helped along by so many of you.)
We all know about seduction and things that seduce. Beauty, power, wealth, fame and knowledge are glorified aspects of our popular culture, aphrodisiacs in a sense. Humans are drawn to pursue these ideals and to associate with those who possess such attributes. And Robert, of course, knows this.
Who here has not witnessed their own psychology manipulated by these influences, and experienced such a seduction? It is likely every one of us has at one time or another succumbed and probably at times knowingly exploited this human weakness. (More importantly, who, knowing the power to seduce, has resisted the temptation to use these influences for one’s self-gratification? What stopped us?)
Robert has surrounded himself by beauty (particularly youth), established his role as an omnipotent spiritual leader, presents himself in the image of one with substantial wealth and travels as few people can. He offers a mysterious system of “knowledge” that only he in his self-proclaimed consciousness and wisdom can fully comprehend and he surrounds himself with adoring “fans”.
It certainly has the appearance of a seduction.
And is there anyone here who does not recognize instinctive self-gratification? Is it not something that can be observed daily? Don’t we all seek instinctive comfort? Aren’t we all, in varying degrees, pursuing life’s instinctive pleasures?
So, I assume that each of us, to some extent understands seduction and self-gratification, and can recognize it when we see it in others.
From everything I have witnessed in this blog over the past four months, and from my own experience around Robert Burton, there is a consistent, dominant theme. It is not self-remembering, which is in effect a distraction. It is instinctive gratification. He is a slave to the very “brain” he derides as awakening’s foe.
Is there any instinctive pleasure Robert denies himself? It has been years since I have been around him, but from accounts herein, little has changed, and he continues to lavish himself with the finest foods, wines, clothing, jewelry, luxurious accommodations and amenities, music, art, and in the evening surrounds himself with his sexual conquests.
Robert remains the first and foremost beneficiary of the Fellowship’s wealth. Only to the extent others support his appetites are they welcome in his house.
Those in the Fellowship who view Robert as a “conscious being” and conduit for “C-Influence” would have us believe that Robert is not motivated by instinctive greed, rather consciousness and the “will of C-Influence”.
Apart from Robert’s personal claims, it is difficult to arrive at this conclusion when we cannot even define consciousness and C-Influence. Still, that does not seem to deter certain individuals.
We “know” (from Robert, of course) that “consciousness is not functions”. But the products of consciousness are transmitted and translated through functions. Thus we read the works of “conscious beings”, view their art, listen to their music, etc.
We talk about the hallmarks of consciousness or enlightenment. Consciousness may not be functions, but there are manifestations we attribute to an “enlightened” individual, if not a “conscious being”: love, conscience, compassion, selflessness, “external consideration”.
Where is the evidence that Robert is operating above and beyond an instinctive self-interest? How does his “consciousness” manifest?
Where are the observations, the testimonials to Robert’s manifestations of love for his fellow man, conscience, compassion, selflessness and “external consideration”?
We might expect there to be many thousands of such testimonials, given the “2,000” current members and over 10,000 former members. Where is the evidence of consciousness guiding his conduct? (Certainly, more than a handful of current students are reading this?)
And if in your search you should find something that might “look like consciousness”, ask yourself “is what I have observed merely an animal instinct in pursuit of its own gratification?”
We are told (by Robert) that “44 Conscious Beings” preceded him, and we have studied their works. Some speak of the path to “salvation” or “enlightenment”. Robert tells us he is the current incarnation of this lineage, and is personally guided by their influence,
Within the enormous body of work represented by these individuals, we might expect to find some hint, some suggestion, that through the indulgence of every instinctive desire, we shall thereby attain enlightenment and salvation.
You might expect some of them to counsel “accrue to yourself all the power, wealth, beauty and instinctive pleasure you can. Surround yourself with dazed and impoverished servants. This is the way to consciousness.” But I have not seen such advice.
The case for Robert’s enlightenment is expressed through Robert’s own words. The supporting evidence consists of Robert’s own words, with a bit of editorializing by such people as “Howard Carter”.
But according to Robert, “Howard Carter’s” personal conclusion that Robert is a “conscious being” guided by “C-Influence” cannot be verified or even understood by any person on earth, save Robert Burton, because, as Robert informs us “the lower cannot see the higher”.
In contrast, I suspect the conclusion I have come to can be understood by almost anyone reading this blog.
In this very public trial (Robert would likely characterize it a “crucifixion”), I feel like a judge who has been on the bench for months, listening to endless testimony, occasionally throwing in my “two cents”. (Abraham would have long ago had me tossed out for conflict of interest.)
But this is also my trial. I am the accused, the plaintiff, the judge and juror. I was a participant in the scheme, and it is a seduction.
So, what is the consequence of my conclusion? If Robert has misrepresented himself, I think it highly likely he has also misrepresented the product he is peddling, that is his personal path to enlightenment.
“Howard” once said that Robert very publicly made him the brunt of a joke. “Howard” realized later “the reason he did it was precisely because I was ‘mechanically’ devoted to him.”
He was probably correct. For the seducer, it is disconcerting if the seduction is too easy.
739/13/Tim Campion
EFFECT
A point brought up that I’d like to expand on is the one of ‘evidence’ as taken in the form of the lasting legacy and influence that a truly enlightened or ‘conscious’ being would leave upon the world at large. There are many examples of individuals who have been a huge benefit to their fellow man just by the way they conducted their lives. The notorious ‘44 ‘beings of Burton’s mythology for a start. But also Gurdjieff.I mention him especially as he is generally credited with introducing the 4th way to the west and there are usually some rumors plus a few written accounts of his somewhat shady dealings.From my investigation most of the badmouthing of Mr G comes from he himself ! he paints himself as a kind of rogue, fleecing people of their money to finance his various schemes, in several of his books, but it does not take much research and reading to find that he is generally very well respected by most who knew him and was a truly compassionate man who helped many,many people often entirely at his own personal expense and regardless of whether or not they were able to ‘pay’. All agree that he certainly did not carve out a life of ease for himself and worked tirelessly up to his death to spread the 4th way teachings.
Contrast that with the influence Robert Burton has had upon the world at large ,which by his own account he seems to despise.Even before the advent of this blog if one typed in Fellowship of Friends on the internet you would find nothing but dirt and scandals surrounding his name.Apart from the FOF’s own propaganda that is. Look how many of his former 10000 students have come forward to speak well of him here…
Ye shall indeed ‘know them by their fruits’
741/13/Gordon
CAUSE & EFFECT
The lower cannot see the higher. Hmmm…(No, he didn’t coin the phrase, but uses it to make some serious coin, that’s for sure.)
We all know this is Robert’s ace up his sleeve.
Yet….if that were true, how would Robert know those particular 44 people had awakened before his own crystallization? Did anyone ever actually think about that? Would Robert not have had to attain a higher level first in order to make at least a lateral ‘being to being’ assessment of any of the 44’s level?
So, presumably then the lower CAN see the higher by the trail of b-influence they leave behind. I should say, the quality of b-influence’, that is. Isn’t that how the ‘44′ were found?
So can we know if Robert speaks the truth? Is he who he says he is?
One might then ask, “What quality of b-influence is Robert leaving in his wake?” His book? The sequence? His apostles? An unfinished Renaissance/Apollo/Isis that long forgotten others built for him? His bank account(s)? The trail of tears? What actual impact has he had on civilization so far?
Excuse my candor, but there is no mystery here for me.
746/13/Whalerider
FRAUD (effect)
In regards to 732 vera.mente
right now the most workable approach is for currant or recently departed members to charge the Fellowship and Robert Burton with fraud. If you were not shown the canons and did not accept them upon joining but had them revealed and enforced after wards that is one aspect of fraud. A second is the constant abuse of Fellowship funds by Robert Burton for his personal use, what monies he pays out to the entourage , what he pays his lackies, his fund raising for his personal account, if he did not report this it is an IRS violation. The point here is that a relatively small action may be enough to get a county district attorney’s office , State Attorney generals office, federal attorney or the IRS to investigate. This should stir things up. If any of these go as far as discovery there may be material for a civil case. If any criminal case is pursued and is successful it becomes relatively easy to proceed with a civil case as conviction of a crime can be used as proof of damages.
753/13/A Former Student
UNDUE INFLUENCE, Fraud (FoF model in case)*2
Almost twenty years ago in California, the Unification Church was held legally responsible for deceptively recruiting people into a thought reform environment. The person who sued was named Molko.
Molko was recruited to get on a bus and go to Boonville to have dinner with a group at which politics, philosophy and other topical issues were to be discussed. Information was withheld from Molko about the group both at the time they were invited and for some time thereafter. Molko even asked whether the group was affiliated with a church and he was told no. When Molko got to Boonville he had dinner followed by other activities which lasted well into the night.
After too little sleep Molko was awakened early and ushered into an intensive program of calisthenics, doctrinal study, work, etc. Recruitees, including Molko, were never alone. After three weeks of this program disclosure was finally made to Molko and his peers that the group was affiliated with the Unification Church. By this time Molko lacked the ability critically to evaluate the significance of the information.
When people are lied to or deceived, and induced by specific and identifiable techniques to distrust their ability to think critically, they become unusually malleable. It is not just fraud; it is fraud combined with “undue influence.”
That is what is so pernicious about thought reform environments. One who is defrauded into affiliating with a group, who learns of the fraud, indignantly denounces it and gets out. One who is defrauded and unduly influenced in the group may learn of the fraud, but is unable to appreciate its significance, because he cannot evaluate the information critically. He may try to do so, but his own mind, applying the “sacred science,” says “don’t go there. These ‘I’s come from a part of you which is less real.” That’s how thought reform works.
758/13/Veronicapoe
______________________________________________
*2
Similarly, Fellowship of Friends ‘students’ when joining are not shown the ‘church canons’; some, even after being in the ‘fourth way school’ for 10+ years do not even know it’s a non-profit-church with certain rules and guidelines, established to keep hierarchies (to some degree) like the Fellowship of Friends in check; nor are they told how fragile their ‘in or out’ circumstances are if they speak out against certain dubious treatment and are soon coerced into believing that it’s ‘the god’s will’, similarly as it was the god’s will to have all of Robert Burton’s predictions fulfilled and fail; in a cult, the leader never fails, the followers do not allow this and the cult leader knows how to spin the failure into a successful martyrdom. Everything in the above article (in principle) is applicable to the Fellowship of Friends, their panel of Board Members, made up of ‘Favorites of Robert Burton’, down to the ‘School Police’ who both create their own form of hypocritical gossip and report on others committing the same acts as to appear self-righteous and responsible for the opposite demeanor, while, in fact they are adding to the allurement to break rules and get caught… Like a host who kills it’s own food supply and thus dies having done so.
Examples ~ B.Y. & R.T.
EFFECT
“OK, so why stay in this corrupt money-making machine?”
I speculate:
Good student, on salary, many years. No marketable skills (doesn’t believe can earn living in the real world, doesn’t want to try). Owns no, or very little, personal property. No social/family connections outside FOF. Depends entirely on RB and the FOF for sense of self, life purpose, material sustenance. Severe cognitive dissonance–nay, TERROR!–arises at thought of abandoning this structure. Conscience atrophied. King of Clubs comfortably enthroned. Must stay until collapse forces hand. Hope s/he has Ace up sleeve.
770/13/Cathie
EFFECT (Savvy King of Clubs trumps Conscience)
I am so glad that this area has been researched and this is also one of the areas in the fellowship of friends that has been subdued, by the fact of not expressing negative emotions.
Not being able to express yourself is not healthy. In the fellowship of friends this has been out of balance and many friends/ students with the result of diminished health physical and psychological.
Emotions are expressions of your inner being/ spirit/ conscience, your soul, etc If you are not able to feel those emotions you can not stay intone with your inner being. Result is you can become more negative and confused. The fellowship of friends calls confusion a higher state. We believed it for a long time. Now with so much excess to more information that helps you to be who you are and connect with you inner being and not be dependent on a teacher there is more air to breathe and more health and joy. It is so much more simple.
The fellowship of friend has always discouraged meditation. To my understanding sitting down and be still (something that was undone in the fellowship of friends) is a path way to listen to your inner voice or called consciences. getting in contact with the spiritual path of yourself and makes me wonder what “damage ” Robert has evoke for many of us, by the exercises of not expressing negativity and discouraging meditation.
Being able to sit and breathe brings you closer to the part in yourself that can come to right work of centers. The next step is to become more attuned to making the right decisions for yourself without being dependent on an authoritarian figure. The sincere written letter from Siddiq is probably an inability to take responsibility for your own life and enjoy instead of listening to an authoritarian….
778/13/More History Needed?
Sexual Predator, Hostile Environment Sexual Harassment
It seems you have misunderstood what I covertly referred to as first force. The question put more directly is have you ever had sex with REB? Have you ever had him SUDDENLY grab your zip and frantically try to get your penis out in such a manner that the only way to stop him would be to actually hit him?
Can you try to explain what beneficial effect on a students evolution this might be expected to have? Where do you get your ideas on Celestial Morality from?
Do you find rape to be acceptable? Do you believe that in higher realms this would be the norm? How about all of the conscious beings who awoke without school, were they assisted by conscious influence?
782/13/Cyclops
EFFECT (Negligent Indoctrination based upon Fraudulent Misapplication of Spiritual Status as a Fourth Way School)*3
“I can accept as a theory that my body is a gift from higher forces to my soul, so as it can do what it needs to awaken, but where does it say our body is to be sacrificed to our teacher to satisfy his needs, let alone advance our evolution?”
Well, it doesn’t have to remain a theory (that our bodies/lives are a gift from Influence C) and to some it isn’t only a theory. And if it is a real teacher we are discussing your above statement and question does not represent
two separate realities, but are one and the same thing – Influence C working in harmony with their appointed agent.
A real teacher would not ask anything of a student that is detrimental to the student’s evolution. If this happens it simply means it was not a real teacher doing the asking.
A real teacher can and will ask of their students things the student does not wish to do. How can it be otherwise? If it could be otherwise, the students would be the teacher and the teacher the student.
There’s been a lot posted about “abuse of authority”.
It is a fact that teachers have the ultimate authority over students, more than earthly authority, as the needs of the spirit supersede those of the body. It is also a fact that the body’s “needs” (in most cases “wants”), are often
sacrificed for the spirit (including essence needs and wants, which are still part of the lower self).
People by the millions are prepared make the ultimate earthly sacrifice, to give their lives for their nations (and many actually do). Seekers of truth are asked to give up their identifications with the body. This is elemental.
Because real teachers know the situation and dilemmas they often place their students in regarding the ultimate authority they wield, they are very careful not to demand anything that would be against the student’s will.
This is a firm law. They only ask, suggest, explain why something is required, etc., but do not force or coerce. This is the real bottom line that many FoF critics do not like to hear. It squarely places the responsibility in any “teacher request” on the student; as it must.
Again, it bears repeating: a real teacher’s responsibility is to know precisely what it takes to further a particular aspirant’s journey. He/she cannot err in this regard, at least not to any significant degree. Influence C would not allow it.
It is up to the student to know if the teacher is real or not. If the student cannot know for sure that presents many problems. But at any rate, if they (the student) cannot know for sure they then run the risk of giving up
their will to a fraud. The other possibility is much more dire; that of not giving up one’s will to a real teacher.
It’s my understanding that people are deluding themselves to believe that a real teacher would not ask of students the things it has been suggested RB has asked for. There is no esoteric basis whatsoever for this conclusion.
It’s mistaking earthly morality for celestial morality, a very shortsighted approach.
To Cyclops – 13 # 571
“About surrendering my will to Reb, I tried it and from trying it for a long time finally came to the conclusion that it was a mistake.
He is not C influence, he is just someone so abnormal that he has you in awe for now.
His misuse of the trust of those young men who put themselves in his trust is an abomination and most definitely the process of crime.”
“Also you have not answered the question if you have personally experienced his FIRST force or if it is only vicarious.”
Your explanation is not the reality I am living.
I’ve personally experienced REB as a first force, at least I think I know what you are asking. From the time I verified the school was real and Influence C was indeed working with it, I told myself I would try to carry out any request REB would make of me.
Once he asked me to withdraw my energy from something that made me emotional and place it in another area I did not care about. I found myself answering him that I did not think it was possible for me to follow his request, my
reason being I did not think I could harness my emotions enough to do it.
He just smiled and never brought it up again. Later on he even acted as a third force to help me keep my energy flowing in the area I was emotional about.
This was the only time I ever “went against” a personal suggestion of his. If this same thing happened today I would probably have enough will to “try on” what he suggested.
I realize that this post just scratches the surface, as people’s motivations for doing what they do or thinking what they think are hidden deeply, mostly
from themselves. But people cannot act without some justifiable “cause”. The causes exist within a multi-dimensional reality.
Personally, I see the vast majority of posts lamenting the sex and money and abuse of power as a smoke screen, a pretext, whose real cause is more “forward” along the time line of events that lead to someone’s grand disconnection from REB/FoF. And those causes, in many cases, are wholly independent from the purported issues.
780/13/HC
__________________
*3 That ‘one liner’ is my opinion.
Sexual Harassment, Hostile-environment sexual harassment, Quid pro quo sexual Harassment, Sexual Predator, Intentional Infliction of Emotional Distress, False Pretenses, Misdescription, Desecration
To Howard Carter – Post 758
In your post you wrote: “It’s my understanding that people are deluding themselves to believe that a real teacher would not ask of students the things it has been suggested RB has asked for… It’s mistaking earthly morality for celestial morality,.”
Are you aware of the allegations against RB? I’m not sure what you mean by celestial morality and I’m not sure you do either. Is it supposed to be the way beings in heaven treat each other or something? I mean, I have a pretty open mind but I never thought of heaven as a place where the angels and gods and whoever would be giving each other blow jobs, golden showers, fisting, and smearing shit on each other, etc.
And do you really think those boys are really all that “willing”. Have you read the statements made by those who experienced Robert’s so-called ‘teaching’ first-hand in his bedroom? Almost all of those young men were frightened, shocked, and disgusted. But they trusted him, probably because he made some outrageous claim such as his being a ‘goddess in a man’s body’ and they were too stunned to resist. After all, to resist your teacher (who presumably is acting in accordance with the will of C influence) would be wrong, of course! You wouldn’t have time in that moment to make all the necessary calculations (is he a real, conscious teacher?, what will he do if I push him away?, etc. )
And now most of those who ‘experienced RB’s teaching’ revile him for what he did to them. So, did those acts help their evolution, as you seem to imply? Or was Robert merely abusing their trust to gratify himself sexually? Come on, Howard, please!!! You’re brainwashed, dude! Try to see it. We’ve all been there – making excuses for Robert, trying to convince ourselves and so forth.
You should at least have the courage to confront Robert and the authorities at Isis about these allegations and see what the response is. I would think that would be enlightening. Good luck.
789/13/Ray Vaughn
Desecration, FRAUD, Collusion, Connivance, Negligence, Fraudulent Misrepresentation, Misapplication of Funds, Undue Influence, Fraud in the Inducement, Coercion
Yet, for the ‘conscious beings’ on Robert Burton’s list, we get the following deeds as wiseacred by Robert Burton, that ~
“Ouspensky was responsible for the OJ Simpson murders
and Rilke for the 911 Twin Towers falling.
Wooooo… we are having fun in paradise!
Yes, many took advantage of the 1998 prediction, in true “Fellowship of Friends of Robert Burton” form;
numerous people borrowed far beyond their means, bought new cars thinking that the dealerships and loan agencies would be under water;
built houses, etc.
Even after this ‘failed prediction fruition’, many students had ‘educated’ their damaged essences in the American system of bankruptcy’, borrowing large sums of money, buying new cars, building houses, then ‘fixing’ things in such a way that they would not loose these ‘investments’ once bankruptcy was filled:
the rules have changed for filing for Bankruptcy ~ Thanks in part to the version of non-formatory thinking by yours truly Robert Burton and Friends.
Hey, the ‘School’ is a complete ‘cosmos’ why not?
793/13/Unoanimo
Joint Negligence, Collusion, Connivance, Undue Influence, Child Endangerment, Breach of Trust, Favoritism, False Pretenses, Fraudulent Misrepresentation, Wanton Misconduct, Enticement of Parent, Desecration, Coercion
and, wow, Marry R., I heard about your little sing-along performance for the newcomer-girls, daughters of students who recently joined the school, welcoming them into the Fellowship of Friends and many of them into the arms of Robert Burton’s boys: whew, the red paint just keeps oozing…
794/13/Unoanimo
EFFECT ‘Desecration of Friendship’, Invasion of Privacy
One of the people I had spent the most time with when in charge of the New York group and afterwards was BenjaminY, and we became friendly. He attended one of the workshops that SandraC arranged to “experiment” with the “work ideas” and ideas from contemporary bodywork and psychology.
Right at the end of the weekend, BenjaminY told me that he had reported me to the FoF “authorities” for breaking the rule to not fraternize with ex members. It seemed he had changed since moving to the FoF property and was now quite happy in the role he was playing and the opportunities it opened for him. I was aghast at being treated that way by someone I felt I had nurtured, taught, counseled, and enjoyed as a personal friend for years. My response was this letter:
Benjamin, we have a deep connection going back almost 15 years, and through which I have learned to love you. In this instance I believe you were caught—as was often pointed out to you—between the sides of yourself that curry favor in the school, and the sides of you that relate to others purely as a warm, engaging and intelligent individual. It is this latter part that I love, but I fear it is the former that won out in this case. I do not reject you, the person whom I know and love, but this specific behavior. I sincerely hope you come to a different understanding of this incident. If you do, let me know.
797/13/Joel F.
EFFECT
Thanks for sharing that letter in #770, Joel. How ironic and deeply saddening that an organization called the Fellowship of Friends actually teaches its members to betray their friends…
“But at any rate, if they (the student) cannot know for sure they then run the risk of giving up their will to a fraud. The other possibility is much more dire: that of not giving up one’s will to a real teacher.” HC Quote
Again you employ the double bind, which reveals your hidden agenda, which is to neutralize critical thinking in your membership to reinforce the status quo. There is no real choice in this argument…dammed if you do, damned if you don’t, so you might as well stay. I am starting to feel Robert lurking in the shadows…
“Your explanation is not the reality I am living.”
Your reality is that you are living in state of dependency and your reasoning is skewed by the dependence on the inflated importance RB bestows upon you. Step away from that façade and you truly face the abyss of your empty self. That is where the path to your real enlightenment will start: confronting that fear. I have been there. Here’s some insight that may help you one day, people do more damage to themselves and others by avoiding their true feelings, than by simply having them and moving on.
The other reality we are living is that we understand that Robert needs fanatically devoted people like you to keep the show going. Ultimately that is all that will be left of the FOF, the calcified skeletal remains. Know yourself, Howard, you are the smoke screen of which you speak. He is using your critical mind to cover his ass, so to speak.
“…a real teacher’s responsibility is to know precisely what it takes to further a particular aspirant’s journey. He/she cannot err in this regard, at least not to any significant degree. Influence C would not allow it.”
Wow, you and the ardent followers and kool-aid dispensers of Jim Jones. Does the FOF still provide the free glass of wine at lunch? Are any comets due by in the immediate future? Your fanatical devotion spins all RB’s failed prophecy non-events into a rationalization that he can do no wrong. Only God is perfect in her imperfections, and RB is your God, Howard. Now that’s abnormal. And I am in awe.
800/13/Whalerider
NEGLIGENT INFLICTION OF EMOTIONAL DISTRESS *3
Benjamin reads the blog. Benjamin has been out of grace since the bible keys has been stopped. According to my info and maybe other people can confirm this because he was too much after women. This was already known in the time he was a Principal of the LCS. He would blatantly admit that he would like to have sex with every women he could get. He himself was very open about that. Obviously he has been surfing the web to go to swing parties. Maybe Benjamin can inform us, how many hours he spent on the web looking at certain sites? Benjamin has been treated for a severe illness in Germany. The illness has two ways of spreading (according to statistics): sexual transmitted and or sharing of needles. When Robert heard that Benjamin was sick and might not have a long live ahead of him Robert asked him to start with the bible keys and put him on salary.
807/13/More History Needed?
________________________
*3 In my opinion, it would be very naive for one to think that this man has not been influenced by Robert Burton’s ‘conscious’ subtle negativity and corresponding lifestyle…
Benjamin, I saw you the other day, saw your eyes, your walk, your expressions…you. When you step from this world may you have achieved as much belonging to those parts of your heart that Robert Burton could not touch; the parts so essentially you that they simply didn’t come to mind to offer to him, upon his services, upon his opinion of or guidance thereon… you have a beautiful smile.
EFFECT ‘Undue Anesthesia of Conscience’
To Cyclops: # 760
“Have you ever had him SUDDENLY grab your zip and frantically try to get your penis out in such a manner that the only way to stop him would be to actually hit him?”
No. And on this anonymous board it cannot be proven that you have had this experience either. I’m sure you understand, being an intelligent individual, that this is not the forum to prove this even happened much less what it would mean in the spirit world.
What we do know, as your words have told us, is that you have a very big account with REB and when someone has a big account with another person they tend not to speak well of them; maybe even resort to slanting the story to make themselves look more pure than they could take credit for. We are human after all and from the second state one actually cannot stop oneself from doing this because one doesn’t even know one does it.
“Can you try to explain what beneficial effect on a students evolution this might be expected to have?”
This, if it did happen, could have been the price of going further with your evolution.
.
“Where do you get your ideas on Celestial Morality from?”
From observing how Influence C governs and operates. It stands to reason one cannot identify with what one observes or else one will surely color it in a subjective way. But it’s all right out there to observe if one is inclined to see.
“Do you find rape to be acceptable? Do you believe that in higher realms this would be the norm? ”
I haven’t yet found a bad way to aquire a soul, and Influence C hasn’t yet created a bad way. At least not that I can tell.
“We are both looking at things from particular standpoints, are you able really to at least try on mine?”
Former students usually look at current supporters as laggards, but it is possible to see both sides and pick my side.
“ultimately the real test of all of this will come when we die.”
No truer words have been spoken on this board.
I would add, if not at death surely immediately there after.
“Oh yes and Howard what kind of a metaphysical force do you think the directed anger and resentment of a thousand people can have? so I guess thats nine questions. Cy.”
That depends, I don’t really think anger and resentment carry much of a metaphysical force; they don’t reach that high.
I think Blake also said – “Some are born to sweet delight, some are born to endless night”.
There is no justice on this level.
808/13/HC
End of Posts from Part 13
May ‘Manoush’ NOT be with you; if you know what I mean.
EFFECT
There comes a time when we each need to take responsibility for how we spend our time. We need to develop our own principles and learn to live by them. The efforts of trying to be present, free from feminine dominance, and in good householder eventually lead one to see that supporting Robert’s ways is more denying force than 3rd force. How can we learn to take responsibility for what we think is right when we are putting so much time, effort and money into supporting that which is obviously in some ways jaded?
13/12/Old Fish in The Sea
Fraud, Conspiracy to Defraud, False Misrepresentation *8
What made me leave was the cumulative build up of what seemed to me to be contradictions, restrictions and a lack of understanding of what Robert was trying to teach. I’ve also only been interested in “relative awakening”. I’m not going to end my relationship with my family, which I was “photographed” as doing by another member, for the sake of waking up in this lifetime.
The thing that bothered me most, was recently, when members mentioned to Robert which work I’s they were using for the subject of the sequence (the 3rd and 5th steps) he advised against using many of their choices because he felt that as a subject, they were not going to allow for a completed sequence. I was so surprised that Robert would not have passed this info on previously. If he was already aware of which works I’s were most effective as subjects, why was he letting us practice this new technique in the wrong manner? That to me is not a good teacher. It may sound trite, but that’s how I view things. If I pay money for a good teacher, I want a good teacher. Add to the scenario the fact that I felt it was unacceptable to question anything regarding Robert, especially if it might be judgment I’s.
16/12/Steve Lang
______________________
*8 Robert Burton makes this stuff up as he goes; his idea of a ‘conscious teaching’ is consensus-reaction and feedback, not that which has ‘rightly’ been verified by a true spiritual teacher who sees his students objective ‘needs’ before seeing himself and his subjective needs…
He teaches himself (what, I am not sure, so far as regarding their ‘role’ with his), not his students, this is one aspect of how things get mixed up… Nothing arrives as ‘pro-found’, objective and applicable to all foreseeable combinations of mechanics, denying forces and opposite ideas…
They are Robert Burton’s subjective applications towards an objective phenomenon, i.e., the force of the desire that a group of people have to do The Work… He flippantly steers this ‘force’ hither and thither till he hits a brick wall, only to exclaim that the license plate on the car that caused him to swerve was BRK4REB…
Thus, adoration for failure = subtle martyr and Relative Awakening emotions for such experimentation, with no change in level of being or method of school form based on said ‘failures’ common delivery of some sort of wisdom and common sense humanity for the sufferings of those making the same mistakes as one has seemingly already passed through…
Robert Burton preys on weaknesses and contributes to their prolonged state of seeming to be un-reconcilable; going so far as to instill into the psyches of his followers the hypnotic ‘belief’ that ‘just one more’ (or more) lifetimes will be necessary to arrive at a conscious reconciling ‘power’ or ‘blessing’ from the gods so to be one… while he himself says that his contradictions are a task given to his students by the gods for them to transform…
To me, the picture here is, Robert Burton cannot transform something very ‘vital’, therefore he has placed it into a mythological category, frozen it, like a popsickle for his students to entertain whenever ‘things get hot’; Robert Burton cannot take his students beyond the stage that they entered the Fellowship of Friends (after all, since his first lie, he has not gone ‘in principle’ beyond his ‘first day’) therefore he has assigned them to the future, to lifetimes, washed his hands of their calls for his now-help and loaded them onto tomorrow, which, according to thousands of years of esoteric school practices, namely the Sufi, does not exist.
Ironically (and maybe not for this sort of ‘place’ as ISIS) anyone who has advanced from their experience of the Fellowship of Friends has only done so due to its DENYING FORCE, not it’s three lines of work or its first, second or third forces. (My Opinion; I know the word ‘anyone’ is strong, but hey, well, sometimes ‘personally’ it’s better to have accidentally put the hammer through the picture trying to hang it than to have something ‘up there’ for the sake of nail and not the picture itself.)
Sexual Predator, FRAUD, Undue Influence, False Impersonation, False Pretenses, EFFECT (various forms of Collusion and Connivance), Desecration
I had a friend in S.F., an Israeli who went by the name of J. B. (can’t use his name) and one day he told me an interesting story: he had visited an Israeli friend who was working as a psychiatrist in Los Angeles and during his visit he told this old friend who shared an interest in various spiritual ideas that he was a student in a school with a conscious teacher. In point of fact J. B. went to meet with this old friend to “introduce him to the school.”
The psychiatrist asked for the name of the conscious teacher and when J. B. said Robert Burton the psychiatrist said sorry but your teacher is not conscious.
Being as superstitious and we all once were J. B. was of course rather taken aback. Gathering some composure he asked his friend why he would say such a thing. Without disclosing the name of the client, of course, the psychiatrist told J. B. a story of a young man (barely 20 or so) who was in the FoF for just a few months who was allegedly sexually put upon by Robert Burton during a lengthy encounter while visiting the FoF property.
He then left the organization with severe psychological problems. J. B. reported this meeting to Miles Barth forthwith and Miles requested that the psychiatrist ask his client to meet with Miles and tell his story, which then took place. One month or so later Miles Barth left the school without informing the rest of us why he had done so. What if we had all known, I mean all of us, way back then?
__________________________________________
Quote from Robert Burton ~
[Nov. 3, 1982]
“C-Influence will ensure that all that is left of culture will be taken to Renaissance [the Fellowship compound] for posterity.”
“Florence, Venice, Siena will probably not be bombed. C-Influence has indicated to me that Naples (home of NATO), Rome, and Milan will be bombed. Neutron bombs may be used. (Neutron bombs destroy only humans.) ”
[Nov. 4, 1982]
“We are founding a new civilization.”
“Armageddon has wrung a school out of the gods.”
“The only error in Christ’s teaching was the statement “my yoke is mild.”
[Nov. 9, 1982]
“My role is to predict the fall of California and Armageddon.”
“People must come to us for souls.”
“Don’t put money into banks after Dec. 1983.”
“The depression will work to our advantage, we will go through it unscathed. We are very well prepared for the coming depression in 1984.”
“California is the artichoke capitol of the world…It means it will choke in 1998.”
“Haley’s Comet is going to ruin it all, this whole decade is not a good decade.”
[Nov. 11]
“We are a very high school on earth, Rembrandt and Goethe are in a higher school. There are angels at this table right now.”
“The 44th president of the US will be in office at the occurrence of Armageddon, 2006.”
[Nov. 14, 1982]
“After the year 2006, Genoa may be the port where art is taken by ship to the East Coast – from there by existing highways to Renaissance [now called Apollo].”
[Nov. 12]
“We are the greatest school since Christ’s.”
___________________________________
Ex-boyfriends have threatened Burton’s life several times, he travels with an armed bodyguard. On one occasion, it was reported, a young man from Bakersfield showed up at the Fellowship dining lodge armed with a 22 rifle looking for Burton. He was tackled, disarmed and put on a bus.
The police were not contacted. At one time guns were not allowed, but now almost every male member of the Fellowship living in Oregon House has a gun. There is an informal militia armed with shotguns, rifles and 44 magnum handguns in order to protect the ‘Teacher’ from the disgruntled ex-members who regret their sexual encounters with Burton.
This is a direct quote from Robert Earl Burton (from an internal memo):
“I am the Avatar, and I was born in 1939. I am not Christ, yet I am the Christ of the age…and I assume I prepare for him.
“I would like you to take the idea simply. It simply means that of all the humans on the planet, I suffer consciously the most.”
__________________________________
Girard Haven, “Creating A Soul”, page 62:
“However, some things can be verified only by adopting the attitude that they are true. For example, to verify that this is a real School, it is necessary to act as if that had been verified and then see if it produces the desired results. This means that we need to adopt attitudes at will without prior verification.”
From Girard Haven:
“Strangely, the shock which bridged this interval for me was the ‘non-depression’ of 1984. On the one hand, it was no longer possible to believe the predictions, for the depression obviously had not occurred as predicted. At the same time, Robert was still my Teacher and I had no doubt that he was conscious, so how could I believe anything else? In particular, I refused to allow myself to disbelieve him, that is, to believe that what he said would not come true. Not only would this have been a denial of my teacher, but it would also be one of the most mechanical responses possible, based as it is on both opposite thinking and feminine dominance in the form of the desire to minimize friction. Being thus unable either to believe or disbelieve, I was left in a state which could best be described as non- or suspended belief.”
From Girard Haven:
Page 576, “Creating A ‘Soul’”:
“In particular, if he [Robert Earl Burton] knows what he is doing and we don’t, we have no basis for judging or doubting him. Instead, we simply have to trust him, as a child trusts his parents, or dog trusts its master. If he asks us to do things which seem to have no connection to awakening–or even to be ‘wrong’–we have no choice but
to do them anyway.”
31/12/Graduates
Fraud, Negligent Infliction of Emotional Distress *9
I wonder about students caught in the ‘poverty trap’ of being on salary. Maybe this is history and does not apply any more – but I suspect not. The pattern being: an idealistic student comes to Isis to be near the teacher, goes ‘on salary’ (a subsistence allowance), becomes hooked, depletes savings, and now is stuck, The longer you stay, the more identified you become with your role and the necessity to retaining your position on salary – no matter how menial it is. The longer you stay, the more your skills for ‘getting a regular job’ diminish and the more dependent you become on the occasional dispensations of largesses from Robert. (Those medical bills do need to be paid).
58/12/Chortle Mortal
__________________
*9 The above not only outlines history; it still serves as ‘fact’ to this very day; while many students interpret to meager wages “subsistence allowance” as intentional suffering, such ‘spiritual form’, so highly ranked in the Fellowship of Friends as a spiritual tool, that it effects whole families and the community at large, the teacher, Robert Burton, within his entire 37 years has never used or practiced this ‘tool of intentional suffering’ that his students have made ‘theirs’, simply by giving the teacher Robert Burton what is termed ‘the benefit of the doubt’, that since he is conscious, he deserves the finest, after all, he is their ‘king’ and they his ‘serfs’ (?) It is far easier to rule a hierarchy when there are no in betweens. (my opinion)
Fraud, Negligent Misrepresentation, Misbranding
Quote from Robert Burton ~
“I was only three days off in the prediction of my crystallization, which over a period of ten years is quite good, and I consider that prediction accurate. If a depression occurs in 1984, if California falls in 1998, if Armageddon occurs in 2006, then I was correct. All of which means, I am correct regarding the other information I have been speaking about.”
“Actually, most of what I speak about is facts.”
Robert Burton – June 11, 1979
By the same logic, if those predictions don’t come to pass?
61/12/Tim Campion
Sexual Predator, Hostile Environment Sexual Harassment, Fraud in the Inducement, Undue Influence, Violation of Fiduciary duty, False Pretenses, Negligent Misrepresentation, Intentional Infliction of Emotional Distress, Negligent Infliction of Emotional Distress, Sexual Harassment, Coercion, Disparent Treatment
The real amazing thing is how Robert has perverted the FOF so that many will serve as his apologists. He has so successfully isolated himself from any outside control that he is a law unto himself.
Tell me Siddiq when were you shown the Canon of the FOF and asked to sign them as a contract with the Church? When did you agree as an article of faith that the “Teacher” was a divine messenger who’s will was unquestionable?
AT what point were you informed of Robert’s divine status as a reincarnated Goddess in a mans Body who sucked young mens cocks as a source of higher hydrogens.
How many cocks have you sucked to verify the truth of this yourself or is it an item of faith? You would not justify something you have not verified would you?
To all those that try and justify Robert’s perversion of the FOF I challenge you to find 20 to 30 young men who will volunteer to have their cocks sucked to assist you in your quest for higher consciousness. If you cannot do this perhaps because it disgusts you or because you find that the young men will not “volunteer” without some payment or coercion then try to get over denying the facts.
There is no voluntary positive sexual exchange occurring. There is no “private sex life” Robert manipulates poor naive youth’s into positions of weakness and preys upon them.There is merely an old fagot harvesting his crop of captive youth’s of what is more precious than there sperm their spirituality. This man has no shame-nor do his apologist’s. If you had any conscience you would be ashamed to justify this continued play of crime.
63/12/A Former Student
Fraud in The Inducement, Collusion, Connivance
11/183 Old FOF
At one point Robert Burton indicated that he had only three friends: Peter Bish_p, Miles and JoelF.
Of course, Peter has passed. Miles departed the “Fellowship of Friends.” And JoelF is bloggersville.
This sounds like fantasy, or coming from someone other than Burton. Peter was a longtime victim of Burton’s, and Miles and I were similarly used by him as good fronts and proficient proselytizers for his project. But “friends”? No.
11/564 “Howard Carter”
This was an excellent opportunity to see in just how many directions a “captive mind” can spin simultaneously. While errors and misjudgments are rife throughout this post, consider two things.
While friend “Carter” expends much energy pointing out the lack of “credentials” of those in the anti-cult party, he never makes the next logical step, to ask what “credentials” are needed to start a “new religion/cult”.
And how about this:
FoF: in a much longer time of existence and with a much greater pool of members and much more scrutiny placed on the organization there is no indication of any violence, past, present or future.
How anyone, even a Fof mind-slave, can have read the posts on this blog, seen the men who have been damaged by Burton, the non-stop coercion of young men into a kind of spiritual prostitution going back to the 1970s, the breaking up of families, the bankrupting of the gullible, can make this statement is just mind boggling to me. Violence has many forms, and I view the FoF as inherently, intrinsically, and spiritually violent, from day 1. Sad.
70/12/Skeptical Optimist
Fraud (CONFLICTING STORIES) *10
Anyway, at the break of the meeting he came over to me and said he wanted to show me something private. In a hushed, conspiratorial voice, he showed me his driver’s license. He told me that he only weighed 140 (or something like that) pounds in the picture, that it was taken shortly after he had been in a car accident, requiring 144 stitches. The picture was rather grim.
He did not mind the terrible suffering though, he said, because the accident had awakened him to becoming a Man #5. He went on, in that gravely serious way he sometimes adopted about how C influence uses difficult methods to awaken us, and so forth…
He proceeded to rub ‘the third eye’ spot on my forehead, and I recall him telling me I would soon enough learn about “their methods” because I was “definitely on the way.” I had been in the FoF only about one month at the time. I left that night (at the ripe old age of 24) both flattered and weirded out by the entire episode.
____________________________________
Former Fofer asks: “When did Robert claim to have crystallized as a man no5? Does anyone know? And did he ever describe that experience?”
I have a story, probably from my entourage-time with Robert. He crystallized his higher emotional center in front of the fire on the deck at Nepenthe, Highway 1 in Big Sur. No date was given, but this was between the founding of the Fellowship and the crystallization of 1976.
____________________________________
So, to remain the truth and nothing but the truth, the facts can be read like this ~
‘Robert Burton drove his car through a lodge, traveling across the dining room, crashed, then was ejected from the driver’s seat, landed on the deck, bounced, hit his head on the fireplace mantle, collapsing upon the hearth and while near passing out, starred into the fire and woke up, thus afterwards going unconscious.’
(?)
261
65/12/Walter Tanner
90/12/Sandra C
Fraudulent Misrepresentation, Fraud in the Inducement
BTW, this is the story I was told on how ‘c-influence’ indicated to Robert that Miles was going to become a man number five. When Robert first saw him, Miles was wearing a V-neck sweater, with the V in gold trim, signifying the number 5 as the Roman numeral V. Later the prediction was correlated I believe in Shakespeare’s sonnet #44 with the line … “miles when thou are gone”. This is a another good example of Robert’s ‘ideas of reference’, like ‘Union 76′. Also the high tech spy plane ‘SR-71′ which flew from an air force base near Renaissance was ’self-remembering 1971′ or when self-remembering came to the area in 1971.
93/12/Whalerider
Collusion, Connivance, Intentional Infliction of Emotional Distress, Negligent Infliction of Emotional Distress, Coercion
Veronicapoe, thanks for your post!
“If he asks us to do things which seem to have no connection to awakening–or even to be ‘wrong’–we have no choice but
to do them anyway.”
But when you get physically, emotionally or financially hurt by these things – it’s your problem, not your teacher’s. You’re on your own and he doesn’t care about your problems.
Most things he asks students are NOT connected to anyone’s awakening – they are connected to Robert’s personal greed and power.
Girard said it – just obey. I also heard quite a few devotees say pretty much the same. Don’t think, don’t question – just do what he asked from you, just follow the Teacher.
With this obedience mentality – when do you stop? When do you start actually THINKING for yourself? When do you open your eyes?
In Jonestown they trusted their leader till the very end. He finally ordered them to commit suicide and they did. And it was a very, very bad end for devotees.
I wonder if Girard and Co would take his life (or lives of others) if that’s what his Teacher wants?…
“we have no choice but to do it anyway.”
109/12/No Person
Fraud in the Inducement, Negligent Infliction of Emotional Distress, Misapplication of Funds, DESECRATION, Fraud
Many people salaried people used to live in pretty bad places as well and wonder if RB had any idea what kind of sacrifices his students were making.
With the meager salary, renting a place and paying the bills,the money went all there hardly covering basic expenses. We were often forced to look at a second job, hauling brushes for richer property owners or whatever we could do at the time.
I suffered constant anxiety and cannot believe I was so frozen in place and did not move on sooner.
I had spouse and child and was also in training with hope I would eventually make some regular money, this very fact kept me there I think.
My huge efforts came to a halt with a serious health crisis.
My body with profound illness gave me a new direction.
I felt that being in the fof would make me deteriorate fast, I saw people who passed away before me having been elevated to hero or heroine status.
I did not like at all that kind of play and started looking at alternatives…
Illness became my guide and teacher…I did not want to become a glorified dead person!
Obviously I had no health insurance, who could afford such thing…this very fact shaped my future, in order to have medical assistance from the county or the state you have to be under the poverty level and god forbid when your medical bills are bigger than your income, it is best to stay under the poverty limit so that one can continue “enjoy” the benefits. Better than nothing anyway!
This happened a long time ago and I can tell it took forever to be able to stand on my own feet financially.
Last night I was joking with my spouse the FOF should refund members for every year they were on salary!
111/12/Vera.mente
FRAUD (Note of ~ Jerry Brown, CA State Attorney General)
In relation to post # 58 Chortle Mortal
What you describe is called a Credit Union and any group is able to form one. It is like having ones own bank. If the FOF and Robert was not so geared to taking the FOF would have had one as well as medical coverage for both employee’s and students who wished to participate. These are services that many groups and Churches offer members.
It is not an accident that Robert chose the legal form of a religion. He could have chosen to have the FOF as a co-op but then the members would have been owners and he could not take anything he wanted and force out those who had invested years in working for the school with less than nothing (Like Stella and others).
If there is a conscious plan in Robert’s actions in forming the FOF it is to form a pyramid scheme in which as a legal religion he is isolated from prosecution. The idea of a doomsday cult is certainly not New. One weakness apparent in his scheme is that if the Canon’s are real and accurate and were not shown to and approved by each member but kept as a secret of the operating group than the FOF presentation of the group as a school is fraud.
Their own web site is proof as there is no disclosure of the group as an actual religion in which the divinity of Robert Burton is accepted as a condition for membership and it is not stated that failure to accept or question this is cause to remove a member. That is why a members could sue and get their payments back.
Fraud is also a crime and Jerry Brown is now state attorney general, He might be interested because for him this is a win-win, it cost’s him nothing and he might get good press.
This means it may be possible to have the government take Robert to court. I personally would very much like to see him address a Jury of normal citizens and explain the sacred ritual required to maintain his godly status I.E.. Oral sex with numbers of young men.
133/12/A Former Student
DESECRATION
To my mind, the place to observe our own School’s (and thus our Teacher’s) spiritual immaturity is in our “myths”, myths that come from Robert Burton’s interpretation of the Fourth Way. They surface here and there on this blog, but I’ll try to consolidate them now:
• We, as members of this School, are the only ones on the planet who are gifted to know about Self-Remembering
• The 8 billion other people on the planet are sleeping machines, doomed, without Self-Remembering, to a double death
• Former students have thrown away their one chance in this lifetime to do something “conscious” with their life
• Empathizing with the suffering of others can be Feminine Dominance, and is to be avoided
• Influence C consists, among other things, of 44 angels who are dedicated to working with individual students to insure their “awakening” over the course of 9 lifetimes
• The Lower Self is actively against Self-Remembering, and to be avoided as best as one can
• All critical observations of the School or Teacher can be seen as examples of the Lower Self gaining precedence over one’s Work
• Awakening occurs when an individual has accumulated enough Hydrogen 12 to become saturated, thereby enabling crystallization of Higher Centers
• The Sequence has the power to awaken us if only we can do it passionately and often enough
Could it be that the formatory understanding and application of these same “myths” has lead to our current spiritual malaise? Each point, needs to be understood with relativity to appreciate it’s own merit or de-. Thus, the contemplation of these same precepts from other recognized spiritual Masters may be able to reveal the depth of the misunderstanding guiding our School. It is not my aim now to counter each point with quotations from others. Let someone else do that? But let’s do it? Here, or on your own. Dig. Probe. Question. BE. Here is the challenge, as a School, can we grow up? Can we use the knowledge from other Schools to correct the course of our own?
197/12/Bass Ackwards
FRAUD, EFFECT
When I moved to Renaissance, two years later, I was surprised by how seriously some older students talked (or should I say wiseacred?) about the fall of California (remember the “peak of the pain?”), or the fact that angels were going magically protect the property from Armageddon (I remember something about the winery being used as a nuclear shelter), or about Gorbachev’s birthmark on his forehead signifying the USSR was going to be the first to be hit by nuclear bombs, and many other strange ideas most of you are very familiar with. I could never really get into all that. Still, I loved the work, the place and many of the people in it, so I kept going for another eight years, during which I tried to keep my mind open and separate the wheat from the chaff.
The “obedient and compliant” attitude of the majority of the people is what ultimately allows any form of authoritarian control (religious or political to me it’s the same), to create such destruction. Obedience and compliance are taking place in Isis as we speak. People trusting their leader instead of their own inner voice. People renouncing to apply critical thinking and willing to believe any old nonsense. People holding on to a sense of belonging while at the same time creating fictitious enemies. People putting labels on other humans to avoid looking at them as equals. People leading secret lives for fear of being rejected. People trying to conform to a mold and being encouraged to avoid self expression. It does not matter if the external manifestations are not on the level of mass murder, the point being: inner corruption is a way of life in the FOF, and the ability to see this process and reverse it is crucial for everyone involved.
204/12/Laura
COLLUSION, CONNIVANCE, DESECRATION *11
I’m not sure if this is still true, but for a long time, there was a fraternity of irreverent members who enjoyed making negative remarks about Robert’s behavior, or about the predictions, or about the ark, or who enjoyed making fun of “good student acts”, and so on. For example, one guy would make the sign of the cross (with a little smile on his face) whenever someone mentioned Higher Forces. Of course, the sarcasm was limited to small, private gatherings or to one-on-one conversations. Usually not in mixed company.
So, keeping in mind that the members of this fraternity are long-time fof students, and that they are STILL fof students, my question is…
What are they thinking?
Well, one thought is that “being critical” shows how serious they are about their inner work. It shows that they aren’t deterred by all of the problems in the Fellowship. Sure, many students are being fooled by all of this, but THEY aren’t. They know what’s going on. They are nobody’s fool. Despite all of the nonsense, they are strong, and they hold steadfast to their work. The denying force of the “school’s weirdness” does not stop them from pursuing their aim to awaken. They have passed the test.
So I think that’s part of it… Part of the criticism is sincere. They’re confused; they’re concerned about the problems like all of us are. They know that something is seriously wrong. But an occasional critical comment presents a facade. And it creates the illusion that free speech is allowed. Or at least maybe that’s part of it.
But so far, they remain in the group. So there’s a certain line they haven’t been unwilling to cross. In a way, that’s the ultimate criticism of the group — leaving.
208/12/2b
___________________________________
2b, What “test” does one pass while pursuing the aim to awaken and simultaneously, knowingly supporting an aim to crush the curiosity and forthrightness of an individual, budding conscious being wanting to understand the contradictions and spiritual hypocrisies occurring in the Fellowship of Friends and most of all Robert Burton; of which go against their very work to awaken… Not to mention that many of Robert Burton’s personal ‘tests’ have driven tens of thousands from his ‘school of love’, not on the premise of having not passed a test within themselves, but rather Robert Burton’s interpretation of ‘passing’ an external stimulus from himself? Is this conscious love; I sense not… Discrimination, Favortism, Desecration
EFFECT Fraud in the Inducement
The first time I accidentally discovered the money and sex situation of the Fellowship was after 8 or 9 months in the school. My world started spinning. What I believed to be the ultimate good, what had given me so much and had proven so true, was staring me in the face as corrupt at its core. I was not able to view the positive and negative aspects of the Fellowship as separate. I wanted to defend it all, and yet I was afraid I was supporting the wrong thing.
I felt I needed to take the matter up with the older student who I was closest to at the time. He gave me no real answers but rather expressed dismay at why I was asking those questions. I went home and wrote all the I’s out on paper. Then I slept on it. And in a couple of days, I was able to revisit these I’s and see them all as “just negativity”, “only I’s”, “judgment”, “identification”, all these things I was taught not to have. It was a relief, I didn’t have to do anything. I concluded that if I had such an extreme reaction, it must be because there is some material there for me to work on myself, some identification to transform. External reality was to be neglected, internal reality was all that mattered. Especially because there were all these good people around me who knew all the same things, even joked about them, and yet they found it valuable to stay in the school. If they can, so can I. After all, where was I going to go to, back to life where people were strangers that I couldn’t relate to?
When the next new student came along saying that she had “friction” with what people say about our school and about Robert, I found myself defending my choice as reasonable, by claiming how she can plainly see that all those people who have left the school and are complaining, are just negative and identified, and have lost the basic principles of the work. And she has found it useful to this day to resort to that attitude, and so we all proceeded to tacitly conspire that we would perform self-calming for years to come.
I must have bought into this “conscious being” thing at some point. I remember first meeting the teacher after 2 years, being invited to a dinner with him – this was back when you still got invited and didn’t have to pay 200 dollars to attend. The whole charade with evening gowns and tuxedos and concert before the dinner and expensive china embarrassed me, it was not an environment I knew how to behave in. I spent the evening mostly ashamed that I could be so mechanical and instinctive to actually want to eat the nice food while the others were enjoying the teaching to the extent that food was irrelevant, all being in a higher state except me. Oh boy. I don’t remember anything that Robert said, but I remember trying to not have “mechanical reactions” to his I’s, and trying to stop thoughts and be awake. When I got back I was asked if I had verified that he was conscious, and I responded – “Is that a joke?” Though I did have my fears how, when he kissed my forehead, he would be able to see with his all-mighty God-like perception all the bad judgment I had about him. But mostly I felt guilty that I was not impressed by meeting Robert. So I spent the following years going to his events and hoping that one day I would get it, one day I would see how great and brilliant he was, thinking that it was just me and my sleep preventing me from seeing the truth and experiencing the wonderful states that everybody enters when they are around him. I actually envied those students who were able to say that they verified Robert was their teacher and what a high being he was and so forth. It made their life so much easier.
Eventually I landed in the role of center director (as I believe Shelley likes to say, at the ripe old age of 24, wise beyond my years), and I got to tell other people what they should and should not do. Being the voice of the School for everybody, expressing opinions I did not hold, deep down, and delivering requests that made me cringe, but that was not important, I had to serve the school and fulfill my role. “They” knew better, and I was just an instrument. The best way to lie is to make yourself believe that you’re telling the truth. So I applied a thick paint of coat over my conscience and convinced myself that it was good. Here we were, all trying to make the best of the situation, to be creative within the framework of the material that was given to us. We needed to make the center come together and produce work. We had some good times and sharing, as long as we kept focusing on all that was positive about the school. And fortunately we were fairly relaxed as a center.
I asked myself many times over the last few years what was keeping me in the school and always came to the conclusion that it was habit and fear of being alone. I knew it was not healthy. But I didn’t have the courage to turn my life upside down. I kept trying to find reasons why the Fellowship is useful, and hanging on to those. But the contradiction was making me sick. And it was making me depressed. I’m not surprised to hear how many people take anti-depressants in the Fellowship; depression happens when you freeze yourself from experiencing feelings and thoughts that you think you shouldn’t be having. Not wanting to look deeply at what’s wrong but continuing to pretend that everything is fine.
I honestly tried to apply Robert’s dualistic good-and-evil teaching in an attempt to make it fit and find value in it. It’s hard when you force your own insights onto another man’s scaffolding, especially if he’s coming from a completely different place psychologically, and you don’t realize it. For a while I had my own work I’s that helped inspire me, based on what I knew about myself. I dropped them because I was told that Robert’s 30 work I’s are objective knowledge applicable to everyone. And then I struggled and kept believing in the 4th way maxim that struggle is good.
This blog was the last stone pulled out of the dam that released the flood. We can all stop pretending now. The emperor is naked, and what a relief. No, you don’t have to be impressed by Robert, and no, you don’t have to believe that what he’s saying is objective knowledge. Yes, you can finally trust yourself. You’ve grown up and you have the authority to allow yourself to put away childish dependence on a divine leader. No need to keep looking over your shoulder when he will catch up with you. When the optical illusion reveals itself and you can see both the vase and the faces at one time, there is no going back.
Still digesting and integrating the experience, as you can see, but meanwhile I’m packing my bags. Well, thanks for reading, if you did.
Good luck
225/12/Traveler
Conspiracy to DEFRAUD
Why bother with this? What does it have to do with the FOF. When I was a member of the FOF I believed that incorporating it as a religion was a convenient fiction. After reviewing the Canon’s and reading various stories of how “challenges” to Robert’s authority are dealth with it seems to me that Robert knew in advance of his intent to defraud the membership by posing as a celebrate spiritual Teacher. A general naiveté about Financial affairs also seems to be an aspect of the FOF.
In an earlier post I questioned as to why the form of a co-op would not be more appropriate. If there are currant members reading this then this is a question for you. Why not a Co-op? Why not let members share in the ownership of what they build. Is it fair that anyone who is offended at Robert’s sexuality and makes it known be able to be forced to leave for questioning his divinity? In fact does the legal status of Robert as an unquestionable divine guide fit in with the ideas of the 4th way at all? How many of you members past and present understood that this was a contract that they were agreeing to when they joined. Have any of you seen a copy of the Canon’s that is a legal and binding contract with each member?
226/12/A Former Student
CAUSE (Nestles Endangerment, Moses Malconduct)
Once when I was a waiter in the Gold Room at the Arizona Biltmore Hotel circa 1977 Robert came in with a group of 10 or so for breakfast. He had Corned Beef hash and Eggs. In one of his best “Moses on the mount” poses he explained to students that “fine hotels like this make everything from scratch.” He sent me to ask the chef for the recipe. I did and was told it was Nestles food service in a can. So I came back and told Robert in front of the group. He buffered and changed the subject. He later told me I should have told him privately and “externally consider my teacher”. What I wondered about my not inner considering at having been put in this position?
236/12/A Former Student
____________________
I had to… admittedly one of my favorite stories, which, consequentially, unlocked the flintstone-rap deep within me.
FRAUD
to Old Fish In The Sea Thank you for a very well written and clearly structured presentation. Although I left the FOF some 27 years ago I completely agree.
My only cravat is take the time to read the Canon’s. Were you ever asked to agree to them? I personally wonder if Robert did not plan just the kind of situation that has developed in which a member no matter for how long and at what cost has no ownership in the FOF and no defense against being asked to leave if they challenge the morality of Robert’s sexuality or use of funds
250/12/A Former Student
EFFECT (Fraud in the Inducement)
This once more raises the question to know “why people remain such a long time in the school”?
This question often was recurrent, in a sarcastic way, in various posts.
I spent myself more than 22 years in the school,although I had lost my naivety about it at least 10 years before departing.
For a long time I had the feeling to be alone (except for some rare friends) with my interrogations and the contradictions provided by the school.
Each time I exposed my points of view to others in the school, they did not accept them and returned them to me, photographing me to make more efforts, to have less personal points of view, “to do my work”….
That led me finally to not expose my point of view anymore while feeling guilty not to make the efforts in the direction required by the school.
R.Collins says that the greatest suffering of a man is not to be understood by others.
Because of that, one can wait for years hoping to be understood and gratified by others.
Another reason is that people remain in the school sometimes because they are depressed. This was not my case, but the case of several people around me. It is not even the fact of being depressed, but the fact of not realizing it, which prevents them from having the minimum of energy to decide to leave.
As Traveler explained in its post #224 “depression happens when you freeze yourself from experiencing feelings and thoughts that you think you shouldn’t be having.”
An other point evoked by Traveller “The best way to lie is to make yourself believe that you’ re telling the truth.” is also one of the points which can prevent someone to leave: by implicating someone personally to confirm publicly unverified things or unacceptable facts.
I personally refused 3 times the role of centre’s director because I understood that nobody was ready to listen to I had to say.
Aline
288/12/For the Best_1
EFFECT
This is probably true although if there was no arsenal in 1998 or whenever the nuclear war was to occur Robert did not read nearly enough science fiction. There was a time in the first year of the vineyard when there was a drought and it was not possible to keep deer and Rabbits away from the nice moist plants. There was a nightly crew who drove around with spotlights shooting Rabbit’s and Deer. There was a special permit for this.
328/12/A Former Student
_____________________
A School of Love?
CAUSE & EFFECT (Fraud)
…it is probably from beginning 2005, during that time Robert announced the coming end of the Gurdjieff-Ouspensky period.
337/12/Student
EFFECT (Conspiracy to Defraud) *4
The author of this text is an imaginary person who doesn’t exist except in the minds of those who believe him to be real. Any similarity to real persons or events is pure coincidence.
“The only way to get something from a School is by owning one”
The Wizard of Iz
There exists a kind of man who is destined to direct and dominate. Men that with just one look or a word, enforce their desires where others would need great effort and eloquence. Men who seem to find themselves in a place inaccessible to the rest of humanity, and possess something majestic and incomprehensible which distinguishes them from common men who submit hopelessly to them. Their arguments – when they speak – subjugate more than convince, and originate from a strong and magnetic character that seems more to give orders than present persuasive arguments. Even the strongest wills are subjugated, in a solid and secret bond to these men.
Speaking simply and without hypocrisy, we can say that human society is divided between those few that dominate and the great majority that suffer domination. As you already know from experience, I belong to that select few that dominate.
This simple truth has always been disguised particularly in religious and political realms. For centuries every kind of theory has been created which has tended to produce the illusion of “equality” in politics, or “divinity” in spirituality.
In the political, where the people are really different, we try to make them believe they are equals.
In the spiritual, where people really are equals, we try to make them believe they are different.
Having established what seem to me these clear and natural principals of human existence, I’d like to comment on what it means to create and direct an organization like ours that – although small – has all the essential characteristics of any society.
Any man intending to place himself over and above a group of followers must above all consider the problems of mind control, and the direction of the attention of his disciples.
Alex was a great teacher of this art, and I learned from him the elementary rules that I would later develop for myself into an original form.
In my last posting (3/156) I explained how – with the creation of an imaginary and fantastic world full of gods and supernatural events – I was able to imprison many minds and take them where I wanted. The secret is in the creation of an ample belief system that allows any visible contradiction to be resolved by ideas found within the system itself, thereby impeding all personal reflection.
Due to the subtlety of my influence, and after a certain time, a kind of mind control – originating inside you – became possible. You began to manipulate yourselves internally, and in some cases went still farther than I myself could have hoped.
It’s true that the essentials of mind control came principally from myself, and in this is I carefully refine that which renders a good result.
All this has formed part of the Great Plan that has produced the masterpiece of mind control and domination that some students have ironically called “Masculine Dominance”. This concept is quite complex and involves many factors that perhaps I will speak of in another moment.
For now we could reduce it to these three principle objectives:
1) The invention of a fantastic world in which I made you live for all these years.
2) The sexual possession of hundreds of young male students.
3) The imposition of innumerable exercises that needed to be followed without exception.
This time I want to speak particularly of this last point and of how these exercises work upon your psychology – you who have practiced them for many years. Exercises always serve more than one purpose, and their main purpose is to serve me. Through them I protected myself, I satisfied my most uncontrolled desires, strengthened the cohesion of the group, transmitted my subliminal messages over the five continents, and kept everyone’s attention directed towards myself.
The first and most important exercise of all – and in this I consider myself a pioneer – is the Non-Expression of Negative Emotions.
My predecessors investigated and wrote about this theme but nobody before me imposed their total non-expression. A bold move…
This exercise is fundamental for controlling behavior. Since I’ve lived all my life in the outer limits of what people think is legal or moral, all animosity or criticism should be suppressed before it manifests. The main benefit is obviously my own protection. Non-expression of negativity towards me, my extravagant or immoral behavior, my desires and my orders.
With this exercise, it’s as though we were fighting a duel, you and I, wherein before the action starts I have disarmed you — but not myself.
The second helpful aspect of this task is to maintain the group’s integrity by the internal repression of any emotions that may tend to disperse the community. I’ve used the expression “transform negativity” but I don’t believe anybody knows exactly what this means and I must confess, me neither. Non-expression of negativity was very successfully combined with “not gossiping”, which given my lifestyle, is indispensable.
Unfortunately this practice has become a type of internal poison for many individuals that we know here in Iz.
Many members succumb to depression. Others suffer from chronic fatigue, hysteria, or insomnia. Some have contracted serious disorders of the nervous system, multiple sclerosis, cystic fibrosis, and many have cancer and have died from it.
Anyways, we can consider that all of this is within the necessary cost of any important business and it seems to me that it can be considered irrelevant.
Second in importance was “The Sex Exercise” which lasted more than twenty years and which I rescinded in 1998 to compensate for the failure of the prediction of the fall of California into the Pacific. This exercise had more than one aim but its principal function was to maintain the sex energy of the young male students (that would be pent up inside them) to facilitate my seducing them. Depriving them of their sex life outside of marriage made them more vulnerable and desiring to alleviate themselves at almost any cost. I was able to relieve hundreds of them, who after having worked for me till exhaustion all day long, found themselves tired and with a very weakened will.
The most precious moments of my life have occurred when I found myself facing a shocked child, trembling, full of sex energy, whom I had convinced was standing in front on an angel in human form and who didn’t understand exactly what was happening.
Little by little, or perhaps suddenly, I would undermine him. Fear – combined with his nascent desire – or fear together with his moral convictions, are the source of my maximum pleasure. And a tyranny in my life…
Energy liberated by fear is a fine consumable for beings like myself, who are not satisfied by the normal, and who seek the total submission of all others. It’s also the reason why the majority of my victims are passive, timid, usually small in stature, and don’t have a personal direction in their lives; they are easy to persuade and generally don’t speak about what happened to them.
From this point of view I can say that the whole organization of the School has been conceived like a great spider’s web, spanning the whole world, who’s center is the Galeria and where I, the Golden Widow dressed in pink silk, find myself always waiting for fresh meat. I don’t believe there’s a man who has occupied an important role whom I haven’t sexually possessed. Of course I can’t say the same about the women working in key roles, but many of them are single, and they sublimate their loneliness for my sake.
The second objective of this exercise was to reduce the promiscuity of the era of “free love”, helping avoid conflicts within the group, and to avoid the spreading of venereal diseases that may have affected me personally. I imposed stringent fines upon those that disobeyed and I leveraged the associated feelings of guilt that are so strong in our Christian society.
I have used many and diverse exercises of lesser importance over the years, designed to keep group attention focused upon myself, and the organization; all gave good results.
For example, the “name change” exercise that I used more than 25 years ago, and which I’ve used to a lesser extent more recently, is excellent for partially appropriating the identity of a student, and make him “belong” to the organization, and myself. The same can be said of the exercises around dress – it produces a feeling of group identity that serves my aims well.
The “word exercise” was very appropriate for maintaining the cohesion of the group because it allowed students to “photograph” one another constantly in daily life, making them active participants in my game. The same can be said about the exercises around food and eating.
One of the most extraordinary methods of group unification was the idea to observe the appearance of the number 44. In those times, almost nobody knew about the reality of synchronicity or about quantum physics, which demonstrate that our attention attracts what it seeks.
Recently, when different languages multiplied substantially in Iz, it seemed right that I should impose English as the only mode of communication for several reasons: it was quite disagreeable to hear around me almost all unknown languages, which weakened my power over others. I also found it necessary that my acolytes of the inner circle could listen to and understand conversations in public places during the time I started the “new form”, which already attracted so much opposition. I learned of many subversive conversations in this way. Little by little however, the exercise was not respected and I was forced to rescind it before I started to look ridiculous.
These days, with so many upset students who have left – or are about the leave – the School, I am finding a strong weakness in the exercise of “Not relating to Ex-Students” which I imposed from the start. This exercise limited the influence of those that had freed themselves over those still under my power. I had better find a quick solution to this disquieting problem.
Recently a naïve and adorable student asked me if my way with others was a product of the fear I instilled or the love I inspired. I answered that the ideal is to have both fear and love.
If it is not possible to have both, it is preferable and more reliable to be feared than loved. Human beings love in an unstable way, in accord with subjective circumstances. Fear can be objectively controlled at the whim of the dominator.
Most important is to avoid being hated…whenever possible. Those that truly know human nature know that everything can change in this world and all is susceptible to rise and fall. A man like myself, who in diverse ways has taken great risks, and whom fortune has favored for a long time, must take measures to prevent the fall, and not wait for it to happen suddenly.
Prosperity, if we can refer to it as a state, is nothing more than a passing state, and fortune – which appears to be of a feminine character since it has the inconstancy of that sex, can change at any time, and can let her chosen ones fall into sufferings in proportion to her favors. Therefore I think it more certain, when the moment indicates, to break with fortune suddenly, rather than being struck unexpectedly and precipitately from behind.
The moment we find ourselves at the top of our career is the moment when fortune can take away everything, and before the storm comes, one needs to hurry to the nearest and most secure harbor.
“I am what I am and sometimes worse”
Love, The Wizard of Iz
363/12/The Wizard of Iz
_________________________________
*4 I wish to post this as an EFFECT sample of what Robert Burton and The Fellowship of Friends has ‘put’ into the temporary (thank god) psyches of certain ‘followers’ as to create such a deeply precise, yet, fictional rendition of what is being sold for millions of dollars as a genuine ‘Conscious School’, which, outside such ‘impressions’ inside one’s ‘temporary psyche’ is worth nothing due to its total fraudulent ‘inner circle’.
EFFECT (Fraud in the Inducement)
A Story that many of you might relate to.
A FOF story of a deep awakening and then of a losing it…
and years of suffering about it…
“Why did it happen?”
“What did it mean?”
“Why can’t I change it?”
Okay, now THERE are 3 good ways to suffer, and I practiced them all with great fervor…
Okay, enough of this Prelude…
I joined the FOF on Christmas Day of 1973, and by New Years 1975, I was living at Renaissance, sleeping on the floor of the Lincoln Lodge (as it was called then) I came to be the Maitre D’ in May of that year when the preceding one had a physical breakdown.. obviously Chronic Fatigue Syndrome…
from the insane amount of work that he did.. so that role fell on me, and at the same time, the initial grape vines were being planted.. this was a very important time for the FOF, as this was the birth of the vinyards.. lots of people camped out that month, working long hours to get the vines planted.. and my job included asking them to volunteer to be a server at lunch or dinner. I also had to coordinate with the linen people, the flower arrangers, the people who selected the poetry and music and with RB about the wine and guest list for that night.. and of course,
I had to make sure all the dishes were washed.. and there were no dish washers.. often it was just Tim Campion and me washing all the dishes, eating a bowl of oatmeal at 3am.. also had to coordinate things with the kitchen.. that month, I averaged less than 2 hours sleep a night. People often were pretty negative to me as I approached them during the day.. sometimes I just wanted to say hi, but many times a day, I received a rather terse “No” before I said a word.. sometimes people just walked away when they saw me. Of course, they were tired, and volunteering meant that they had to wait till the 2nd or 3rd serving to eat.. But to me, if felt pretty abrasive…But over the month, something started to happen.. I started feeling less and less negative about their reactions, and about the amount of work that I had to do..
I started to feel happier and happier.. and this happiness was uncaused.. that is the most genuine kind.. happiness just because.. not because someone did something nice.. not because I got what I wanted.. but happiness for no reason at all! The one evening, I asked the chef what time dinner would be ready, and he exploded.. yelling at me.. I did not say a thing.. I felt in shock.. I just felt his words.. no response from me. I just felt the energy. I walked outside to the deck, all alone, and looked out over the baby vinyards… I felt all sorts of negative energy trying to respond.. It was time slowed down, and I almost physically saw these negative arrows being slung at me.. thoughts that wanted to judge him… thoughts that judged myself.. feelings of hopelessness as well.. yet, something seemed to deflect all these energetic arrows… there was something doing it.. it was obvious it was not me…
Then there were the “daughters of Mara” who came as well.. thoughts like, “Hey, Spencer, you are really doing this well” or other thoughts like this.. and I saw that they were the same.. they were just fear in another disguise.. I saw that every thought was a diversion.. and I also saw that one cannot spend every moment of one’s life deflecting arrows.. that it was nice to happen now, but then I might drop my guard at some point.. and it was okay.. I was okay with anything happening.. so I went back inside, and the chef apologized.. and all was well…
The next day, after lunch, I received a phone call from my mother, telling me that she had to have a hysterectomy the next week, and she wanted me to come home. I politely declined, telling her that I would come if there were any problems but that I was sure there would not be. I had never been so clear with her before.. just straight forward and honest.. I had always been dominated by her anger and by the guilt that she so masterfully applied to my whole family. This conversation was clean..
Then I walked outside, and there was a revolution going on in my brain..
One voice said, “You SHOULD go be with your mother.”
and another one said, “No, you SHOULD stay here!”
And I knew immediately that it was the same voice, disguised as the “good student”
The voices continued for hours, expressing all their viewpoints, and I felt both totally unable to stop them, but at the same time I didn’t really care, because they were just voices.. they weren’t real. It was obvious what they were, and I just didn’t bite.. didn’t believe them at all.
What had happened was that there was an increase in awakeness (not third state, but a degree of awakening) that had happened that whole month, and then a big third state experience the night before, full of shakti (vital energy) and profoundly insightful… but the highest awakening was that whole afternoon of bearing those voices. I just accepted what is.. that is all that happened.. what was happening was totally okay.. It was obvious that
I was not connected to those inner voices.. they were what I then called false personality.. now I just use the word, ego. Ego is actually Latin for “I”, so it is a good word.. ego is really everything that is self referencing, which is just about every thought that we experience.
That night, I got to bed pretty early.. around 2am.. and I slept on the living room floor in a sleeping bag.. I had an amazing dream, in which I was totally awakened, and Robert just realized it. “I didn’t know you were even close,” he said in the dream. I replied, “Well, obviously, I was, because here I am.”
Oh, I forgot to mention, that I was not seeing him in the dream. It was a mind-to-mind communication.. (Hey, if you’re going to have an awakened dream, might as well pull out all the stops… the more mystical the better!) Suddenly, I woke from the dream. In front of me on the floor was another student’s alarm clock, with big red letters that read 4:44, and I tried to take a breath and couldn’t… had to really struggle to get any air at all into my lunge..
I was rushed to the hospital, and was diagnosed with Bronchial Athsma… in other words, severe bronchitis.. caused by hay fever, alergic reation to grass polen, and the Lincoln Lodge was surrounded by rye grass, the worst one for me.. When I couldn’t breathe, I panicked, really.. and all I could think about was trying to stay alive..
I went to Carmel and stayed there for a month.. then finally returned to Renaissance. I still felt weak, and decided to move out of the Lincoln Lodge.. and got a tent and prepared a site.. during the preparing, I would work hard, then would come to a point near the point of being exhausted, and would get terrified.. then back off..
For 25 years, whenever I got really involved in something, and would start to approach that point of tiredness, and would back off.. I used to follow the suggestion that to know one’s limits, one had to occasionally exceed one’s limits.. well, I stopped well short for years.
I was actually depressed about this.. I never again approached that level of awakening.. I felt that I had it and that I lost it.. that I was doomed to never have it again..
Isn’t the ego just the funniest thing? It likes to turn everything into a tragedy.. or something that I did wrong.. That’s one way it keeps control.. each of us has his/her own pattern of how this works.. Mainly , I chastised myself for not being able to have that same zeal towards awakening.
If any of you are going through similar things, let me know. Perhaps I can be of assistance. I have no idea what has gone on in the past few years, but I know that in the first at least 15 or 20 years of the FOF, nobody else awakened, at least according to RB… Has anyone supposedly awakened in the past 10 years or so? I find it odd that awakening can be the prize dangled in front of one for so many years, and yet nobody is awakening..Gee, why would someone want to stay with such a bad track record?
378/12/Spencer St Clair
EFFECT (Fraud in the Inducement)
IMO, we have been duped into viewing ‘awakening’ in the context of the way of the monk. IMO, it is Robert’s self ascribed role as a teacher that he uses as a third force to keep him relatively dialed in and present. The way of the monk is based on strict obedience and is not the way of the householder. The way of the householder is to take place in life, not a sheltered compound away from public scrutiny.
IMO awakening or having conscious being is not divorced from one’s role in life. It is my belief, (something that I cannot verify), that ordinary people in ordinary roles in life will not awaken. Where’s the need or the third force? There has to be some kind of larger aim involved as a third force other than one’s own self-aggrandizement. IMO, you know a conscious being by their work in life and the trail they leave behind. For Robert it was building an ark. But he is chasing windmills. He was fooled by his misinterpretation of synchronicity, magical thinking, and ideas of reference. He borrowed the idea of the ark. At the time the ‘school’ was being formed the cold war was in full swing. He exploited our fears of nuclear holocaust. He used to say during the early days that Russian submarines were patrolling the coast as we speak. IMO, you don’t have to become a teacher and lead a group to awaken, that’s the way of the monk. Monks have stay in the sheltered environment of a school permanently and work their way to the top. Your conscious role is then bestowed upon you, if you play your cards well.
IMO, you join a fourth way school and work hard to learn what you need to create a conscious role for yourself, IN LIFE. Then you go out and use your will and being to create the circumstances for your self where it is more likely to happen. (That’s what RB did.) IMO, when you find your right livelihood, your conscious role, you are ‘in the flow’, and then at that point the work seems effortless and your energy is boundless! This is how I lead my life post-FOF.
I decided 22 years ago that I was not going to hang around sucking dicks, giving up my will, waiting for someone to claim that I am awake. Nor do I think ‘crystallization’ comes as a lightening bolt. I believe it’s much more subtle than that.
I have only my life and my work as my proof.
388/12/Whalerider
Fraud, Misapplication of Funds, False Pretenses, TAX FRAUD
OK folks, let us to do some math here:
250 people X 10 years X 12 monts x lets say $600 p/months = 18 000 000
18 mln dollars….
Am I correct?
S__t, I want my money back!
390/12/Normal Human Beeng
CAUSE & EFFECT (Conspiracy to Defraud)
The disconnectedness of sexuality, marriage, social life is what allowed us to support Robert without questioning. We did not understand the connections and complied with the feminine dominance that states every man for himself, and then ended up supporting only Robert for himself at the cost of the rest of us.
Is it not sobering to realize how infantile we are as a community? It doesn’t seem much surprising if what people were really going for was their own awakening. It does sound like this is the aim for many still. While I am happy to respect those if they wish the fakir or yogi path, I do not think there is much room for that in the fourth way.
448/12/Elena
Negligent Misrepresentation, Desecration, Fraud, Material Misrepresentation, False pretenses, False-association claim
This is today’s daily card:
The lower self’s idea of beauty is not something
divine, but something vulgar like itself.
Love, Robert
Rumi: Your image is in my eyes.Your beauty is not
something to be hidden and forgotten.
For God’s sake, Rumi is suffering in his grave for that….if only could he says something to RB……..
465/12/lover
CONSPIRACY TO DEFRAUD
Have you read the Canons of the Fellowship of Friends.
Has Robert ever discussed publicly the ramifications of his legal status as divinely ordained spiritual leader.
Is there any freedom to question Robert or is this an indication that someone has failed to “externally consider the Teacher” or “manifested from false personality”?
One thing about the accuracy of the Blog is that it is a blog in which anyone can say almost anything.
What about the accuracy of Robert’s divinely inspired predictions? Does the failure of these events to happen make him a false prophet? Did he even get a reduction in salary for not doing his job as a divine leader building an Ark to save civilization.. Has there been public discussions on these subjects. If not why not what is there to fear in allowing freedom of speech and thought? Isn’t conscience part of consciousness?
Does Robert fear that if he allows free speech his students do not have sufficient being to continue accepting his will?
469/12/A Former Student
Immigration FRAUD, FALSIFYING A RECORD, Material misrepresentation, Conspiracy to Defraud (Changing the actual literal predictions for physical external events into ‘symbolic’, inner predictions.) *8
In this respect the blog is far more trustworthy than Robert Burton or the Fellowship of Friends, whose lies have been so thoroughly and indisputably documented. Everything from covert illegal immigration to doctored “keys” graphics to changing hydrogen warfare predictions into a mere symbol of internal jihad. And what about the most pernicious lie: Roberts external vs. behind-closed-doors behavior? The man with the beaming face in the Youtube excerpt vs. Whale Rider’s worst (and ongoing?) nightmare?
475/12/Joseph G
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*8
Regardless of the ‘face’ the Fellowship of Friends places on the predictions via their Wikipedia page, during 1996-1997 and throughout up till the last week before the prediction of California’s Fall, the Fellowship of Friends (members) paid hundreds of thousands of dollars on heavy equipment, tracker and trailers, generators, food supplies, cars, houses, students built house prior to the prediction time, families moved from the bay area, people took long vacations or simply quit their jobs, people spent thousands traveling overseas to be at ISIS during the prediction time, etc. Robert Burton’s predictions have never been ‘esoteric’ symbols for the ‘inner-man’, these were predictions solely pointing to physical events, whereas the Fellowship of Friends had spent real money for Robert Burton’s ‘pipe dreams’.
EFFECT (Fraud)
The interesting thing to me is that many/most of us are not leaving because of the sex scandals – many of us weathered those already, though we may be revisiting the meaning of them now. Many of us are leaving because of the teaching (rather, lack thereof); the lack of judgment, love and just plain sense from Robert; and, perhaps most striking, what we experience as a withering of our lives and souls in the domineering context of Robert Burton’s group. The corruption of the “inner circle” contributes also.
482/12/Sharon
EFFECT (Process Note: fact vs assumption)
481, wake up little suzy wake up
“The experience I think many people have in leaving the Fellowship is it’s a process. It doesn’t typically happen that one day someone reads a blog and decides to leave the school. ”
This was my experience. It probably took me a year to leave, and I didn’t make the decision until a week before when an event happened that left me with no choice. It wasn’t something new coming from the Fellowship, it came from within me.
In the meantime, I maintained my good student act (for the most part), and I was told that people were shocked when G and I left. That surprised me because I was sure the inner turmoil must be leaking out on occasion. You just never know.
484/12/Was KathleenW
EFFECT (Undue Influence, False Pretenses) *9
Hi ~ as some day ago I loaded “The Plate”, today I received the following message from YouTube:
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Dear Member:
This is to notify you that we have removed or disabled access to the following material as a result of a third-party notification by Fellowship of Friends, Inc. claiming that this material is infringing:
The plate: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=C7oBJ6sTKAg
Please Note: Repeat incidents of copyright infringement will result in the deletion of your account and all videos uploaded to that account. In order to avoid future strikes against your account, please delete any videos to which you do not own the rights, and refrain from uploading additional videos that infringe on the copyrights of others
489/12/Sunny Day
_______________________________
*9 The video itself presented no false claims or derogatory remarks or symbols… So far as the Fellowship of Friends Marketing strategy (my opinion) it would only be a matter of time before they would have dared to include Robert Burton’s ‘conscious videos’ amongst other esoteric ‘teachers’ videos (both dead and alive)… It was only in context to this blog site and the corresponding revelations posted herein showing/demonstrating fraudulent practices within the teaching of Robert Burton, these videos showing the fraud outright, that the Fellowship of Friends approached YouTube and claimed ‘copyright infringement’…
It’s like trying to melt an iceberg with a hairdryer… good luck FoF…
Conspiracy to Defraud, Misrepresentation, Connivance
In my case it would be silly to say that Robert Burton was ever my teacher, I had one dinner with him with twelve other people in a period of ten years. This is probably not all that uncommon, when Fellowship ’students’ in the outlying provinces have no direct connection with the self-appointed “conscious being” then they are in imagination about being in a school because they are really nothing more than outer circle mules helping to haul money to the forbidden city of greed. The inspirational propaganda shipped out to them is more designed to keep them in harness than to wake them up to their real position.
514/12/Graduates
SEXUAL PREDATOR, Disparent Treatment, Undue Influence, Coercion, Invasion of Privacy, Discrimination, Favoritism, Intentional Infliction of Emotional Distress, Violation of Fiduciary Duty
What I was referring to was that this was a secret in the 1970’s. I was a student from 1973-1980. I knew Robert and spent time with him and his “entourage” Peter Bishop, Thomas Easely , others. There were those who lived and traveled with him. The common belief was that Robert had these young men around him because as a celibate straight male he needed to insulate himself from too much effeminate sex energy. This was a lie. I now believe he was already being sexual with his students in the 1970’s. This is almost 20 years before he publicly acknowledged this.
My point is in regard to the enneagram and how the 7th note is connected to the 3rd. Many aspects of the decision process that impacted many lives were based on this lie. I know of many relationships in which he encouraged or commanded married couples to split up. When I went to Phoenix in 1976 he ordered a very beautiful young Solar woman to go and had her husband stay with him.
This was one of many incidents over the years.
When regarded from this prospective he becomes not a Sun radiating and supporting those around him but a black hole that through its invisible yet massive gravitational force sucks all mass into itself until it actually warps time, space and gravity.
536/12/A Former Student
FRAUD, EFFECT, DESECRATION
Payment is a principle: This piece of FoF dogma tells us that everything must be paid for, especially FoF events (sometimes twice), and everybody has his price (eg Robert’s entourage). Gambling is spiritually bad, unless organized by the FoF in the form of lotteries. Despite this, I personally made some money from students by wagering that the earth would not end in November 2006. Few were willing to put their money where their mouth is, but there were enough to make it worthwhile. More predictions, please!
547/12/Devil’s Dictionary
DESECRATION , ‘Crime against Humanity/Spirituality’
I think it’s a shame though that many may have gotten turned off to the Fourth Way work because Robert co-opted it and distorted it for his own sick ends. In some ways I think that may be even a bigger ’sin’ than all the fisting and such.
551/12/David B
EFFECT (sexual predator, i.e., RB)
BTW- I was married for five years to the Alpha of this strange Alphabet of men that RB is typing his unfinished childhood business on. He will not ever appear on this blog I assure you. What was he like? Wounded Mars-Solar army of one, which is
what I found so sexy about him. I think I rehabilitated him pretty good not knowing what a nightmare he’d just come out of when we married. He had a beard and believe it or not I never saw his face; which can be taken as a metaphor of sorts. As I said on my first post, RB did indeed apologize to him.
568/12/Shelley M
Undue Influence, Discrimination, Violation of Fiduciary Duty
I actually got an email a few weeks ago from someone who was told not to speak to me at a fof event in Bolzano in 1991 because I was ‘bad’. I was breast feeding my daughter at the time. A really dangerous person don’t ya think? Feminine Dominance to the max! When I heard that RB renamed Renaissance ISIS- goddess of fertility -I can only assume that the great teacher I once knew was indirectly trying to help those students he loves to vamoose before he really went crackers.
568/12/Shelley M
DESECRATION
I for long thought that RB had no clue at all about so called “objective art” and that such thing actually doesn’t exist. Maybe G. had the material for understanding this idea, but we for sure lost the thread.
This completely warped “the impression octave” making it a limiting judgmental process about our surroundings.
I rather witnessed this aspect of the FOF as instinctive gratification: i.e. surrounding oneself with pleasant artifacts.
Somewhere G. said that esoteric knowledge can only appear once you are saturated with ordinary knowledge about a subject. RB completely skipped that step of immersion into past civilization (Egypt, caves,…) and just made them fit his current “weltanschauung”.
569/12/for the Best_2
Fraud in the Inducement, Negligent Infliction of Emotional Distress, Collusion, Connivance, Undue Influence, Violation of Fiduciary Duty, False Pretenses, Discrimination, Favoritism
“School Of Love”: A description applied to the FoF by its members, meaning that the Teacher loves his students and that they love him and each other. Everyone else, including family members, is excluded because they are “life”.
The Teacher shares his love with his entourage in the unusual ways described by Simon, Whale Rider and others above. He loves his other students by inventing weird, nonsensical theories for them to believe and by asking for more money.
Love is shown to former students by pretending they don’t exist, thus encouraging them to return to the School.
Older single women often have a particularly strong emotional connection with their Beloved Teacher. This is demonstrated externally by for example having a car number plate saying “I LOVE RB” or by pushing other students aside at meetings so that one can stand at the front and grin continuously at the Beloved Teacher in an “inviting” fashion. Drooling is discouraged, however.
582/12/Devil’s Dictionary
FRAUD in the Inducement, Negligent Hiring
Some fresh data. About 430 people left in the last 18 months. (This number may be off by 10% in either direction.) See my previous comment about the kind of members leaving – 10 years or more). Although the total fof count may be similar to that of the last 25 years – an assertion which I very much doubt – the most established students (American and Western European) now constitute an ever increasing percentage of those leaving, which is unprecedented.
Most new members are from Eastern Europe and Latin America; and this is useful to the fof for all kinds of reasons. They have fewer English skills, forming a kind of protective barrier from negative information about the group.
In addition many of these new students are allowed to pay a pittance – even in their own currency – to be members, and whose primary motive is to secure work visas and green cards. No wonder RB found fund raising to be of such value; it brought new income – which was incidentally easier to hide than teaching payments.
In addition, vouchers keep all those visitors from abroad working to maintain the property saving the fof thousands (notice however their are no new buildings, improvements which cost real money). Finally the newer and younger the students, the easier they will swallow the new religion.
Established members can plainly see that the teaching has been completely subverted by materialistic motives and RBs personal agenda.
It’s word games for money at this point.
587/12/Red Rain
‘Reckless and Illegal Investment of Member Funds’,
FRAUD, Misapplication of Funds, Misapplication of Property, Fraudulent Misrepresentation, Material Misrepresentation, False Pretenses, Collusion, Connivance, Breach of Trust
Red Rain # 585
Most of your post rings correct to me, with the exception of: “(notice however their [sic] are no new buildings, improvements which cost real money)”.
I would guess that the Theatron cost as much as if not more than any building at Isis. And will continue to cost, since it was not built completely to code and will have to have more money poured into it in order to be able to use it. Quite a white elephant – terrible acoustics, one season usage only, and very uncomfortable, but oh, so lovely to look at.
590/12/Sharon
FRAUD, Disparent Treatment, Negligent Infliction of Emotional Distress, Misapplication of Funds
593 Was KathleenW
“I wonder if students on salary are provided with health insurance… Does anyone know?”
During the 80s and 90s, definitely not. I would be extremely surprised if members on salary today are provided health insurance. But I’ll repeat Kathleen’s question… anyone know?
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No health insurance. Even workman’s compensation was axed about two years ago.Everyone on ’salary’ was asked to sign a disclaimer stating that their wages were actually ‘compensation’ for voluntary services so as not to be covered by insurance laws…..
604/605/12/2b,Mole
Negligence, Fraud, Desecration
603 Mole
“No health insurance. Even workmans compensation was axed about two years ago.Everyone on ’salary’ was asked to sign a disclaimer stating that their wages were actually ‘compensation’ for voluntary services so as not to be covered by insurance laws…..”
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The buildings, landscaping and art seem to be valued more than the well-being of the students who build, maintain and care take them. Interesting set of priorities.
608/12/Was KathleenW
EFFECT (Companion to 298/299, ‘Limited Effect’)
#593 Kathleen, #603 Mole
Although there is no health insurance plan that is sponsored by FOF, there are still a number of students on salary covered by CA workman’s compensation plan (for work-related illnesses/accidents), and the fellowship is paying for that coverage. There are a number of students who are not, and it is unclear (to me) what criteria are in place to determine who is and who is not covered. There was also, at one time, an agreement between the local clinic (run by a FOF doc) and FOF to provide first visit for general screening and treatment of uncomplicated ailments. I do not know whether that agreement still exists. For most care that include specialized opinion or treatment/X-Ray or lab work, salaried students need to go to nearby towns. Most of them, given their low income, will qualify for the state-sponsored insurance coverage “Medical”.
609/12/Opus111
TAX FRAUD, Misapplication of Funds
That’s how it was when I was on salary. In addition, when the government made them pay minimum wage we had to give back any excess over what our “salaries” were supposed to be. We were also asked to give back any tax refunds we received from the govt.
Medical- so WE are paying for the health care of the salaried students. That sure cheers me up.
610/12/Bruce
‘Reckless BBQ’, Fraud in the Buttering, False Drip Pretense
For all currant members
of the Fellowship of Friends and their divine Teacher Robert Earl Burton
when was the last time you had BBQ dripping sauce and Corn on the cob?
Do you truly believe that it is not possible to eat BBQ and be present or pick up a piece of corn all covered with butter and remember yourself?
Creating an artificial environment is all well and good to create experiences but the 4th way is about living ones life in life. No matter where you are and what you’re doing.
614/12/A Former Student
EFFECT (Negligent Infliction of Emotional Distress)
On the subject of health care, here’s a quaint story from olden days.
We were in the crunch to finish the Town Hall. Robert had given one of his unrealistic opening dates and booked the music. There were several crews working around the clock trying to meet the deadline. We were all working outrageous shifts. Robert would occasionally show up to help with angles like “Goodness, lets tear that wall down and move it over two inches or so”. Or that kind of bullshit.
I had been working for weeks. We were basically not allowed to leave the property if we were on salary. I noticed some pain in a tooth and asked RB to go to the local dentist who was treating most of the salaried workers because he took medical and he knew the system enough that he would be able to treat an emergency without having to go to Marysville and screw with the red tape.
Robert said no, I couldn’t leave. So I continued to work. Over the next few days my face started to swell on one side, and was constantly hot. RB said I could go when the Town Hall was finished. Long story short, I couldn’t eat due to the pain. The swelling continued. The day of the opening RB said I could go. I went. The dentist, who knew the whole story, said “What the hell’s wrong with that guy”? He told me a story that a student had been sent to have a little chip in front veneered so it would look nice, and he could travel occasionally with RB. As a gift for working hard RB told the student he would pay for it. So he went and the dentist said the kids whole mouth was a mess and he’d be losing teeth. He said putting a veneer on that tooth, in light of what he saw, was like gluing a diamond on top of skin cancer so it would look nice. He was pretty red in the face by then.
So he gave me some antibiotics and told me the choices were to have it pulled or have a three tooth bridge. I told him I would have to ask RB.
RB said have it pulled, that’s what he’d pay for. I was in pain and in no position to argue.
Here’s the clincher. RB then had the balls to come up to me and say “Goodness, I want you to know that I paid for the dentist out of my coffer, my personal coffer”. I’ll never forget that moment.
Here’s to the second coming of Christ’s conscience, consciousness, will, compassion of all the rest of his horse shit.
And yes, I should have had my f*****g head examined while I was at it.
615/12/Bruce
CONSPIRACY TO DEFRAUD, Desecration
INFLUENCE C: Conscious Influence, described by Gurdjieff as obtainable by direct contact with a living “conscious being” (defined in 11/555). Expanded by Burton to include dead conscious beings, who we are told live in the city of Paradise (near Chico) and start to help FoF students with their evolution as soon as their first donation is received.
It’s important in the FoF to “verify C Influence”. Burton often says “We in this room have all verified C influence”, meaning we’re all spiritually advanced. The exclusive help given by C influence to the FoF is cited as the main reason why the FoF is a “real school” as opposed to a “group” (all other spiritual organizations). Examples of how this belief works abound on this blog, eg Howard Carter’s statement that the FoF is invulnerable because it’s protected by angels.
C influence is verified by experiencing “a series of coincidences too numerous to ascribe to chance”, otherwise known as “shocks” (see 11/555). In the past these typically involved frequent sightings of the number 44 on auto number plates and elsewhere. These days seeing pyramids or the number 6 is viewed as more significant (ideally one would see six pyramids). In other words, everyday synchronicity as described by C.G.Jung and The Police, among others, is cleverly used to prove something with which it has no connection whatsoever.
Burton would sometime describe a student as being “on the ladder” of a particular conscious being. Noone seemed to have a clear idea about what this meant, though the implication was that the student and conscious being were in some way similar and that the student would reincarnate as the conscious being in his/her next lifetime, which brings us neatly to…..
LIFETIMES:
According to Burton, successful students are “on the way”, meaning that they are in a series of lifetimes which will culminate in a “conscious play” in their ninth lifetime, meaning they will then become a “conscious being” and move to Paradise (near Chico). At FoF events, Burton will typically say “Most of you are in your eighth lifetimes”. But sometimes when a less devoted student died he would say “He/she was on their sixth (or even fifth) lifetime”. This has been compared to coming second to last in a three-legged race.
Students prefer not to think too deeply about the implications of all this, but it’s worth observing that until someone is told they are on their ninth lifetime, which doesn’t happen, this doctrine means that no student will become conscious in this lifetime – good news for the donations dept., but not such good news for the student. Many students reassure themselves by believing they will make it next time around. But what does this mean? I, Devil’s Dictionary, will come back as, say, Elizabeth 1st. So in some sense I will be aware that I am in fact DD while I inhabit Elizabeth’s body. How else could “I” be Elizabeth 1st? Admittedly this seems unlikely, but if I don’t know I’m actually DD, what’s the point of being Elizabeth?
In any case, the recent changes in the teaching have rendered this doctrine even more opaque, although it’s been suggested that students in their 8th lifetimes, if they perform the Sequence (see 11/555) sufficiently vigorously, might come back as prehistoric rhino droppings. Better than not coming back at all, I suppose!
617/12/Devil’s Dictionary
Correction to 303
I was incorrect about the choices the dentist gave me. They were to have it pulled or have a root canal and crown. Robert wouldn’t spring for it, so he paid the $60.00 or so to have it pulled. The tooth was pretty much near the front.
618/12/Bruce
EFFECT (‘Deliberate Deception’), Wanton Misconduct
Bruce. I get your agony, your fury. I get it.
Nobody put me into a situation that required my teeth be pulled. However, my identity was fucked with. Delusion was an element of it, but so was deliberate deception. And that you don’t forget, even if you come back to yourself.
619/12/Veronicapoe
NO WORDS
On the subject of health care, here’s a quaint story from olden days.
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Here’s another construction story. This is one of the strangest events that I have ever witnessed. Everyone involved had been in the “school” remembering themselves for at least ten years, except me and I’d only been around for four or five years, this is sometime in the mid-ish 80’s. The “octave leader” comes onto the construction site and notices two “students” cutting ten foot long redwood boards (very light wood) on a heavy duty radial arm saw that is meant to cut oak or walnut, very hard wood. It is an oversized piece of equipment especially for that application. The “octave leader” insists that this activity is a one man job and sends the student that was controlling the rear end of the ten foot boards off to do something else and the very next cut the student operating the saw cuts his finger off. He is holding his bleeding hand with his good hand up to his face and is screaming in pain and shock. The “octave leader,” who up until now was acting like a distant, cold, power-feature prick, suddenly goes into a psychotic break. He walks over to the bleeding, screaming student (remember these are “men number four”) who is for some reason shouting the “octave leader’s” name over and over, and picks up the finger and is trying to put it back on. I’m in a conscious state at this point taking every split-second into my permanent memory. The finger falls onto the ground and the “octave leader” picks it up again and puts it back onto the bleeding stump, the bleeding student is screaming and watching, while kind of holding his hand still in what appears to be an effort to help. When the finger stays in place for a second the “octave leader” kind of shrugs as if to say, “Look I fixed it.” Meanwhile the injured student is still screaming the guy’s name again and again. The injured party was carted off to the emergency room and the “octave leader,” ashen, shaken and inner considering about his bizarre lunatic reaction, disappeared off the site. Another one of those slow-motion scenes that tend to destroy the atmosphere of vanity that permeates the fake perception that “students” are somehow above the mechanical reactions of “life.”
623/12/Graduates
Negligence, False Pretenses *6
Hi Discussion
To be fair many Americans do not have standard Health Insurance. It is more or less a privilege of the rich, or your company pays.
Even if you have health insurance you still have to pay just like paying Teaching Payments and then still having to pay for meetings with Robert.
In fof they do fund raisers for the sick and wounded.
Recently they did one for a girl who broke her arm.
If you are from other countries on salary then you take a risk, but the reward is a possibility for a green card.
Some students live in shacks (mobile homes) that are difficult to insulate from the harsh weather.
Many older students are not able to afford a house mainly due to bad credit.
624/12/Health Insurance
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*6 Fund raisers for personal injuries in the Fellowship of Friends is unheard of; my opinion is, that this ‘girl’ had broken her arm under some dubious or questionable circumstance or while employed or working for a voucher on ISIS property (Fellowship of Friends Property) and the ‘officials’ quickly covered their bases before a possible lawsuit… Yes, this is hearsay; yet, again, this is unheard of on a ongoing basis and is not a part of the Fellowship of Friends ‘form’.
EFFECT (Desecration)
There was just this teensy problem – he was the “teacher” of the “conscious school” of which I was a “student”. I must now put those things in quotes as their reality for me has become tenuous at best. So it was up to me to figure out why nearly everyone else seemed to think he was the bees’ knees. For years, the experiences I had either in my personal work or while interacting with students was sufficiently rewarding to keep me in the organization. I assumed RB was primarily using the tool of “intentional insincerity” to keep people off-balance, using obvious nonsense and myths to force students back upon themselves, to keep them verifying and acting only upon their own most indisputable personal truths. Also for years, the concept of “C-influence” meant little to me as a concrete reality. For good or for ill, the FOF does tend to change peoples’ concepts of reality. First, years of increasingly bizarre and inexplicable experiences, synchronicities etc. finally overwhelmed my cynicism and I had to yield to the reality of some kind of external intelligence operant invisibly in daily reality. The routine bits, the 44’s, the wonder of hearing a passer-by by giving me “answers” to questions but yet half-formulated etc. – all these things could be written off as selectively emphasized coincidences, (for 2 months once, I looked for “22” in my environment and it was everywhere) yet the sheer preponderance and intensity of these things kept rocking my reality, setting me up for various experiences that simply could not be explained away.
Later, after more exposure to Robert, I became convinced that he really believed what he was saying. I could not find the slightest glimmer of private whimsy or “2-ness” in anything he said; he was utterly convinced, which, of course, was the source of much of his personal power and charisma. Christ, he is a total nut job. Now what does that mean?
From that point, I began to feel like the Salieri character in “Amadeus”, who was driven mad by his perception that God had chosen Mozart, “that obscene child”, as his instrument for creating beauty on Earth. If a creative intelligence beyond humans helped to shape the events of the world and had a keen, though probably not exclusive, interest in this organization, which seemed very likely, why did it put, or allow, this psycho at the helm of the organization?
The years rolled on and the accumulation of experiences with RB led irrefutably to the yanking out of the remaining leg of the tripod I sat on in the first years of the school: without exception, every time I was exposed to him, I had those types of experiences that I had long since labeled “higher states”. It is perhaps worth noting that I never lived with him, traveled with him or had sex with him. This constantly reinforced association: experiencing Robert = experiencing higher states, eventually led to another, very grudging, “verification”: it makes no sense at any level whatsoever, but this psycho must be a conscious being. Even though I still, on a personal level, continued to dislike him, I found myself respecting him and viewing him as “my teacher” in a very literal sense. The only way to live with this seeming impossibility was to put the blame on myself and my limited reality, to blame my intransigent hope that logic could somehow be made a part of this “higher reality”, to embrace the whole hydra-headed enigma of the school as it was and march forward, consistently discarding logic in favour of anything that seemed more directly related to these, so beloved, so carrot-like, “higher states”.
So, to your wish to discuss:
We, as members of this School, are the only ones on the planet who are gifted to know about Self-Remembering
• The 80 billion other people on the planet are sleeping machines, doomed, without Self-Remembering, to a double death
• Former students have thrown away their one chance in this lifetime to do something “conscious” with their life
• Empathizing with the suffering of others can be Feminine Dominance, and is to be avoided
• Influence C consists, among other things, of 44 angels who are dedicated to working with individual students to insure their “awakening” over the course of 9 lifetimes
• The Lower Self is actively against Self-Remembering, and to be avoided as best as one can
• All critical observations of the School or Teacher can be seen as examples of the Lower Self gaining precedence over one’s Work
• Awakening occurs when an individual has accumulated enough Hydrogen 12 to become saturated, thereby enabling crystallization of Higher Centers
• The Sequence has the power to awaken us if only we can do it passionately and often enough
From these, the following are concepts that, for me, are either partly or entirely imaginary: School, sleeping machines, Self-Remembering, double death, one chance in this lifetime to do something “conscious”, Feminine Dominance, Influence C, awakening, 9 lifetimes, Lower Self, Teacher, one’s Work, Hydrogen 12, crystallization, Higher Centers, The Sequence, us.
Once those are extracted from the questions, what is left of them? Once RB is extracted from the myth of the Fellowship, what is left of it?
A sense of scale is real helpful. The system is a conceptual construct which can, used well, free one of some other, more hidden, more limiting concepts. Some of these concepts I cannot relate to on any scale e.g. The Sequence, 9 lifetimes. Others, like feminine dominance, or the king of hearts, are provisional tags which can help describe observed phenomena, help organize them for a time. Once that period of effective organization is over, the concepts must be dropped. This is a personal process than cannot be compared to anyone else’s. I cannot demand anyone else drop a concept any more than another can demand I retain an outgrown one. Yet if I see ripe fruit being held in place with scotch tape and chewing gum, I might be inclined to point that out. So, on one scale, the question, “Can we extract the Teacher and save the School?” is much like Ouspensky’s famous question “Will I exist forever?” to which the answer was “you don’t exist now”
What is “the school”? What would you save? How do you envision it? Many people are ending their formal association with the Fellowship of Friends now. Some of them stay in contact with a small circle of friends, trying to understand reality as best and honestly as they can; others form larger networks via email and websites; others dedicate themselves formally to another “school”, others meet with or study under various people they find helpful or “spiritually advanced” for special occasions but are not formally students of anyone etc. I have heard some schemes for “saving the school” that envision simply ousting Mr. Burton and continuing “on our own”. The feasibility of that may well be tested, as he is 67 years old and nature may do the ousting. He could kick off next month, or live another 10 years. No way to know, but imagine what you think might happen if he did just give up his concept of his body tomorrow night. Do you imagine a fairly decent and civil transfer of control to either Asaf or Girard? Do you imagine the bulk of the current students just shrugging and going on with the sequence, the donations, the $200 dinners, the restrictions on what they may think, what they may do, who they may associate with, generally ignoring the lack of 6 feet of psycho pressed into a pink suit?
I am not trying to taunt you. You raise good, valid questions that I suspect many current students are asking themselves also. You seem to be sincerely asking yourself these questions in an attempt at formulating a reality less objectionable than the status quo of the FOF. I merely point out that the current form of the school is a house of cards that exists solely due to habit and the belief in the special place/fate/ role for or powers of Earl the Pearl Burton. Without that linchpin of a concept, all other concepts come under immediate scrutiny – what makes a loose association of people into a “conscious school”- if everyone currently associated left tomorrow and 2000 new people replaced them, would it still be a “conscious school” and why or why not?
What is “out there”? Literally hundreds of posts from ex-members have described similar stories – that they too were “afraid of losing the golden thread” but found that to be all imaginary fear. If their truths have any real value, they continue quite unperturbed by the lack of FOF certification. Some had lost all interest in pursuing spiritual growth before departing and their life became very normal again in every sense. Nothing lost there in leaving that was not already lost. Others, very many others, found that truth was no more limited to an organization than consciousness is limited to the body.
To me, your “third choice, that of staying and disbelieving the myth” is a contradiction in terms, at best a putting off of unpleasantness. The FOF is Robert Burton; accept the whole package, prescient bison poop, satyriasis, sequence and all or let it go. Letting go of course has nothing to do with your efforts, what you find helpful or not helpful or with whom you choose to share your spiritual journey. You may find that many people in your center do want to continue to be in association somehow and find a way forward together. Perhaps that way forward for you and them closely resembles the current form of the school, perhaps not. Great! Go for it. But those who, in the absence of Robert, would fall away themselves, must seriously ask themselves how real their bond is now.
Someone remarkably similar to the form typing this wrote “Essentially the Fellowship was only a place where people occasionally gave each other permission to exist for reasons of spiritual growth.” So – keep giving each other permission, keep honoring what is highest in each other. That is independent of form.
626/12/Joe Average
NEGLIGENT INFLICTION OF EMOTIONAL DISTRESS, Fraud
I forgot who asked about health insurance in the fof.
In my times, early 90’s, there was no coverage for anyone on salary, we could not afford to pay for a premium, are we kidding?
When serious illness stroke and got the first 500 dollars bill from the ER we soon realized we needed to do some hefty paper work and apply for the county medical services.
MediCal came later, a much more comprehensive coverage throughout the state of California, but in order to obtain that one has to prove a disability, more paper work, more monthly reports of income.
The fof did put a tremendous strain on the county because the pay roll were at a even lower level of what is considered poverty.
Occasionally RB would help in some situations, I forgot which student he helped when the guy hurt himself during a game, in my case he even offered to cover a very expensive procedure in the event it was needed. (100-150 thousands dollars)
In this instance I felt he was speaking from his heart and he was caring.
But I just cannot believe the general level of TRAMP, excuse me for the work language! the level of tramp in the fof towards his workers!
Talk about living and working at a considerable risk for your own future. When you are young and reasonably energetic and healthy, you do not think of disaster awaiting for you especially on the health front.
If you get sick the county will take care of you, not the fellowship of friends.
630/12/Vera.Mente
EFFECT (Fraud)
I still find it hard to grasp that anyone would join the Fellowship of Friends or that having joined not verified the existence of self remembering as a separate state from Robert Burton. Why put up with any of the crap for any other reason then what you can personally gain. this sounds foolish. Are you saying you are a fool and that it was foolish to be a member ? I valued Robert as a teacher although I did not particularly enjoy his company. I am very angry at his lies about his sexuality because they had profound personal impacts on my life. I am grateful for the conditions that he and the other students created that allowed me to take in knowledge, make efforts, work with others and experience essence. I experience self remembering before I joined the Fellowship of Friends while in the Fellowship of Friends and now many years later independently of the outside third force of The Fellowship, other students or Robert.
644/12/A Former Student
End of Posts for PART 12
Fraud, not Freud. (Well, maybe a little.)
False Pretenses, FRAUD, Fraudulent Misrepresentation, False Advertising, False news, Negligent Infliction of Emotional Distress, Misdescription
You brought up the subject of prophecy. And I understand from your tone about the prophet Jonah that your are justifying Burton’s spectacular (no lesser word will do) failures at prophecy.
Because his prophecies are central to the FOF story (whether he makes similar claims as of today or not), central to the way he used them to inculcate both fear and infatuation in his followers, Burton’s claims to be able to foretell the future led me to study prophecy in general and Burton’s being in this area in particular.
First, let’s get this clear. Burton’s claims were literal, not metaphorical. The Wiki entries as of 2007 are lies in that they are trying to cast doubt on this, trying to muddy the waters and alter people’s clear memories. Not only that, Burton claimed that they were literal, in my hearing, and also claimed, after the failure of the depression of 1984 had failed to materialize, that he had never been wrong, again in my hearing (at a dinner in 1991). When people make affirmations of Burton’s consciousness, they are lying, because they cannot know. When people defend Burton by re-interpreting Burton’s prophecies, they are also lying, because they are trying to bring darkness to areas that were previously well–lit.
2/11/Ames Gilbert
Fraud in the Inducement, Misapplication of Funds
“It should be added that membership fees consist of 10% of income, two extra payments each year and payments for dinners, talks and presentations. The Fellowship of Friends is not a cheap business.”
Yes, in addition to the 10% fee, “special donations” of $255 are required each month, as well as Spring and Fall donations of $775 each, and a December donation of $100. Attending dinners, talks, and presentations usually costs a few hundred dollars each month.
3/11/Big Bucks
Collusion, Connivance, Joint Negligence, Misinformation
The FOF Wikipedia site has been reduced in size which is a good thing. Initially, it mirrored the FOF official site. Lately, it has been shredded and the one remaining sentence on school payments has been removed. There is no mention of having to leave the school if you cannot make the payments or cannot follow new school rules. Also, there is no mention of shunning students who have left the school.
6/11/Long Ago Member
Conspiracy to Defraud, Favoritism, Desecration
The tremendous error of Robert Burton’s teaching is precisely in the fact that he became fixed in the idea of self remembering as his only effort and that of his students and was unable to move ahead with it to second and third line, both in himself and in his school.
Interestingly, influence A (money) became everything personal the students had to give up, but there was never a question of why Robert did not give up his own influence A or personal life and on the contrary, fully adapted it to the work and the school, making every student support it totally. We are two thousand people supporting one man’s greed.
The emotional and intellectual center have been replaced by an indoctrination on what students should read, think and feel and the instinctive center has been condemmed to support the fellowship without participating in what is done with the money they invest. All this separations of the centers from the I do not strengthen but weaken consciousness. It is not work on non identification what is being practiced, it is dismemberment. Work on non identification is the presence of consciousness in the functions not the absence of it.
8/11/Elena
COLLUSION, CONNIVANCE
As defenders of the FOF faith, we will attempt to see the blog variously as crime, negativity, a waste of precious time, and so forth. These descriptors are from a belief system that resolves contradictions by using formulations that originate from within the group itself. What the blog has introduced is the possibility for arguments originating from outside, providing a much widened set of parameters that subject the group to a more far reaching set of checks and balances. As a very long-time member I would say don’t believe everything you read here. Believe about 80% of it. That’s plenty to get the idea.
We’ve been trained for years “look here, don’t look there”, and from inside the box, this idea is reasonable. Unfortunately the leader – and by extension the group – has found every possible way in which to take a simple work idea that might have a useful context within the work of an individual, and re-apply it to external phenomena and behavior of the group, tightly sealing the box against all interrogation. As evidenced within this blog, the FOF methods for keeping the box sealed go well beyond group belief, but those beliefs – once entrenched in the individual psychology – are far and away the most reliable way of maintaining support.
The concept that we are “luckier than everyone” is a signature that has been thoroughly documented by modern psychology for over a hundred years. Not surprisingly many of us have managed to ignore or selectively interpret that signature, for all our years as members.
10/11/Breathing Again
Fraud in the Inducement
Burton’s vision of himself as a benign and loving person softened the edges of his rampant greed, in public at least, and helped create an atmosphere of external beauty. The “system” as Burton presented it was largely accidental in its origin, confused and creative in its application. Within the mosaic of the organization, very different goals and possibilities discordantly co-existed, both among the various students and within the psychology of their teacher. What made the Fellowship a place of spiritual growth was never its “teacher”, nor its power structures, nor any “higher influences”, nor even the core philosophies and techniques. When it worked, it worked by mutual consent and students found fulfilment in consensual validation and in the synergy of their explorations. A large group of people agreed to experiment together toward an ill-defined aim that seemed better than what mainstream life experiences seemed to offer. The external form allowed that mutual experiment to blossom. As long as students were sincere and open, personal growth and discovery were possible. Essentially the Fellowship was only a place where people occasionally gave each other permission to exist for reasons of spiritual growth. The sincerity of its students was always its greatest strength. The fact that its head, as passionate in his darkness as in his light, created an atmosphere of such relentless deception and predation as to eventually force all sincere students who looked it full in the face to leave, was always its greatest weakness.
Understanding this need not be depressing or frightening, but empowering. If it was your sincere wish to grow and experience truth that created the Fellowship, then that cannot be taken from you. You cannot be “released” from that by others, you will not be punished on any plane of reality other than within your own concepts, you cannot “lose the School”. If you still have that wish, you take it with you wherever and however you experience your life. If you no longer have that wish, well, $6000 to $20,000 a year in dues and side costs for a social club seems a bit steep, so please enjoy yourself.
14/11/Joe Average
FRAUD, Collusion, Connivance, Joint Negligence, Falsity
A quote from a current member of the Fellowship of Friends
This one is hard to explain, but one part of this is based on the idea that people should not have a lot of sex if they want to (surely not by hurting other people), and morality prohibits this kind of misbehavior. And second one is based on the idea that a teacher or a conscious being has no rights for human desires (again, not through hurting other people). If one has experienced love and consciousness through having sex with the teacher, and even if the teacher has sex with many other people, then I see nothing wrong with this.
We put too much attention on the subject of sex. Because it is taboo in many puritan countries. Many people lack a decent sexual education, and are afraid of anything “abnormal”. I think living in the darkness of illiteracy is creating ones own “sexual predator”.
But you may thing differently and I respect that.
17/11/Beyond
Misapplication of Funds, FRAUD, Falsity, Connivance
If the predictions were to be taken symbolically, maybe the skirt exercise is symbolically?
Maybe the teaching payments are to be taken symbolically —-Try it out, nice experiment.
Maybe the 20 or more generators rented in 1998, costing thousands of dollars were to be taken symbolically?
Maybe the wit exercise is symbolically…hurray we can have fun again and laugh at the Apollo d’Oro.
Maybe the- not- talking- to- ex students exercise has to be taken symbolically, yahooo…
26/11/Another Name
NOTICE: MICKEY BUCKLE calling for communication from bloggers… send him your support.
Mickey Buckle
Well Esoteric Sheik,
This is quite a revealing forum you have here. Read it for the first time today.
As someone who grew up unattached to the FOF but with a birds eye view to the black, white and greys of the group it has been a new layer to my understanding to the spiritual chemistry involved.
As an independent journalist myself it would be of mutual interest if you were to offer up your email address that seems to be cloaked in this good but somewhat chaotic forum. (i.e. It’s like some blasted customer service link from hell with a constant loop of no contact).
– A fellow Spiritual Chronicler of the Times
36/11/Mickey Buckle
WRONGFUL DISCHARGE, FRAUD, DISCRIMINATION
Cs: What happens to someone who awakens in the school? Is he asked to stay or go away?
We know of the No Person case (Post 1-60).
He/She was asked to take a leave of abscense. It showes that that the aim is at list not to keep students who have reached awakening.
39/11/Chopsticks
Fraud in the Inducement, Violation of Fiduciary Duty, Negligent Misrepresentation, Misdescription, False Impersonation, Favoritism, Coercion, False Pretenses
Moving on. You didn’t answer the question, “What has ‘HE’ gained from repeated failing predictions in the long run?” The answer is, on the surface, “nothing”. That is the one you are fishing for. But I think there is a more subtle answer. Burton used the prediction to reinforce his image as a higher being/god, because prophecy (windows into the future) is one of the attributes or powers he thinks a higher being should have. Then he invited his followers to enter that fantasy with him. This was a step–by–step process, incremental. The objective was to gain power over his followers, because if they suspend their own judgment and ability to discriminate in favor of his version of reality, they become more dependent on him. A personal example: in 1993, Burton came up to me, pointed at his forehead and said, “Dear, do you see an eye here, looking out at you?”. I replied, “Do you mean literally, a third physical eye where your pineal gland is?”. He said, “Yes, I am looking out at you through a third eye, the eye of an angel. Do you see it?”. I asked again, “Do you mean literally a third eye, physically the same as your other eyes?”. He said, “Yes”. I replied, “No, Robert, I don’t see a literal third eye, all I can see is your forehead.” He said, “Well, I am an angel, there is a third eye looking out at you. Are you sure you can’t see it?”. I said, “I’m sorry, Robert, I don’t see it”. Then he turned away.
I saw this as a clear invitation to enter his fantasy. It’s only a guess, but I’d say that many students would have gone with him into his fantasy, and said that they did see a literal third eye. I say this, because I watched others do exactly that on many occasions, either by actively accepting his invitation, or by silently acquiescing or not protesting; this happened very often at dinners, as he described his fantasies out loud in his monologues. Depending on the subject, the fantasy evoked either fear or infatuation, (either will send followers to sleep, but both are inimical to awakening and individuation).
When the predictions fail, a student has at least two types of choices. They can follow Burton deeper into the fantasy (C-Influence has used this to humiliate me), make affirmations for him, like Golb and others in this blog, which just deepen the hypnosis, or buffer it completely, maybe with self-calming phrases like, “I’ll just record this as a theory”. Another set of choices might include re-evaluating the whole sorry mess, recognizing the weaknesses that led one to accept the fantasy, and backing out.
So, to answer your final question, Golb, “Who has gained anything from them?”, I answer, “Robert Burton”. He has you fast, you think you are more real because you have adopted his fantasies, you are a good little follower who is blessed, you have a great collection of affirmations you trot out to help keep your fellows asleep on his behalf, and sayings for every occasion. He has your money and your adoration. He may even have the use of your body, for all I know. Multiply by 1900 or so. Sweet deal. For once, you’re certainly right, Burton is not a ‘stupid’—on that level.
42/11/Ames Gilbert
FRAUD, JOINT NEGLIGENCE, Collusion, Connivance
In the intimacy of our marriage there was love. Like in any marriage. We both tried our best. I have no problem acknowledging that, it is precious. What I am exposing is the fact that there is no coherence between Robert or Girard’s first, second or third line with consciousness and if it is the case that they are as sleep as anybody else, they are pretending that they have verified each other’s so that another bunch of fools like the fourteen thousand of us, continue supporting their illusion for the rest of their lives. That to me is fraud, that is what I am questioning.
48/11/Elena
EFFECT (Discrimination, Favoritism)
Would you please expand on the nature of your friendship with Robert? I’ve seen that he is not even a friend to his promised to be second conscious being on the planet, so what service are you doing to him that makes you more acceptable? Has he ever sat with you without any agenda?
Around here when people are not counting money they are counting time and never have time for friendship. It is all a convenient interchange of services.
Friendship, second line, is out of time, that is why it never developed consciously in the fellowship. Men serve Robert for twenty years, thirty and he discards them equally. That is not friendship.
49/11/Elena
Negligent Infliction of Emotional Distress, Undue Influence
I am still hoping to hear from the spin doctors of the FOF Wikipedia entry’s.
To say that the predictions were only symbolic is shamelessly insulting to the followers who kept the TASK of quiting their jobs to move to Oregon House for three months prior to Burton’s prediction of the fall of California. I personally know of several people who lost good jobs and are still paying off huge debts because of this. The alternative to keeping this task was to be asked to leave the group. There was one person who managed to stay in the school and not keep this task and it was only because he was too wealthy to risk losing.
When it was timidly mentioned to him by one person that it had taken ten years to pay off the debt incurred by keeping this exercise, RB was outraged at the implication that he might have some responsibility for this burden.
How do you justify claiming that these “predictions” and the actions and tasks issuing from them were symbolic? This is fast talking at it’s best.
61/11/Vena
MORAL TURPITUDE, Sexual Harassment, Sexual Predator, Hostile Environment Sexual Harassment, Coercion
But here is what the real issue is, the Dictator of Isis (Robert Burton) gets a non-gay male alone (usually drunk and often in a foreign country) and subtly threatens him about what it is going to be like when he is no longer in the “inner circle” if he refuses to submit to being spiritually-sexually molested. This is spiritual cannibalism. Look here:
“After a few weeks of living at Renaissance, following a heavy drinking ’symposium’, Robert took me inside of one of the Academy rooms and wanted to have sex with me.
“When I told him that I did not want this because I had no homosexual feelings, nor did I want to see myself assume those practices, Robert dismissed my arguments by saying that I should externally consider him as my teacher.
“Partly out of fear for this ‘all powerful’ being, partly not to want to feel guilty or judged, but largely because of the energy with which Robert approached me, I was left with the feeling I had no choice.
“While Robert went about his business of trying to stimulate an orgasm from me which he was going to receive orally I pointed out to him that I was covering my face with my hands out of shame. Robert retorted that this was a good opportunity for work for me.
“This was the beginning of my functioning as a sexual servant which lasted for several years.”
66/11/The King of Clubs
Collusion, Connivance, Conspiracy to Defraud, Misinformation, False Pretenses, Fraud
Robert Burton and his enablers have one “advantage” in any attempt to communicate with them: They don’t tell people what they are thinking; instead, they tell people what they want them to believe they are thinking.
The reason? Their intent is not to inform but to misinform and obfuscate. Why? Because the spread of information does not work to their advantage. Disinformation and misinformation, meanwhile, do work to their advantage. Lack of genuine, honest communication is not an error — it’s a strategy. And it’s a strategy for preventing change that could affect their wealth, power, and way of life.
No true or meaningful communication can take place between two people when one or both parties are trying to hide the truth. It simply goes in circles.
This also explains why Fellowship wikipedia editors would suggest that Robert Burton’s predictions were only “symbolic” (see post 59 by Vena).
Why would they make such an absurd contention? Well, because the truth is damaging to their agenda — an agenda to present the Fellowship of Friends as positively as possible, and to distract everyone from issues that may present the Fellowship of Friends negatively. Robert Burton predicted a worldwide depression would occur in 1984, the “fall of California” would occur in 1998, and World War III would occur in 2006. To put it mildly, these predictions reflect a weakness on Burton’s part (as well as a type of mental illness, which some of us have shared or continue to share with him, by the way), but these predictions also focus the discussion on how Robert Burton has had negative effects on the lives of many FOF members. So, in an attempt to distract people from these facts, the fof Wikipedia editors called it a metaphor.
67/11/2b
Conspiracy to Defraud, False Pretenses, Undue Influence *09
Predictions may have been “theories”, they were in no way theoretical or symbolic. They were practical, with very practical implications for members, most amongst them those living in California before 1998. The tone of prophecies changed dramatically after 1998 and a couple of failed repeats. After that, they were mentioned rarely, and “the greatest of them all”, Armageddon 2006, passed un-noticed like a wet firecracker.
69/11/Opus111
__________________________________
*09 The last statement is ‘misrepresented’ here; as of August 7, 2007 Robert Burton still uses the ‘Armageddon 2006’ prediction as a ‘buffer-zone’ for students worried about certain ‘things’ they have done, that go to Robert Burton for ‘conscious advice’ concerning real time tortious offenses; Robert Burton has ‘moved up’ this prediction time and tells many of his ‘boys’ not to worry, that after the prediction has fulfilled itself, this or that law will not be applicable to their offenses.
EFFECT (Negligent Tort)
It can be seen that Robert’s mistaken focus on “individual awakening” or “personal immortality” inevitably promotes such things as competition, judgment and comparison between his students. Division breeds division. Despite of all the beautiful talk that there cannot be competition in personal work, all are equal in this and what one gains we all gain – judgment and comparison are going on, more fueled by unnecessary and untrue remarks about “life times” that students are supposedly on… A friend told me once about the overall spirit in Russian centers : ” to over-self remember others and make sure your efforts are noticed.” I found it to be so funny.
So much tension and suffering occurs because of Robert’s own misunderstanding! Awakening is seen and taught in FOF as some kind of “personal” attainment, something special, rare, that “promotes” a person to a “higher level”… It is so distorted and misleading!
85/11/No Person
NOTE~ James Randazzo, Jim and Carolyn Kuziak *Ad
Interesting material about “legacy” of FOF. The same words…
I wonder if Robert even knows these people. James Randazzo and Jim and Carolyn Kuziak
And I am really curious if Alex Horn knows about Robert! What would he say about him if he was asked directly. Does anyone knows Alex’s phone number – I want to call him!
I heard that at first years of FOF people who were Alex Horn’s students at the same time as RB were not allowed to join FOF!
86/11/Somebody
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*Ad The Randazzo story is on PART 17 near Post 429
NOTE on students of Robert Burton’s teacher ALEX HORN, etc. (See link in PART 11, near the 90’s) *9+
Re:#90 Stoned Leprechauns
This is amazing. I am deeply touched and shaken by the beauty, truth and sincerity of the former members of Sharon Gans and Alex Horn. I hope everyone reading this blog will visit the website posted on #90 and that somehow every current member of the FOF could also be informed about this. The parallels are unbelievable.
91 Stoned Leprechauns
for #86 -> http://www.esotericfreedom.com/Properties.html
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*9+
The coincidence of both groups having teachers named ‘Robert’ give me the willies and a few stevies too.
FRAUD
The Fellowship is not now nor was ever a fourth way school. It does not now and never did have any connection to Ouspensky or Gurdjieff. Ouspensky and Gurdjieff are the bait in the Fellowship “Bait and Switch” spiritual program. The Fellowship is Robert Burtonism plain and simple. Always has been. The ideas of Gurdjieff and Ouspensky have been distorted beyond reasonable recognition.
Robert Burton was in a pseudo school conducted by Alex Horn who was never in a school himself. His wife was a student of John Bennett, I don’t know for how long. Alex Horn was not ever in any kind of Gurdjieff work. We were led to believe that Horn had come through the Gurdjieff Work, ie, some connection to the Foundation. He was, I was told, acquainted with Lord Pentland but never participated in group work. This info was given to me by a woman in the Gurdjieff work who had been a movements teacher for 20 years and a group leader for many years after that. She had known Horn through a friend who had dated him briefly in the 50’s or 60’s. She was also close to Lord Pentland so I trust her opinion on this.
Robert Burton was in a pseudo school where the teacher, Alex Horn, made things up as he went along. Using In Search of the Miraculous as his guideline. According to Dave Archer, Horn never read anything by Gurdjieff. Burton was in this school for sometime over a year and was kicked out for overt homosexual predatory behavior. This according to Pat Patterson. Alex Horn had an anti-homosexual rule in his school. Again see Dave Archer’s website.
So we have a guy who never really studied with anyone who understood the ideas of Ouspensky and Gurdjieff, started his own school using ideas that he did not really understand and any time he came across a question he couldn’t deal with either made something up or deferred to “higher forces”. A con is a con is a con. A cult is a cult is a cult. And each and every one of us fell for it in some way or other.
keith.46@hotmail.com
source (#126) March 16th, 2007
____________________________
From ‘esotericfreedom.com
FRAUD
I first met Robert Burton at Red Mountain Ranch in Sonoma County, 48
miles north of the Golden Gate Bridge in California in 1969.
He was a ‘tennis bum’ at the time and when he saw how much money
Alexander Francis Horn was racking in from gullible people who knew
their lives were crap, he became a ‘work bum’.
And he was very successful until some of his male students started
questioning getting anal sex as spiritual enlightenment. There were many
stories in major newspapers about him molesting the young boys of his
students.
Alex Horn used to have him beaten up regularly as Alex was very
homophobic. Of course most of what Alex called his students got beaten
up regularly.
There is another “work” website claiming that Lord Pentland and John
Bennett were Alex Horns teachers, allowing Burton People to claim a
legitimate connection to the ‘fourth-way’ for Burton. It is true that in
the late 50’s Alex did attend an open meeting with Lord Pentland, and he
actually shook John Bennett’s hand in England as he was about to marry
and take to American one of Bennett’s students of a few months, Anne.
__________________________
From ‘esotericfreedom.com
FRAUD
Though Burton claimed to be a Fourth Way teacher, he himself never had an authentic Fourth Way teacher. The level of his understanding of the teaching was based on what he could pick up from Fourth Way books and from his one-time teacher, the actor-director Alexander Francis Horn. Horn, himself a faux-Gurdjieffian without any real connection to the Fourth Way, had based his own understanding on books and on that of his first wife Carol, a student of John Bennett’s ten month experimental program – an eclectic melding of the Fourth Way with other teachings and practices. Horn first taught in New York and later in San Francisco where he created the Theater of All Possibilities, a theater which purported to double as a Fourth Way school. Horn financially exploited his students, manipulated their lives, often physically brutalizing them – all in the name of the teaching. The thirty-one-year-old Burton, dismissed by Horn for not “staying on task” apparently picked up enough from Horn to start his own teaching.
_______________________
From ‘esotericfreedom.com’
Fraud
Alexander Francis Horn. Not much is known about Horn, but, according to the San Francisco Chronicle, his dinner theater “Fourth Way School” operation, known as the Theater of all Possibilities (the name taken from the Herman Hesse novel, Steppenwolf), had an income of $40,000 per month or some $500,000 a year. Of this, $20,000 was from student dues and $20,000 from the sale of theater tickets. Students, required to sell tickets to the weekly productions, were harangued and physically beaten if ticket quotas were not met. At Horn’s instigation, all-night drinking marathons culminating in fist fights were common occurrences, all in the name of the teaching. Punishment, in many forms was a feature of Horn’s teaching. A local drama critic wrote, after sitting through three hours and leaving at the end of Act II of Horn’s three-act play, The Fantastic Arising of Padraic Clancy Muldoon – “In more than ten years of reporting on the local theater scene, I remember no more punishing experience.” Burton had long before been dismissed from the group, but this gives a portrait of Horn’s psychology and his approach.
Burton never had a genuine Fourth Way teacher. Burton’s only teacher was Alex Horn who was never in the Gurdjieff Work. A martial arts expert and actor-director with a dramatic flair, Horn learned of the Fourth Way teaching through his second wife who spent a number of months in J. G. Bennett’s International Academy for Continuous Education at Sherbourne, England. For information on Alex Horn see “Theater Group: Cult or Stage?” by Jack Brooks, San Francisco Progress, December 22, 1978. Horn is criticized for financially exploiting his students and subjecting them to psychological abuse, even beatings. See also “Real-Life Drama in a S.F. Theater Group,” by Michael Taylor and Bernard Weiner, San Francisco Chronicle, December 23, 1978. The story focuses on allegations of “beatings, child neglect and a student fee structure that yielded high revenues.”
From: Taking with the Left Hand by William Patrick Patterson
________________________________________
From ‘esotericfreedom.com’
FRAUD
While this was going on, Robert Burton was applying his entrepreneurial energies and his limited knowledge of the system in another way with even more commercial success. Taking his cue from his sometime teacher Alex Horn, a notorious untrained “faux-Gurdjieffian,” he organized “Gurdjieff-Ouspensky Centres” in many large cities across America and Europe, offering a Utopian vision of the work which was, in reality, a great pyramid scheme. Enormous amounts of money were taken from innocent seekers. One of his trademark devices was the use of bookmarks with contact numbers for potential students to call. His students would place these bookmarks in books on Gurdjieff and his Work, sitting on the shelves of bookstores and libraries. This gave the impression that Burton’s organization was somehow “official,” legitimatized by the authors who often really were in the direct line of transmission from Gurdjieff. -Peter Breeden source
_________________________________
From ‘esotericfreedom.com’
FRAUD, DESECRATION
Burton: A “Budding Man Number Five”
One of Horn’s students in the early 1970s was a tall, handsome young man with an Arkansas accent, Robert Earl Burton. After a year or so, Horn asked Burton to leave because he could not “stay on task.” The task was not to chase the other young men. Unabashed, Burton presented himself as a “budding man number five,” according to one of his earliest students. Burton had picked up from Horn the knack of spotting and pointing out the weaknesses of others. This power of observation, along with his quiet and contained manner, and his promise to start The Fellowship of Friends, a ‘Fourth Way School,’ attracted students.
Understanding the idealism that perpetuates many seekers’ search, Burton refocused the teaching’s challenge to self-love and vanity to a stress on living like a person of the Renaissance, cultivating impressions of beauty, the arts, music, poetry and fine living. Apparently influenced by Warren Miller’s best-selling book of the time, Canticle for Liebowitz. depicting a ravaged world after the world catastrophe, Burton made a number of prophecies, one of which was that California would fall into the sea on April 12, 1998 at 11 A.M. Those with him, being the elect of Christianity, would not perish. Like Liebowitz in the book, eight years after starting his school and now known as “The Teacher,” Burton stopped teaching to travel the globe to amass – he would no doubt say “salvage” – a large collection of art work as a kind of cultural ark in the coming Armageddon. (A recent auction of Burton’s collection of rare antique Chinese furniture at Christie’s in New York City brought in $11.2 million.). When the day passed for California to fall into the sea, Burton explained it with, “The Higher Powers [he claims to speak to 44 discarnate beings] have humiliated me.”
A Knack for Merchandising
Going Horn one better, Burton warned of “female dominance” and moved to the country, where he bought property he named Renaissance, now known as Apollo, created a vineyard, built a theater and a museum to house his various collections. Having caught the crest of the great wave of spiritual interest of the 1970s, Burton built a spiritual empire of sorts that is now worldwide.
Though a fourth grade school teacher by profession, Burton had a knack for merchandising. Recognizing that every reader of a Fourth Way book was a potential student, he had his students insert bookmarks in the books advertising his “Gurdjieff-Ouspensky Centres.” When the film Meetings with Remarkable Men was launched, Burton’s students stood outside theaters handing out pamphlets and recruiting people for his school. The ethics of Burton and his ‘school’ having nothing to do with the books or the film wasn’t of concern.
Rumors kept surfacing over the years of Burton having sexual relations with his male students, all necessarily heterosexual (from the first he had outlawed homosexuals as members, probably to keep his own interests hidden and to have no rivals). His students’ reluctance and repulsion he countered by telling them “I promise you I am an angel in a man’s body” and declaring that he represented C Influence. Overwhelmed with lawsuits in the 1990s, Burton finally admitted his homosexuality. Following this admission and charges of sexual and financial exploitation, the Fellowship lost a great many American students, but its membership is said to be growing quickly in South America, Japan and Russia. A number of offshoots led by former Burton students have sprung up, such as The New American Wing.
Having made the crucial discrimination between authentic and faux Fourth Way groups, let’s examine the issues that arose out of Rosie’s reaction. African Americans, or any other people, are not barred from the Fourth Way and never have been. At the very beginning of Gurdjieff’s introduction of the teaching to America in 1924, the celebrated African American novelist Jean Toomer was a member. He worked closely with Gurdjieff and A.R. Orage, Gurdjieff’s chief deputy in America. Toomer organized and led groups in Harlem and later was appointed to found and lead groups in the Midwest.
Gurdjieff, as a Greek-Armenian born and raised in the Caucasus, understood first-hand the perils of discrimination, as his beloved father was killed defending his home against the Turks during the infamous Armenian massacres. Thus, any group barring African Americans – or any racial or ethnic group – would certainly not be in line with Gurdjieff’s thinking. He was also strongly opposed to caste systems of any kind.
_________________________
From rickross.com
NOTE ~ Mention of Christopher Billings *7y
1) Christopher Billings. My main connection to Christopher was when he was center director in Munich in the mid-80’s. I was in Frankfurt at roughly the same time. But I often travelled to Munich and stayed with him and his wonderful wife Maria. I liked going to the Bavarian State Opera.
101/11/Demi Moaned
________________________
*7y
After Christopher’s death Robert Burton used it to end the Fellowship of Friends ‘sex exercise’, he spun it thus ~
Paraphrased from what Robert Burton announced concerning the death of Christopher Billings ~
‘Christopher was the first of my students to be fined and given a task due to breaking the sex exercise… C-Influence has given us this omen as a message that we have paid enough, so I am resending the sex exercise on this day of Christopher’s death, etc.’ RB
____________________________________
Robert Burton has no majesty with this…
EFFECT
About predictions: The day that “the 6 students”, were released in November on a Tuesday…”That was the day that California or The world would fall in the Ocean”. This was said by Robert Burton of the fellowship of friends in Egypt and was heard by Mrs T who was on the trip with him. So he seems to still “predict” for the fellowship of friends in a smaller circle but if you read the above details, it seems not to be taken to serious..6 people leaving the fellowship of friends, or the fall of California or the world…?
Robert’s tendencies do not disappear obviously.
Last year, around his birthday there was a gossip: Robert had given 100 people a blow job on that day. I thought this was not possible and discarded the idea. This year the same story appears, with a slight variation he did not reach the 100….? Can anybody give us more confirmation about this issue or is it only “gossip”? People who were part of it, or were called to come and join the 15 minute line?
109/11/More History Needed?
EFFECT (DISCRIMINATION)
It seems that the feminine dominance used in the Fellowship of Friends to avoid questioning each other is the same lack of feminine dominance that we could use to “look” at each other without questioning each other. Looking without judgment but with discrimination. As long as we could hold the divine at the other end of the inhuman, we would be able to tune the inhuman into the human. But we’ll never come even close if we continue to treat the inhuman as if it were human, which is what the Fellowship pretends to do when it condones Robert’s abuse of young men and still holds him as a conscious being.
122/11/Elena
DELIBERATE INDIFFERENCE, EFFECT (Collusion, Connivance)
So what has Robert gained? A great deal in my view, the School would not be what it is, if he had not gone through this phase (and he went whole heartedly throughout the process)–it takes living in a new way to understand why our plays are necessary at all. It may sound circular, but if we did not have to go through what we have gone through there would not be a need at all to live. Some of the external “gathering and preparing” has become an internal effort.
123/11/Siddiq
Conspiracy to Defraud, Misappropriation of Funds, FRAUD
Fellow Travelers,
If it is true that Fellowship officials are trying to re-cast Robert’s failed prophecies as somehow metaphorical, then they are truly the hypocritical cronies some make them out to be.
I was living at Apollo Spring-Summer 1998 when California was to fall into the Sea. Most students who could stored up food, installed water tanks, bought generators…the guy I lived with even got a hydraulic jack in case his house (on a hill) collapsed! I personally knew one individual who nearly bankrupted his family with his “preparations.” Luckily his wife had a good job.
Students in Sacramento, San Francisco and Los Angeles got “out of town” for a particular two-week period–I don’t recall the exact dates–that Robert said were the most likely times. At the company where I worked (in Oregon House), sales trips were also canceled at this time.
It was a level of madness, but hey, there are earthquakes in California and it never hurts to have some food stored away. So I contributed to the house food fund, but the only other “preparation” I made was to buy a nice combo mountain-touring bike.
When it didn’t happen Robert was just confused as to why C influence would trick him in this manner. The most sophisticated Fellowship theologians (I consider myself in the category) said it was obviously some divinely given “suffering” for Robert’s higher centers to transform.
So no more talk that anything was taken metaphorical. Maybe privately by certain folks, but everyone’s public face was making “preparations.”
walter.tanner@gmail.com
PS: There are different “generations” within the Fellowship. Of all those people in the memorial weekend photos, I only know one. As I learned when I was a student myself in the 90’s, the 70’s and 80’s were a lot more uptight and “cultish,” and Robert’s exploits a bit more creative (There used to be “Symposiums,” I understand, with ridiculous amounts of wine. Sorry to have missed that.)
I came in as the homosexuality exercise was lifted, and I left after all traces of any sex exercise were lifted. (I traveled to Paris, Nice, Italy and Slovenia and was able to announce the lifting of the sex exercise in my role as “traveling teacher.” Didn’t get laid, though)
So what I’m basically saying is that by my time things were a lot groovier, there was no “hell” language, the Fellowship had kind-of grown up. A lot of the hostility, which may be absolutely legitimate, does come from the “first” generations of the Fellowship, and I think to identify to closely with their arguments will blind one to the fact the Fellowship has changed in the past and could absolutely do so in the future.
130/11/Walter Tanner
NOTE ~ Companion to 343 (Discrimination, WRONGFUL DISCHARGE)
Walter Tanner #130/11
“So what I’m basically saying is that by my time things were a lot groovier, there was no “hell” language, the Fellowship had kind-of grown up. A lot of the hostility, which may be absolutely legitimate, does come from the “first” generations of the Fellowship, and I think to identify to closely with their arguments will blind one to the fact the Fellowship has changed in the past and could absolutely do so in the future.”
And yet on this blog there are reports of women getting kicked out because of their sexual activities (a three-way), people being kicked out because of “vulgar” notes to Burton (explaining sexual activity) and people getting kicked out because they have been “infested with B influence viruses.” It is the same old control-freak nonsense. This is not a “conscious teaching” it is a cult completely under the law of accident while generally directed by Burton’s sexual drives, his greed, his mental illness and his B influence imaginations. He is not conscious.
136/11/The King of Clubs
Intentional Infliction of Emotional Distress *8z
P.S. IN MEMORIAM
I’ll never forget the skinny, blond, solar-saturnine, gay older student (he joined in the 70’s) named Phillip or Phillipe, forget his last name. He died of AIDS in the nineties and his final scenes with the school were not pretty (he got dementia and Robert never really liked him because of the competition, I think he got thrown out in the end when he was terminally ill). Anyway, if someone remembers his full name, he should be digitally remembered in this forum.
144/11/Walter Tanner
____________________________
*8z
I knew this man, sweet, yet a bit touchy, who wouldn’t be if you were on your deathbed, dying of a sexually transmitted disease, exiled by Robert Burton, judged by Robert Burton for having ‘promiscuous sex’, against Robert Burton’s will… He was called a ‘Tramp’, etc. Yet, thank the gods for Hanna M., she lived next door to him and took gentle and conscious care of his demoralized by Robert Burton-essence.
I cannot think of a worse judge of promiscuousness than the Fellowship of Friends ‘conscious being’ Robert Burton.
Yet, hey, maybe he was just going against Feminine Dominance and changing his level of being in Moral Turpitude with the dying and dead.
NOTE ~ Companion to 345
Rest well, Philip McGuire, move freely.
NOTE ~ Companion to 346 (Wow, ok, I can roll with it!)
I think the rumors of the demise of PMG, the tall fellow you remembered, may be “greatly exaggerated”. I have it from another source that he still alive and apparently well (as in much better). The rest of the story is the way I remember it, too.
In Memoriam Phillipe McGuire.
That one made me weep (got me a *big* photograph from RB on the phone (in person, for a change, made me feel terribly important) ). Phillipe often made my heart smile.
Opus 111 – if Phillipe is still alive, that’s cause for rejoicing. I hope so.
I think you are speaking of Philip McGuire. He came back to Paris after being thrown out.
To my knowledge he was seen 3 o r 4 years ago by a fellow friend here in this same city….. on a bicycle.
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150-154/11/Opus 111, Sharon, for the Best, Walter Tanner
Sexual Predator, Sexual Harassment, Tortious Interference with Contractual Relations, Violation of Fiduciary Duty, Intentional and Negligent Infliction of Emotional Distress
Are you standing uncomfortably and sort of taken up by something or other?
First to those of you who doubt rb,s (Robert Burton’s) excesses.
This purported teacher at this time begged me, i mean begged me to “whiz” in his mouth, now this was definitely not for my evolution, by the way for those unfamiliar with the term whiz it means to pee or piss. I think that one has to experience something like that in order to know the truth of what is taking place, in order to feel the emotional truth of it, whether its something done for another’s benefit or just instinctive greed. Another detail comes to mind while traveling, in another country his suggesting that we could buy two very young prostitutes a young boy for him and a young girl for me. Now again for the full truth of it you would have to have been there, yes it did shock me but it didn’t enhance my presence or my work in any way and sorry but i don’t believe that it was intentional teaching to help me overcome mechanical morality or any such drivel.
166/11/Cyclops
‘Fraud in the Inducement of a Silly Question’
Why can’t the Fellowship ideas exist alongside any other theories, quests or questions peacefully?
188/11/Laughing Love
_____________________________
Because we don’t live underground in a graveyard.
EFFECT (Negligent Misrepresentation)
Next, it makes a terrific difference whether you choose to act from your highest level of understanding, or from what you imagine are “instruction of Influence C”, because they are not one and the same. If you believe that Influence C is external to you (and you must, if you accept Burton’s claims that he is the exclusive intermediary between you and Influence C), then you are merely completing the betrayal of your true self when you make this claim. On the other hand, if I have misunderstood you, then you have no business with Burton as an instructor or mediator, your obligation is to act from your highest level of understanding, not his. But I don’t think I have misunderstood, because you continue on from there to make further affirmations for him (“wholeheartedly going through the process”) that you cannot know. You have entered his fantasy.
199/11/Ames Gilbert
Sexual Predator
“So, given your description of friendship, would you say that Robert was being a friend to Whale Rider, Troy Buzbee and other such naïve young men when he sexually used them for his personal gratification?”
What part of the question are you living? The being a friend part or the being sexually used for personal gratification?
208/11/LOL
WRONGFUL DISCHARGE, FRAUD, Moral Turpitude
To Walter 144 and others regarding Phillipp McGuire
I am still in touch with Phillipp and he is doing fine and is still alive :-)
He was left alone and kick out by the FOF when he was sick. The sisters of the order of Mother Theresa took care of him in San Francisco.
His story is more than shocking, but it is up to him to tell it.
I remember Roberts comments about the mechanically of Mother Theresa. But here was a man in need and his people were not willing to help, but the women from India did it. So much to the value of ‘friendship’ of the fellows in the school of ‘love’.
211/11/Martin from Berlin
Sexual Predator, Coercion, False Pretenses
Since you are obviously a man that has traveled with Robert and we all know the price of that for no one travels with him for free, and the price is payed in specimen or semen if you prefer, then I can well believe that at some point you all have to sit down and rest without that meaning that there isn’t an agenda.
212/11/Elena
Conspiracy to Defraud, ‘Hypocrisy’ *0
Once he asked what I thought about another student’s suggestion that the Fellowship of Friends invest in a scheme that seemed to me ‘too good to be true.’ I responded ‘I think it would just be gambling.’
He thought a few moments and replied ‘Then let’s not do it. You know, I have never been attracted to gambling. After all, we are already gambling everything.’
215/11/We were There
______________________
*0
Including the raffles people pay an exorbiant ‘collective’ amount for so to have a chance at dinner with Robert Burton.
Sexual Predator
But let’s say I’m wrong, and you are buffering. Would you be concerned if say, “hypothetically”, you learned that Robert Burton was using his position as “teacher” to have sex with as many men as possible? Would that change your thinking about him?
222/11/Comrade
NEGLIGENT INFLICTION OF EMOTIONAL DISTRESS, ‘Affirmative Wiseacring of the Affirmative’
to student # 217
“Of course few students ever thought this things will happen, but it was taken as an exercise to focus on something.” Wow, are you ever buffering!
Most students who chose to work with the prediction at all, took it as an exercise to work with the Teacher’s will, regardless of their own opinions. We had plenty to “focus on”, building the school and making enough money to make teaching payments. And there were plenty to truly believed (or pretended to believe) that the predictions would actually occur.
In our case, we tried to avoid the subject at the time, it was really kind of embarrassing. We reluctantly attended a few ‘neighborhood meetings’. We bought an extra case of tuna and some medical supplies that we should have had on hand anyway.
But many students ran up huge debt because Robert told them “the banks will be under water, and you won’t have to pay off the debt, dear” – indeed I believe the Fellowship itself is still paying off debt incurred before April 1998. The greed was sickening.
Then there were the students who, in following the task, gave up good jobs to move to Oregon House. I had a good friend who, after much agonizing, decided to “trust Robert and C Influence”, took early retirement from her satisfying and secure professorship, giving up excellent benefits and good money. Following Robert’s advice/request, she built a house in Oregon House, going into more debt than she could afford as a retiree. The resulting stress of trying to make ends meet, running around doing pick-up work, perhaps contributed to her death last summer of metastasized breast cancer.
Dont call that “an exercise to focus on something.”
That’s insulting.
223/11/Sharon
356
RECKLESS ENDANGERMENT
DELIBERATE INDIFFERENCE, False Pretenses
Dear “Student” – you wrote:
“Also after all the postings of the scale of Roberts misbehavior, why are their so few first hand descriptions considering that the school has still 2000 members and almost 10000 former members.”
With due respect, you are saying because you don’t know about the extent of it, it must not be true. Try asking the right questions to the right people – a crime according to the fellowship – then, when the same answers inevitably come out, you will be unable to hold to that opinion.
The answer above all, is the “Code of Silence” – but also playing into this is servitude to “influence C”, and finally, belief, fear, belief, fear, belief, fear.
231/11/Red Rain
Cause & Effect
Robert has lunches at the Apollo d’Oro with his entourage. Shining like the sun. The group walks down the hill to the cars and goes – you know where to do what.
At the reception after the dinner Robert stands up and walks away with his entourage – sometimes 20 guys! You know where to do what.
One can love the Teacher, be inspired by the hydrogens and enjoy his energy. One can believe that Robert is conscious being helping his students to become conscious. One can mind one’s own business…
But these scenes bother me.
235/11/Somebody
EFFECT (Sexual Predator)
Why not more people have come out is a question to me. I asked a student who has been very close to Robert for years and he gave me a “beautiful ” story. Robert Burton of the fellowship of friends, said when he refused that it would not harm his evolution. I told this story to a 30 year ex- student and he said The student had told him that he had sex with Robert and had been Robert’s lover. I was puzzled and knew that somebody was lying???
What does this tell you?
1. Shame, embarrassed
2. Ask the Russian students, who are now around Robert. They have a hard time working in the gardens and the life around Robert seems preferable….They have a different back ground and according to my point of view a lack of conscience.
3. For some people sex is a good to barter for. Everybody his choice.
4. Some people around Robert have a tendency for bi-sexuality. Fits this aspect.
5. Some people are depended on their visa and green card bartering with sex (as said before.)
6. Some people believe the story that Robert needs hydrogen 12…precious semen. Sorry, it is unbelievable to me so do not react to me about this issue.
7. Power issues…Do not forget that certain people are more interested in politics/ power…that is their nature.
8. Many have promised to be silent. No gossip or what ever and how they can silence their conscience.
9. Many other reasons which I can not think about.
There are so many people if you dare to ask and many will not be able to share the true although many blog pages ago I am not sure if it was “confused” who ran to her Russian friends who told her that the part of the sex was true.
Many of our friends call this homosexuality. I doubt if this is homo sexuality. When you want to have sex with so many men and they are not homo sexual but preferable hetero- sexuality I see an element of power. Elements of power lead to abuse.
Do you want this for yourself or children or grand children?
Do you want one of your daughters or grand daughters in a relationship with one of Robert’s boys?
Think ahead of time!
244/11/More History Needed?
NOTE ~ Mention of Douglas Guthormson, Lawyer (local)
The lawyer friend from Brownsville’s name is Douglas Guthormson.
247/11/History
CAUSE, EFFECT (Fraud in The Inducement)
I guess I have to mention the misappropriation of quotations that has been staring everyone in the face for years but has been justified as a means to a valid end. Robert wants to show us something valuable, so he uses quotes to make his point.
Okay, he may tailor the quotes (and pictures) a bit to suit his needs, but the point is still fair, we say. Don’t you see what’s happening? He’s using anything he can get his hands on from any past authority to support his own fantasy, and we are asked to play along in the interest of a greater good.
He is exploiting magical thinking in students who unconsciously believe in “greatness by association” – by placing himself in the same context with Kabir, Rumi, Whitman, or other people that you have found inspiring, he takes credit for your inspiration and will now reinterpret it for you so that you will understand it “correctly”.
He creates these people in his own image. Some students are actually literally believing that the sequence has been known for 30,000 years and used by Buddha, Christ, Lao-Tze and the rest of them! (Other students who don’t believe it, live in a split personality.) Because we agreed to play along. Because it’s intended to make us more emotional. We allow the first step, we close one eye when he kind of doesn’t make sense, and it’s all downhill from there.
“2006 was the year of the sequence, and what we accomplished in understanding the system exceeded all of our expectations.” –Robert
In the Fellowship, you are repeatedly told what you (we) are thinking and feeling and what state you (we) are in. I know all the arguments, it is only for our own good, and even if it’s not true yet, it’s to encourage us to really think and feel that way, to induce us to really manifest that higher state. Doesn’t that strike you as eerily similar to The Secret?
Doesn’t it seem like a hypnotic technique? Maybe you think that’s really useful, but I find it incredibly manipulative and naïve on the part of the students. It works for producing obedient malleable smiling content people, and to me that’s a particularly high evolutionary achievement.
“Safeguarding the nine of hearts from drifting into imagination for fifteen seconds after you have completed the sequence is the greatest achievement in the universe.” –Robert, Jan 5, 2007
Once upon a time, we were told not to express ourselves in absolutes, because it would be lying. Robert, however, is not being grandiose, he is being conscious, so he really knows what he is talking about when he says “greatest achievement in the universe”. If our reason accidentally kicks in, we explain him away, and we say, well, he didn’t mean it that way, he has to speak like that to shake us out of our sleep, it’s supposed to be emotional and evocative. Right. Just like he didn’t really literally mean
“To make the machine conscious and immortal is the ultimate task, and to achieve this, everything is asked from us.” – Robert, May 17, 2007
Nowadays Robert doesn’t talk about predictions much publicly any more. He doesn’t have to. The core of his students have internalized the idea that the Fellowship is the last conscious school on Earth at the end of this civilization. Robert only needs to hint at it.
“The beautiful Egyptian artworks are sacred messages from the first school to the last school.” – Robert, January 2, 2007
Note the emotions contained in the “sacred messages” and “the last school”. It could make one cry. No wonder people become so attached to the Fellowship if it gives their life such a deep purpose in God’s grand scheme of things.
‘The sequence has the incredible privilege of associating with divine presence. By transforming the lower self we produce the pearl of great price – divine presence. Stay away from ‘I’s unrelated to your precious sequence; fast from lifeless, unconscious thoughts. When third eye is doing everything it can to escape from the tentacles of imagination and the diabolical control of the lower self, it does so with ‘Be’. What a mercy it was when they delivered the sequence to us; we can all be conscious beings now. All schools teach us the same thing – how to begin and complete sequences. It is critical to begin a new sequence as soon as the old one is exhausted.’ -Robert
Again, little actual informative content, mostly loaded phrases evoking imagery of a great, formidable, noble and epic battle between good and evil, spanning countless centuries, delivered fresh to your inbox every day for you to feel special about: “incredible privilege”, “divine presence”, “pearl of great price”, “precious sequence”, “lifeless thoughts”, “tentacles of imagination”, “diabolical control”, “delivered the sequence”, “conscious beings”, “all schools”…
But you have seen that presence is everything, and you insist that this is all about presence.
If that is so, dear Friends, please enjoy your wonderful and inspirational teaching events and intimate buffets for 30 with our Beloved Teacher, dining at cozy tables with special friends in gentle conversation, followed by charming concerts. Afterwards, you might wish to take advantage of the wonderful opportunity to take a beautiful photograph with our Beloved Teacher. Group discounts (up to 3 people) will be available. Cash and checks accepted. I also invite you to take part in the 2nd auction this year to resume construction of the Theatron – please help raise tens of thousands of dollars so we can share more moments of presence in this very special place. Purchase your tickets online. You will also have the pleasure of experiencing our newest dining venue at the Nile Garden Terrace. Treat yourself to a wonderful teaching event ($150 sitting, $75 standing) and enjoy the spectacular view (look with presence) before the event. Please move with presence on the Path of Presence as you walk up to the dining event with our Beloved Teacher.
249/11/Traveler
Desecration, Discrimination, Favoritism, ‘Robert Burtonism’
Last time I personally heard of another California earthquake warning was as recent as December 2006, I think the dates were 26 or 27 but I don’t recall exactly. It was delivered to me by a devoted “inner circle” student, and he said this news were intended for inner circle only… (Thanks for including me, by the way!)
252/11/No Person
CAUSE (Fraud, Undue Influence)
Thank you so much for putting into words my exact feeling towards the Fellowship and the reason I left a few weeks ago.
I went to too many events where Robert told me what state I was in, and he was wrong. I scratched my head too many times trying to understand “Thoughts From The Teacher”, etc.
262/11/Steve Lang
Material Misrepresentation, Falsity or ‘Fellowship of Friends Police Kool-Aid tear gas breath-spritz ‘
Dear moderator:
Posts by ‘cyclops’ (Ex: 77) and others contain clear racist material that is completely irrelevant to any subject matter or context of this blog. Those who are posting such material are turning this blog into a platform for spreading anti-Semitism.
Since these posts are repetitive, it is clear that they are being approved by you as a moderator and they are regarded by you as a legitimate public material.
I am personally offended by these posts.
After getting legal counseling on this matter I would like to inform you the legality of such posts is questionable. Legally, in relation to publishing racism, this blog is no different from any printed newspaper or any other media and as a moderator you role here is no different than of a newspaper editor who is subject to lawsuits.
270/11/To the moderator
NOTE for 365
Dear ‘To the moderator’ ~
Yes, and don;t forget what Robert Burton said ~
“The Holocaust was the Jews punishment for crucifying Christ.”
Joint Negligence, Collusion, Fraud in the Inducement *:.)
Asaf has been pivotal in helping Robert establish the new teaching. Rumor is that he is conscious, but like Girard in days of old he denies it for now.
275/11/Moon Angel
_________________________
*:.)
Hummm… a guy who denies he’s conscious helping another guy who denies that he’s not, establish a new religion based on denying others that they are not so long as they are not without them denying that they aren’t while with them, sounds just right to me…
CULT ON Asaf!
FRAUD, DESECRATION
During this period the teaching became more arcane and dogmatic. Everything was related to presence, or the sequence. The teacher is constantly is telling everyone we are present, and the school has been a money making frenzy for the last few years pushing students to give as much as possible and buy raffle tickets, auction items etc. The property was developed to a large extent during this period as well and the teacher become more inaccessible except during paying teaching events. Several prominent students also died during this time. The property was renamed to Isis and many world class ballets were performed in a newly made Greek theatron. The winery is no longer a focus.
Basically if you are not using the sequence…(prayer)…you are sinful..(in imagination)…and therefore possessed by your lower self..(the devil)…if you do not become present…(in a redeemed state…heaven)…you will forever be asleep…(in hell).
275/11/Moon Angel
Malicious Intent, ‘Breach of Worthy Syllables’ *8u
Sheikh,
You might pay attention to this post. This may be a preliminary warning to a legal challenge by the FOF.
278/11/notAbe
______________________
Hey Einstein, aren’t all warnings preliminary? Is that you Howy?
Sexual Predator, Intentional Infliction of Emotional Distress
It dawned on me that Robert might prefer (or in the past preferred) straight, young, male paying members of his religious community because they are less likely to talk about it later out of shame, guilt, or embarrassment. It took me 22 years to be able to discuss the subject as openly as I have and break the code of silence. The experiences make a lasting imprint, as others in servitude will agree.
300/11/Whalerider
CONSPIRACY TO DEFRAUD *11
To Bruce
you misunderstood me if you thought I was justifying Robert’s behavior. He is a criminal. I was refering to judging the whole FOF as criminal because of his actions. I read through the Canon’s of the FOF and it seems obvious, at least to my perception, that he intentionally used the form of a religion because of the special status given to freedom of religion in the U.S.
The Canon clearly states that it is an element of faith in the FOF that Robert is a conscious man defined as “The Teacher” with a unique status. He cannot be removed. In this sense it is no different than Christian’s recognizing Christ and the Pope as God’s voice on Earth., Robert simply had the for thought to understand how much better this was in term’s of control and personal freedom for him than a corporation. And he got it in a written contract.
Disagreement or questioning of this is cause for dismissal from the group. It seems like he copied much from the Mormon’s. I also feel rather strongly that the people who agreed to this document and structure would not have done so if Robert had let it be known that he was gay and intended to engage in promiscuous activity.
Almost all of the early students who achieved a level of individual development were chased out. Robert is a master bureaucrat. His dominance feature controls every aspect of his environment. I spent a good bit of time around him. Observe him for a while from the point of view of features, type, alchemy, center of gravity. Is there anything not mechanical.
Has any one ever seen him do something mechanically uncomfortable? Rub dirt on his face? wear old sneakers? volunteer to eat at a food kitchen just for the consciousness? While I was on the Farm David Guido had a compost pile, I never saw Robert helping there. Someone said he would spill a glass of water to illustrate mechanicality did any one ever see him spill wine on a Hermes tie to illustrate non-identification?
311/11/A Former Student
____________________________
*11
Very, very few students ever see the Fellowship of Friends Canons; this document is only relative and applicable to a student’s experience in the Fellowship of Friends when there is a legal challenge as to Fraud by the Fellowship of Friends… I have asked people who have been in the Fellowship of Friends who have told me that they have never seen or heard the canons presented to the entire ‘church body’ for 15+ years… The Fellowship of Friends religious canons are fraudulent in their applicability to the member joining or agreeing to ‘the terms’, for no terms are implied during ‘The Fellowship of Friends Prospective Meeting’, save one, PAYMENT (nor ever implied, for the Fellowship of Friends absolutely does not function as a legal church, business of the people or co-op organization, it is a hierarchy, period.)
EFFECT
If the fellowship is a conscious school, it is one of denial.
It is not a school of love.
Whatever is being taught there, needs to be turned around carefully.
It was very painful for me to stay all those years with my eyes open.
I knew that something was off, something was fishy.
I started practicing presence (what an expression!) daily.
I was obsessed with it. I realized how foreign it was to me. I needed support, but the support the students gave me was not working. Most of them were like parrots repeating from a book. And the teacher seemed to be in his own bubble doing his thing.
The most powerful guidance happened when I starting bringing myself present to the deep pain that I was feeling for being an outcast in the school. I felt like a cyst or a tumor sometimes in the body of the school.
But it became simpler and simpler. Slowly, I learned not to condition the state of presence. That means, no expecting anything out of it. It was not easy as you can imagine.
It requires to be connected with my body, with its feelings and sensations. In my experience, to be present is to be as authentic as I can. If I feel sad, I feel sad. If I feel angry, I feel angry. No story. No shoulds or shouldn’ts. It’s what is.
End of the story.
Students in the fellowship: It is possible to live like this. It requires to stop believing what my little head is telling me. And what other little heads are telling me too! including Robert’s!
I realized that Robert attracts very special people. Like myself full of naiveté and arrogance. Dangerous combination!
Naiveté and arrogance, the chief feature of the FOF.
If you have enough of both in your genetics, you are a good candidate for Robert’s school.
313/11/TORNADO
EFFECT
I was recently asked by a long time Oregon House resident, a man that the Fellowship would describe as a “good householder”, if I was a member of the Fellowship. I was very happy and relieved to be able to say, “No, I was, but I recently left because there are things in the Fellowship that I no longer want to support or be associated with.”
I didn’t need to say anymore. He said, “You mean things that would make you sick at your stomach.” He then went on to say that he thought there were some decent people in the Fellowship but that there was a large bunch that should be taken out and horse whipped.
Members of the Fellowship are mistaken if they think that they are invisible in this community. Thanks to this blog local people know what is going on and the ugly secrets are no longer secrets. Members stand out like “sore thumbs” at the post office, the grocery and video stores because of their oblivious and arrogant attitudes. Continued affiliation suggests to everyone that members are people without conscience or decency. With the information about the Fellowship now public and available, members, no matter how well-dressed, polite and refined, are increasingly regarded as sick people who are supporting a sick leader and his sick organization.
What healthy citizens would want such corruption and depravity in their midst? Many people are just waiting for the whole pack of lies to self destruct.
335/11/Vena
EFFECT
I also thought that “I have arrived”; “this is the place”; some time after joining the FOF, to realize almost 8 years later that I was off in my perception and that the school was just a small and necessary stepping stone in my soul journey.
It took my ego some time to swallow all the evidence and the humbling experience of accepting that I have not arrived anywhere yet, and that there was still some more work that needed to be done. The most important one.
Later on I realized that this may be one of the reasons why for some of us, takes so much to decide to leave the school. I realized that my self image has been fed with ideas like
: “I made it”, “I’m done”, ” I am a chosen one”, “this is the ultimate place for me”, “I am going to die in the school”; etc. etc.
It was a very painful process for me to dismantle all that structure. It was glued together with one of the most powerful energies that us human beings are able to create in our regular state of consciousness. And that is the emotional energy of what we call; friendship.
One morning was very liberating to realize that the most important friendship I needed to honor was the one I had with myself. There I was watching through those eyes, breathing through this nose, being alive in a body and dismissing myself completely. Distracted by fairytales, or biting upon myself for not being enough or incomplete or deficient.
Shocking was the realization that all the relationships in my life known or to come, would pass sooner or later, including those that I loved so much, but the one with myself was for ever.
I noticed that I could feel betrayed by someone I trusted or I may betray them: but the pain of self betrayal went much deeper and it was far more painful than any other type of pain.
That day I became aware of a very simple thing that supported me up to this day.
I like it or not, I am my eternal roommate!
How do I want to live in this relationship?
What my life would be like if I treat myself in the way I treat someone I love very-very much?
These questions still help me today.
Breath with me please…
363/TORNADO
EFFECT
For those not much in touch with how the blog is affecting the FOF
‘The blog is the worst thing that ever happened to the Fellowship’
Linda T. May 2007.
I personally know of at least a dozen people who began by denouncing the blog when it first started to gather steam but now are planning to leave FOF in the near future…..
415/11/Mole
The blog is a terrible thing for Linda T too, it would have to be. She has spent her entire adult life–from her late teens now well into her fifties–under the moral suasion, if you want to call it that, of a profoundly mentally ill individual. Can you imagine having to confront that reality?
417/11/Veronicapoe
EFFECT
NOTE ~ The Narcissism of The Fellowship of Friends
It is an element of narcissism within a person that holds them to an inhuman, unattainable standard. Being unable to attain the standard leaves one unsatisfied and unfulfilled with an inner deficit that makes one vulnerable to depressed moods, addictions, and chronic irritability. This clouds the reason. It is essential to marry mental clarity with conscience…i.e., a clear conscience. You cannot be compassionate without a conscience.
421/11/Whalerider
EFFECT (Sexual Predator)
The neighbors are very concerned in Oregon House.
They are trying to organize a meeting soon.
My neighbor has two daughters and she is scared.
she is afraid of all these guys from other countries that are being abused and are taking part in orgies!
“The sexually abused victim easily becomes the predator.”
I understand her concern but i don’t agree with her…
431/11/Oregon House Concerned
CAUSE (Conspiracy to Defraud)
Oregon House concerned:
I hope your neighbor knows about this part, too, the guy in charge who’s running the show and doing all that stuff believes he’s the second coming of Christ and above the law.
That’s what he’s teaching “all those guys from other countries.”
435/11/Whalerider
Sexual Predator, Collusion, Connivance, Coercion, Joint Negligence, Sexual Harassment, Negligent Infliction of Emotional Distress, False Pretenses, Fraud, Desecration, Malicious Intent, Hostile Environment Sexual Harassment
444 Oregon House concerned
What really allowed Robert to do what he is been doing for 3 decades, is the silent complicity of all the men that not only never talked about it (because of shame, ego trips, fear, etc) but also attracted other young men into the “kings bedroom”.
How about giving the names of those WE KNOW were Robert’s OBJECTS so that everybody knows them?
Then those that have any doubts and don’t believe about it, can go and ask them their version.
I will start: Carlos Labbate, Argentinean student that would travel the centers convincing young men to move to the community. Even though he hated being with Robert and having sex with him, he kept enrolling others into the adventure of being close to the teacher.
Ask him, he will tell you how was it for him.
If the men speak up, all this sex business ends in few weeks and for ever.
At this very moment there might be several dozens of men making their plans to move to Isis. More fresh meet for the King!
What do you think? Any more names?
444/11/Oregon House Concerned
EFFECT (Joint Negligence, Collusion, Connivance, Deliberate Indifference, Desecration)
Why are you angry if Robert has a very active sexual life?
the private life is “private”.
you have your own sexual life. yes or not?
why Robert can not have his own? like you, or everybody.
Are you jealous?
I think that you wish at least the half of this sexual activity in all your life.
Let the people to live their own private lifes.
467/11/Simple Truth
EFFECT (Hostile Environment Sexual Harassment)
These messages are exactly what I am talking about.
Let’s bring up the names. Lets stop this chain of insanity!
Who do you know? Who was part of the Robert’s bedroom experiment? They are all victims anyway.
Lets stop the experiment!
I don’t care what will happen with Robert. The man is sick and needs treatment. He will provably will go somewhere in Europe and died there.
I am not thinking about him.
I am thinking about the boys that keep coming.
And they are many. How many until the end of this year? 5 more? or perhaps 15 more to come?
Do you remember when you arrived to Renaissance or Apollo or Isis and you were a young man in your twenties? Do you remember your friends at that age?
It is not about Robert’s life. It is about their lives.
478/11/Oregon House Concerned
SEXUAL PREDATOR
To Bruce:
I understand your point Bruce, I need to say this,
thank you for you patience. Something burns in my guts when I see all the complicity that took place for years for all this slaughter to happen.
To Simple truth:
I agree with you that we can say “no” to an invitation, specially if we have some life experience and we are sober my friend.
When you are in your early twenties and drunk and everyone you trust tells you that it is ok to do it, I don’t know. What do you think?
Its the same age we send our children to the war. Do you believe that they know what they are doing? Really?
This is about integrity and values. Its not about defending RB’s case. Or your case.
We are talking about many young guys that trusted us. I was a center director myself and I feel nauseated when I think of how the young guys in the center were swallowed by the Academy pain machine.
And to your question:
No, I was lucky not to live through that experience but after living ten years in Apollo, I saw many guys having it, (as you saw them as well) and is not fun at all. It is very sad game.
Can you imagine how large the FOF would have been in these days if RB would have heal his addiction and stopped this game years ago?
10000 people? more? 50000 students?
What a waste of recourses and energy!
484/11/Oregon House Concerned
CONSPIRACY TO DEFRAUD, Collusion, Connivance, Deliberate Indifference, Joint Negligence, Falsity *rr
to Unoanimo post 483:
and what was the outcome of this lawsuit? Wikepedia says it “one suit was dismissed and two others were settled by the organization’s insurance companies to save the costs of litigation.” T. (The FOF president) also added that “the suits were filed by former members who failed to produce evidence to support their accusations.”
If it is ALL true, why is there not more evidence or turmoil. For sure someone (Influence C ?) is protecting Robert. Since my guide is Influence C I go with them. So far they have allowed Robert to be the way he is. You could argue this viewpoint is the result of the FOF indoctrination, but it comes straight from Gurdjieff: Man cannot do, everything happens. Of course one has to give doing a try and then accept the result. some of you try to do by writing here and we will see what happens.
sincerily thankfull
493/11/Student
___________________________
*rr
On the same note ‘Student’ (your) C-Influence also protected Mussolini and Hitler so they could exterminate 30,000,000+ human beings (?) To me, the Fellowship of Friends ‘ideas’ concerning the gods is adolescent, uncreative, bias, and very conveniently subjective; ever notice how the gods change their minds only AFTER Robert Burton has changed his?
The Fellowship of Friends has no impersonal ORACLE; if you did Robert Burton would have been put to hard labor planting grape vines from the get go, on a short leech, just as Alex Horn tried to do it; yet, Alex Horn was on a self made long leech, so the attempt by him on Robert Burton was a bit self preservation-al and hypocritical.
CONSPIRACY TO DEFRAUD
To Simple Truth (#11-465)
Burton is not a private person with a private life. He is a very public person (at least in the large fish in a small pond scale of things), and invites public scrutiny, not least because he has set himself up as an example and guide. Since the FoF is the form, the vessel being built by students, and he is supposed to fill it, it matters a great deal what he fills it with. There cannot be too much light shed on every aspect of his being. That he operates mostly behind closed doors implies much about his being, and of course leads to some guesswork. That’s the simple truth.
494/11/Ames Gilbert
NOTE ~ Mention of Michelle Milligan (possible source contact)
Have you ever met Michelle Milligan, her paramour “Reverend” Heinz, or any of the others in the Olivehurst Gospel Assembly? I had quite a lot of contact with them (unfortunately, I was a neighbor to their property), and still see them around in Oroville. Now, there are some pain bodies to study! Michelle did copy the court documents accurately, but I wouldn’t put much trust in the rest of her articles!
494/11/Ames Gilbert
SEXUAL PREDATOR, False Pretenses, Malicious Intent, Collusion, Connivance, ‘Enticement of a Parent’, Coercion, Hostile Environment Sexual Harassment, Undue Influence, Negligent Hiring, Negligent Infliction of Emotional Distress *vn
To Simple truth, post 465:
“Why are you angry if Robert has a very active sexual life?”
or “Let the people to live their own private lifes.”
Let’s presume you are a father and your son is 18 years old.
Let’s presume you are in the fof 30 and + years.
Let’s presume you were/are high up on the FOF star system.
Let’s presume you were among the lovers yourself.
Let’s presume your son has been invited to ‘help’ washing dishes (!) at the Galleria.
Halleluyah? Gloria?
Nooooooooooooo…
He is so young and so much in need for attention!
You find yourself not only averting/warning him
(letting him know what, from experience, you know about
beloved Robert Burton, the Teacher)
but prohibiting him to accept.
Let’s presume the “Let’s presume” are rhetorical
and that it is happening!
Difficult times… When what was “good” for you
turns to be so “bad” for your child that you can’t even trust him or the “play” (Conscious Influences)…
Don’t you think ?
How can you even formulate such a comment and believe in it enough to post it?
How can you post such a comment ?
495/11/You-me-us-they
__________________________
*vn
Yes, this ‘parent-child-to-Robert Burton’ exchange occurs; take Gunter 2007 for instance and his very naive son #2; and to you Johanness (sorry for the spelling), keep fishing in rivers very far from the Y. county line…
EFFECT (Negligent Infliction of Emotional Distress)
It’s as simple as that: STOP FEEDING HIM!!
If you’ll stop on nourishing his greed, his ego , his vanity, his appetites, he will loose his power on you/us/them..
-Stop paying for events…you have to remember that the money is turned inevitably into sperm, expensive vibrators and Armani suits anyway, and that the “teaching” is a FARSE, it’s a sad joke played on your soul and your miserable postponed checks;
(And by the way, if you are already paying the “teaching payments”, why do you think that you have to pay again for the “teaching events”?)
-Stop smiling and worshipping this horny goat… keep at least a little shred of your dignity, you’ll need it to improve the rest of your life;
-Stop granting him sexual favors… std’s are not fun, old faggots are not that appealing, specially dressed in bright pink silk, and your women & your children & even yourself will be much more impressed with you if you’ll be a MAN and have the guts to say “NO”;
-No more money, no more flattery, no more sex…
is there going to be any real “teacher” left ???
Can R. survive without luxuries, pampering and sperm?
Especially if you believe that the answer is YES, why don’t you give it a try ? M.
497/11/Medusa
NOTE ~ Mention of Abraham Goldman, FoF Lawyer *tr
You should be asking this question. Why does the Fellowship of Friends always settle out of court? Why does Abraham Goldman always insist on sealed agreements if FoF is in the right? You could answer the first question with, “To save money”, but what does it matter if the insurance pays the bills? That is what legal insurance is for. And if the claims are sufficiently spurious, in other words, malicious and unfounded, actually the FoF and their insurance company would probably be able to get their costs back in a counter-suit. Why did that not happen?
The Samuel Sanders case and the Troy Buzbee case were settled out of court. The agreements were sealed (a gross miscarriage of justice in my opinion, since I think that justice is better served in the light, not the back room). If the FoF were proud of it’s record, as revealed by witnesses while the case was being set up (pre-trial motions, discovery, subpoenas, sworn statements, and so on), then why not be open? Have you considered that Linda T. may be lying, when she says “the suits were filed by former members who failed to produce evidence to support their accusations”. Maybe she is technically right—if the case did not go to trial. I don’t know how far it went before the settlements ended things. But if the settlements were pre–trial, she is merely using verbal sleight of hand, a form of lie.
498/11/Ames Gilbert
__________________________________________
*tr
Sealed court documents often include other persons names that may have been involved in the COERCION of Troy Buzbee, sealing them protects their families, jobs and future family members careers, etc. Too, often these documents include such MORAL TURPITUDE details that being read by anyone in the public domain may risk Robert Burton’s safety and those involved, etc.
Normally there has to be REASONABLE DOUBT that the safety of those peoples involved is at great risk; yet, this does not rule out black marking the names from the documents, although, oftentimes these ‘names’ can be rightly ‘guessed’ by those close to the Fellowship of Friends ‘Inner Circle’ of sexual predators.
Prior to the case in one of the Fellowship of Friends sexual predator law suits (it may have been Samuel or Troy) Abraham Goldman went to the ‘boys’ house to try and get a ‘not of sound mind confession’ from him, he did not sign it and proceeded to sue the Fellowship of Friends for over a million dollars and won.
SEXUAL PREDATOR, Joint Negligence, Collusion, Connivance
Getting personal I asked Robert once why he continued to have sex with his students, his reply was “in order to provide friction for them”. When i asked Abraham Goldman which is an assumed name, he took early on in his Fellowship career, anyway when i asked Dear old honest Abe who is a shark masquerading as a dolphin, why this situation was allowed to continue his answer was “too weird or not too weird”. When i asked Girard it was “we cant judge Robert by the same standards as we judge normal men”. So the resources of the organization are soundly behind maintaining the status quo. Up to that point these were three of the men i respected most in the world.
If its the numbers that impress you consider how many have left. Oh i just remembered something else that Robert said in relation to my by no means unique seduction by him he said ” “I’m taking advantage of your features”. All hearsay but i would be prepared to testify to this in a court of law and swear on my children’s lives that its true. Do you believe that its simple revenge which motivates us?
also sincerely to you, student from the heart of hearts. Cyclops.
499/11/Cyclops
HOSTILE ENVIRONMENT SEXUAL HARASSMENT, Conspiracy to Defraud, Reckless Endangerment, *7g
“For sure someone (Influence C ?) is protecting Robert. Since my guide is Influence C I go with them. So far they have allowed Robert to be the way he is. ”
This is a direct consequence of the real time.
Great!
Please, Dear Student, consider my previous post, number 492,
as being written for You!
Permission? “For sure!
And you know what?
The someone” is You!
This someone is me !
I experience a strange situation:
I am officially out of the Fellowship of Friends
and, as such, free from concerns regarding what is happening within the “innies” (still like this formulation)
but it is simply not so…
I am even not a father nor a mother!
I might just be wearing orange socks…
Gratitude.
502/11/You-me-us-they
_______________________________
*7g
This student woke up, left the real-position of being the Fellowship of Friends ‘C-Influence’… Robert Burton’s version of the gods gets it’s power not from his intentional sufferings of their revelations, rather, from his students reactions to his buffering (avoiding) of their true-signs to him through plain results, not interpretations of those results, which in it’s own ‘subjective right’ is another ‘Robert Burton-result’ or a previously unspoiled message, if any… Yet, their are always two ways to take omens, even negative ones not in one’s current favor, either as vanity-martyrdom, which creates upon the recipient a sense of tongue-in-cheek humility and embarrassment, then sympathy from those distanced, yet identified with the symbol of the Gucci-crucifixion, or conscious-martyrdom, each with it’s very different set of aims and nuances, according to what is at stake in the spiritual egoist’s lifestyle structure and mirage.
Companion to 390
To me, what that ‘student’ did is an example of conscious love;
for to stay at arms distance is not embracing anything.
NOTE ~ Fellowship of Friends court-way-school
Dear student #490: you dutifully remind us that “the suits were filed by former members who failed to produce evidence to support their accusations.”
If the cases were settled before going to trial, naturally no evidence would have been formally presented, on either side. By settling the suit, Burton & Co. avoided the uncomfortable process of being deposed under oath. They also effectively prevented the sworn depositions of the complainants from entering the public record if the case went to trial.
I find it amazing that so many people continue to demand “evidence” in the face of so many first-hand accounts, covering many years, detailing the ongoing situation. What kind of evidence would convince them? A videotape? No good — too easily faked. If the glove don’t fit, you must acquit, eh? The self-deception involved here is really mind-boggling.
503/11/Cathie
CONSPIRACY TO DEFRAUD *ln
If however you actually read through old publications like “Via Del Sol”, “The Mount Carmel Journal” and “The Renaissance Journal” you might be surprised at what a high percentage of the real knowledge of self observation came from students. It is no accident that almost all of the early students who had been the “senior” members left when they discovered Robert’s duplicity.
———————————————————————–
All the quotes were written by Linda Kaplan (Linda T. ?) and then Burton selected various names to go with the quotes, the members never said what was attributed to them.
510/11/Correction
___________________________________________
*ln
This “never said what was attributed to them”, was yet another Robert Burton technique to “Work against his students vanity features.”
Of course, what better feature to work with vanity than vanity? Robert Burton would have people’s name rearranged and quotes jumbled; another ‘device’ to keep the ‘sprout of conscious individuality’ under thumb, in the dark, for the sake of keeping vanity in check and his to run ramped spending millions of dollars on ‘his school’ and ‘his quotes’ and ‘his boys’.
NOTE to 393 *4w
Only partly true. In most of the “journals” the quotes were actually edited from meeting transcripts and are the words/thoughts of the speakers, mostly students. It’s also true that when Burton wanted to insert comments, Linda would write them and assign them to phantom speakers. But for most of the time, these were “straight.”
511/11/Skeptical Optimist
______________________
*4w
This “phantom speakers” would later develop into Robert Burton’s total cutting off of all personal angles (viewpoints) usually allowed during Sunday meetings, which ‘evolved’ into students reading pre-assigned (and always the same speakers, Robert’s favorites) quotes chosen the week prior, sent in by students, yet, those students having found the quote, not quoted.
It could regularly be observed that Robert Burton would get ‘fijjity’ and impatient when having to listen to another’s verifications and valuations; in the beginning of his teachings, students became stronger in their work, his coming out of the cave empowered many to go deeper and imitate his ‘move’ into the sunlight; he quickly squashed this objective reverence for individual inner work and the sharing of its fruits in his ‘presence’ or should I say ‘pretense’?
NOTE to 394 (NEGLIGENT MISREPRESENTATION)
To Correction (#11-490)
I believe your statement is too extreme. I wasn’t there for the Via Del Sol or Mount Carmel journals. But I was there for every issue of the Renaissance Journal. I moved to Renaissance in 1978. I went to all the meetings after the third or fourth issue. After about six issues, becoming suspicious, I started to make and compare notes about what was said and what was printed. I’d say that Linda certainly edited most of the angles (at least I saw her often reading proofs and correcting them in the press room. She did sometimes make some important changes, but generally stuck to the intent of the angle. But, as time went on, extra angles invented by her and Burton were inserted; some of them were clear plagiarisms. I guess unattributed ‘angles’ by classical writers added an air of nobility. Since many were from the 44, I suppose they gave their permission to their representative on earth?
516/11/Ames Gilbert
Sexual Predator, Discrimination, Favoritism, COERCION, Fraud, Misappropriation of Funds, False Pretenses
It is interesting to me to observe the defenders of the Fof keep asking for proofs of the ‘interesting’ private/not-so private- life of R. It is this the way to defend? Asking for proofs?
I was a night guard for 8 years at the galleria! Do you really want proof, yes is true. You really didn’t know? And you are in the school to wake up? Scary.
Adults that could say no? Maybe, maybe not.
Some are 20 years old, on salary, meaning $400 a month. They believe R. is God. Suddenly they are traveling, nice clothes, good life, everybody (I mean everybody) sleeps with him, so it almost feel normal. Once you said yes the first time, you are accepted in the group (a bit of a disturbed group I would say).
Nobody comes forward. Really? Strange, which heterosexual man wouldn’t like to expose himself, saying that he was or still is part of R. entourage. He already has to deal with the fact himself, maybe is not that easy to tell the rest of the world, that, like an idiot you said yes (at least for awhile) and then you accepted all kind of stupid truths to justify yourself or your teacher. So while dealing with all kind of stupid things like that, why not go out and tell everybody what kind of an idiot you’re?
But then again at least you’re not trying to tell everybody else that everything is fine and if you have verified Influence C(?!)and that it’s all that is required from you.
Please stop asking for proofs, you know is all true, at least, for a little bit, try to be honest! (or it’s just feminine dominance?)
526/11/Foolofit)
Reckless Endangerment, Collusion, Connivance, Joint Negligence, Hostile Environment Sexual Harassment
Imagine the faithful accepting the unvarnished truth. I can’t imagine the inner trauma they would have to face collectively and individually. It’s much easier to deny, especially when one’s personal blindness, and or/ stupidity is entwined in one’s investment. For myself I found that knowledge isn’t quite enough without some kind of third force to overcome one’s reticence about being wrong.
527/11/Bruce
NOTE ~ Troy Buzbee court case notes
A rather sizable (500,000 – 800,000 dollar) damage settlement for Troy Buzbee, so far as my sources go. Regardless of the exact monetary settlement, the gist of it is that your teaching payments (and many others) go to ‘teach’ Robert Burton’s ‘cushion’ how to be more comfy when Robert Burton’s falls.
You might say “The insurance pays for it.” Yes, yet the students pay for the insurance premiums, Robert Burton is a high risk customer, be sure that the insurance company milk’s the Fellowship of Friends for all its worth, to them, allot: hence, ‘You play, you pay.’ And that they have read those ’sealed court documents’, you don’t think that they would pay for something they could not get, do you?
The other was the incredible ‘Ripley’s Believe it or not’ scene of Abraham G., having someone (perhaps it was he himself) get on a plane, go to where Troy B. was living (after) the lawsuit was filed and present to him a legal form to sign,
compliments of Robert Burton and Goldman Associates ~
‘A release of personal reliability due to mental incompetence.’ Basically its a form that asks one to consent, by signing it, that ~ ‘Yes, I am a coconut and like to swing in tree tops and sue people for their coconuts’.
Troy would not sign it;
on the side money (”Troy, how much do you want?” ~ Troy’s response, “It’s not about the money.”) was offered, he chose to take it to court and won, so to speak.
Those court files are sealed, yet, I am sure that if enough people from the ‘regular community’ in Oregon House wrote ‘The Terminator’, those could be ‘dug up’ on some ‘right to know’ basis.
It is most likely not a coincidence that we have currently ‘The Arnold’ as governor, he’s the ‘exact’ combination of ‘practical forces’ to terminate the Fellowship of Friends, its up to ‘the people’ to rattle his cage and maybe toss in a few thick rib eye steaks from the Kentucky mail order beef farm.
528/11/Unoanimo
Fraudulent Misrepresentation, FRAUD, *mm
Re editing of angels given at meetings . . .
I remember seeing one of mine in the journal and finding it nearly unrecognizable. I concluded that because it had been several weeks since the meeting, maybe I just couldn’t remember what I had said.
Others were experiencing the same thing around that time. It became a quiet joke to read the journals to learn what one had said at the meeting. I agree that the angles usually weren’t made up, but they were sometimes edited nearly beyond recognition.
520/11/Was KathleenW
____________________________________________
*mm
This should truly not surprise any ‘new student’ of the Fellowship of Friends reading this, after all, this is exactly what Robert Burton, Asaf and the Keying Group does with their material for Sunday meetings and ‘keying dinners, breakfast, lunches, et all’.
Robert Burton has plagiarized his students essences, why not the material that feeds their essences?
SEXUAL PREDATOR
I can only speculate, but it is not hard to understand.
You know what the feature of dominance is right? Dominance: big smart Saturn talking you into complying and using over-bearing body language to make your instinctive center feel like it has to comply with all commands. Now add this to that, “I’m your teacher and you need to give up your will to me, you need to trust me about what your evolution needs, dear. C influence, the invisible Gods that make everything good happen, want you to have a blowjob. Of course if you don’t you can go back into the vineyard and work like a dog for nothing, or leave. But no more great dinners, no more girls falling all over you, no more rides in the big car, no more trips around the world, no more telling people what to do in my name and especially no more “teaching” from me. You don’t want that do you? Now, unzip those pants.”
434/11/Wake Up
CAUSE & EFFECT (CONSPIRACY TO DEFRAUD)
555 Traveler
In a dusty attic, filled with cobwebs and things long forgotten, I recently made an amazing discovery – fragments of an unknown work:
Devil’s Dictionary
(by King of Clubs; in cooperation with: Queen of Hearts)
ACCELERATING, THE PACE IS – describes downhill movement
A INFLUENCE – derogatory term for all material pursuits, gains, riches and relations outside of the Fellowship of Friends, perceived as a distraction from pure spirituality
ANGLES OF THOUGHT – (archaic) individual expressions of subjective truth; see ‘quotations’
B INFLUENCE – derogatory term for all spiritual pursuits and teachings outside of the Fellowship of Friends; often perceived as dangerous competition that could misguide you into believing the Fellowship is not the true path and failing to complete your task; see ‘completed his/her task’
COMPLETED HIS/HER TASK – managed to stay a member until death; Cf. ‘lose the school’.
CONSCIOUS BEING – someone whose actions are bizarre and disturbing, but has informed you that they only seem that way because he is in a universe above you, so you can’t understand him
DEAR – subordinate
DINE – to eat while being aware that you are a Fellowship member
DONATIONS – mandatory fees for feeling saved and having friends
EMOTIONAL ENERGY – exhilarating feeling of being backed by numerous people who believe the same things you do
ENGAGE PRESENCE – grab hold of, control presence; get it to do what you want
ENTOURAGE – harem
EUROPEAN STYLE – a method of eating purportedly used in Europe and considered noble, in which you put the food on the back part of your fork and then bring it to your mouth
EXTERNAL CONSIDERING – to drop your pants for your Teacher
FORK WAY – a development of the Fourth Way in which large amounts of gourmet food are beautifully arranged on plates, shuffled around with a fork for a short time and then thrown away
FORTY-FOUR – local timezone; as in: “The concert will start promptly at 6:44 PM.”
FRIENDS – other believers
GOING AGAINST THE MACHINE – doing something stupid just because it’s difficult, to prove to yourself that you’re really evolving
GOSSIP – things you are better off not knowing if you don’t want to ‘lose the school’, see ‘lose the school’
IMPRESSIONS – A influence in the service of spirituality, for spiritual consumption and as building material for one’s immortal soul, particularly when bought by the Teacher; see ‘A influence’
INTENTIONAL INSINCERITY – misrepresenting aspects of your life that embarrass you
INTERNAL WARFARE – see ‘living the contradictions’
INTERVAL – a period of feeling guilty for having your own opinions
I’S – leftovers of reason
KING OF CLUBS – common sense
MEDICAL LEAVE OF ABSENCE – period of probation for people perceived as threats to the establishment
LIFE – people who make you feel good about yourself
LIVING THE CONTRADICTIONS – maintaining cognitive dissonance
LOSE THE SCHOOL, TO – to give up membership in the Fellowship of Friends; the implied failure and carelessness applies to all former members
LOVELY EVENT – a gathering where members are told by the Teacher how they feel and what state they are in
LOW ALCHEMY – too normal to be comfortable
LOWER SELF – spontaneity
MAGNETIC CENTER – idealistic sucker who needs to feel special
MECHANICAL – behavior that displeases me
MEETINGS – where people go to reassure each other that they are right
MOON, IT’S A – warning to avoid impending danger of being exposed to gossip, see ‘gossip’
NEW STUDENT – a person still learning which mannerisms are equated with being conscious
OCTAVE – duty
OLDER STUDENT – a person who has developed an ability to sound sure of themselves; other attributes include: sometimes swirls water in their glass, uses words such as ‘inexpensive’ instead of ‘cheap’ and dines in the European style; see ‘dine’, ‘European style’
PLAY, THE – explanation why things are the way they are and should not be otherwise
PLAY OF CRIME – attempts of enabling people universal access to information that could lead directly to your departure from the organization if you found out about it, much worse than gossip, this blog; see ‘gossip’
POSITIVE ATTITUDE, MAINTAINING – suspending all disbelief and critical thinking with a view to prevent manifestations of the king of clubs and to go against the machine; see ‘king of clubs’, ‘going against the machine’
PRESENCE – subject of ultimate appeal, part of a sales technique where it is suggested that purchasing a ticket or event seat is an indicator of your love of presence
PROSPECTIVE STUDENT MEETING – a gathering for assessing the eagerness of interested third parties to be led and told what is right, to appeal to their disappointments, insecurities and feeling out of place, and to offer a safe haven where evolution is guaranteed (for a price)
QUOTATIONS – pre-approved confetti-like shreds of old texts, declaimed by pre-approved speakers at public gatherings, creating the impression of audience participation; supersedes ‘angles’
SALARY, TO BE ON – to work full time for two and a half dollars per hour in exchange for being exempt from paying a membership fee
SCHOOL, OUR SACRED – an emotive way of referring to the Fellowship of Friends intended to help deepen valuation and the feelings of being special and chosen; see ‘valuation’
SEQUENCE – a self-hypnosis technique
SHAKING THE TREE – a process in which ripe fruits fall off the tree while unripe stay
SHOCKS – events of one’s life as seen from an egocentric perspective
STATE WE ARE IN – self-induced brain fog as a way of dealing with cognitive dissonance
STUDENT – member
TEACHER, OUR BELOVED – king of the sandbox; alpha male
TEACHER’S WILL, DEFEATING – making the Teacher feel powerless; frustrating the Teacher
THEY – purported astral beings who used to live as people on Earth but now are deciding everything that happens on Earth and restrict their direct communication to the Teacher; also called C influence
VALUATION – increased investment of personal identity into being a member of the Fellowship of Friends
VERIFICATION – (archaic) see ‘positive attitude’
VERIFYING C INFLUENCE – paying special attention to synchronicity in your life and believing that it happens because you are a paying member of the Fellowship of Friends
WILL OF C-INFLUENCE – wishes of the Teacher, particularly those that might meet with some resistance; see ‘they’
WIT – a threat to awakening as serious business
WONDERFUL OPPORTUNITY – where you go to empty your wallet
555/11/Devil’s Dictionary
INTENTIONAL INFLICTION OF EMOTIONAL DISTRESS, WRONGFUL DISCHARGE, MALICIOUS INTENT, COLLUSION, CONNIVANCE, DISPARENT TREATMENT, DISCRIMINATION, FALSE PRETENSES, UNDUE INFLUENCE, FAVORITISM, VIOLATION OF FIDUCIARY DUTY, *j
The “she” that you are talking about tried to re enter in the Fellowship of Friends several times, but anytime was said to her that RB has not taken a decision yet, this happened between July 2006 and December 2006. At the end she just stop asking. So RB does not want that she could create “problem” in his entourage and kicked her out of the school, dear good loving be careful to what you do maybe tomorrow if you are so open with this idea of the sex will be your turn to being asked to leave, because C influence wants it.
591/11/Takeiteasynow
________________________
*j
This ‘she’ was Paula, the dancer, her record of this incident will be posted in this section soon (when I find it); for those thinking ‘gossip’ and ‘defamation’ the knowledge of this hypocritical crime by Robert Burton was ‘first’ revealed on this blog by Paula and is privy to public domain herein.
SEXUAL PREDATOR, False Pretenses, Malicious Intent, Collusion, Connivance, ‘Enticement of a Parent’, Coercion, Hostile Environment Sexual Harassment, Undue Influence, Negligent Hiring, Negligent Infliction of Emotional Distress
Siddiq,
great comparison between Robert and a porn star. It might give him the idea that he should be paid for his performance. Next thing His Highness is going to ask that the poor Russians to pay for their privilege(they may leave at that point tough). Matter of fact I’m surprised He hasn’t done it yet.
Great thinking!
Of course the fact that the present teaching revolve around controlling the passions (a.k.a. the lower self-instinctive center). So how do you justify Him having sex with 15-20 guy(for free right now) a day (conservative estimate, believe me, no more proof please) and the students not showing their teeth as an indication of the lower self!
Students are supposed to control their smiles and He can do what He wants.
I forgot, He so high above us, doesn’t need to do what He says. He never did, but at least once functions and conscience were separated, now they are the same thing. It seems to me that He should control his passions first.
To Isis fencesitter,
first of all, how big is this fence and how many people are there? Are you your own group?
Anyway, I’m not sure why you want to know my reason to do or not do something with His Highness, it doesn’t matter what my personal reasons were. The only thing you need to know is the R. does what he does and definetely doesn’t care if the student can actually digest or process the experience. Some of the guys that went with him were at their first experience with a man or a woman! R. was the first experience for them.
Many of the young people left the school because it was the only way for them to stop traveling with R. I know the fof’ers will say that it was their choice. But then try to be a young solar-lunar(sorry for the language!) and resist your super-dominant teacher, very experienced in bending (figuratively) people will …..
As he said to someone (still traveling with him now) 13 years ago, that was trying to stop traveling after I stopped: “You are a gift from Influence C to me, don’t ever ask me again to stop, take a week off and come back”. His choice of course, but with a lot of manipulation. This guy was at the time specialized in counting 44 things of everything, it’s easier for him now, just 6 and 4, thank god that guy finally had a break! A.
595/11/Foolofit)
MORAL TURPITUDE
This is something Robert Burton knows nothing about, otherwise he would refrain from teaching his lovers infra sex techniques to achieve ‘above conscience’ King of Clubs states and handing out Viagra to buffer the emotional inability (connection with conscience) to get an erection for such nonsensical indulgences and essence (feeling) compromising submission to his aims, his only.
600/11/Unoanimo
EFFECT (Conspiracy to Defraud)
One of my best friends in the Fellowship of Friends visited Isis recently for a few weeks. Normally we have a lot of fun together and the times we spend in each other’s company are memorable even by School standards of ‘presence’. During that time she was away, I noticed how much her behavior changed (via email/telephone)… She suddenly started demanding we behave more ‘from the kings’ (have less fun) and more ‘intentionally’ (more shame please!) towards one another. When I took a step back from her underlying tone-of-voice, I realized it was just disguised negativity and judgment-making. It was very similar to many of the pro-Fellowship of Friends posters here recently. A sense of Scale need never be used as an excuse for judgment.
606/11/Crouching Tiger
CONSPIRACY TO DEFRAUD
To Simple Truth # 581:
These quotes: “When a person is subservient to the passions of his lower self, he needs dedication to the practice of remembrance.” [Al-Jilani]
“The best jihad (holy war) is to fight against the desires and temptations of the lower self.” [Mohammad]
are already DISTORTED by your beloved teacher! Show me where in Koran there are exact words “lower self”. I mean – open the sources, and find exact quote! It’s already been “keyed”, decoded, distorted and Photo-shopped to support RB’s new faulty teaching and brainwash fools like yourself… He does it all the time for last few years – distorts the originals to fit his BS teaching. As of he really knows what the ancients were talking about! He LIES, he has no clue, and you trust him wholeheartedly.
Nice Simple Truth indeed. Start thinking for yourself, and read and study original sources, not “keyed” quotes and edited pictures they send you by e-mail.
Truth is so simple – it doesn’t need to be “decoded” by a delusional “conscious being”. Truth is under your nose, here and now.
627/11/No Person
CONSPIRACY TO DEFRAUD, COLLUSION, CONNIVANCE, FRAUD IN THE INDUCEMENT, INVASION OF PRIVACY, ILLEGAL MAIL TAMPERING, JOINT NEGLIGENCE, NEGLIGENT MISREPRESENTATION, FALSE PRETENSES, OFFICIAL MISCONDUCT, MATERIAL MISREPRESENTATION, US MAIL THEFT, DISCRIMINATION, RECKLESS ENDANGERMENT, VIOLATION OF FIDUCIARY DUTY, BREACH OF TRUST
I am one of many students who left around the time Troy’s lawsuit. One day at the lodge I saw Michael Goodwin going through all the students’ mailboxes and removing the letters that Richard Buzbee had sent out to inform everybody of what was going on.
I found this attempt at censure outrageous, as we were all adults who should have been allowed to make their own judgment. Even in case the information included was found to be false and slanderous, we didn’t need to be protected from it: didn’t we trust our teacher enough, should he not trust our judgment in return? A more mature and civilized course of action would have been to address the issues openly, and let everyone draw their own conclusions.
So, for the first and only time in my life, I phoned Girard, eager to hear what he had to say about it. I don’t remember the entire conversation, and I wish I had written it all down, but his attitude really struck me and had no small impact on my subsequent leaving. At one point he compared the school to a healthy body and Richard and his accomplices to “bad viruses” who, if allowed to come in touch with it, would infect said body like a dangerous and potentially destructive disease. I like metaphors, but I knew Richard and the other persons involved. They were no viruses for sure, just suffering people trying to get some answers.
Later, when I got a little “emotional” while telling him how I felt about the situation, he threatened to cut short the conversation if I didn’t keep my negativity in check. I regained my composure as best as I could, but when I finally hung up not only was I fuming with repressed anger, I hadn’t received one single humane and reasonable answer as to why things were being handled in this manner.
I had to admit to myself that the number two pillar of the school was buffering big time. He could not bear to look at the simple reality involving people and their problems, he had to make sense of it and find justification for himself by resorting to vaguely Nazi and very abstract conceptualizations. His travesty of work language was used as a neat coat of paint to cover a very ugly emotional truth: Girard did not really care about Richard, or me, or any of the other sincere and dedicated students who were in “deep shit” at the time.
My emotional reaction was dismissed as a nuisance, a mechanical act to be photographed, and not understood and accepted as a sign that I was a sincere student who was feeling upset and concerned about something that at the time really mattered to me, the value of being part of the fellowship.
What real friend would try to make you stop and feel guilty when your conscience is strongly reacting to what it perceives as an injustice and an act of cowardice by those you are supposed to place your faith in?
Please don’t tell me he was doing this for my evolution. Or maybe he did: in fact, his answers really helped my evolution in the sense that they took me right out of the school.
Dear students one the fence, I suggest you try the same experiment: call your center directors, confront them with your issues and see if they can come up with something better than your most esteemed man number five. I sincerely wish you will receive all the understanding and support you so clearly deserve.
And good luck to all!
630/11/Laura
CONSPIRACY TO DEFRAUD, DESECRATION
Opus1111, “How about the photoshop issue? Do you know of flagrant forgeries in the images that students are shown?”
-Yes, I do. So do many others! It was e-mailed to the
whole school, what, you forgot? Or did you just join yesterday? Here’s the ‘official letter” from January 23, 2006 after one of such “images” were sent to students with the task from the teacher to install it as your desktop image. It was a pure forgery, pieced together in Photoshop to make a point. After many repeated questions about the true origin of this “esoteric image” official FOF finally confessed:
“Dear Friends,
The source of the desktop image is from the Royal Portal at Chartres Cathedral (right bay archivolts of the West facade). Circa 1145. The archivolts depict the Seven Liberal Arts, with scholars who best illustrate each art.
The two scholars shown in the picture represent Music on the left, and Grammar on the right. The quotation is not part of the original picture, but was entered via PhotoShop.
In presence,
Linda Tulisso, Isis”
Later I asked some “inner circle” friends about this issue, and they said that it is a pretty common practice to “photo shop” the information to make it fit the “current teaching”. (Like the amount of elements in the picture, or the image of “wolf in sheep’s clothing”, etc etc.) It’s just being done, altering the original quotes, altering the original images, to tell you what Robert wants to tell you, to push his “sequence”.
What would you call it? I would call it shameless LYING. You can call it anything you want! One dedicated student from our NY center whom I asked about the issue of deliberate forgery, said that “it doesn’t matter, as long as it produces a state”. So – there you go! Doesn’t matter.
May be there were not 6 poops after all, but 5 or 7… or 32 satyrs… Or 9 men instead of 6… But who cares, right? Who cares about anything – as long as you get a state..
Anything for a state…
This is the link of a “desktop image” that may or may not work, give it a try:
Photoshop rules.
699/11/No Person
CAUSE (Fraud in the Silliness’)
From a witness of the “fourth state”:
“In 1971, Teacher and a student were riding in a relatively new Dodge Dart along Highway 1 near Carmel. Teacher was 32 years old at the time. They were listening to a baseball game on the car radio. As the odometer of the car hit the mileage number “1954″, they passed a mailbox which had the name Thompson on it. Teacher indicated that this was a shock, as in 1954, Bobby Thompson of the New York Giants had hit a famous home run in a playoff game (which Teacher had apparently heard on the radio). 44 miles later as the odometer hit 1998, the mailbox on the side of the road showed the number 41211. Teacher indicated that THIS was also a shock which meant that California was going to fall into the Pacific Ocean in 1998 on April 12th at 11 am.”
703/11/Wrong with This Picture
EFFECT (Silliness in the Fraud)
Ex-boyfriends have threatened Burton’s life several times, he travels with an armed bodyguard. On one occasion, it was reported, a young man from Bakersfield showed up at the Fellowship dining lodge armed with a 22 rifle looking for Burton. He was tackled, disarmed and put on a bus. The police were not contacted. At one time guns were not allowed, but now almost every male member of the Fellowship living in Oregon House has a gun. There is an informal militia armed with shotguns, rifles and 44 magnum handguns in order to protect the ‘Teacher’ from the disgruntled ex-members who regret their sexual encounters with Burton.
705/11/Wrong with This Picture
End of Posts from PART 11
EFFECT (Conspiracy to Defraud, DESECRATION)
One of the most striking things about students like Girard and others who I spoke with, who are in the inner circle and believe in Robert Burton’s consciousness, is something I only realized in the last few days before leaving, and it is that they sincerely believe that they are not good enough because they did not become conscious. That they deserve to be discarded, replaced, because they didn’t “make it.” They “disappointed” the teacher. They are frustrated with themselves like so many other students at Isis.
Indoctrinations such as the idea that one is not in one’s ninth lifetime does a great job in “keeping” people who then settle for being a third class citizen because they are in their “seventh” lifetime. Is this not madness? Brainwashing and absolutely sick? There are a hundred indoctrinations like this one that develop attitudes within students that make them self deprecate themselves enough to think it is legitimate of the Fellowship of Friends to treat them like third class citizens. I’ve seen more people lower themselves before Girard than I can bear. In a meeting at Sea Ranch I started crying after hearing one such angle and saying that we did not have to lower ourselves all the time saying that we were not good enough because we couldn’t hold presence consistently. Sea Ranch and symposiums with Girard were closed after that. (Any connection?) It is blatant self deprecation what is consistently going on at Isis and it works very efficiently for those who want to hear nothing from the people that are suffering, except the sound of their pay check falling in their pockets, directly or indirectly.
It is this consistent self deprecation that I find seriously damaging in the Fellowship of Friends. If I simply look at those who have given their lives to developing Isis, it is scary. Some are minding their own little business, others are minding other people’s business and still others are minding their own business and working the best they can. Between the three of them they juggle the rest of the student’s lives, indoctrinating them, making the school look legitimate or not caring at all for them. The sad thing is that those who are working most sincerely don’t realize that in the end it is they who are helping the very corrupt to abuse the rest, convinced by their own vanity that they are the chosen ones and too bad for the poor devils that didn’t get to be chosen by the establishment to participate.
One of the difficulties is that as long as we are unable to look at the community or the whole of the phenomenon and limit ourselves to individuals, then it is easy to justify that this or that individual wasn’t strong enough, good enough, too ambitious, too much pretense, too many expectations, too lunar, too martial, too solar…… On and on, we can find a thousand excuses for individual failures. Then we don’t have to look at the fact that it is not the individuals who failed, they gave everything they had, each one of them, it is Robert and his personal and assisting entourages that used them and discarded them so that they themselves could keep the grip on the miserable bit of power that Robert allows them to have against other students.
Some students, those who made a living outside of the Fellowship and are willing to send in a pay cheque without looking at what is done with it, who don’t care about what else goes on as long as they themselves can hold the imaginary picture that they are developing their own very personal spirituality at no matter whose cost, what is the difference between those and the life person that goes to church once a week when s/he closes his/her eyes to the living tragedy of the students who committed more deeply or the abuse of those who didn’t have time to commit to a spirituality before they got bogged down into a role of prostitutes?
Many students think that the Fellowship of Friends has helped them a great deal because they became good householders and were able to make a decent living for themselves, their family and the Fellowship. For many it meant moving from a hippie life-style with a great deal of tramp to a hard working executive with some appreciation for art. Do these students think it is not spiritual tramp to allow for young men to be used by Robert? And are they really willing to burn their hand to vow that this “modelling act” that we call the Fellowship of Friends, in which we are expected to listen to Robert , Girard and Asaf for the rest of our lives, THE REST OF OUR LIVES, allowing them to make all the decisions in our community, is a conscious school? Or is this just the acceptance of a middle class mentality that conformed itself with a middle class spirituality?
You say:
But you have to back off on carrying out the Saint Elena Rescuer of Students stuff – this country has a first amendment, and I personally think that’s a really good thing. It means that a student can stay in the Fellowship of Friends for as long as it lasts without interference from Righteous Persons.
The Fellowship of Friends and all its leaders have interfered with my life and had me working for them for seventeen years. They have lied and kept things hidden from me that if I had known I would have left or never joined. They have used my good will to support horrible things and I have seen the extreme to which Robert and my husband Girard are damaged, physically, emotionally and mentally damaged people who divided into two personalities: A conscious role and a sick man behind the role. Don’t ask me to not turn the light on the darkness of these happenings. If you don’t find it tragic enough you’re as sick as they are. What amendment is going to heal my husband and the rest of this sick people? Keep looking at the show and paying for it if you wish, but know it is my husband’s spiritual life that is at stake and your own.
3/10/Fellowship of Friends Says
PASSPORT FRAUD, Reckless Endangerment, Collusion
“I only wonder if Department of Homeland Security thinks that crossing US or European border under fake name using a forged passport is OK and is no wrong doing…”
What amazes me is that when the boy was caught his only contact in Paris was an actress friend of R. who was to “look after” the boys until they were fetched for his highness.
Of course she risked imprisonment herself and it begs the question why anyone would put oneself in such jeopardy?
The answer? The same as for those who submit to the seduction of R and then WHINE about it: “Vanity of vanities, all is vanity…”
6/10/Exlax 101
NOTE ~ Fellowship of Friends & SCIENTOLOGY
From Fellowship of Friends prospective student meeting script, introduction to the first meeting: “We encourage you not simply to believe what you hear, but to listen without either accepting or rejecting what you hear. This will give you the best chance of verifying the truth of these ideas for yourself.”
This later becomes: “The sequence is undeniably objective truth, ancient knowledge possessed by esoteric schools in prehistory. We are one of the greatest schools in recorded history. Eighty billion people have passed through the Earth in a state of imagination, but ours is the good fortune to have been selected by Influence C to evolve. Students are on their seventh and eighth lifetimes, and at death, Influence C will place their souls in limbo to await conscious roles.”
From Scientology official site, front page, welcome text: “In Scientology no one is asked to accept anything as belief or on faith. That which is true for you is what you have observed to be true. An individual discovers for himself that Scientology works by personally applying its principles and observing or experiencing results.”
This later becomes: “You are an immortal thetan who has lived innumerable lifetimes on innumerable planets but are presently degenerated. Our technology will help you become clear and spiritually aware. Only our leader fully understands this new technology, this great new science of the mind. Non-scientologists are so brain-damaged, non-functional, and insane that they are hardly worth dealing with.”
The head thinks it is still verifying. The instinct, after some time, prefers to simply belong.
12/10/Traveler
Collusion, Connivance, Malicious Intent, ‘Tennis Ball’
Our friend V. (professional programmer) amongst others was recently asked by Kevin Brown to do some HACKING on this blog to trace who is writing there and basically spy on friends. He refused to do it and left the school.
Nice going, Kevin! Looks like you really sold your soul together with your conscience… What’s next? Whom are you going to hire – snipers, may be? ;) I already heard some very funny/scary threats coming from “inner circle” towards some bloggers… Not scared, sorry. You guys are simply disgusting… And pathetic.
14/10/No Person
Unoanimo,
could you please write down an email where we can write you directly? It can be an anonymous email type Yahoo or Hotmail if you feel more comfortable.
Dear ……,
Re: abuse
I worked with the FBI for 6 months following my departure from the FoF regarding these and other issues. If you have information regarding sexual abuse I can put you in touch with agents who would probably be interested to investigate.
Eventually they wanted me to return to the FoF and wear a wire; however, I did not feel right about going that far.
One positive change I had hoped would happen was the financial abuse that students on stipend had to endure. The FoF was lying to the government about the wages they were paying them. I was told that after the investigation those people who were here on stipend would begin receiving minimum wage and workmen’s compensation (in the case of being injured).
Please omit my name from any posting but you can share my story if you like. Below you will find the name of one of the special agents that I was working with. Interestingly I had a very nice discussion with the agents at a library here in Chico about consciousness.
They know a great deal about the Fellowship and whether or not she is still working on the case no doubt would direct you to the correct agent.
I hope this will be useful information and that if there is someone who needs help, they will benefit.
I will not return to that land until the evil king has been thrown down and his minions scattered. My own play there involved some deep connections to the inner circle and I saw all that I needed to see to understand that. That is why I refused to become one of RB’s boys, because I could see the corruption there and RB could see in me that I would never accept it….
***
If you would like the contact information for the agent please contact me on:
videsuprainfra@gmail.com
416 and 417 are new.
Hello “Res Ipsa”
Please correct Post 415 on this quasi-legal page…
As you are no doubt aware of the “Hacking accusation” was shortly after that post first appeared completely denied, by the person who was referred to as the hacker..
You would not want anyone to get the wrong impression, do you?
Thank you
Hello ‘Wait a Minute’ ~ (419)
Thank you for your posting… perhaps yes, perhaps no… many things are denied for various professional and not so professional reasons, particularly when one’s ‘important conscious school’ is lurking in the closet of the practical world.
Since it’s inception, students of the Fellowship of Friends have been denying their involvement in Robert Burton’s school when approached in public and by their employers (intentional insincerity?)… The internet provides a similar stage for such ‘denial’.
Yes, he denied it, though I have not heard from Kevin B. yet; regardless of the ‘idea/reasons’ of denial, unless the entire scenario can be proven false, then hearsay is hearsay and I will keep the story posted based on the ‘idea’ via Kevin B. and the Fellowship of Friends having taken it upon themselves to ‘act’ out the deed, not the specifics, which can be taken up in court and I don’t mean the tennis courts.
______________________________________________
And thanks for the “quasi-legal page” comment, it sorta matches (semantically) your quasi-conscious school, sorta.
FEDERAL JUDGES (Familiar with the F.O.F.)
_________________________
• Hon. Jeffrey W. Johnson
• Hon. Carolyn Turchin
• Hon. Gary Allen Feess
• Hon. William B. Shubb
• Hon. Dickran M. Tevrizian
• Hon. Donald P. Lay
• Hon. Frank H. Easterbrook
• Hon. Frank C. Damrell
• Hon. Lawrence K. Karlton
• Hon. Paul E. Plunkett
____________________________________
Judges belonging to the Sacramento Courts, i.e.,
State of CA, Court of Appeal, 3rd Appellate District
(Familiar with the Fellowship of Friends & their lawyers)
____________________________________
• Hon. Ronald B. Robie
• Hon. Arthur G. Scotland
• Hon. Vance W. Raye
• Hon. Rodney Davis
______________________________________
Perhaps they would be interested to join the Blog or
hear your story, read and listen, consider and act. (?)
______________________________________
l.t.y.a.
Connivance, Hostile environment sexual harassment, Undue Influence, Reckless Endangerment, False Pretenses, Negligent Infliction of emotional distress, Joint Negligence.
______________________________________________
Dear My Russian Friend,
It is no ’secret’ that you have a drinking problem, that somewhere along the squiggly line of the Fellowship of Friend’s throwing around of Robert Burton’s ‘hot potatoes’ (students and their problems he’d rather not be bothered will on a regular consistent basis) that he and they were involved in some ‘Russian project’ to have a device surgically implanted in your body to quell your ‘problem’.
This device is something very common amongst Russian’s for there is a certain psychic propensity to drink large amounts of grain alcohol to the point of liver failure, alcohol poisoning and death. Even Ouspensky did not escape this ‘national virus’, it tested him deeply, as I am sure you are being tested.
You traveled to Russia, had the operation and returned to Isis. It is no secret that you belong to the closer inner, inner, inner circle of Robert Burton’s Boys Part 3 (Yes, for new students who have been in the Fellowship of Friends for 30 years or more, Robert Burton has specific groups that he has ‘put together’, who are predisposed to various levels of debauchery, some are considered ’soft sex’, while others, ‘infra sex’).
Some time passing after your return from Russia you where approached by two of your closest friends, two people who are known in the Fellowship of Friends as belonging to Robert’s, let us say, rougher, more jagged side of the moon,
They are also known for partaking of illegal drugs, pornography and for being two of the heaviest drinkers in Robert Burton’s ‘circle of distractive self calming’.
Readers, you may recall my warning to parents concerning a certain ‘R’, by his being the literal ‘driver at the wheel’ of a multitude of teenage children at Isis, going here and there with their particular ‘open curiosities’ in tow, i.e., front and back seats filled. This ‘R’ is one of the two mentioned above.
So, picture this.
We have my beloved Russian painter, whose recently back from Russia for having a device surgically implanted in him so to literally ’save his physical life from his contradictory spirit inclinations’ (drinking himself to a deathbed scene).
He is then approached by these ‘two of his best friends’ (’best’ is certainly a relative word here, i.e., two of Robert Burton’s closest ‘boys’) on the request of Robert Burton and The Fellowship of Friends .
This is their offer and request submitted by Robert Burton to my Russian friend ~
“I wish you to move in together, all three of you, live together in one house.” (My Russian friend and two of the heaviest drinkers in Robert Burton’s entourage).
That’s covenant Robert Burton, now you don’t have to triangulate so much in finding these ‘boys’;
whose wives (those that have wives) don’t often answer the phone upon hearing one of your boy’s voices calling ‘here kitty, kitty’ looking for someone’s husband so to remind the wife that you’re in in charge now of the sexual abuse and defaming of essence.
Yes, Robert Burton, some of the closest women in your inner circle who have husbands that are your ‘boys’ stand by the phone when you have those hunting-phone-calls dialed by Dorian or whoever; stand there pressing the volume button closer and closer to ‘0’.
18/10/Unoanimo
CAUSE & EFFECT (Collusion, Connivance, Deliberate Indifference, Joint Negligence, Hostile Environment Sexual Harassment, Violation of Fiduciary Duty)
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I also know many students who are staying in the Fellowship of Friends for the reasons which are related not to ‘awakening’, but to their job commitments (i.e. working for other students); because they have settled around Isis, having family, land, houses there; their children go to the LC school. Some stay because they love their friends and don’t want to leave as they think they’ll lose contact with them (I was one of those and I think it’s the main reason for staying after disillusionment and seeing things as they are in the school and Robert Burton for who he is). And there is fear of being left alone, without communal support. ‘Where would I go?’ question.
One of my friends from a European centre called me recently saying that his centre is so far removed from the main stream events, that they hardly know all those things which are going on in the school now. Sometimes they don’t have enough English to read the blog.
I am in contact with several students, all of them have their reasons to stay. I don’t hold it against them, they do what they have to do. My only reservation about it is that with their money they support the whole thing rolling on. As far as I understand, Robert Burton will ‘teach’ until he runs out of funds.
21/10/Rita Penfold
Fraudulent Misrepresentation, Conspiracy to Defraud, False Pretenses, Collusion, Coercion, Connivance, Undue Influence, Discrimination, Contractual Fault, Wanton Misconduct, FRAUD
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And I’m sure Burton sleeps better at night knowing he is not responsible for the welfare of those he hurts, because they didn’t know that “C-influence wanted them to have sex with Burton” at the time they joined the FOF.
24/10/Ames Gilbert
Note: on JAMES VINCENT RANDAZZO, R.P. and ROBERT EARL BURTON of The Fellowship of Friends
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Robert Burton had his own twisted family (yes BB 10/1, RB has stated this more than once), but more to the point, he had Alex Horn as a brilliant teacher. Robert attended Horn’s 18 month seminar, “How to get people to believe anything you say and do anything for you” and was, seemingly, the star pupil. The Fellowship of Friends in turn, nurtured James Vincent Randazzo and his “Spiral of Friends”, whose escapades with his “students” and sexual abuse of teen boys, international flight and eventual imprisonment are easily researched. His group in turn gave birth to the “New American Wing” cult, very similar to the Fellowship of Friends in its first 10 years etc.
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Years later, it finally surfaced that he (RP) had a talent for spotting women with affection/self-confidence deficits and money surpluses and wooed them (in whatever manner necessary) to get them to “invest” in some vaguely defined wondrous new invention he was developing. He had essentially lived this way, leeching from vulnerable women for many years in the school before one of them finally confided in a friend, who in turn brought it to Robert’s attention, who gave RP the boot when the extent and duration of the fleecing came to light. Whether Burton did this out of concern for his students or to get rid of a competitor in the fleecing game is anyone’s guess. By some strange twist of fate, RP returned to the school a few years ago, and I had the (mis)fortune to spend time with him on a few occasions. 20 years later, he still made my skin crawl.
Some question why so few of the young men Robert Burton drew into his intimate web openly complained of it. Here, the fleeced were women and the fleecer no “conscious being”, no god, just another student, yet it took years before the story came out. Judging by what I gleaned from the woman who told me about this – one of his victims – the same mechanics, in many respects, operated – fear, shame, regret, self-blaming etc. This is not an isolated example. I am not inviting a new list of “meetings with remarkably twisted men”, just responding to Cimarron’s question.
38/10/Joe Average
EFFECT (Conspiracy to Defraud)
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“All students who left are welcome back because RB is conscious, loving and forgiving.” Whether or not Robert Burton has these attributes is something everyone involved has to make up their own mind about. My opinion is that he’s not “conscious” and that he’s more inclined to selfishness and cruelty that love and forgiveness. There’s plenty of evidence for this if you do a bit of research.
“The guy who was suing RB was doing it only for big bucks and would lose the case anyway, so the settlement was actually a form of consideration which his close friend advised him to accept.” I don’t understand why the Fellowship would pay him money if he didn’t have a case, do you? And why did they insist that the evidence be sealed if there was nothing incriminating about it?
“Roger C re-joined and died in the school” True. I’m not sure what it’s meant to prove though.
“14 girls who blamed a teacher of sexual abuse confessed the authorities that they lied for the grades. Every one of them confessed. The same with RB accusers. They are lying.” I’m sure this kind of thing happens, but what do the people accusing Robert Burton of sexual abuse have to gain? Better grades? Actually it’s courageous of them to speak precisely because they have nothing to gain.
55/10/Rabbi Burns
EFFECT (Conspiracy to Defraud, Desecration)
After I found out, 10 yrs after joining that Robert Burton was homosexual, not celibate heterosexual as I had been led to believe (I was not aware of the multiple relations at that time)…. I still could not focus on Robert Burton’s behavior as a reason to leave the school. And I don’t see how anyone who tried to live the teachings could either.
Therefore, coming to conclusions, judging, Robert Burton’s behavior — was not an option for me, not a solid or acceptable route for making a decision to leave. I could not have been in MY integrity at the time and done that….
My attraction to the school was initially and always at heart an attraction to The System, the amazing impact the ideas had on my sense of myself, my life, the world. I loved the system, I loved Gurdjieff & Ouspensky’s work.
So,what really put a crack in my relationship to FoF were my sojourns into my own psyche with the help of body-centered therapies, vipassana meditation, psychological workshops. And I only permitted myself these sojourns away from The System after I ‘found out’ about RB. As a result of these inner explorations, I began to question the usefulness of The System as practiced in The Fellowship of Friends for my work. Among other things, I became convinced that for many people, myself included, the “non-expression of negative emotions” was effectively a repressive silencer of conscience, a barrier to truly knowing myself…. ultimately, this knowing allowed me to leave what for me was a toxic emotional environment.”
For what it is worth, of the 20 years I spent in FoF, I spent only four in California, truly isolated from much, including many old friends. In the outer center Fellowship it helped to be a loner.
#385 Half Life:
From your comment below, it is clear that you had a big fantasy going about those you describe as “anointed”. For myself, included in your characterization, your description below is about as exact a replica of my (and many of my associates at the time) attitude toward Robert Burton throughout my years there:
“we stayed more relaxed than the driven pioneers, independent, soaking in the pragmatic aspects of the Work, rejecting the exaggerated & the fantastic claims of the believers, & we regarded Robert Burton from afar as a liability or a sort of a ‘libidinal’ phenomenon that has to be tolerated or studied from afar as a dangerous paradox. There were periods in which it almost seemed that he has retired; those were ‘golden days’”
I discovered later that this convenient self-image of distancing myself from Robert Burton’s crazy behavior (angels, predictions, former student horrors) — how many times did I roll my eyes and hope newer students weren’t listening to him — and imagining myself uninfluenced by it, were a convenient way (dare I say ‘buffer’)to perpetuate the split between my precious rational mind (isn’t this a ‘cult for intellectuals’) and what was going on with the scared, dependent emotional being inside me who had projected power onto this big daddy who ran the group of which I was a part, albeit playing the role of ‘the smart one’… Anybody else recognize what I’m talking about?
61/10/Sandra
Cause & Effect (Conspiracy to Defraud)
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The following is an excerpt from Chapter 11 of Deadly Cults: The Crimes of True Believers
by Robert L. Snow
Publisher: Praeger Publishers (November 30, 2003)
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“It’s all very stimulating stuff in the beginning…,” said a former member of the Fellowship of Friends in a 1996 Los Angeles Times article. “But there’s no doubt it’s a cult. Our lives were totally controlled.”
Is this man talking about the cult formed around a wild-eyed guru who preaches that all members should embrace poverty and the simple life? Is he talking about the cult that rejects all worldly pleasures, and whose members spend their days praying, chanting, or meditating?
Hardly. According to reports in several California newspapers, the Fellowship of Friends is a pleasure- and consumer-oriented cult. Founded in 1970 by former schoolteacher Robert Burton, the Fellowship of Friends believes that true spiritual awakening can only come through experiencing the finest things life has to offer: fine food, fine wine, great art, great writers, great music. In his book Self Remembering, Burton stresses “the education and discipline of the emotions, the importance of living in the present, a love of beauty, and an understanding of its capacity to create higher awareness.”
True to his beliefs, Burton, who lived out of his car before founding the Fellowship of Friends, has built a lavish mansion… in the style of a French chateau on a 1,300-acre estate in the northern California Sierra foothills. There, among terraced hills supporting a vineyard that produces award-winning wines, the members of the Fellowship of Friends can come and study under a man whom they believe to be both spiritually advanced and a prophet.
Burton, who claims he is guided by 44 angels, including Benjamin Franklin, Jesus, and Plato, is believed by members of the Fellowship of Friends to be near godlike and also privy to information from “higher sources.” As a result of his claimed direct contact with these angels and higher sources, Burton predicted that an earthquake in 1998 would swallow up all of California, except for Apollo. He has also predicted that nuclear holocaust will destroy most of the world in 2006, but again spare Apollo, which will then become the center of the movement to reestablish civilization in the post-holocaust world.
While his prediction of a California-swallowing earthquake, of course, didn’t come true, this didn’t humble Burton. He carries on as though he’d never made a mistake. Like most cult leaders, Burton either ignores or attempts to rationalize his mistakes, while also attempting to control every aspect of his followers’ lives. Within the Fellowship of Friends, this control includes regulating the members’ sex lives and diets, ordering them to abstain from any form of negativity, and even directing them to abstain from the use of certain common words, such as I or thing. Burton has also forbidden members to dye their hair, have mixed-breed pets, ride bicycles, or smoke. Smoking, incidentally, is so strenuously outlawed that Burton has instructed cult members to sniff when greeting each other to catch renegades. Burton fined one couple $1,500 each for violating the no-smoking rule. One former member of the Fellowship of Friends claimed that the cult leaders, besides barring him from having sex with his girlfriend, also ordered him to urinate only on one side of the toilet so as to make less noise. While most Fellowship of Friends members have jobs and homes, Burton discourages members from mingling or socializing with people outside the Fellowship, including family, whom Burton sees as “spiritually dead.”
The leadership of the Fellowship of Friends doesn’t see these constraints as brainwashing, however. “The Fellowship does not engage in brainwashing,” said Girard Haven, a member of the group’s board of directors. “We may have a charismatic leader and strong feelings about higher forces and our own spirituality, but we know what we are doing. We are not doing it blindly.”
Unlike many cults, though, the Fellowship of Friends doesn’t recruit from the masses, but instead recruits mainly from groups of well-educated and well-heeled individuals. New recruits are often located after Fellowship of Friends members go to bookstores and plant Fellowship of Friends’ bookmarks in selected metaphysical books that reflect the beliefs of the cult. Prospective members who respond to the telephone number on the bookmark are invited to attend lavish dinners at expensive homes. Only after being appraised by Fellowship of Friends members can prospective recruits be invited to join the cult, whose membership includes many doctors, lawyers, artists, and musicians.
Recruiting well-heeled members certainly paid off. In the late 1990s, the Fellowship of Friends had 65 centers around the world (in late 2003, their Web site, which is translated into 10 languages, states that they now have only 30 centers) and employed approximately 500 people. The group’s overall worth in the late 1990s was estimated at $26 million, while Burton’s annual salary was at least $250,000. Many of the Fellowship of Friends employees work at the cult’s winery, which is located on their property in northern California. According to recent news articles, the Fellowship of Friends produces 25,000 cases of wine a year, which is reported to be of high quality.
Along with the winery, the Fellowship of Friends has its own collections of fine art and rare literature, as well as its own opera company, orchestra, theater troupe, and museum. In addition, Burton had decorated the mansion at Apollo with expensive antiques and paintings. One of Burtons’ favorites sayings is, “Beauty creates its likeness in those pursue it.”
Because of all these expensive possessions, belonging to the Fellowship of Friends is naturally very costly. The cult requires to tithe 10 percent of their incomes, while wealthy members pay much more, in special assessments, to enable the Fellowship of Friends to purchase sculpture, paintings, rare books, antiques, and other items that will “lift the spirituality” of the cult members. The annual income of the Fellowship of Friends in the mid-1990s exceeded $5 million.
However, all is not rosy for the Fellowship of Friends. In recent years, large numbers of its members have been leaving, causing a serious cash flow problem. The trouble began for the Fellowship of Friends in 1995 when a cult member sent an open letter to the membership accusing Burton of sexually seducing him. He said Burton brainwashes members into a state of “absolute submission,” allowing him to feed a “voracious appetite for sexual perversion.” Following this disclosure, other male members came forward with similar accusations, including the cult’s former financial officer, who said he felt pressured to join Burton’s male harem.
“They don’t see it coming, and when it comes, they don’t know what’s happened,” said Charles R. about Burton’s aggressive homosexual advances toward Fellowship of friends members.
Another male member of the cult who also claimed Burton aggressively pressured him into having sex said, “I never had a homosexual encounter before this. But he [Burton] told me it was the wish of C-influence (the group’s term for higher forces, or gods) that I have sex with him.” At all-male dinners hosted by Burton, members say he has been known to boast that “one hundred boys would not be enough [for his sexual appetite].”
To these charges, Burton’s attorney has responded, “We don’t think a [sexual] relationship between a leader and a member of the congregation is abusive in and of itself.” However, two lawsuits filed by former FOF members have been settled out of court.
Former FOF officials who have left the cult also aren’t kind in their evaluation of Burton and his organization. “The Fellowship is a dictatorship, a predatory dictatorship,” said Thomas E., an artist and former leader who left the cult after a homosexual relationship with Burton. “I should know. I was a leader.”
Former Fellowship of Friends financial officer Charles R. said, “I thought it was the one true way, but as it turns out, it was just a cult.”
The point of the preceding anecdote is that a cult can be formed around almost any belief or philosophy. Also, this anecdote shows that, to succeed, a cult doesn’t have to be aimed at the uneducated, the emotionally challenged, or the poor. As shown by both the Fellowship of Friends and the Solar Temple (discussed in the previous chapter), cults can also attract well-educated, wealthy, and seemingly mentally competent people. All that’s needed is a charismatic leader who followers believe has some type of special insight, some type of special knowledge unknown to the rest of the world, or some type of special direct pipeline to God or ascended beings. To attract followers, the cult leader then offers to share this information or knowledge with cult members. This belief in the leader’s gift quickly becomes a strong magnet that pulls people in because gaining this insight or knowledge from the cult leader, members believe, will make them part of an elite group who are a step above regular human beings.
62/10/Presence Please
EFFECT (Fraud in the Inducement) *5t
A true believer for 30+ years (in and out of the Fellowship of Friends) I now see that Robert Burton is an evil person and NOT the conscious teacher I imagined (and wanted with all my heart for) him to be. I am deeply saddened that this is true and at the same time, I wail and gnash at him for the countless damage he has done to so many good people.
If only I had the power to prevent him from hurting more people……
My sincere thanks to those who have here bared their souls and for the Sheik who continues to enable this healing process to take place.
66/10/mifis
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5t ~ You can assist, by writing letters to the California District Attorney’s Office and the Governor’s Office, The Appeal Democrat, Yuba County Health Department and get a copy of the ‘Community Letter’ that was sent to all the residents of Oregon House, CA… I am sure someone on the Greater Fellowship site can email this to you, thereon you will also find contact information and more names and agencies will arrive upon this section of the Fellowship of Friends Blog-site soon.
EFFECT (Fraudulent Misrepresentation, Desecration)
>Why do you think that those who have left have ascended with more possibilities and far more consciousness than anyone left behind?
Because they verify that they can work on themselves and remember themselves without paying Burton money, without wasting time helping to preparing an ark for an end of the world that will not come.
>Can you support these statements?
Yes, I can support them indefinitely.
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70/10/The King of Clubs
EFFECT (FALSE IMPERSONATION, DESECRATION)
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Any time RB is faced with a crisis (such as the IRS challenge and the various lawsuits) he puts together a defense team. As a side effect of that effort, those team members are forced (allowed) to see the real RB and Fellowship of Friends, not the imaginary teacher and Fourth Way school that we all loved. As a result, almost every one of those members then abandon the ship. And remember, these ‘quitters’ are the ’strongest students,’ ‘the inner circle,’ the ‘rock stars’ (Miles B., Carl M., Charles R., James B. come to mind).
89/10/We Were There
Negligent Misrepresentation, Fraud, Falsity, EFFECT
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#78–I’m not aware of Burton having brought anything to the table that he didn’t find somewhere else.
…why Burton feels driven to have sex obsessively, yet finds so little pleasure in having sex with men who actually prefer the type of sex Burton enjoys. I can only suppose it’s more about power than anything a more normal person would associate with pleasurable sex–if it isn’t to some degree against the other person’s will, it isn’t any fun.
Your point is well-put that “Because this is so far away from normal behavior, we imagine it could be possible that he is ‘conscious’.” Precisely. No sane person generally familiar with his behavior, sexual and otherwise, would ever imagine that Burton is anything other than a very sick individual.
Most people come to that conclusion sooner or later. But there are always some (and apparently, having run out of recruits in the U.S., the gullible are increasingly found in third world countries) who will choose to take the approach, opposite to that offered by Occam’s Razor, that Burton must be anything but sick–in fact, he is god-like.
Anyone remember James Godbe? I’d been told back in the olden days (I think by Richard Focazio, R.I.P.) that Burton had a genuine crush on James, and urged him to run away with him and leave behind the tiresome students, and James declined. I wonder whether Burton ever found anyone else he truly cared for. In my own experience, his reaction when spurned was indistinguishable from that of a petulant child deprived of a toy.
93/10/Life Person
Companion to 432
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According to Rick Ross’s site, Burton adopted the term “feminine influence” from Horn’s group and turned it into “feminine dominance.”
http://www.rickross.com/reference/theater/theater21.html
By using the term, which has no basis in fact for being gender-specific, not to mention by trumpeting how he supposedly severed feminine dominance by treating his mother to stony silence on her death bed, Burton demonstrates his continuing weakness in that area. “Overcompensation,” I believe, is the term. Protesting too much.
93/10/Life Person
CAUSE (Conspiracy to Defraud)
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Hello all—
Learning about this blog reminded me that I had some detailed notes from a conversation with Robert thirteen years ago. It seems worth sharing in this wild west of free speech and truth telling. Some background: I had been in the FOF for twenty-one years when this conversation took place. My husband and I had led centers in Palo Alto, Zurich, and Rome. We spent five years in Europe. At the time of this conversation, I was recovering from cancer and couldn’t stand on FOF ceremony anymore; my voice—long absent—was waking up.
On 2/24/94 at 10:00 a.m., Robert called me at home. His call was a surprise, but there was a pad by the phone and I scribbled as we talked. Afterwards, I called my husband, Patrick, at work. “Susie”, he said, “While this is so fresh, write it all down. Word for word if you can. Years from now, you will need to know that what you did was right and good and whole. Write it down and save it. For yourself.”
It is tempting to edit this now—to make Robert seem a little stranger, me a little more confident. But I’m not going to do that. The strength of the simple truth is that everybody gets to come to their own conclusions. People who have not had a long conversation with Robert in awhile may be surprised at his inability to do anything more than repeat decades old platitudes. See for yourself if you think it is really worth paying for this:
RB: I’ve just returned from Rome. There were many shocks this time. I missed Lea, and of course, you. We are returning to European Art, we had to study Asian art for a time so that we wouldn’t draw a blank after 2006 when all the world’s treasures come to Renaissance.
ST: I heard some details of the trip from Kristina on her way back home.
RB: Yes, we had many shocks in Milan. A student’s mother had consumed some acid in order to end her life. I said that the shock indicated that acid rain would begin falling on humanity and two days later it rained, an actual acid rain. (more talk about the student and dinners in Milan…..)
ST: I imagine that you are calling because you heard that I was thinking about leaving the school.
RB: Well, I really just called to see how you were doing and also I did hear that you were experiencing some difficulty. (mention of the Dante class, wondering if I was coming up over the weekend….)
ST: Yes, there are a number of growing conflicts in me now related to my commitment to the school.
RB: Well, what is your relationship to influence C?
ST: I believe that I have a connection to C influence now that is my own. I feel very connected to help from the gods. In this past year I have received such specific help that there is no question about it anymore.
RB: Yes, I don’t doubt that you have a connection. The thing is though that there must be three lines of work. You can’t just take, you have to give C influence something for their help.
ST: Robert, I deeply understand payment and efforts and the need to carve out an emotional life. Whether I stay or go I have to do this. But I’m not interested in all the prophesies and in the movement towards Renaissance being a closed community. It’s interesting to me that although C influence is deeply personal for you, it allows you to live in such a way that you don’t have to take any real responsibility for anything.
RB: We are not a closed community, people from Life come and go there a lot, especially to the Winery.
ST: That’s not the kind of closed I’m talking about.
RB: You are somewhat sentimental about Life. Joel is like that too. You want to believe that C influence is for everyone, but they are not. The laws are very hard. Many are called, but few are chosen. (some other quotes about Life and how they are destined to suffer…..)
ST: You gave me that photograph the first time you met me, I’m sure it’s true to some extent, however, I’m not a fool. You talk to me as though I was a fool. It doesn’t take higher centers to see that there are descending octaves all around us.
RB: (Some acknowledgement of that….some loosening up….) Yes, humanity will suffer. Russia and the U.S. have nuclear bombs, etc…(then the story of his mother’s death, ARK KAN C, strange disconnect…..)
ST: It’s very hard for me to continue to hear these things over and over again. You have been my teacher and you have opened my heart and my mind to hundreds of new things. Now, it’s almost like the repeat of all these stories is closing my heart to you. You know, opened it at one level and now closing it at another?
RB: Yes, it is odd, isn’t it? This may be the last conversation we ever have, so I need to say everything I can. I want to feel that, as a teacher, I have done all I can. However, I like the tone of this conversation. It’s like friends talking. You are calm. I am calm.
ST: I am trying to be present and I’m experiencing no fear.
RB: Good. Fear is not self-remembering, nor is power self-remembering.
ST: I want to ask you something important and personal for me. (pause to calm myself…). If I leave the school and discover that I have made a mistake, may I return?
RB: Oh yes, of course. You can pay the re-entry fee of $1,500.00 and return. But I don’t advise it, the odds are only one in forty of staying again. It’s very very bad to lose a school..(some heavy statements about Life People about to be expunged…). When Miles left, sixty people left the school, now this, some people will lose the way, but it is necessary to prune the vine to prepare for 1998.
ST: How do you know what people do when they leave? How can you be sure that they are losers?
RB: I am an experienced teacher and I have been working half of my life with influence C. I understand these things. It’s curious that the two centers that are having the most difficulty are Marin and Palo Alto—places where people are concerned with their careers and with money. The instinctive center begins to take over.
ST: I don’t think this is about people’s instinctive centers. This is mostly an emotional process of loss of confidence in the way the school is working. I have talked to a number of students at Renaissance who would leave too, but they can’t. It’s a little like a poker game where the longer you sit at the table the more you resist folding and walking away—you have so much invested.
RB: That is a good analogy, I like it.
ST: For someone like me, it’s also hard to see that some of the people that I thinking are growing and evolving are leaving, like Molly, whereas others like Helga stay in a very narrow groove.
RB: The school is larger now than it has ever been. And our students re doing so well. Girard is doing very well. Kristina and Peter and Colin are all here.
ST: Yes, you have your ark. You will always have enough people to keep your own ark afloat. I don’t know if it’s my ark anymore.
RB:(Becoming defensive) When you are offered a life boat, you don’t question the color of the raft.
ST: I want to change the subject as long as you have called me and I am very appreciative of the call. I wondered if you’d tell me what you see in me—I mean changes that you see after twenty years with you? This is such an emotional and positive time for me. This past year was the best and the worst of my life.
RB: Oh really? What happened?
ST: You did call me after surgery, remember? I had cancer. You called me in the hospital. (really flustered….can’t believe he forgot….).
RB: I see. Well I’ve lost many of my women students to breast cancer. The last time I saw you…(struggling to answer my question….), you looked healthy, seemed emotionally good and balanced, if anything I would say that maybe you seemed a bit, you know, too successful. Maybe too much A influence.
ST: (Laughter….couldn’t help it….) Well, they took that all away pretty quick, so I’m not nearly so successful anymore. And it wasn’t breast cancer. Well anyway Robert, we pay all our teaching payments in advance, so if I have a re-entry fee, I’ll have a big credit.
RB: (Very surprised) You mean that you are still paying? So even though you don’t go to meetings now, you are still paying? Well, I didn’t realize that, that’s good then.
ST: Yes, you see, it’s not the instinctive center. There’s something else I want to ask you. I haven’t said that I’m leaving yet. This is not a trivial inquiry for me. Please let me do this in my own time.
RB: No one is pushing you out dear.
ST: No, but you have established an attitude about people leaving the school permeates throughout.
RB: I used to make jokes, but then I asked myself if that was necessary. Now I don’t talk about my former students, I just say that they have lost the way and that the instinctive center has won and….(more of the same.)
ST: This is what I mean. You have set the tone. It all comes from you. Robert, you may be able to keep more of your more mature people if you disallow this kind of talk about those who move on. This is just one thing, there are lots of things like that.
RB: Well goodness, I am running out of steam.
ST: I am too. Thank you for calling.
RB: Goodbye dear.
ST: Bye.
Following this phone call, Robert told people, “Susan T. has left the school.” I didn’t get to do it in my own time because my friends wouldn’t speak with me.
Only Abraham G. called. He huffed and puffed and said I was fomenting rebellion; a junta. A junta?? I am not making this up.
Old friends, if any of you are wondering how you will ever survive leaving, you won’t know how strong you are until you do. There may be hard days; how does a person prepare for being “expunged?” But you’ll probably be okay. If you are like me, you’ll have the best days of your life. What is on the line is integrity, that and maybe some real unconditional love, if you are lucky.
I wish you all that and more.
See you down the road,
96/10/SusanT
Memo for POST 419 concerning HEARSAY, *i33
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# Vladimir Strugatsky Says:
May 25, 2007 at 3:57 am
Assuming that I am the “friend V.” referred to in post #14, the story is completely untrue. I was not asked by Kevin or anyone else to do anything illegal or even questionable.
– Vladimir Strugatsky
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104/10/Vladimir Strugatsky
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*i33, There are so many Russian hackers at Isis, maybe he got mixed up with some other; still have not heard from Kevin yet… to be continued.
note ~ HIV
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Malicious Intent, Collusion, Connivance, Deliberate Indifference, Reckless Endangerment, Crime against Humanity, False Pretenses, Negligence, Negligent Misrepresentation, Willful Misconduct, Official Misconduct, Malconduct in Office, Fraudulent and Material Misrepresentation, Discrimination, Violation of Fiduciary Duty, Child Endangerment, Moral Turpitude, Fraud in the Inducement, Conspiracy to Defraud. *ii6
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Maybe two years ago I went with Cassandra to the local health service for a HIV test and by coincidence it turned out that the person who was doing this test was Pilar E. and then, despite having been a member of the Fellowship of Friends for almost 20 years, came for me my first insight into the relationship of the FOF to Sex
While we were there, Pilar told us that Oregon House is a red spot on the public health map because of the over proportion of HIV infected people there, which are of course students. I was shocked about this revelation and asked “Why this was not made known in the fellowship, that students can be more careful?”. She told us that she had suggested this to Linda T., but that she had refused to do that.
On the other hand however she told us that Rowena T. had contacted her to give her the names of the HIV infected students that Robert Burton can be protected and not have sex with the wrong people. Pilar had refused this because of the confidentiality she had to keep.
The last one who died in the fellowship of AIDS was Renato and hopefully his former wife Tina B. did a HIV test since then.
However now I am get details from every side, how he had sex with half of the male fellowship population, how Mihail, makes a schedule with half hour slots for everyone, how they have to view porno movies and masturbate before to get ready, how the whole orgy is accompanied with harp music and and and.
122/10/Kiran
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*ii6 ~ Kiran’s claims have often been refuted, though through the straw of knit-pickyness (IMO)… After allot of careful study of all of Kiran’s claims, knowing all those parties involved, I have this to suggest readers… Read the rest of Kiran’s posting (122/10) and ask around, sense and get a gut feeling for all this.
For me, I have yet to find any ‘right reason’ for Kiran to have simply picked names out of the thin blue sky and place them besides such precise ‘heresay’; yes, certain people got mixed up in the stew, yet, the outline of his story still sticks and those that did get mis-named posted here in the blog and Kiran replied accordingly;
those who did not refute his stories of them ‘personally, not through bloggers personal pictures of the characters’ are (IMO) to be considered still ‘in the picture’ Kiran has presented here.
EFFECT (Conspiracy to Defraud, Wrongful Discharge, Discrimination, Favoritism, Joint Negligence, Collusion, Connivance, Deliberate Indifference, Negligent and Intentional Infliction of Emotional Distress, False Pretenses, Invasion of Privacy, Undue Influence)
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# Paola Evelina Says:
May 25, 2007 at 11:36 pm
Hello everybody,
I have been a consistently grateful spectator of this blog since March and I decided I was not going to write anything before I was able to do so under my own name: ‘thank you’ Kiran for giving me the third force to finally open my story to the public, as I believe it does belong to everybody.
I guess I should start from the simple facts that have been molded and changed and distorted, partly because the reality was unknown to many, who never bothered to question the accuracy of the voices spreading out. It took me one day to write this: I am sorry about its length, but I wanted to be thorough and to convey at least part of my experience.
Well: I joined the school on September 17, 2000 in New York City – that was the day when Girard had his stroke. A couple of years later I moved to Apollo, following a growing desire to plunge into the very heart of what I had found.
Once in Apollo I started – after ending my relationship with A. – a little fling with a Russian guy V., back then part of Robert’s entourage: I was – and still am – very naïve and had no idea about the rules and the dangers of getting close to R. in that sense – even after being warned. In that occasion R. seemed not to mind and to actually approve of what was happening.
During a trip to NYC for a ballet with Robert, Asaf gently approached me and we became friends; he seemed not preoccupied about my current relationship. Back in Apollo, during the first Russian ballet at the Theatron, V. started to court M. Alexandrova (one of the prima ballerinas in the Bolshoi) before my very eyes and completely forgot about me… R. seemed to approve of his change of mind, as he was very happy to build a strong bound with Masha and the Bolshoi; at the same time Asaf ‘s friendship was growing deeper and stronger; we met, he told me about his feelings and that he wanted to start a relationship with me: he went and asked Robert’s permission. That’s when it all started.
Robert said: NO, Asaf said: YES and for the first time they disagreed and had an argument. RT invited me for tea where she asked me if my relationship with V. was over (well, he went off with Masha!) and then told me Robert was giving me 6 months non-dating exercise. Asaf was asked not to contact me and I was asked to refuse his calls.
During these 6 months (which are still a precious memory), distance made our feelings for one another grow, but we both agreed that we were going to transform them for a higher right … I was not to know until much later that Robert had presented another suggestion to Asaf: given the magnitude of his role, C Influence was preparing a woman for him, who was probably going to be X – who at that time was 13 years old. X and I happened to be very close and actually quite similar (she still is one of my best friends). Asaf took this suggestion very seriously and obviously he felt flattered to have such a special role. We kept crossing each others at X’s house and I started to notice an unusual change in Asaf’s behavior… I kicked that thought aside as it seemed just coming from my Q of hearts.
My task ended and our friendship continued: A. would come over often for tea and we would just share our Work. One night (it was his birthday) everything changed: we became lovers … what to do now? We knew it could not come out! And then he told me about X, but she was only 13… and Asaf (who was then still Robert’s lover) needed desperately some support and love to be able to continue leaving at the Galleria and fulfill his duties; the internal conflict was overwhelming in us both: we couldn’t lie to the teacher, we couldn’t go against his will, but C Influence was weaving us closer and closer; I felt like Joan of Arc – sort of – and vainly and naively I thought: I can do it! I can serve the school and C Influence by offering my support, even knowing that he is destined to somebody else. I will even help him in his pursue of X. That was what the moment required. It all made perfect sense.
I had to fight my Q of hearts (for whoever is not familiar with the term: jealousy, envy, insecurity, anger…) as it was extremely hard to live the – most of the times partial – intimacy with him and seeing him the next day flirting with X in the agora. Plus we both were heavy, carrying the burden of secrecy and of hiding from the teacher on our conscience; we tried many times to stop our intimacy and just pursue our friendship. The Work was strong, though, and was drawing us closer; we both knew that the play was giving us an amazing opportunity to transform all the friction into higher states: we were both very passionate about the school and sincerely wanted to do our best to serve a higher right. Slowly Asaf’s role was changing: he was no longer Robert’s lover, he started to be involved in the preparation of events and had the responsibility to record all Robert’s thoughts during travels, breakfasts, afternoons… His name was even indicative of this: it means ‘the collector’ in Hebrew. Again, everything made perfect sense: the play was unfolding as expected; Asaf was slowly walking toward his ‘seat’. His need for emotional support and warmth – at least until X would become of age and join the school and finally be his girlfriend – was covered by me.
Our ‘companionship’ lasted two and half years, during which the love and support and understanding we shared, despite or because of the circumstances, was completely unformatory and without equal to this day. It was totally worth it, even though extremely hard at times and emotionally painful: as a result of this during the first year my period stopped altogether, partly due to the stress of living a forbidden love, trying to fight it all the time; I became almost sexually numb. Many times I hoped to find somebody else whom I could have a normal and open relationship with, breaking this triangle in which I was stuck; I also could not bear anymore lying to X, too young and unaware of it all. I was not strong enough to face my buffers and take responsibility for what was happening – I was not ready – and the shock I was meant to receive had to be of a different magnitude and much later.
I moved to the Ming House next door to Benjamin, right when the Bible Keys began to appear: it was the beginning of the transformation of the form of the school. It was an exciting time and Asaf and I and Benjamin shared the steps toward it. There was our chance: we finally understood why we were brought so close, even thou ‘illegally’ … working together for the teaching was finally going to stop our intimacy for good, which was going to be transformed into what it had always meant to be; Asaf was finally able to declare his love to X and fulfill Robert’s and C Influence plan. What a relief we felt! Filled with new energy, happy about not having to hide anymore and with a renovated purpose as a student I start using my – limited – savings to travel to be close to Robert and the developing of the new teaching; I always paid for my trips and events, thanks also to the generosity of E. who, involved with another student around Robert, was at times inviting me to share hotel rooms; sometimes Asaf would invite me standing at events – together with other researchers and/or friends – but when I sat it was always with my own money – I still have the receipts. When my ‘role’ became more public as one of Asaf’s assistants, the Fellowship sponsored me in Egypt and Turkey.
And here we get to the core of the story, which led to the explosion: during one of the times in which Asaf and I had stopped our intimacy (for two/three months) M and D – both Asaf’s roommates – approach me with the idea of a ménage a trois … my hormonal balance had just gone back to fairly normal and I was ‘free’; they (M and D) were also ‘free’ at that point – which is not a good excuse for what happened next – so D went to Asaf to ask him if he minded if he were to ‘spend time’ with me. Asaf’s answer was: no, I don’t mind; I am just worried for her to get hurt. When I was reported the answer I thought: well, then if HE does not care why should I? It means it is meant to be!
On a side note: this blog thoroughly painted the level of sexual freedom which was and is present in the Fellowship of Friends; starting from Robert’s entourage outward, the encounters and parties are innumerable, and absolutely boundless, inclusive of people of all ages. There was a whole group of Robert’s Russian guys who were having parties with a good number of friends of mine, we were all living in a surreal atmosphere where everything was possible and where the voice of our conscience had been overruled and buffered by ‘work I’s’; I know now that my emotional center was so anesthetized that I had no idea of what I was doing, neither of the consequences of my actions. I did not believe in suffering, nor in emotional pain: I thought it was just ‘the machine’, and therefore not worth of attention. I thought transformation was about being ‘above’ the machine, identifications were to be despised. I don’t hold anybody else but myself responsible for my lack of conscience. My play was about to teach me that.
Back to the explosion: my encounters with the two ended fairly quickly (btw, Kiran: I never had sex in Robert’s bedroom – ! – that was somebody else; and I never organized any orgy for anybody), but they found the experience worth expanding and started to look for other ladies who could have been interested: they obviously found a few. I honestly do not know about the voucher deal in exchange for sexual encounters, they never mentioned it to me; plus, there were plenty of ladies who did not need that incentive to accept the offer. I warned them to be careful, but they were too naïve themselves and too powerful to be aware of it.
Plus, as I said before, they were not the only ones and definitely not the first ones! Once M told me that the experience they were having with Robert showed them how formatorily life people were seeing sex in general …
Anyways, at a certain point people were starting to talk about them, but nobody had the courage to speak up; some ladies hypocritically pretended to be offended by the request, right after being flattered. A few people asked me if I knew anything about it: I said yes, I did, but then lied and denied my personal involvement… again, no courage to take responsibility.
Well, finally it came out: I will never forget it, it was during the first or second ballet of the season (in July) when M called me and told me that Asaf knew … with me, two other ladies were exposed, and I smiled thinking about all the rest of the community who stayed quietly silent … apparently my role was to be the scapegoat – and I was not without guilt. As I am writing I feel shot back to re-live the state I was filled with that night: I told M: we will take responsibility for our actions – this is the play. Robert did not know yet, and I was sitting right in front of him in the Theatron, helping Frederick to film the show. Robert told me how beautiful the level of the dancers was and that interestingly enough the machine would try to slip into imagination even in front of such an impression. I answered – filled with third state – that C Influence designs amazing plays to keep us out of imagination.
Then I thought: this is the last time I will ever speak to him. X was sitting next to me.
Then Asaf told Robert, who gave me and the other two ladies a 2 weeks out of the property sentence. A warning round of phone calls by the high quarters was made to some of the people not yet exposed; all the others were trembling, afraid to be discovered.
M and D were secluded into a house in the property, waiting for the big smoke to die out.
Last chapter: during the two and half years of Paola and Asaf, Robert was unaware, or better did not want to acknowledge, the fact that we were close. Actually, many times if he spotted a wink or a look between us, he would react quite extremely; that’s why with time Asaf learned to calm him down, reassuring him that he kept pursuing X and giving him accounts of their growing friendship. That maintained our guilt alive and well. We could not be seen together in front of Robert, even though sometimes we did show up together at Apollo d’Oro, especially after we started to work together in the octave.
This is why when the explosion went off, Robert seemed quite surprised at Asaf’s reaction: he asked him, why are you so upset? Asaf answered, because I finally understand how much she means to me… When I was told this, my heart fell apart (remember, Benjamin?) I realized that for all that time I was buffering, buffering, buffering my emotions because I was afraid, under the constant menace of being excommunicated, of offending and disobeying Robert. I felt like my whole being was melting, after a long time of refrigeration. I cried and cried. Asaf called me and we spoke at length and explained ourselves, I thought another era was about to begin, without lies, without hiding… So I asked him what Robert said when he told him about us … Asaf said he did not tell him … what? He did not? … … … Well, I thought, I cannot keep this secret anymore: if A was not ready to speak, then I had to do it. It was my chance: I was already completely covered with mud, my reputation was pretty damn low, I have nothing to lose: if I miss this one there would be no other…So I took pen and paper and write the following:
7/7/05
Dear Robert,
This is the first time that I have the courage to write to you openly, as if the play of the last few months occurred just to make this moment possible.
I have been Asaf’s lover and friend for the last two years, during which time I knew about X and your wish to one day see them together.
Not a day has passed without my gratitude for being close to such a friend, growing through and with him.
My queen of hearts has eaten several times the beauty of our unusual friendship; this happened also few months ago, when we agreed again to keep the intimacy out of the doors and to concentrate on a Work-based relationship: my king of clubs decided to burn down the whole house, just to cover a scar; this showed the self-destructive nature of this terrible brain, it thinks that freedom means being able to do whatever it wants, where instead real freedom is the courage not to lie.
What an opportunity to be real this is.
I was not able to take responsibility for my feelings and actions, not able to be direct and sincere with you, beloved Teacher, with Asaf and with myself.
I realize we are only ponds, moved by the loving hands of the Gods: you once said that a man number four silently agrees to be crucified several times in his life: the play had to go on until this point.
I apologize for having kept all of this hidden from you, and I am now ready to accept the consequences.
I love Asaf dearly, I am sorry for the pain I caused him.
Next time we meet there will be more of Us,
My deepest gratitude and love to you, dear Teacher/Influence C
When the words stop and you can endure the silence, that is the moment to listen to what the Eye of the Beloved most wants to say. Hafiz
I mail it. It was, to this day, the highest moment of my life: the first time I was true to myself.
Up to that point my sentence was pretty mild: I was to take off for three months, go to Egypt with Cassandra and Kiran to help them open the center and then come back to Isis when everything quieted down.
It was a Saturday and I was in Sacramento to with Kiran and H and T and others to help out during one of the inergetix seminar. I get a phone call from Brian: Robert received my letter, he was really upset: he wanted me to take a leave of absence for one year, and then if I managed not to have sex with anybody he might reconsider, that I was worse than alcohol and I had 4 days to get out of the way.
….
So much for my highest moment.
Well, the world span and span … in four days I bought my one way ticket to NY, gathered my stuff, some friends helped me (thank you for that) and I was history.
I had no contacts anymore ‘in life’; all I knew at that point was linked to the Fellowship. There are no words to describe what that felt like. It took a year just to digest the shock itself. I remember Judith saying once: C Influence took 35 years to build up and give me this shock. I understood a little better what she had meant.
My deepest regret and the heaviest burden was and is the betrayal of two of my dearest friends: I am deeply sorry for my behavior and for the pain my complete lack of conscience caused. I hope at some point we will be able to meet again: I think of you every day.
I already took a lot of space here, but please allow me a couple more words.
The wildest aspect of all this is that … it worked! I do not know if outside of the school I would have had an experience of this intensity, but surely I would not have had the tools to deal with it. I am grateful to the Fellowship for being the theater for how much of myself it allowed me to see.
A year after my leave of absence was over, I wrote a letter to Robert: it took him 4 months to reply that he is not sure about what to do with me. To try back in a while. I could not find any other word for him so far, although I know that it is not over yet. Just before leaving for Buenos Aires Linda approached X saying that Robert is evaluating my situation and how was I doing: I found that quite inappropriate as she is not even a student. This is the first time I expose myself publicly (I did share my story with a few students, the other’s q of hearts were just too busy with the scandal).
Siddiq: I agree with you – 10 / 22 “Some people incur debt they are not able to pay for–that is probably the case here–their time to pay is proably still coming… But not one of us is spotless, probably far from it…”
Kiran: that evening with you Cassandra and Benjamin was lovely, there was no sex, just cuddling and it was to me an unusual way to get close to her – even though you wanted more. Your accident happened on my 30th birthday. I was speechless.
Loreta: ciao! E’ bello vederti in foto: sembri rinata.
Elena: It was so nice to read your posts, I wish I got to know you better.
Joseph: I have been wanting to write you an email directly; I hope we can stay in touch … I always remember that new year in NY, and then meeting you on Broadway with your son and family a year ago.
I wish I could come to the gathering this Saturday, but I am in Argentina for a while: next time I will be there!
Thank you all for coming with me through my journey;
Thank you Sheik for creating the space for this to happen, what you are doing is priceless.
If you want to contact me directly:
pgallarato@hotmail.com
141/10/Paola
EFFECT (Conspiracy to Defraud)
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# Gabriella F. Says:
May 25, 2007 at 11:59 pm
Gabriella F.
I just had a “vivid” memory today of my staying in the FOF that is helping me to better understand the “mechanics” that can keep us trapped in something like a cult. I would like to share it.
I have a dearest friend who is still in the Fellowship of Friends and who lives at Isis. A very nice person, with good heart and good will; lovely. I always loved being with him and he was a “reference” for me during my 20 years of staying. He was older in the School than I was and, as an Italian, even though I directed several centers, I always nourished the idea that American students were the Fathers, more “conscious” than us.
He is – I am not sure at this point, but I bet he is – a faithful of Robert and the FOF.
One day, perhaps three years ago, we were in a restaurant. At that point, we had not met each other for a couple of years. He was visiting my town, and we decided to have a lunch together. I really wished to meet him, to share our simple thoughts, and just being together, enjoying each other, sharing our presence.
After a while, the atmosphere became “heavier”. He was willing to “teach”, to be extremely serious, for we are supposed to be very serious when we are present… (I do not agree with this, probably I never did. I think that our highest possibilities include “joy”!). I was desperately looking for my friend…
At a certain point, he became very “intense” and said: “One of the hardest thing in our path is to accept that we are so deeply involved in something higher – and Robert was referred – that even people who we love die because us… for our own evolution…”
He told more than this, but I was impressed and I could hardly keep staying at the table… So, it would mean that my brother’s car accident and my mother’s suicide, and the people I loved died for me? And what about all the disasters, the wars, and the misery: All this happens for the Fellowship’s students to evolve? Oh, my God!
I remember a struggle in myself in that moment: It was clear to me that I could trust what he was saying, and be “pushed” into an unreal world where I-We were the only important entities… Where, a fictitious “celestial” atmosphere can make you thinking that you are really part of something divine … Something in me thought (probably vanity) that I was ready to hear that amazing message.
But something else told me that I could not believe it (probably my common sense), and that I had to remain in the real world, where each of us is not more important than anybody else. But, in this case, I would miss such “celestial” C Influence’s message…
Fortunately, I did not believe it. That day, something changed in my relationship with the school, and I am still remembering that moment, emotion after emotion.
I am surprised how vividly this came to my mind today. I wanted to share it because to me it can help to explain how we can believe whatever is being said, the more stupid thing, even the more absurd statement which goes against the common sense that even a child has: In the Fellowship, the way of thinking has been “modeled” (kind of Word template), so we are ready to conceive everything, providing that it sounds OK with OUR evolution.
To be sincere, it is not so easy for me to post this message, even if I left the school…
In the last few months, I learned things that I could not ever imagine about Robert.
Believe me: In 20 years I did not know about orgies, and now I feel like I was participating in a sex-addicted group of people (see Kiran last post…Amazing! How to believe it? I never heard things like that when I was in the FoF: where we in the same School?…).
I am a simple person, with a man who I love, normally.
I am still having a positive attitude toward Robert. I all ways thought that he was a poet man in teaching the system, until he did … Furthermore, in a very painful situation for me, I really “felt” his love, his warm kindness, and I do not want to “delete” this beautiful memory.
Yes, I have been a Robert’s student, I trusted him, I trusted my friends, and my friends also trusted me; I received from the FoF, and I also gave. This is something very human.
But then, the game was over. At least, it was over for me. Let us enjoy now, just moving on.
Thank you for reading, GF
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142/10/Gabriella F.
CAUSE & EFFECT (Desecration)
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What needs to be looked at is how we went from that initial idea to supporting supporting only Robert Burton’s lifestyle not only at the cost of our physical, emotional and intellectual work but at the cost of our moral (conscience) and conscious integrity (the integrity or consciousness of the self).
The practice in the Fellowship of Friends that denies students the possibility to make decisions about their participation in the School is what makes it a cult, justified with the ideas that it is Robert Burton’s school, that you are here to work only on yourself, that really all there is for a student to do is to serve dutifully.
We have already much looked on the blog at the consistent indoctrination that supports this state of things.
There is a huge gap between serving a conscious school and serving an individual’s life style. Submitting to serving an individual’s life style while being convinced that one is serving a conscious school is what slowly develops the phenomenon of split personality, or two individuals within the same person.
One personality continues to work lovingly, giving, offering, working and another one keeps condescending, allowing, bearing. In actual practice both personalities are expressed in different practices throughout our daily routines and general life patterns, consistently increasing the sense of self worthlessness that conduces to depression and the lack of meaning in life.
The ideal Fellowship student is someone who has given up his life family totally. The example to follow is Robert giving up his relationship to his mother by not being willing to honor her in her funeral as work on feminine dominance. By not willing to be present to his own mother’s death. Is it not interesting that many, many students have not practiced such things but do not question it either as an aspect of Robert’s psychopathic behavior? The fact that families are increasingly insignificant in the modern world does not make it less psychopathic.
On the other hand, many student’s were conditioned by this behavior to abandon their own families, past or present. Parents, wives or children. I wonder now to what extent that gesture from Robert was more to justify having asked his own students to give up their children, to pretend that that wasn’t really a mistake on his part but something to take beyond into abandoning also their parents. At what point was this decision taken, realizing that the less connection with family, that students had, the more money they had to invest in the Fellowship.
Robert Burton did nothing to help students study themselves and if any one of us acquired any degree of understanding it wasn’t thanks to Robert’s practice. Robert’s practice tried to deny everything one came to on one’s own by denying one the possibility of confronting those understandings with one’s friends or himself. Girard equally avoided personal discussion and kept conversation tied to the rails of the accepted indoctrination. They impose their vision and eliminate ours. We are only allowed to be in the Fellowship if we are willing to give our selves up to Robert’s vision. This is the Cult.
He thought he addressed the issue of our programming by physically separating students from their biological families. Even if many did not do this in practice, they had to do it psychologically in as much as one’s play with one’s family was never confronted in the Fellowship. If you have problems go to psychoanalysis or a psychiatrist but don’t come to the fellowship with your problems.
In relation to the social programming that each one of us came with, the fellowship pretended to make us all equally “beggars” but in actual practice, only the money making individuals get some attention, and do not beg or participate in the most difficult octaves. Sexually attractive students also get the attention. The inner circle will take care of placing the rest in different octaves where they find them convenient.
None of these aspects of our life have been looked at in the Fellowship of Friends. As we go in, we must leave the stuff we are made of at the door and never again mention it. It is indiscriminately treated as our “lower self”: Your parents, your community and your nationality are worthless. Never talk about yourself is interpreted as not being identified with your life which is ABSOLUTELY false because it simply means that you’ve put your life under the carpet and put another mask on top of your false personality to pretend that you are worthy enough to belong to the Fellowship of Friends, a ruthlessly inhuman institution that has severed its connections with the humanity that each student was coming from and the humanity that each wanted to stand up for when s/he thought s/he was joining a conscious school.
144/10/Community (Elena)
CAUSE (Fraud in the Inducement)
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# MarkL Says:
May 26, 2007 at 3:33 am
To All,
I joined the Fellowship of Friends in 1974, a young man of 22. Like many who joined in and around that time, my search and subsequent joining were the result of many factors, some personal and some cultural, the search for something higher, for community, for direction and purpose. Also there was the dissatisfaction, unwillingness, and perhaps fear of moving into mainstream culture in this country in the 1970’s.
Fof seemed, at first, to offer almost all of what I/we were searching for. Belonging, community, sense of purpose, presence, direction, comeradery, a community of like-minded people.
A few remembered moments from that time –
A meeting at Hiller Highlands, the subject of the holocaust is mentioned, the six million, Ram Pera offers an angle that perhaps the moon needed a higher form of food, Robert Burton blows him a kiss – I feel that perhaps, something is not right
(to be continued) MarkL
______________________
147/10/MarkL
Note ~ Companion to 440
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# (Not his real name) Says:
May 26, 2007 at 5:07 am
MarkL (#148)
see my post 6/53: “When at dinner I listened to Robert say, ‘The Jews finally paid for the crucifixion of Christ through the Holocaust,’ I thought, ‘Not so sure I agree, but, um, the lower cannot see the higher.’”
Remarkable how what passes everywhere else for racism, antisemitism, extraordinary insensitivity, and other forms of idiocy become something else entirely when spoken by someone who informs us he is “conscious.”
151/10/Not his Real Name
EFFECT (Child Endangerment, Joint Negligence, Conspiracy to Defraud, Collusion, Connivance.)
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# Sharon Says:
May 26, 2007 at 5:20 am
Paola,
I have sent you a private email. I just want to state publicly to the blog my distress at your story.
I have children, cohorts of “X” – I thank God that we had the courage (yes it took courage at the time) to move out of Isis, to Nevada City, 4 years ago, for our children’s sakes. I truly pray that they have as much as possible escaped that environment. The thought of them being caught up in such a twisted manipulation of relationships as what you describe is nauseating to me. I truly mourn the several young girls, children of students, that joined the Fellowship in the past 2 years, some of them now married to Robert’s boys.
Many of us were naive, not just the ones sexually involved with Robert. The exercise of no gossip did stop much of this from being known by many, those of us to whom gossip felt wrong or just vulgar. Especially if we were obviously not ourselves sexually available.
Again, publicly, I thank you for your courage and openness.
152/10/Sharon
Conspiracy to Defraud
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My direct experience of Mr. Robert Burton is that he morphed the idea of c-influence because he is not sophisticated or evolved enough to provide enough consistent conscious influence shocks to his students to produce any permanent conscious ‘being’ due mostly to the distraction of his sex addiction. He relies on “ideas of reference” or synchronicity to do the job for him. Using synchronicity in this manner, such as reading license plates or seeing the number 44 or other, simply to bridge an interval in a ‘state’ may be a novel idea to change one’s ‘state’ in any given moment, but I would argue the accumulation of these ‘mundane’ shocks does not necessarily enhance a person’s overall level of being.
‘Personal’ shocks such as these play into vanity feature, which one could also argue is the chief feature of the Fellowship of Friends. Mr. Burton most certainly does not have a successful track record as a prophet reading the ’signs’. The trouble is, if you bet the farm on synchronicity, nine times out of ten, you lose the farm. Synchronicity is subjective and dependent upon a person’s level of being. I believe that synchronicity is self-affirming only. No two people share the same synchronicity all the time.
The ‘conscious being’ his ‘school’ is conscious only because “he said so” and he’s the boss.
156/10/Whalerider
CAUSE & EFFECT
(Deliberate Indifference, Joint Negligence, False Pretenses, Collusion, Connivance, Fraud, ‘Wanton Grand-Poo-ba-Imagining’)
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# Howard Carter Says:
May 27, 2007 at 8:23 am
To WhaleRider: 10/181,
“You are doing a good job sincerely responding to the blog clearly as one of the faithful, but you tend to restrain your personal side.”
I’m not sure what you mean; all my words represent my personal beliefs based on verifications, experiences, a looking out from the sum total of my being when composing the response.
The words I write are not to my satisfaction and time is the biggest constraint, many duties take precedence over the blog.
The truths I have learned in the FoF, in retrospect, were the very ones I had hoped to find. Many are my own now.
So if I write in “FoF speak” please know that I am not simply parroting the words or dutifully giving the company line. It’s that these truths work for me. I find no reason to deviate from, or modify, them in any way.
You are right about the fourth state; it obliterates the third state the way the third state obliterates the second. It is the state it took for me to verify the existence of Influence C to the depth required to give up my will to them.
Nevertheless we cannot hang our hats on just those moments. It’s the third state where most of the personal instruction from Influence C takes place, as well as the real seeing of one’s self.
“Is it compassion that enables you to continue supporting a lawless and morally corrupt teacher and his cult that harms the consciences of so many people?”
If I saw him as such I would not support him. We are left only with the raw “facts” about him and often they are jumbled.
His motivations remain invisible to most, who can only guess and conclude the obvious. His relationship to higher forces remain invisible to most. The Will of higher forces remain invisible to most.
One of the meanings of the word esoteric is hidden. The real Robert is hidden from all of life, I would deduce, as well as from a good many current students.
I doubt that you and I will ever come close to agreeing on what/who Robert is.
199/10/Howard Carter
Wrongful Discharge, Fraud, Intentional Infliction of Emotional Distress, Discrimination, Favoritism, Coercion.
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1) Showing me how to accept defeat when playing you at tennis. Knowing that I could have won, even when you cheated.
2) Making me feel I was immortal when I was in you presence and encouraging me to take the risks all lovers should make for their beloved.
3) Helping me to see that what we regard as morality is simply a state of mind and is only pertinent to those who are asleep (and not snoring!)
4) Telling me that getting married was not useful to my evolution. (you were right – I got divorced five years later – though still not bad for a Fellowship marriage.)
5) Giving my girlfriend / lover a year’s leave of absence from the Fellowship to protect me from my pangs of guilt and having to spend so much energy trying to keep the affair hidden from the Fellowship secret police force.
6) Teaching me not to interrupt when you were saying something profound – something which I obviously didn’t understand at the time and now no longer remember.
7) Helping me pay attention to my appearance such as crumbs around the mouth, or stains on my clothes and giving me the insight that fine impressions and bringing up small children don’t mix.
8) Showing by example that it is a worthy action to give away your possessions to the poor. Especially more expensive items which carry with them a special value, even if they’ve been used once.
9) Helping me understand that there is an answer to everything and all I need do is ask (you).
10) Reminding me that there is life beyond the Fellowship of Friends – as it will take me several life times to wake up.
204/10/Attention Sheik! (Simon)
Intentional Infliction of Emotional Distress due to Wrongful Discharge, Favoritism, Discrimination and FRAUD
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Plus I was forced to a long silence, during which time I had to come to terms with myself: the only cross reference was my conscience, to find which I had to dig hard; I was unable to give my version, as subjective as it can be. If we don’t expose ourselves we have no chance to see what we carry inside (BTW: I think hiding and swiping dust under the carpets are an ongoing problem within the school, and obstruct second line).
205/10/Paola Evelina
Fraud in the Inducement, Collusion, Connivance, Desecration, Deliberate Indifference, Joint Negligence
Why the FOF (RB) attracts so many plays of sex and abuse of power???because it is corrupted at the source….Robert B. creates this situations manipulating people features: vanity, ambition, power (Dorian, Mihai, Paola , Allison, Asaf, Edith,Kevin, Rowena Linda and many others, they are all victims in a way…Robert’s victim….he was able to made a parody of them!!He was able to create a fertile ground for all this….they all wants(wanted) to be admired by him, they all wanted to be admired by others, they all need to satisfy their ambition in a way or another. THE SOURCE IS CORRUPTED this is the only problem, all the rest is a war between poor people…
207/10/A lover
Conspiracy to Defraud, Wrongful Discharge, Invasion of Privacy, Violation of Fiduciary Duty, Disparent Treatment, Undue Influence, False Pretenses, Intentional Infliction of Emotional Distress, Coercion, Collusion, Misbranding.
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The US, at least in principle, is founded on the belief that all people are equal, and this can be legally enforced. However, this is the Fellowship of Friends and Robert is king. Not only king, he is a conscious being and he knows the will of the Gods. The Gods! That is what you believe if you are a sincere student.
Why do you think Paola and Asaf felt so bad about their love and suffered in honestly trying to mold their plays the way Robert wanted? Was it just their weird misunderstanding of how things really are, when everyone else around them knew that things would be OK if they had just came forward and announced that they had decided to go against the will of the teacher?
Do you remember what happened when it first started: Asaf told Robert, and Robert disagreed because he had other plans for Asaf. They were told not to have any contact with each other for 6 months, and that she should not date anybody. But this is just Robert’s suggestion and advice, right Siddiq? We don’t need to let Robert interfere in our personal lives.
What he really meant to say was, give it a try, but if you realize that you actually want to stand up for your own principles, you’re always welcome to do that. That’s the Robert we know and love, isn’t it?
Nothing serious here, just that immortal Gods have indicated that because of the magnitude of Asaf’s role he should eventually marry X when she comes of age. But you know, if Asaf decided to follow his own heart instead, Robert would be, like, totally cool with that.
Now, where is the pattern? This human being tells young men who glorify him: You are to have sex with me because Influence C want us to be together. Then he tells his former lover: You are to marry X because the gods are preparing her to be your wife. Then he tells his students: You are to use the sequence because all ancient civilizations before us have used it.
211/10/Traveler
Conspiracy to Defraud, Wrongful Discharge, Invasion of Privacy, Violation of Fiduciary Duty, Disparent Treatment, Undue Influence, False Pretenses, Intentional Infliction of Emotional Distress, Coercion, Collusion, Misbranding.
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What was behind his decision to throw Paola out of the school after reading her positive, indeed worshipful, letter describing her relationship with Asaf? Clearly he was upset because he wanted Asaf to be with X, and he viewed Paola as interfering with his plans. OK, so I’ve written that down, and it looks somewhat logical. But think about it – it’s actually completely insane. Why do these people submit to this interference, even regard it as “helping their evolution”? And why on earth is Robert Burton concerned about these things? Why does he get viciously upset when one of his boys chooses to be with one girl rather than another? And what’s even more amazing is that HN and HC actually think this is normal, a sign of higher consciousness, true connection with “influence C”, etc!!!
So why is Robert Burton so controlling? Most likely because he’s afraid. He knows he’s a fraud and he’s terrified of being seen as he really is. So he surrounds himself with people who would not dream of questioning his behaviour in any way. Then, with all restraints removed, naturally enough he starts behaving more and more strangely.
HC: “ The real Robert is hidden from all of life, I would deduce, as well as from a good many current students.”
Thankfully this blog is making him a good deal less hidden.
214/10/Rabbi Burns
FRAUD in the inducement, CAUSE & EFFECT, Desecration, Conspiracy to Defraud, Negligent Infliction of Emotional Distress, Collusion, Connivance, Fraudulent Misrepresentation, Hostile Environment Sexual Harassment.
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Having had the greater part of my life experienced through the scarlet, vibrating lenses of that romantic and passionate outlook on life that Robert Burton calls “the seven of hearts”, and seen countless times how much destruction, pain, lost time and possibilities that particular flavor of human experience can create, I eventually became thoroughly sick of it, and the school’s official condemnation of it and invitation to an emotional body dysmorphic solution seemed a valid course of action. And indeed, for a limited period of experimentation, it may be.
Permanent denial of our passions in the hope that this bald-faced lie will result in the flowering of some promised nirvana – itself a wholly imaginary concept, as popularly misinterpreted, of lack of pain, lack of passion rather than non-identification with life’s inescapable pain and passion – leads to an ever more rigid and stultifying straitjacket of fear, repression and further lies.
The Reader’s Digest/Dr. Phil version circulating around the school of what Sandra C. was attempting in the years before her departure was that it was an attempt to sort out which emotions had been, at least partially, acknowledged, addressed and transformed and which had been so entirely repressed as to bring further development to a crashing halt, albeit in a bed of “roses, just roses”.
I found it grimly amusing at the time to see how many students were expressing violent negative emotions over Sandra’s heretical suggestion that limited, controlled expressions of negativity might be needed to become aware of the repressed emotions blocking development.
The Fellowship Forum/Dr. Bob version was more along the lines of a demented evil bitch wilfully disregarding her noble teacher’s selfless years of teaching that in no case, ever could any degree of the expression of negativity cause anything but the corrosion of your soul.
In Guinevere’s book, “Bread Upon the Water” she recounts how, in the early days when Robert held open court with his students, each devotee wishing Robert’s darshan would be vetted first to see what their concern was.
Robert would shunt all the students with “easy questions” about relationships to Guinevere and would take the “hard questions” about body type etc. himself. I can see that looking at someone’s shoe and saying “You have big feet. Work with Saturn. Next!” is lot more challenging and manly than dealing with some weepy female who is upset about being asked to get an abortion because Robert does not want any babies on the ark yet.
Robert, from the first, has been simply incapable of dealing with emotions. His self-image seems centered on the myth of the stoic American Marlboro Man (albeit in a pink suit); “ah got me a passle of peckers tuh polish afore sundown n ah don’t cotton tuh wastin muh time with no pussy emotions. Git along, little queenies”.
In the same manner that Robert felt compelled to transmute his inability to accept his sexual orientation into the pathetic myth that the Gods required an endless cum-fest for him as his particular form of crucifixion, he spun his inability to endure simple human emotion into just another arrogant dominance game: “I don’t have any emotions, emulate me”.
After so many years of watching Robert “pour from the empty into the void” while hearing him say “See? How much better it is, how much more there is now that I have poured it into the amazing, remarkable, beloved void”, years of regressing from “well, maybe, I mean I will work with that idea to see what happens” to “Yes Robert! It is amazing!”, my penance now is to sit through a lot of reruns from my childhood and just accept that I had partial script approval.
220/10/Joe Average
Joint Negligence, Collusion, Connivance, Coercion, Deliberate Indifference, Negligent & Intentional infliction of Emotional Distress, Favoritism, False Pretenses, Discrimination.
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Robert Burton & all the opportunists & enablers around him are far from being blameless but isn’t such a childish good looking devotee a delicious dish? While you’re at it blame her parents, the media, the overly uptight or the too lax culture & society as well. And where is personal responsibility?
225/10/Half Life
SEXUAL PREDATOR, Hostile Environment Sexual Harassment, Malicious Intent, Negligent Infliction of Emotional Distress, Reckless Endangerment, Violation of Fiduciary Duty, Undue Influence, Breach of Trust, Coercion, Misapplication of Funds, Conspiracy to Defraud.
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Just to be clear, Robert Burton is a sexual predator. It is well documented how a predator operates; they prey on the weak and vulnerable, well-meaning people such as me, who for whatever reason do not readily say, ‘no thanks’. (Remember, students are taught to give up their will to the teacher, so consent between adult equals is a very big gray area here, which Robert plays to his advantage. My weaknesses were my vanity, my naivety, and my status as a student.) Often a predator’s advances can easily be repelled; they are at the core narcissistic and concerned only about themselves and their own self-preservation. They do not want to be injured or exposed in the process, so they display great patience; they stalk their prey. They place themselves in a large pool of potential victims. (Robert has high status and has accumulated a huge moat of money around him for both protection and attraction.) They test this one, then that one, until the victim is identified, cornered and exploited. The weak are often not in a strong position to defend themselves. The emotional damage to the victim is done when they resist or attempt to expose the perpetrator. The perp then defends himself by ‘shunning’, minimizing (such as what you are doing, making YOU complicit in his play of crime), demonizing, and mollifying the victim to discredit them. Others usually rally around the perp since his public behavior is in such stark contrast to his private actions.
Sound familiar?
240/10/WhaleRider
GREEN CARD fraud, False Pretenses, Contractual Fault (Illegal Marriages, Illegal Green Card applications & Statuses), Undue Influence, Invasion of Privacy, Coercion.
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Reply to Rabbi Burns, #post 214:
“And why on earth is Robert Burton concerned about these things? Why does he get viciously upset when one of his boys chooses to be with one girl rather than another? ”
The common sense explanation for why Robert Burton is trying to arrange these marriages of certain of ‘his boys’, such as Asaf, to certain young ladies is so that they can acquire a ‘Green Card’. By marrying an American they become legitimate, long-time US residents, which suits RB’s purposes for them.
246/10/Living the Questions
EFFECT (Fraud in the Inducement)
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I wanted to leave with no regrets. Yet now, I find I still have a few.
Those that I have cared for and that have equally cared for me who will no longer consider me a friend.
Leaving a community that has been my heartbeat for more than half my life.
But my greatest regret, is that when someone so dear to me, someone who trusted me told me his story I could not hear him.
I did not doubt it. Not a word. There he was, a man transformed. Something terrible had happened. The pain flowed through his eyes and filled the room. And still, I was able to numb my heart and violate my conscience.
But not again, not again. I have been given another chance to hear that voice.
So tonight, somewhere ‘round two or three, when that fear shoots up my spine and plants itself on my chest, staring me right in the eyes, I may shake and I may tremble, but Arthur, I will not waiver.
271/10/Cake please
Moral Turpitude, Intentional Infliction of Emotional Distress
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I do not know why the king of clubs thinks their reasoning is not coming from personality when it is in fact coming from false personality or the inability to consider anything but their own very formatory justifications without having ever addressed the deeper questions posed on this blog. It is rare to think of the King of Clubs being seduced by the condescendingly of sick dick (Robert Burton), who is as happy to pat Paola in the shoulder and then stab her in the back. Psychologically of course.
273/10/John
Child Endangerment, Invasion of Privacy, Moral Turpitude
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The mind set willing to discard the family was already so prevalent at the beginning of the Fellowship of Friends, that giving up the children was accepted by many of the followers. Would it not be interesting to find out how many of these women are still in the fellowship? How many of precisely these women were unable to leave and had to continue supporting the man they had given up so much integrity for?
It has been mentioned that Robert more than just tapped into families and separated couples as well suggested other unions. It does not seem to matter that his suggestions in so many cases have been nothing but failures, one after another, and yet these more than failed adults are willing to allow Robert to continue such practice with the new generation of young people.
274/10/Elena
Hostile Environment Sexual Harassment, FRAUD, CAUSE
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Robert does not model healthy enlightenment. He draws his emotional intensity from external stimulus, such as fine impressions, drugs, shopping, sexual conquests, travel, intrigue, etc. That leaves you in a state of need. IMO the intensity of enlightenment is generated within regardless of environment. That is why sages often lead distinctly unglamorous lives; they can be celibate, live in a cave, have no possessions and still generate the passionate intensity that we associated with being more awake. That’s how you tell they are truly free of the bonds of sleep and more awake. An enlightened person radiates love. Robert’s school is the way of lust.
280/10/Whalerider
CONSPIRACY TO DEFRAUD
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The reason I left was none of the above. It was principally because I saw clearly that the Fellowship Of Friends’ brand of spirituality doesn’t work, unless all you’re after is a few moments of presence now and then. The teachings of Robert Burton become ever more obscure and absurd. There are spiritual teachings outside that are infinitely more effective.
I was also influenced by the fact that the “teacher” of the Fellowship of Friends is corrupt from head to toe, and this corruption spreads throughout the organization in the form of lack of conscience, feelings of superiority and a tendency to lie to oneself and others.
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“There is something feeble and a little contemptible about a man who cannot face the perils of life without the help of comfortable myths. Almost inevitably some part of him is aware that they are myths and that he believes them only because they are comforting. But he dare not face this thought! Moreover, since he is aware, however dimly, that his opinions are not rational, he becomes furious when they are disputed.” -Bertrand Russell
329/330/10/Rabbi Burns/Life Person
Wrongful Discharge, Fraud, Intentional Infliction of Emotional Distress, Discrimination, Favoritism, Contractual Fault, Violation of Fiduciary Duty.
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To respond to some of the questions:
I would never exchange where I am now to return to where I was, because it was based on lies, which cannot be the foundation for anything valuable.
After my exile was sentenced, I was buzzed, shaken and confused, yet one thing was clear: my aim for the time to come was to try to be true to myself, to understand what that meant, in all its depth, and make that aim my God.
Therefore, if I cannot be myself, if I have to lie again, there is no room for me in the school. (The detonator – the letter I wrote to R – is the contradicting element: for me it was the flag of my transformation, for Robert the worse possible thing which had to be neutralized: the proof that Asaf had lied to him. So I had to bear the blame – as his plan for Asaf was and is what you are witnessing).
I had a lot of ‘house cleaning’ to do and had to process the events without any cross reference beside my own conscience – which was at times difficult to find… I am by no means done, and finding the blog was the necessary catalyst to continue this process. The confrontation which takes place in these pages is not only healthy and long due, it is making us grow.
334/10/Paola Evelina
Conspiracy to DEFRAUD, Joint Negligence, Collusion, Connivance, Coercion, Deliberate Indifference, Negligent & Intentional infliction of Emotional Distress, Favoritism, False Pretenses, Discrimination.
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Robert Burton’s main activity is finding satisfaction for his sexual identification. His secondary activity is keeping the Fellowship of Friends running so that he can support his first activity, or main identification. Here I would like to explore why students cannot see that for what it is, what sort of mental processes have been instilled in us to accept those facts and pretend that Robert is a conscious being that should not be questioned in any way and on the contrary be supported indefinitely.
One of the reasons students accept this situation without confronting it is the fact that many of us had taken homosexuality as an acceptable condition and Robert’s private life as something one did not have a right to interfere with. A friend once wanted to tell me how wild it was at the galleria and I told him not to do so, that Robert was my teacher and I accepted his privacy or right to his own individuality.
I know I at least believed in Robert’s consciousness because I highly valued the consistent focusing on presence and working with the system as a whole gave worthwhile understandings and results.
But once in Isis, the consistent contradictions between what I thought a healthy community should be and what actually happened was so powerful that it finally got me out.
One of the major influence on students is Girard’s indoctrination which has definitely been picked up over time by the spokesmen of the Fellowship. Many have picked and adapted it to their own weaknesses and necessary justifications.
In Girard’s and now Asaf’s exposition, the main emphasis is set on the idea that Robert is so far beyond any one of us that every word he says is law that cannot be questioned.
(What is worth observing is that most of this indoctrination is not even something that is said, it is an attitude that is held. Attitudes, that is where the problems are).
This is Indoctrination Number One in the Fellowship of Friends. So here are some questions that may be worth considering:
Is Robert really that different from any one else? Do his good clothes make him a better man than you? Are you attracted to the fact that he made it for himself? That he lives all his lust as everybody else should live it? Is this part of the American Dream?
Does he not seem as identified or worse than you with the way he pursues young men?
With the way he spends money?
With the way he avoids you personally? And yet demands that you look at him in the eyes so that you really think he is telling the truth?
Have you ever thought about what it is like to be in a gay man’s conditioning? What is the difference between Robert or another gay man in terms of his behavior?
Is there not something to say for the fact that Robert in his alchemy, can have no contact with nature, simple organic nature and this has been justified as the ideal of consciousness by implication so that within Isis we have all accepted to live under this conditioning?
At what point did you exchange that understanding for the acceptance that Robert could continue being as subject or subjective as you and still be a man number seven?
Do you really want to be under Robert’s all encompassing rules about everything that happens in the Fellowship for the rest of your life? Is that what you call developing your consciousness?
If you answer yes to this question, can I ask, Where are you? Where did you leave your alchemy? Your own inclinations?
Does it not matter to you that you don’t like so many things about them? What implications do you think it has on your being to give up many things that you like and accept many things that you don’t like.
If we look at the theories Robert is talking about, is it not a fact that we’ve seen him making them up as he goes along, changing, adding and removing as it suits him?
Have you ever thought that the worst indoctrination comes from simply not allowing yourself to think about anything but what Robert is saying? endlessly?
That most students feel they are not good students when they don’t do it more? That you’ve become used to accepting your self as a failure because you don’t do the sequence all the time and are not trying to remember yourself all the time? And that it is not a failure but actually the little of you that is left without indoctrination? The little of you that you keep trying to destroy so that you become a good student?
The justifications from the inner circle to swallow these very strange behavior of making things up as he goes along, in this, “last conscious being on the planet”, are: that he is exploring higher consciousness, that he is inviting us to explore with him, that he is not formatory, that it is very exiting to be a part of such a man’s exploration of his consciousness…..
and then when you really press the point that, this is supposed to be the last conscious being on the planet then you get the answer that “Oh, nobody believes that!” and, “suppose he is not the last conscious being on the planet but one of a hundred or even a thousand in six billion people, he is still a conscious being on the planet”
So there you stand, you against Girard or Asaf or all the other great inner adepts that like to stand up to these reasoning and you settle for it for years adapting to the subtle indoctrination that just happened to you without your ever thinking that you were being indoctrinated.
In fact when I confront Girard with these things, he says, “I have never indoctrinated students” but I was deeply indoctrinated by him and by the other many students of his generation, older and younger, who used him, loved him perhaps, accepted him and his role to pull it all together with this very questionable reasoning, one in which, in the end, one adapts to letting go of the dissonance that initiated it and accepting the dogma at the cost of the development of one’s own self and the gradual development of two personalities to put up with the dissonances. It is not just a game, it is a very dangerous game in case you haven’t realized it yet.
Can you really not see two personalities in the private life Robert leads and his teacher role?
336/10/Elena
SEXUAL PREDATOR, Hostile Environment Sexual Harassment, Malicious Intent, Negligent Infliction of Emotional Distress, Reckless Endangerment, Violation of Fiduciary Duty, Undue Influence, Breach of Trust, Coercion, Misapplication of Funds, Conspiracy to Defraud.
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Just so we are clear, I did accept responsibility for myself after a relativity short amount of sexual and emotional manipulation. I left the Fellowship of Friends as soon as I was in a position to do so. I had to protect myself or implode. Yes, I had been ‘had’ for as long as I allowed myself to be ’had’ in order to learn what I needed to learn and move on. I picked up the splintered pieces of myself and then got the heck away fairly intact. Healing from the experience is yet another matter…
Ever heard of Post Traumatic Stress Disorder? It kicks in many years later! What I went through has taken this long to process and digest just because it has, and if it makes you ‘feel’ uncomfortable, please just skip my posts and spare yourself the stress on your heart. What I am doing happens to BE how people ‘get over’ things. I would recommend you give it a try sometime.
Repressing negativity and suffering in silence can cause mental illness! By expressing sadness, an injustice, a tragedy, or a deeply held insecurity in a public way to a community of people who have shared these experiences…to a group of ‘friends’ who can truly understand and empathize with each other, that otherwise untenable feeling is then finally digested, and emotional closure is reached. The vicious vortex of negativity is broken. Clarity is then achieved, which equals more time to be present, unfettered by the past. Understand? I am thankful to this community for helping and supporting me to do just that. And I make myself available on this blog to be emotionally ‘used’ by others as an expression of that gratitude back to the community in an effort to heal other idiots like myself. I don’t mind sharing my life, and I don’t mind empathizing with others. It makes me feel more human and connected.
339/10/WhaleRider
NEGLIGENT MISREPRESENTATION, Reckless Endangerment, Moral Turpitude, Discrimination, Malicious Intent, Invasion of Privacy, Undue Influence, FRAUD, Fraudulent Misrepresentation, Negligent Infliction of Emotional Distress.
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First of all, we come to the School to pay for information that could bring us to Balance. Before the exercise of gossip was introduced, students seem more open and innocent. With the curse of this exercise, some deep followers, which in turn affect everyone else, are closed up with more mind activity. This is going away from balance.
Information is power. We have that right. With the exercise of ‘not gossiping’, we are paying to have information taken away from us.
This is like Alice in Wonderland. Doing exactly the opposite of what is. It is NOT gossip when you pointed out that Renato died of aids. You are clarifying a situation. By pointing that out, you are protecting other people from the dangers of the disease. I have nothing against Renato dying of aids. If anything, I enjoyed him just as much, maybe more than when I heard he died of cancer. The picture somehow did not fit. That is his play. The same as Brian Sisler. This is why we are all unique.
Gossip is when someone deliberately track down your sex life in order to make your life miserable.
348/10/Teresa Dozzi
CAUSE & EFFECT (Conspiracy to Defraud, DESECRATION)
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Paola,
Tell me, have you heard that voice too ?
That comforting, whispering “I” that dismisses all strange feelings of awkwardness
when we allow something “wrong”(or stupid) to happen ,
with the good old “it’s only feminine dominance” perfect-universal-ultimate buffer.
I’ve made many mistakes listening to that voice too.
And I’ve never blinked.
It’s horrible to realize my own level of immaturity now,
as much as it must have being painful for you to face yours.
I have never blinked.
I knew from early on that some students were asked to “leave their children behind” and
I brought myself to even find their commitment somehow…“noble”.
I knew that those people who we call today “Friends” will have to be ignored tomorrow if they were to loose the School;
I found that only practical and righteous.
I knew about all of the young men being exploited by Robert, and if they wouldn’t recover from it I would say that they weren’t strong enough, that it was THEIR play.
And slept well with that.
I saw double standards everywhere, established by Robert and reproduced in our micro-cosmos on a daily basis, by everyone;
I’ve never recognized the hypocrisy in that.
Our lack of any tangible practice of external consideration , for me, IS the real tragedy in every story I’ve heard so far.
Robert cannot teach it because Robert never practiced it.
We have learnt how to justify and amplify our egocentrism in ourselves and in each other, together with our overly grown, pathetic illusion of superiority on the rest of the human race (“life people”, we call them).
No, today I don’t feel that I’ve been any better, nor any luckier for that matter, only “blinder”.
Robert has come to the point of justifying as “influence C’s Will” all of his many caprices, obsessions, perversions and “itches”
and we have learnt from that how to avoid taking responsibility for our mistakes by blaming the Play, the Gods, the Hormones, the Centre of Gravity etc.
He gave us permission to NOT CARE, because he doesn’t;
He keeps us blind, indifferent and ignorant, as much as HE IS.
Maybe is not too late to find the courage to be a better merely human simple life being.
353/10/Medusa
SEXUAL PREDATOR, Hostile Environment Sexual Harassment, Malicious Intent, Negligent Infliction of Emotional Distress, Reckless Endangerment, Violation of Fiduciary Duty, Undue Influence, Breach of Trust, Coercion, Misapplication of Funds, Conspiracy to Defraud, Collusion, Connivance, Discrimination, Intentional Infliction of Emotional Distress, Crime against Humanity (The FOF).
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As it said, it takes a bit of time for a sexual predator to identify, corner, and exploit their prey. They are usually not violent rapists, they pick and choose. As with the others, I had to be groomed in an outlying center for a period of time. Back then, Robert was not ‘teaching’ or traveling to host meetings at US centers; he had enough in his pool of potential victims arriving daily at Renaissance.
No, I was certainly not informed or warned of Robert Burton’s predatory sexual behavior beforehand by neither my well-meaning center directors nor older students of the Fellowship of Friends; if you remember there was and still is a ‘gossip exercise’ in place. I was told he was celibate, and I believed it. I spent a period of time living at Renaissance, experiencing and witnessing the dichotomy of the somewhat Spartan lifestyle of a Renaissance employee and the lavish lifestyle of our illustrious leader. My aim was to find out whom this self proclaimed ‘conscious being’ was and how he could help my evolution. Remember, he was not leading meetings then, so being close to the ‘teacher’ was regarded by everyone I met as a good thing, and an honor. I was young, earnest, and not interested at the time in getting married right away, so apparently that made me fair game.
The personal ‘duties’ of the academy concubines was rotated, and I was greatly relieved when Mr. Moonshine traveled for 6-8 weeks at a stretch. Although given a choice between working my ass off in the hot sun six and sometimes seven days a week to prepare for the ark for the ‘great depression’, versus traveling all expenses paid to Europe to dine on some fine wine, food, and impressions for my developing soul (as the he dined on my precious bodily fluids), well what can I say…I went with the program. I didn’t realize as I do now the extent to which I was set up.
I could only take about a year of this crap before I reached my limit. If you have spent time living on ‘the property’, you will agree that time tends to distort when you are working such long hours on not much first state. Sometimes when a lot is happening to you all at once, you have to bury it and deal with it later. As far as the frequency of my ‘personal servitude’, that is immaterial. Let’s say numerous and quite enough in duration to incite such explosive and accusing letters so many years later, don’t you think? It’s just the raw and uncensored truth. I am not looking to start a school, civil lawsuit or anything here. I hope I can ‘poison’ Robert’s pool of future potential victims by exposing his spiritual crimes so he cannot do harm to other sincere seekers such as me.
When I first found out about this blog and began reading it, (and I started from page one which I recommend!) my body would sweat profusely, and later I would have bouts of spontaneous crying. I regurgitated what happened to me, unable to contain it any longer. My family has no idea; my wife knows only the tip of the iceberg. I seem to be a bit better now after baring my soul, and I am eternally thankful for this chance to do so within this community. I pray it will inspire others to do the same.
That will have to suffice your questioning mind.
360/10/Whalerider
Conspiracy to DEFRAUD, Joint Negligence, Collusion, Connivance, Coercion, Deliberate Indifference, Negligent & Intentional infliction of Emotional Distress, Favoritism, False Pretenses, Discrimination, RECKLESS ENDANGERMENT (D).
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You must understand, Pepper, that brainwashing is not only something that happens through words, but through actions and forms. It is not what is said, which definitely counts and we will slowly unwind it all, but what is done.
The show in the Fellowship shows a certain kind of Robert Burton, Girard Haven, Collin L., Guinever, Steven, Meredith, Frances, Robert and Rowena, there are so many, Linda Ts., Karens, and those that don’t even appear, that hide in their lives but still belong to the Fellowship of Friends for god knows what economic reason…
That is how we indoctrinated each other, on each others being, on each other’s lack of integrity, on the delusion that a sick man pretending to be a man number seven is authentic. We all held it, one way or another, with sincere conviction. I did too, as much as any one of them and from my black sheep position.
I could still stand up for the beautiful efforts I made but not for Robert. He always behaved like a sick man who would not acknowledge anybody else except Girard, Asaf, people he sat up there once in an eon and the men that were tested.
And they, in their infinite vanity, approved to sit up there and hold the myth of a man that has had the bad luck to divide into two different people, like the rest of us were having to do, to put up the show and neglect the reality behind the show.
I am trying to tell you, Chile Pepper, that the Fellowship of Friends which I once loved as much as you do, is a dangerous place for your deepest I.
The contradictions that you have to adapt to, to be able to remain in it, go against any body’s integrity. It is no longer enough to say, “I don’t understand this, I don’t know why Robert does that” and justify with indoctrinating language that simply puts a cover over the observation to keep the show running.
I beg you to understand that if I did not seriously believe that the show is dangerous to your innermost integrity I would not be screaming like this. I am no better than anybody else and have a thousand things to resolve for myself, but the love I have for my husband is not a love that will silence the damage I have seen the Fellowship do on his being and he, do to other people.
The money we loose, which is no small figure and certainly makes a hole after this many years, is nothing compared to the loss of integrity. Do not think that it is not terrifying to be out here with the dreams of a lifetime gone down the drain.
The persistent questioning of what it is that I stand for and what not, the fear of not knowing what is the truth when the truth was the work, the fellowship, consciousness, the community, my husband…. but none of these dreams ever actualized themselves in the fellowship of friends.
They on the contrary, disintegrated into the many contradictions of a consciousness without functions, a leader that would not extend himself out to anybody and who created separations where they should have never existed.
I have seen those separations invade so thoroughly a man, MY HUSBAND, in case you have not yet understood what I am talking about, that he can no longer distinguish between one and the other man that lives within himself.
But the effects are there in his crippled body, in the fact that he has not tasted the lightness of joy with any woman, in the uniform that keeps everything in order so that nothing can get out of his hands because any thing out of place will have him hitting his head and swearing, at all the innate perversity of inanimate objects that challenge his being without compassion. You probably do not understand what it means when a man cannot even deal with inanimate objects to control the expression of negative emotions.
I will tell you a story. On our trip to Kiev, a few students traveled for two days to meet Girard for an afternoon and return immediately so that they could be at their jobs by Monday. Others traveled only one day.
During the events that took place my husband continued to support the merciless lack of external consideration of the school amongst other things, by simply not allowing anyone else to talk. By simply not listening to others for one of the great damages that the fellowship has done on my husband is that he CANNOT listen to others.
JUST LIKE ROBERT and the newly trained Asaf. After thirty years of being his most loving student, Robert now shifts him out and photographs him for this same behavior through Asaf.
Tell me, what has Robert been doing for thirty years if he has not even had the time to protect and help his most convinced and loving student? One willing to split himself physically and spiritually just like him?
The lack of external consideration has invaded these men’s being so thoroughly that they cannot even see the misery in which they live.
The money that is made in centers should remain in the centers and not come to support this prostitution. The money would then be used by those in the center who would be able to see their effort and work, manifested, and not disappear in the invisibility of an illusion. We need to assume responsibility for everything we do, especially the money we make, because how money is handled shows the being that is handling it.
Dorothy died this morning. She has freed her self. She has freed me. Now I can leave. May her soul bring back the gratitude of sharing, to this God forsaken Fellowship of Friends.
376/10/Elena
Conspiracy to Defraud, Material Misrepresentation, Fraudulent Misrepresentation, Falsity, Collusion, Connivance, Deliberate Indifference, Undue Influence.
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My feeling is that far from supporting an open discussion, the “leucocytes” would much, much rather the blog somehow went away—which of course it will, but in its own good time. The FOF has already tried their version of a blog or discussion board. It was soon abandoned because the heady winds of freedom were too much for the management of the empire.
They literally did not know what to do with the new information—so out went the order, “close it down”. They could not trust the members to faithfully regurgitate the party line (transmission of order), or to see or choose for themselves.
Little did they know, that like this blog, it had the potential to give them everything they needed to know to ensure the health and longevity of the organization—if only they had ears to hear. So ironic.
Even in the ‘old days’ when there was a journal (a kind of record of meetings, beautifully printed on a letterpress and sent out to individuals in all the centers, for those who can’t remember), the ‘angles’ and viewpoints were heavily censored and often entirely re-written or invented by Burton and Linda T; control right down to the last period (“full stop”, in the rest of the English–speaking world). I’d guess the brief attempt to create a discussion board was an aberration by someone who didn’t understand the probable consequences, or who exceeded their authority.
398/10/Ames
DESECRATION
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That is what one of my friends did to investigate the statement that RB often made in the past, that is: C-Influence is persecuting the Fellowship of Friends by taking the lives of its members at a seemingly high rate (I paraphrase). This friend inventoried all deaths that occurred in the Fellowship of Friends since 1977 (Fellowship of Friends did not keep very accurate statistics before, but few students, if any, died before then). Only deaths of members were quantified (Kevin K. would be tallied but not Brian S., for instance)
405/10/Opus111
FRAUDULENT MISREPRESENTATION (fraud)
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Post #392 from “A Former Student” had many interesting points. I found particular resonance with:
“the use of the idea of a Play has been misused by the FOF to encourage individuals to give up will and justify failing to act on individual conscience.”
This caused me a great deal of concern in the Fellowship from the beginning — I had understood that the idea of giving up self-will was something that had a definite, limited time period, and would be based on the leader’s assessment of the individual requirements of the individual. When I realized there was nothing but general tasks and exercises, red flags went up, but it took lots of time and increasing misery to act on them. A primary problem was that the exercises and suggestions seemed bent on molding individuals into people that shared Robert’s likes and dislikes, as though one could change one’s fundamental being in this area. It felt like working to change the size and shape of my ears.
417/10/Innernaut
FRAUD IN THE INDUCEMENT, DESECRATION, FAVORITISM
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While you are correct that you will not hear him talk about being Christ, many students make this comparison and they constantly say that he is either a man number seven or eight. The teacher is treated like a god and if you question anything it is blasphemy and will get you scolded, ostracized or kicked out the school.
For those of you on the blog who haven’t been in the “school” for the last four years the teaching has completely abandoned the system. Ouspensky and G no longer serve as the foundation. Soon after a meeting on “know thyself” personal angles were not considered for Sunday meetings and the teacher started delving into the Sufis and the bible among others. Students were asked to stop reading forth way material and the teacher went in a new direction and insisted everyone follow.
During this period Girard became marginalized (a few Giradites- ardent followers of Girard still follow struggles to interpretation the new teaching with the desperate hope of making sense of it in forth way terminology.) and a new being Asaf was developed to replace Girard. Asaf has been pivotal in helping Robert establish the new teaching. He is a very nice young man, and charming and truly believes in what he is doing, as does the teacher. Rumor is he is conscious, but like Girard in days of old he denies it for now.
Basically, the “school” seems to be a version of fundamentalist Christian religion put into a more exotic package. Many devote students may stay in the school due to fear of sinning and going to hell. Basically the same fears that keep people in the pews are keeping people loyal to the school.
430/10/Moon Angel
DISCRIMINATION, fraud, False Pretenses
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But it is subtle. You mention the women in power, yes, there are women in power in the Fellowship. Take a good look at them, with compassion and tell me what you see.
I am not here interested in defending myself for having being treated like a third or fourth class citizen in that miserable institution called Isis, for it is neither a group, nor a society or a community but an institution, more and more, for mentally ill people.
We had perhaps just one letter on the blog that I clearly remember from a female student who had been in the Fellowship of Friends for twenty years, and stated every angle I have said about the Fellowship, that all she counted for was to pay money, that she never had any other role, and that she had ill health. One woman, twenty years in the Fellowship is enough for the questioning down to the ground be necessary because THIS IS SUPPOSED TO BE A CONSCIOUS SCHOOL.
Speak with Guinevere, for I have heard her, speak with any woman who has worked her share of beauty and been displaced like a piece of cutlery that was done for. But you do not really need to do that because Robert is willing to displace both men and women at his pleasure, without the slightest consideration.
He is a MASTER at seeing people’s weaknesses and using them against them through others having to state it so, with their message from the big guy. In this way, he makes witnesses of the weakness so that the victim feels guilty and accepts the humiliation as Robert’s consciousness and the need to continue working on him/herself.
Here is a man that has lavished on thirty five years of our lives treating people like adorable peasants because we are human enough to not be conscious. NO, we came to the school to learn consciousness, not to be the victims of our lack of consciousness. Were this man a teacher, we would have learned something besides humiliate ourselves before him. And that goes as much for the women, as for the men. Feeble men and women, all of us who put up with it for so long.
432/10/Elena
Note: ‘Coercive Deliberate Misrepresentation of Facts’
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VJ (Virginia J) was suffering of cancer. The day she heard of Cassandra’s death, her illness deteriorated and 3- 4 days later she died. This was a big shock for her and we know these kinds of shocks effects the immune system negatively. This has been researched…
People who move from other countries to the US, often suffer a decline in health due to the difference in quality of foods and their nutrition. Many students can testify this change of nutrition in the fellowship of friends.
A student suffering from Parkinson in the fellowship of friends will tell you if you ask him: Robert says that this is how he will create a permanent tendency to awaken.
434/10/More History Needed?
CAUSE & EFFECT (FRAUD)
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This is a comment about the following *comment*, and not about the person who posted it:
> a person is always free to decide that,
> even if the Fellowship of Friends meets
> those criteria [i.e., the criteria of
> being a “cult,” which has a specific
> meaning], he or she likes it anyway
I think this turn of phrase misses an important point. The point is about “freedom to decide.”
A person induced to distrust her ability to think critically is not “free to decide.” Rather she is bound to decide in a way uninformed by the critical perceptions she was induced to mistrust. This point is central to the “circular reasoning” that JoelF so aptly described above.
438/10/Veronicapoe
Fraudulent Misrepresentation ‘of a fourth way school’
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Even in the ’80s when I was a member I felt this to be a strong element of the Fellowship of Friends. Alchemy, impressions, negativity — these things were not offered as ideas to be experimented with and their value verified in terms of one’s own personal requirements — you were expected to put on a suit and tie, clean up your act and conform. Failure to do so met with very heavy judgment and tsk-tsking (ie, morality). There was an air of the Puritanical, especially on the East Coast where I spent half my time. Also, there was always the threat of eternal damnation of one’s immortal soul — if one left the school, one’s soul was lost to the moon. So it sounds like the form has changed, but not the substance.
441/10/Innernaut
CAUSE (fraud)
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To Alice in W (10/449):
“I have a question for those of you who have been close to RB and have spent time with him. Does he ever question his actions? Does he have doubts? Does he wonder if how he treats people might hurt them? Does he wonder if he is doing right action?”
From what I could tell, no, no, no and no.
459/10/Don Juan
Note; (EFFECT) ‘The Fellowship of Friends’ (FRAUD)
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This is the last portion of a letter I’ve written to Girard that I wish to share on the blog. Elena
I have to thank you for having had the good will for there was good will on your part as in mine. We tried and lost or tried and gained what was possible. No mean intention, just our beings couldn’t make it any better. You say I must be as sick as you because one day I loved you, another I was furious.
Yes, I must have been sick or just naive in trying to love you when I knew everything I knew about you. Your porno addiction, the fact that you weren’t sexually able (and God knows how you managed to recover, never being better than when we separated), the fact that you were so sick and neurotic that you hit yourself and swore so often,
the fact that year after year you were unwilling to do anything for us to have time or joy for ourselves, the fact that it took four years for you to finally be the first force to take us out and I was so shocked that four years had gone by for me to experience beauty and time and freedom again, that I cried all day while looking at the birds in Grail Lodge, but you wonder why I’d get so unhappy.
But it would have taken another four years before you were willing to take us out again (Yes, we went once more, but it was as if you were doing me a favor, not something you really wanted for yourself, you thought you were wasting time when you spent time with me) and it’ll take another lifetime for you to understand that the fellowship of friends cannot be a club in which you work and keep your wife out, that you either make a conscious community and live a decent life in it with your family and friends or cannot call it a community and even less a conscious school.
Yes, I was always trying to push your limits so that you would understand that I was worth your time enough for you to push the community you supported into an understanding of love and respect between a man and a woman.
But no, you were not willing to support me and allowed for Robert, Linda, Karen and Susan and another one whose name I forget to withdraw any recognition for my work with Dorothy and humiliate me for having taken what you considered a not good enough job for people like you. You are the Fellowship’s slave and expected me to be the same, although your slavery still has a pitiful recognition.
You people who are in power in the Fellowship and are therefore recognized and acknowledged by the establishment, that is, Robert, think no one else should expect to be recognized or acknowledged. No, you think people should work their asses off to support the school, third line, without recognition and then you justify your attitude with some “conscious” idea that “people should not expect reward,” “people should not work for a result,” “people should do their job and work only on themselves,” or as you say in your letter:
“I could point out that if you let the Fellowship use you, that was your mechanics and therefore was something you needed to see and free yourself from in order to have the possibility of further spiritual growth. What is frightening, though perhaps unavoidable, is the payment we sometimes have to make to see ourselves.”
And with that you are willing to justify no matter how much suffering people have to go through for having put any good will into the Fellowship of Friends. With that you justify Robert’s use of men for his sexual pleasure, the Fellowship’s use of people for economic viability and your own use of women for really nothing more than your sexual satisfaction.
It is not really that surprising since indeed you are programmed by an American mentality which is as willing to do the same to other countries in a much bigger scale and think it is too bad if the people in the other country are too weak to protect themselves against you.
What Robert and you in the inner circle of the Fellowship of Friends have not understood is that everyone needs to be a part of a community and not just a servant. A part of a marriage and not just a pleasure object. That it is our spiritual right to belong in equal terms to both a marriage and a community. And it was realizing the extent to which Robert’s and your unconsciousness cannot embrace external consideration objectively that freed me from your grip.
You, as much as the Fellowship, were willing to take dignity away from me and when I got angry you labelled me for being crazy.
But I am a lot less crazy than you people are, for I now know the limits of my dignity and the extent of your madness. The lack of dignity with which Robert treats people and the way the inner circle supports that lack of dignity on the students is just as appalling as the fact that you were unwilling to stand up for me on any issue.
You all place yourselves above and think you have the right to decide where we can participate and at the same time allow Robert to treat you like dirt because you too have lost all dignity, as so many ex-students who have posted here have had the courage to admit in those or other terms, to be able to lie and have control on others.
People who feel no dignity as part of the community they belong to, cannot avoid becoming depressed, inner consider, or get angry or instead go into an opposite behavior and look like they are perfectly hypnotized with a smile from ear to ear like my friend Helen in the gardens and Abraham and even Thomas, recently.
But most students of the older generation just look terribly bitter. The women more bitter than the men, the men, many, are acquiring this strange, feeble expression, this softness that is neither feminine nor masculine, just feeble.
That is probably why Robert cannot stand their presence, because he sees what he has done to them and has to cover it up with young people who do not yet show the damage he is doing to them.
It is true that after four years of being a nobody next to you, someone who you did not even have time to talk to, I feel pretty insecure about myself, but I am not going to do myself any harm now that I understand. I have learned to “be” above the Fellowship of Friends and have nothing to thank you or the Fellowship for.
It was my own effort and good will that allowed me to get there in spite of your ill treatment of me, it was my work with Dorothy that kept enough dignity within me to know that I was still human and you had fallen below anything one could call, human dignity. If I saved Dorothy from the inhumanity of the Fellowship, she equally saved me from you and the Fellowship and I think she did me a far greater service than I ever did her.
I have only loved you for four years and admired you since I joined the Fellowship but Robert I loved for seventeen years and dedicated my work to his support for that length of time. He was a hundred times more neglectful and inconsiderate than you were. Next to him, you are an angel. After hearing Shelley M.’s story, I realized how he was equally confused with me. He thought I had money when I joined and they sat me next to him always.
Then he realized all my questions questioned him and he placed me as far as he could. Then stopped me from giving angles for two years and finally just stopped any angles anywhere. It is really absurd how unintelligent he is. He could have asked me to leave long ago and would not have to put up with this play.
It just shows how things happen to us, we are all victims of our own invention, and must assume responsibility for our doings. Yes, I assume responsibility for my love, for being a student and a wife, and Robert must assume responsibility for pretending to be a conscious teacher and you for being his main supporter and my husband. We all have to assume responsibility and not just find scapegoats.
Those who cannot see, think it is blaming and complaining but taking responsibility is not a negative emotion.
I think I’ll post this letter on the blog because my play is many women’s play in different scales within the Fellowship and they may profit from reading it. You are not the only egotistic, self committed macho that supports the fellowship, you’re just one who deeply helped to indoctrinate the rest and they all behave like you in greater or lesser degree.
Besides, what I am saying is as good for the Fellowship as for life, it is a phenomenon of our time and one person’s play is simply the expression of that huge phenomenon.
I offer my self for others to look at because there is nothing in it to be ashamed of and I expose you and Robert not because you are my husband, who I would have preferred to protect but because you, like Robert, have dared to pretend that you are more conscious than the rest of us for thirty five years and you are not, you used, abused and deceived our good will.
Once women understand that they are as worth while human beings as men and recover the long lost dignity that the patriarchal authoritarian structure has stripped away from us, we will be able to help men recover their long lost dignity, as men and human beings, by simply not allowing them to treat us any less than we should be treated. True men that have understood this will not be offended by my words.
Homosexuals like Robert are so sick that they even treat other men as the stereotype macho, treats women, and young men have so little dignity themselves, that they allow it to happen, unaware of the price they are paying in their being.
What we are not willing to protect amongst these young men in the Fellowship is their human dignity with the excuse that they offered themselves. You are all so sick, placing a twenty five year old next to a sixty year old and say it is equal ground. That is what each person still in the Fellowship is still supporting and you are so sleep you think there are no spiritual consequences to your loss of dignity but dignity is something you can’t buy.
Infra sex is infra sex, no matter where. Was that not one of the main issues in the work? Don’t let anything black come to the sex center, but in the Fellowship, it couldn’t be darker.
Not once has the Fellowship of Friends ever addressed the subject of positive emotions. At least in that, it was sincere. They could not fake what they don’t have and that is in the long run how spiritually, people can be recognized.
A conscious school would be able to develop positive emotions to a much greater extent than standard life. Dignity is presence. True pride, transparency, compassion, humility and gratitude, were never developed within Robert Burton’s Fellowship of Friends. What his school developed was shame, fear, frustration, anger, desolation, separateness, infra sex, lack of friendship, lack of human solidarity, service hood, humiliation.
462/10/Community (Elena)
Fraud in the Inducement (EFFECT)
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But should it surprise me that students who made the black sheep of me are now disliking me even more after the black sheep has turned real and is questioning them down to the ground?
No, I have nothing personal against any one student even if there are accounts to clarify with some but in general, we were all victims of a situation that was caused by our different positions in relation to Robert and how we each grabbed on to that relationship is what caused our secondary connections.
That is why he is the one who I question the most, because he is the one who is most sick, who I most loved and who most hurt me, used me, exploited me.
I do not think I owe the Fellowship any of the money I ever payed it. I should have it back, ALL OF IT and that would only cover 10% of the damages the Fellowship has had me suffer. I have nothing but suffering to thank the Fellowship for, or did I ever look like I was having fun?
You have not understood so very much of what I am trying to say but it is as much that I may not be 100% clear as that you do not wish to hear 100%.
On the question of there being an institutionalized responsibility of the Fellowship with the health of students, these are the steps to conscious communities (objective institutions that offer the people some simple human guarantees) and the lack of that simply shows how the institution of the Fellowship, (to not call it the brothel) is organized so that 80? 70?% of the income goes to Robert and the support of his life-style. There is no consciousness in his life-styles and had I known clearly what was done with the money from the beginning I would not have joined.
What has not been understood is that a conscious community, a conscious man, would not be able to establish any unlawful relationships with any other human being. A conscious community would establish enough official channels to guarantee the safety and integrity of its participants. 90% (!) of the things that happen in the Fellowship in relation to money, sex, human interaction, could never occur in a conscious community.
470/10/Elena
Note ~ To Consider in relation to Robert Burton and the Fraud in the Inducement occurring in the Fellowship of Friends Hostile Environment Sexual Harassment, Coercion, Negligent Misrepresentation and Discrimination.
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“If you have not by nature a critical mind your staying here is useless.” G. I. Gurdjieff
“If you have not by nature a critical mind your staying in the Fellowship of Friends cult is mandatory.”
The King of Clubs is the enemy of delusion. The Fellowship of Friends is what happens when the work ideas are mixed into a crowd of people that do not understand the need to develop all the lower centers. The intellectual story of the instinctive center is an entirely necessary part of the intellectual story as a whole because it can always hear a lie.
The king of clubs is the machine’s lie detector, even when the intellectual center and the emotional center are in full agreement with the statements of another it is the king of clubs that ignores all the ideas and words and looks at the body language and the radiated energy of the speaker. The king of clubs is what hears the ulterior motive behind the disingenuous outward appearance of a generous and platonic attention from someone who is in fact simply seeking to sexually gratify an obsessive appetite. The king of clubs is what directly witnesses the apparent and hidden appetites of people.
When a false prophet wants your money, wants to satisfy his sexual lusts and wants to control you it is the king of clubs that recognizes the real motivate in spite the elaborate spiritual con game. When a six foot four, 200 pound son of a butcher from Arkansas tells you that the all knowing gods want you to submit to him sexually it is the king of clubs that says no. This is one reason Burton hates the king of clubs, not to mention that the king of clubs is a threat to the security of his income from people with a wrong magnetic center.
People easily manipulated with extreme ideas and the distortion of useful ideas have what in the Work is known as a wrong magnetic center, they lack the common sense that comes from developing all the centers. They lack the critical mind that requires the presence of the king of clubs. The main reason Burton hates the king of clubs is because his is broken. This is a quotation from the “teacher” in the first days of the Fellowship of Friends (once posted on the internet and substantiated as circulated notes from a Burton meeting):
476/10/The King of Clubs
Conspiracy to Defraud, Collusion, Connivance, Material Misrepresentation, FRAUDULENT MISREPRESENTATION, Joint Negligence, Negligent Misrepresentation, False Pretenses, Misdescription, Willful Misconduct, Official Misconduct, FALSE ADVERTISING, False News, Falsifying a Record, Breach of Trust, Breach of Duty, Fraud.
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I have a question for the Fellowship of Friends members who have the responsibility of contributing to Wikipedia. I would sincerely like to know why there is an attempt to hide the failure of Robert’s predictions by suggesting that they were symbolic and not to be taken literally. As a long time member, I know, you yourself know and many, many others also know that these predictions were never presented as symbolic. Hundreds of quotes can probably be found to substantiate this.
What are you telling yourself when you write these things? It seems that you must have somehow found justification for complying with the notion that truth and honesty are much less important than new recruits. Is the continued existence of the FOF in its current form more important to you than the integrity and moral health of the organization and its members? My sense is that you are damaging yourself by taking on this role.
I would appreciate honest and personal explanations from Peter I., Mario F. and anyone else who is contributing to the information on Wikipedia.
498/10/Vena
CAUSE & EFFECT (Conspiracy to Defraud, Desecration)
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And to regular students who are consistently humiliated, have you observed the I’s that make you think that you should not be feeling this humiliation and opt to buffer it or feel guilty about it because you think it is your own negative emotion?
Robert humiliates students by:
1. Not addressing them personally but en masse, unless he has some particular interest in them.
2. By separating them into groups of those with more and less money.
3. By using student’s money to sexually exploit young men.
4. By setting young men up so that he can exploit them sexually.
5. By using student’s intellectual, emotional and physical resources for his own idolization.
6. By not giving room for students to develop themselves, limiting their scope of participation.
7. By determining what students must talk about, read, and participate in.
8. By acting as if he is the only human being worth listening to on the planet.
9. By looking at people’s clothes up and down before he even greets them, if he greets them at all.
10. By having students pay 800 dollars each for a dinner of twelve people and not addressing them but holding a conversation between himself and Asaf.
11. By not LISTENING to students.
12. By reducing students to mere servants when work on one’s self should be able to bring out the beauty and the talents of each individual and not shame, fear and inner considering.
13. By neglecting students that love and support him.
“The pain that one feels when one is humiliated is that of false personality being diminished.”
According to Mr. Haven then, pain is not real, suffering is not real, humiliation is not real, only false personality is real and it makes those other emotions false. He is welcome to question my interpretation of his words and so are others.
True personality according to him, does not feel humiliated? Is he saying that if Jesus felt humiliated when he was made to walk the streets with a cross while being whipped by the soldiers, he was in false personality? Or is he saying that a man’s being cannot be reduced by humiliation? Does that mean that he does not feel the humiliation? Or that he doesn’t identify with it? And whether a man’s being is not reduced or identified with the humiliation does that make the humiliation any less humiliating?
Why do you think Robert Burton is such a professional humiliating his student’s? How many of the twelve thousand students that have had to leave the Fellowship were humiliated enough that they were not willing to put up with it anymore? The humiliation from Robert or from those in power positions in the inner circle who thought they were also better than the rest?
Here is another angle on humiliation.
Humility is the other side of the coin of pride. While pride is the being knowledge of one’s integrity, humility is the being knowledge of one’s position within the macro cosmic whole. The knowing that one is being served with love by those ahead of one and that one is to serve with love those arriving after one. Ahead and behind, not in the position of class or space, but in the being spirituality. There are no classes, or statuses in the spirit, just spirits evolving, all bounded by love.
Humility and pride are the positive emotions that come from the experience of the hierarchy. Humiliation cannot occur in spiritual hierarchy.
Humiliation is only possible in physical hierarchies. It is the state in which the instinctive center primes. It is done redundantly in life by the way people behave with each other, dress, move, talk to each other.
Indifference, dis-acknowledgement, pedestals, idolatry, are all forms of humiliation. Only people who have not experienced the greatness of their own being with pride and humility can allow others to humiliate them. In doing so, they diminish their own possibilities of experiencing themselves because they depress themselves into lower and lower states until they can no longer recognize themselves but the other. Their “love” for the one that humiliates them, totally replaces their recognition of the being within themselves.
Depression is the expression of an I without pride, without dignity. True dignity does not set itself up for others to humiliate it. It cannot humiliate others. Dignity, humility and pride are positive emotions or qualities of consciousness.
506/10/Elena
COMPANION to 479 (CAUSE & EFFECT) ‘F.O.F. Fraud’
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The family of emotions which includes shame and humiliation is innate and integral to the human affect system. Shame occurs naturally whenever something impedes the experience of positive affect. Humiliation is a species of shame, varying only in degree.
Understanding the experience of shame is necessary to understand narcissism. The most narcissistic persons are completely governed by the need to avoid the experience of shame. It leads them to invent grandiose delusions about themselves, to limit their social contacts to those who tend to reinforce their grandiosity and to devalue those who do not, and to rage when those delusions are threatened.
Elena quotes Girard as having written,
“The pain that one feels when one is humiliated is that of false personality being diminished.”
This really is a central tenet of Fellowship doctrine and it is fallacious. What makes it insidious, as with so much of Fellowship doctrine, is its grain of truth. It *does* take a certain strength to experience and acknowledge shame and humiliation. It represents an improvement over the degree of narcissistic impairment that refuses to acknowledge such emotions and flees the experience of them into grandiose delusions about oneself. The essence of the *innate* negative affect called “shame-humiliation” is a *physiological* response that occurs when something interferes with the experience or expression of positive affect. Being present to shame-humiliation is being present to what’s actually going on in one’s individual affect system at a given moment.
Where the idea goes wrong, as Girard has expressed it, is that it tends to make the experience of humiliation a means of eradicating the ineradicable.
The logic of the thing goes like this: Some event or experience is causing me to feel humiliated.
(Jim has shot randomly into the herd of elk with an Uzi and taken off, leaving the hunters humiliated to deal with the angry farmers and repair the broken fence.)
(Robert has deliberately dropped a glass onto the floor in the Coffee Tree and the waitstaff have to come clean it up.)
(The new student fails at the word exercise and is photographed for it so often that she finds herself unable to put together a coherent thought.)
(Joseph is glowered at for daring to eat while Asaf talks.)
Because the Fellowship ideology provides that when humiliation happens, “false personality” is being reduced, this humiliation experience is viewed as spiritually salutary. I am humiliated, therefore I must be evolving.
The logical conclusion of this position is to exalt the experience of shame and humiliation, to make it sought after and central, and to subject people to increasingly humiliating experiences for their own spiritual good. The notion seems to be, somehow, that through this trial of fire, one eradicates the part of oneself that is “less real,” the so-called “false personality.”
The problem is that the shame-humiliation family of emotions belong to us and are no more or less real than joy, excitement, interest, sadness, anger, and disgust. They are ineradicable and innate. We can no more rid ourselves of them than we can stand on our own shoulders, and all attempts to do so must end in humiliation.
523/10/Veronicapoe
Deliberate Indifference, Moral Turpitude, Disparent Treatment, Intentional and Negligent Infliction of Emotional Distress, FRAUD, Desecration, SEXUAL PREDATOR.
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If you multiply that feeling that you have about my exposing my husband’s private life, by a hundred or rather, a thousand, you will get a glimpse of what it felt like to me to have to observe Robert’s exposition of the men he submitted to having sex with him for seventeen years. His bringing them out to dinners and events to show us how he was not under feminine dominance and to show them how powerful he was that he could get away with it with the blessing of the whole bunch of us snoring people was the most enduring and humiliating thing I have had to experience in the course of my life.
This multiple double standards and double morality in which we are at the same time rubbed Robert’s sexuality on our faces and Girard’s unquestioned indoctrination supporting it so that he can justify his own addiction because his teacher’s is blessed, will no longer stop me from questioning them. I am OUT of the Fellowship and no longer under those laws that make you think that what is proper for me is not proper for your teachers.
Tell me friends or if you prefer, ex friends, ex husband, ex teacher, what in the Fellowship of Friends happens without the feminine dominance or control of Robert Burton and his multiple assistants? Since when have you given up the opportunity to think and decide for yourself how the life of the community you live in, pay for, support, love, should develop or are you really going to accept being a nobody for the rest of your life who is thrown out if you wish to participate in the game that you are paying for? Because it is Robert’s school? Is that really what you call the development of your self, your presence, your self determination, your integrity, your consciousness?
525/10/Elena
EFFECT (FRAUD)
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Depression is anger inappropriately turned inward at oneself. IMO the best use of anger is as a fuel and motivator to take action for positive change. Remaining silent in the face of crime or injustice reinforces the status quo. Releasing and expressing negative feelings without identification is taking responsibility for oneself (and community) instead of letting them fester inside and turning into an ongoing negative, irritable emotional mood.
Warning others in a public way about potential spiritual pitfalls (such as sexual predators masquerading as conscious beings) is not only paying forward some good karma, but also a way to transcend victimization.
529/10/Whalerider
End of Posts from PART 10
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Love to you all.
EFFECT (Misdescription, Fraudulent and Material Misrepresentation, False Advertising, False News, Falsifying a Record, Fault of Omission, Collusion, Connivance.) *a4
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#439/8′ For my friend: it is the most disturbing story I’ve ever heard.
I remember that story, it came out a few years ago in the same way as you wrote it and shocked all of us here. Then, almost immediately, the news came that the woman accused her husband in raping her daughter because she was jealous of him. Later the story changed again into that the girl lied because she had a crash on her mother’s husband!
How ugly, twisted and perverse this all is! Crime after crime after crime.
Robert did all in his power to turn anybody away from him. I don’t know what else the man has to do to make people wake up and leave him, to actually run away as quickly as possible from such a monster. Does he now have to murder someone? Or it would be justified again, in the same manner, as all his other hideous crimes?
I am so sorry, my friend, I hope you’ll find strength to rebuild your life. I wonder how is your beautiful daughter doing? Last time I saw her she was about 3 years old, so pretty…
2/9/Rita Penfold
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*A4
M., spent 6-9 (possibly up to a year) months in the Yuba County jail; the Fellowship of Friends spun the reasons why he was there as quickly and as sporadically contradictory as they could so to have confusion reign from all four quadrants of the Fellowship of Friends ‘grape vine’;
it is a ‘tool’ of Robert Burton and friends to have many different objective ‘opinions’ circulating at once, whereas no one story exactly matches or finishes another,
right of privacy and fear kept most of the Fellowship of Friends community in ‘the dark’ concerning what lawyers and social workers (+ the police on the scene/interviewers and medical examiners of the girl) knew,
had ‘no thing’ occurred that night, save some jealous ‘hearsay’ M. would not have been behind bars for simple suspicion; that’s what restraining orders are for.
CAUSE & EFFECT (Conspiracy to DEFRAUD)
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It is by suppressing information and communication, that the school has been able to function the same way for years, without questioning itself.
This has been organized through a series of subtle exercises: not expressing negative emotions, refraining from gossiping, not to have judgment, not seeing students that have left the school, not reading newspapers, not listening to the news, …….
On one side these exercises did change our being, brought efforts and real results , but on the other hand, they have brought a disastrous consequences upon relationships among student’s, upon second line work in general, and upon the discrimination faculty in each of us.
The school ensures that each one undermines its personal experience, and even feels guilty about it.
It institutionalizes the self-depreciation throughout the years.
Very few among us can affirm that they offered themselves what they offered to Robert or to the school.
Isn’t that what we call of feminine dominance?
Only a total acceptance of the third line as it is today, allows an ersatz of second line, pale substitute to the quality of human relationship, which we have the right to expect and to live.
In preventing any blossom of conscience in human relations and in the realization of our lives, we have developed irresponsibility and emotional immaturity .
Conscience, this is really the main issue:
After having during years learned the simplicity of the present, the school now asks for mental gymnastics, which excludes verification, rigour and integrity.
Who can affirm to have verified the last conclusions and deductions of the teaching (prehistoric tradition, and so on..,)?
Who among us can re-explain these elements, from the depths of themselves, without taking again the pre-established, formatted and repetitive formulations that they have recorded?
These endless research (cathedrals, prehistoric tradition…), which would amuse any scrupulous researcher, trap students in making them believe in the necessity of acquiring always more material in order to be able to be present and awake.
This approach only constitutes a deviation of our attention regarding the essential and each one has his responsibility engaged when he accepts attending a meeting whose content is vacant, without rigor nor verification. We can’t show respect for such a teaching any further.
Our responsibility has been to join a school 23 years ago, not a religious organization.
The reasons of Robert to act in this direction may appear obscure, but obviously the results are not following.
To decide to stay in the school only for maintaining strong friendship and a pleasant social life appears to us to be the wrong choice.
We leave peacefully, by taking along what we gained and what belongs to us; and by leaving behind us what is without substance and illusory. In Friendship.
9/9/Aline C. and Alexandre K., Paris
CAUSE (Deliberate Indifference, Child Endangerment, Collusion, Connivance, Reckless Endangerment, Violation of Fiduciary Duty, Official Misconduct, False Pretenses, Negligence, Intentional Infliction of Emotional Distress, Invasion of Privacy, Malicious Intent.
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Siddiq (437): “I never expected a personal relationship with a teacher when I joined, but since many years now I do enjoy a deep, and I trust, lasting friendship which I will never trade or betray for anything. The day before I met Robert for the first time, a student, now deceased, said to me, about Robert, “****, You’ll never have a better friend…”
For My Friend (439): “A few months later after a Margarita Dinner with the Teacher he goes to her 9 years old daughter’s bedroom at night and molests her. When little girl screams for help and tells to her mom what happened, my friend reacts as any normal mother would and immediately calls the police…RB’s comment on this was that she made a tremendous mistake to call the police. Different students would talk to her everywhere expressing their mostly judgmental opinions. Among many there were: “he is an angel, he was with Robert” “he is in essence” “it was a Play written by the Gods”… A phone call from Linda T. – “The will of your Teacher is to not divorce him. Work with your queen of hearts. Are you going to disobey the will of your teacher?”
Siddiq, I hope to see you at the Greater Fellowship Party. I’ll be the one wearing the “I’m Not Rabbi Burns” t-shirt. I’m hoping you can explain how you can believe 437 in the light of 439 and the many similar stories.
10/9/Rabbi Burns
SEXUAL PREDATOR, Hostile Environment Sexual Harassment, Collusion, Connivance, Coercion.
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Dear friends is “Trauma and Recovery” or “Waking the Tiger” or any other book teaches you how to help an abused person to realize that he is abused and start healing? Or is it only for those who already started to look out for help or healing?
I have many friends RB’s (Robert Burton) boys who are being abused for 5 or 10 years! They “managed” their natural feelings. They never speak about IT. They avoid talking about feelings at all. They became tough, they don’t listen to their “mechanicality” and they do not look out for help.
They feel challenged to “do what the machine does not want to do”, “stick it out till the end” or feel like “this is like a prison” and don’t want to give up, but one thing they don’t know – they are sick! They don’t know that people can be nice, loving, fair, just, happy – they don’t trust anyone! They believe that this what makes them conscious!
It is a very sad story. How to help them? What words, what techniques can “un-do” the abuse? I heard that there are some practices that help abused children to open up, to see it for what it is, and get it out of their system!
11/9/HELP!
EFFECT (Deliberate Indifference; Joint Negligence, Conspiracy to Defraud, Collusion, Connivance.)
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# 439 The story about the men molesting his “wifes daughter”
Dear: “for a friend” and all of us…
Did you know that you can get the person out of the country by just calling and informing the INS or the Oroville church who had so many accounts and treats to the Fellowship of Friends?
Did you realize that?
And nobody does anything. Not you, not anybody else not me ….?
Is not that strange?
Did you know that your friend has a long standing history of abuse in more then one level?
Is not that strange?
We are part of this community, we do not act nor to prevent any abuse in the further. We do not act? STRANGE….
A question for the wise…among us!
Can we really change the future? And how?
Or is change already happening now?
14/9/More History Needed?
CAUSE (Fraud in the Inducement)
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Regarding friendship with Burton. I have personally seen him many times in a ‘snit’, (which describes the flavor but is totally inadequate to describe the power of his emotions—if he hadn’t told me himself that he is conscious, I’d have thought that he was extremely identified) when he is crossed by his former ‘friends’, ranging from the rants (going on for months) about betrayal when folks of the caliber of Miles B. left, to pronouncements of criminality when less important persons such as myself leave, to petty acts of revenge when some woman takes affection or sperm from one of his boys.
I would call him a fair-weather friend at best, certainly no conduit for unconditional love. I’d advise you to read up on “narcissistic personality disorder’ as quick as you can, and see if the shoe fits, then study the typical behavior of a narcissist when someone in his circle withdraws support.
The value of a friend is not only when the going is good, in my opinion, but when disagreements come up; when ‘push comes to shove’, a true friend tells you what you need to know, not what makes you comfortable. To me, a measure of one’s valuation for such a true friend is how one accepts the information, and how much gratitude one can bring to the situation, if not immediately, at least upon reflection. I have never heard Burton express simple gratitude for the work and being of anyone who crossed him or left the Fellowship of Friends. Have you?
15/9/Ames Gilbert
EFFECT (Conspiracy to Defraud) Companion to Post 488
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For my friend #8/439
I think this is the most disgusting story so far regarding the inhumanity of Burton and his supporters. Just completely repugnant and inhumane, really. What was even more chilling was that I had no surprise or incredulity, just sat shaking my head and thinking, “how low can you go?” The fact that it’s not shocking is what’s shocking to me.
19/9/Skeptical Optimist
CONSPIRACY TO DEFRAUD, False Impersonation, Collusion, Connivance, Malicious Intent, FALSITY, Desecration.
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I was in the FoF 1974-1990 and had NO idea that these crimes were occurring. I used to wonder though. Although my path seldom crossed with RB’s “boys”, and I don’t recall really knowing any of those who lived with him, occasionally I’d ask an “older student” if they knew whether Robert was still celibate.
Of course, the inevitable assurances were that he was. From time to time I would wonder to myself and question the strange energy that circulated around the entire Academy scene, yet I continued to embrace the commonly held paradigm/reality … overlooking my own knowing! My own intuition! My own common sense!
I believed Robert when he said he was celibate AND conscious. And what an incredibly successful deceit!!! It has been amazingly maintained over the years – just phenomenal! To have ever “believed” any of it seems spectacularly naive. Even now, the lie continues! It continues, as crimes of such nature do, held up and supported by any combination of desperation, fear, ignorance, denial, and complicity.
Irony: When I first joined the FoF one of the important features we were taught about was a feature called “no shame”. That concept disappeared pretty fast. To me, now, Robert and those who support him have no shame.
I look at my son, who is 23, and cannot imagine something like this happening to him. We think we are so wise, so knowing at that age. Instead we are very impressionable, still becoming aware of the dynamics of the world around us, still learning how to protect and take care of ourselves. Better thank that king of clubs too, we need it! How many would have kept out of harm’s way if they had just listened to their king of clubs?
27/9/SusanK
EFFECT (To Consider; The History of the Fellowship of Friends and Robert Burton.) *r3
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I have no way of knowing if Kiran’s story about being approached on his “deathbed” by Abraham Goldman is true. When I read it, it didn’t seem that far-fetched, based on other stories that have been told about Robert’s contacts–often through an intermediary–with some dying students over the years, at least one of which (the Sharole Mannering cameo reclamation) is well documented.
I don’t know Kiran personally, but I did know Robert Burton and Abraham Goldman. I wasn’t surprised by Kiran’s story, as it didn’t seem uncharacteristic of either Robert or Abraham.
RSVP’s screaming post raises some interesting questions. It admits that Goldman did visit Kiran in the hospital in Cairo, since it asserts that “at all times” during the visit, Kiran’s family members were there.
Why did Goldman visit Kiran in the hospital? It seems reasonable to suppose that he was there in some official Fellowship capacity. Perhaps he was concerned about the possible liability of the Fellowship for the injuries sustained by Kiran and the deaths of his wife and friend. If I recall correctly, Kiran and the two women were traveling at Robert’s request, to investigate opening a center in Egypt.
This is quite speculative on my part, but what if Goldman was there to obtain a release of liability from Kiran, or failing that, to obtain a beneficial interest for the Fellowship in Kiran’s estate, should he die as a result of his injuries? It seems entirely plausible to me.
Then again, this is a situation loaded with “plausible deniability” on the part of Goldman and the Fellowship of Friends. It really comes down to Kiran’s word vs. Goldman’s. Tough call. Kiran was nearly comatose, undoubtedly heavily drugged. Who knows what happened, or what he thought happened? On the other hand, Goldman is a lawyer. Enough said.
As was the case with lawsuits filed against it in the past, the Fellowship’s defensive strategy is based on unequivocal denial, coupled with intimidation. We are seeing more of the same here.
29/9/Cathie
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*r3
The Fellowship lawyer (AG) was debarred for 6 months for ‘jumping through hoops’, compliments of The Fellowship of Friends and Robert Burton’s infamous “Let’s not be formatory.”
JOINT NEGLIGENCE, Connivance, Collusion, Child Endangerment, UNDUE INFLUENCE. *=l
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I heard the story first hand, right after it happened, and again later, and this is all true. Obviously, you present here some of your assumptions, which are not correct. (May be the jerk-molester is your friend?)
You are doing exactly what all of you people without conscience did and keep doing – defend a molester and blame the mother. “He was innocent! And she sucks!”
Do you need more details??? Of what exactly happened? May be let’s get the girl to tell what happened?
Your points are weak. Besides – what about Robert Burton’s loving comment, what about Linda’s call about “the will of the teacher” not to divorce the jerk for his green card?
36/9/For My Friend
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*=l
This is part of the reply to ‘Half Life’ Post 32/Part 9, where ‘Half Life’ disputes the claims of the mother and daughter.
Deliberate Indifference, Intentional Infliction of Emotional Distress, Negligent Infliction of Emotional Distress, Favoritism, Discrimination, Negligent Misrepresentation, False Pretenses, Breach of Trust, Breach of Duty, Collusion, Connivance, Coercion, Moral Turpitude, Undue Influence, Conspiracy to Defraud, Fraud in the Inducement.
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In post number 32, there was mention of someone who was “sweet and would not hurt a fly.” Well. When that person got out of jail, Robert brought him to his side to make it clear that all was forgiven.
Many of us were horrified, though we didn’t do or say anything about it. That person has a history of being an abuser, and he casually ruined another man’s reputation — ironically, by accusing this other man of sexual abuse — just because it got him something he wanted.
None of this mattered because he was one of Robert’s wonder boys.
If a man sleeps with Robert, he can get away with anything. It doesn’t matter how badly he behaves, how many orgies he attends, how many girlfriends he has. He sleeps with Robert, so that makes him an angel.
My message to current Fellowship students is this: People have stories to tell. You would be better off just letting the stories come out. I never wanted to write in this blog at all. What provoked me to do so was the assaults of FOF students. So much for not expressing negative emotions, by the way!
I should have said “mothers and mothers-in-law” urged men to become Robert’s lovers. Also, you say that children aren’t in any danger. Can you explain why, during the years I lived in Oregon House with my children, that no
one felt the need to tell me or anyone else I knew that there was a registered sex offender among the students I knew?
43/9/Lady B
FALSE ADVERTISING, Fraud, Negligent Misrepresentation, Misdescription, Fraudulent Misrepresentation, Material Misrepresentation, False-Association Claim, False Impersonation, False Pretenses, Contractual Fault, Desecration, Connivance, Collusion.
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Re Trademarker’s questions:
Questions to the Fellowship of Friends
>Why is the Fellowship of Friends using the name Gurdjieff-Ouspensky-Centers as a marketing label?
Fellowship of Friends is not ‘marketing’ anything. As to why it uses the names of Gurdjieff and Ouspensky, it uses them because the Fellowship of Friends is in the tradition of the Fourth Way. Both G and O taught that the Fourth Way revolves around being present — and that has been the consistent axis of students in Fellowship of Friends since it began. No change there, in spite of some people’s confusion when forms change. Gurdjieff changed forms repeatedly. Ditto Fellowship of Friends.
Why are you bookmarking books of Gurdjieff that you never read?
We’ve read Gurdjieff’s books, possibly even more often and more deeply than many on this blog.
Why are you placing ads in the name of Gurdjieff and Ouspensky in the internet, even though you claim to have surpassed the Fourth Way and created a new one?
There is no claim to ’surpass’ the Fourth Way and certainly no claim to have created a new way. Fellowship of Friends is the Fourth Way as it now is.
Why are you riding someone else’s train and trying to hitchhike on the credibility and strength of Gurdjieff and Ouspensky?
Isn’t that – Tramp?
Fellowship of Friends is not on someone else’s train. It also taught you everything you know about Tramp, and more that you have probably forgotten.
46/9/Anonymous
CAUSE & EFFECT (Sexual Predator, Reckless Endangerment, Child Endangerment, Moral Turpitude.)
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# MONITORING CRIME Says:
May 13, 2007 at 2:19 am
To my friend 8/439
100% True story.The raper name is Maurizio.The student from Italy.At that time he was working in landscaping.He never smiled,never spoke and always looked upon the ground. People tried to avoid frictions with him because messing with him was messing with Robert Burton.
For years Maurizio was daily beating up Gabriella,his previous wife before his new fraudulent marriage with T. (Gabriella is a very nice and always friendly Italian lady who now married to Japanese student )
And in the school where negative emotion were strictly forbidden people were ignoring that horrible behavior and never spoke about or even mentioned that.Many were aware of his permanent violence but all of them have feared Robert Burton’s anger. Maurizio was a Robert Burton’s lover.He never had his permanent “serving days” and usually was randomly called.
This story is one of the best revelation of Robert Burton’s criminal essence. Many people were praying to see this bustard staid in jail.Where most likely he would harshly and justly die from the same reason he got in there.
After 6 month of imprisonment in Yuba City jail Maurizio was returned to his landscaping octave like nothing happened.
But fate of the depressed abandoned mother and her traumatic daughter remained uncertain to this day.
Message to his former wife T.
Dear T. we all supporting you! Your action was absolutely right.You have acted like a real mother and normal human being.We also know that you were under heavy pressure from the Fellowship of Friends to leave the country before the judgment day.
You will see,the Justice will arrive and every one will get what had deserved. With much support, your friends
53/9/Monitoring Crime
To Consider as an ASPECT of CAUSE & EFFECT
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I did mention alcohol in one of my previous posts and am also surprised that it hasn’t come up more frequently.
After every meeting, wine was served. I don’t think everyone indulged too much, but I’d say that most enjoyed this ritual with verve. It is an entirely acceptable drug in the Fellowship.
Many who I became close to over-indulged with me on a regular basis. (So, yes, I’m including myself in this observation.)
Alcohol is a clear component in the entire equation. It allows one to tell the “truth”, softens perceptions, blurs vision, heightens emotion, breeds dreamy thinking, allows one to behave indiscreetly, exhausts the body and skews reality.
As we all know, alcohol is a potent drug. It is, obviously, the last substance on earth that encourages consciousness.
In my observation, many members could not resist over-indulgence. It seemed that it was such a relief to have a glass of wine after hearing “angles”. Drinking alcohol was an acceptable form of good old-fashioned fun that the Fellowship allowed unequivocally.
Wine numbs the Fellowship members.
59/9/Laughing Love
Companion to #497
For many years it (wine) was (among other alcohol ‘trades’ and ‘exchanges’ for favors for Robert Burton, i.e., used like cash, oftentimes unbeknown to the person performing the professional service or ‘personal service’) common for each person who attended a teaching dinner hosted by Robert Burton to receive a bottle of wine:
wine has been used throughout the history of the Fellowship of Friends by Robert Burton to ‘dull’ the ‘common senses’ of both the Instinctive Brain and Conscience, i.e., the drinking of it was constantly being advertised by Robert Burton as something that “Freed Essence”, “Put one in Essence”, “As a gift from the Gods” (paraphrasing B. Franklin)…
IMO, one of the ‘feelings’ that Robert Burton capitalized on via the automatic processes of wine were ~ That wine created a quasi-connection to feelings of group sympathy, empathy, and blurred the conscious individual into seeming to be a vital part of something, what?, no one could rightly say the morning after…
It (wine) certainly did something to people, creating a sort of dependency-lifestyle; a sort of ‘stock’ for the soup, no wine, no right meal, no wine, no right feelings during a dinner with Robert Burton, no wine, no emotional release after a very stoic Town Hall meeting up at the Lodge, no wine, no fun, no self calming from the incredible hypocritical events embedded in the inner circle’s lifestyle, which, consequentially supported the relative awakening to the ability to be responsible conscious individuals, i.e., to deal with the sober messages from Conscience and all that it’s implications began unfolding… wine pauses this unfolding and creates a sort of jovial forgetfulness as to where it last left off…
This is not to say that everyone abused it, only, that it is used as a tool by Robert Burton and the ‘form’ of the Fellowship of Friends to artificially create many emotional ‘seem-so’ states, states, that when ending return back to where the craving last left off, thus, a reciprocal addiction to ‘pattern’ and ‘certain feelings’… The Fellowship of Friends is in no way moderate (though Robert Burton gave his ‘followers’ a 2 glass exercise during dining experiences at Isis)… the consumption of it to dull conscience and right work of centers is still alive and well on this date 08/24/2007.
CAUSE & EFFECT (Favoritism, Discrimination, Negligence)
Regarding Post 496
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One interesting aspect of the ‘whole affair’ as I sensed it, was that it gave RB a catharsis, albeit a non-genuine one, for I felt that he used it as a ’symbol’ of what students should not do to him and accordingly treated M., after his release from jail, simply the same as he wished to be treated by his students. I know that M., (his conscience) knew he (and his play, act 5,678, scene 345) was being sponged for all it was ‘not’ worth to anyone but RB.
M.’s incarceration could have, if it was not for RB’s quick ‘draining of the lake so to spite the catching of no fish’, become interpreted as a form of payment by a fellow student for RB’s ‘Eye for an Eye.” contradictions. Yet, as so many solar-types can do, a dreamy ‘Return of the Prodigal Son’ was bequeathed…
60/9/Unoanimo
FALSE ADVERTISING, Fraud, Negligent Misrepresentation, Misdescription, Fraudulent Misrepresentation, Material Misrepresentation, False-Association Claim, False Impersonation, False Pretenses, Contractual Fault, Desecration, Connivance, Collusion.
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# trademarker Says:
May 13, 2007 at 8:36 am
To Anonymous 8/46 in response to 7/425
Thank you for your answers, but why are you lying?
Why do you pretend that you study Gurdjieff’s books in the Fellowship of Friends?
Robert Burton even claims never to have read them and you know that.
If you ever have the chance to be in a teaching that is in the Gurdjieff tradition, you will be very surprised how different that is compared to the Fellowship of Friends. And how diverse the approach to being present. But I know you can not, because it is not allowed by Robert Burton. Wouldn’t it make sense to profit from each other?
How come that not one person, who was a student of Gurdjieff or Ouspensky, or even a student of a student, acknowledges the Fellowship of Friends as a Fourth Way school?
The Fourth Way happens in life, not in the Fellowship of Friends. So the Fellowship of Friends can not be the Fourth Way as you claim.
Just ask yourself, what would the Fellowship of Friends be, if it would not use Gurdjieff’s name in their ads?
Who would ever have joined the Fellowship of Friends if they were not attracted to Gurdjieff? That is the decoy the Fellowship of Friends lives on.
What do you think would Gurdjieff say about the Fellowship of Friends if he would visit it today?
Would he say, “Oh that is exactly what I was teaching and what I was taught, they just changed the form a bit”?
Would be nice to hear some answers from you.
64/9/trademarker
CAUSE & EFFECT (MORAL TURPITUDE & FRAUD)
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RB’s involvement lies in the fact that he creates the “culture’ in which they occur. He makes it clear that he himself is above common morality (“feminine dominance”) and will do whatever he likes to fulfill his desires, regardless of the sufferings of others. He persuades young men to have sex with him by, eg, telling them it is the will of “Influence C”. Of course this rubs off on the boys and is reflected in their behavior towards others, particularly women. In fact these grasping, self-absorbed, conscience-free attitudes pervade the Fellowship of Friends from top to bottom.
Also, the fact that Robert does all he can to hide his activities and expects them to be covered up leads to a paranoid avoidance of THE TRUTH, especially amongst the Fellowship of Friends organizational bigwigs. I capitalize “the truth” because searching for and being open to the truth, spiritual and otherwise, is the best antidote for those caught in the Fellowship of Friends hypnotic web.
74/9/Rabbi Burns
FALSE ADVERTISING, Fraud, Negligent Misrepresentation, Misdescription, Fraudulent Misrepresentation, Material Misrepresentation, False-Association Claim, False Impersonation, False Pretenses, Contractual Fault, Desecration, Connivance, Collusion.
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On the homepage of the FOF one can read:
How is the Teacher connected to Gurdjieff and Ouspensky?
Robert Burton, the teacher and founder of the Fellowship of Friends, studied under Alex Horn, who was a student of Lord Pentland, who in turn was a student of Peter Ouspensky.
To my knowledge nobody around Lord Pentland has ever heard of Alex Horn and considering reports from Alex Horn, it is questionable that he did send Robert Burton away to teach, as Robert Burton said. But I agree that is hard to proof, so everybody has to believe his version.
Thanks for the offer to join and check the Fellowship of Friends out. But let us assume money, sex and power would not be an issue of concern to me, there are still some aspects that make me a little reluctant to follow your invitation.
From what I understand reading the blog the Fellowship of Friends has the cosmic role of building an ark that will survive Armageddon and RB is the highest being after Christ that ever set his foot on this planet.
Correct me if I am wrong or I mixed up some ideas. It takes up to nine lifetimes to awaken, but most of the members have 2 or 3 more rounds to go and than you will be an angel too, like RB is already, according to himself. The only condition is, being a member until you die. The primary criteria for being a member is a monthly payment.
So being in the Fellowship of Friends is about awakening, but it will not happen this lifetime. Apparently Armageddon did not happen punctually and the coastline of California is still waiting to find its final destination. The 10.000 members that were supposed to live at Isis for the big event haven’t arrived yet and the board of seven men with numbers >4 has still some spare seats. After joining I will learn selective perception and start to react to certain numbers.
They will give me shocks to awaken me. I will learn that the appearance of these numbers is due to the work of angels that personally assist me. The reports from members of the Fellowship of Friends vary in their judgment, but around 90% decide after checking it out, sometimes for 30 years and more, to leave it behind and not go for the offer of a better lifetime next time around.
Also the promise of being saved during Armageddon (is there a new date for it?) does not seem to be tempting enough for the ones leaving.
I guess if I would ask for recommendations for the Fellowship of Friends, they would be hard to find.
Please give me three good reasons why I should trust you and your offer.
86/9/trademarker
Companion to #502
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To Trademarker, #86:
I went to a conference in England in 1996 known as “All and Everything” that occurs annually. There were people from all over the world, former students of Gurdjieff, Ouspensky, Bennett, etc. Many of these people had heard of the Fellowship of Friends and of Robert Burton and considered him a charlatan of sorts and the Fellowship of Friends to be a very dissident group having little to do with the Fourth Way misrepresenting themselves by using the images of G and O on bookmarks. I became friendly with a long time student of Bennett who told me that Alex Horn was never really a student. He described him as a “hanger-on” for a while at Bennett’s group in Combe Springs. Alex Horn’s former wife, who was a student of Bennett, lives in Cotati.
90/9/Vena
Companion to #503
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In response to 9/86, about the lineage and Robert Burton’s purported direct connection with Gurdjieff:
I wrote to the Gurdjieff foundation about the Pentland-Horn connection (claimed on Fellowship of Friends website) on February 5, 2007, and got this response:
“In response to your inquiry, it seems that Alex Horn, at one point, asked John Pentland if he could come to the Foundation and Pentland replied that if he gave up all the groups he was working with he could join the work at the Foundation. It’s likely that Horn met with Pentland a few times. If you have any further interest in the Gurdjieff work, please feel free to contact me or the Foundation.
Mary Rothenberg”
The FOF website, attempting to make the lineage sound legitimate, also states that Pentland was a student of Ouspensky. That is another thing that we could ask the Gurdjieff foundation about. As far as I know, they look down on Ouspensky and might be amused at the notion that Pentland was a student of O.
95/9/Traveler
EFFECT (Conspiracy to Defraud)
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Special thanks (if that can any way to express my feelings) to Whale Rider. (Discussion #8, post [262]) Your story blew the cork off my champagne bottle. I’m talking yes, about the queen of hearts, but in her most transformative aspect: Conscience.
What your story helped me to see is that we all have been looking at the Teacher and his actions from the wrong point of view: that is, our own personal work. Anyone who is confronted with the details of Robert’s private and personal actions, must ask himself/herself, “Is this man my Teacher?”. Thus we approach the conflict ready to photograph our own ignorance, Feminine Dominance, and subjective morality. Many do that for years and finally leave. But, if we stay, we agree that he is a Conscious Being (because he is, and there’s the rub) and somehow we find a way to let the other things slide. But for those students still in the School who are reading this blog, step aside and ask yourself, what effect on his own spiritual development – and thus that of the School – does his lack of self control in his private and personal life have? Ask. Look. Feel. Think. (with presence) But don’t buffer, please, don’t do that.
104/10/ Ann Onymous
Conspiracy to Defraud, Coercion, Favoritism
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The concern is, the UNEQUAL POWER. Burton chooses weak young men who have little personal power or sense of self-worth. They have been persuaded to give up their will to their teacher. On the other hand, Burton has a great deal of power. So, the relationship cannot be between two equals, equal in power. Thus it follows that there is coercion, and harm follows coercion. It doesn’t matter if there is lots of accompanying flattery or wine or rewards, or even if the victim apparently gives his consent. Do you get it now? I know, after 25 years (#9-82) of denial and formatory responses, the chances are slim, but surely you do understand that your red herrings of ‘subjective morality’ or ‘horror of sex’ are obvious to everyone on the blog?
124/9/Ames Gilbert
CAUSE (False Impersonation, Fraud)
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Here’s more on the Pentland/Burton pillow story. The following excerpt is from p. 12 of “Taking with the Left Hand: Enneagram Craze, People of the Bookmark [that would be us], and the Mouravieff Phenomenon”, written by William Patrick Patterson, published in 1998:
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Though I never met Burton, I did meet a man who was a member of his inner circle and who was present when Lord Pentland visited Burton. The film version of Meetings with Remarkable Men had been released and Burton had his students passing out flyers for Burton’s centers to film-goers. Burton believed Pentland was coming to hand over his students to him because he had recognized Burton’s “higher development” — Burton claims his is the highest consciousness man can attain. Burton even made a bet to this effect with several of his own students. In fact, Lord Pentland was coming to ask Burton to make a sizable contribution to the film inasmuch as he was falsely profiting by it. Upon Pentland’s arrival, Burton presented him with an expensive sleeping pillow. This was Burton’s idea of an esoteric joke. Several of Burton’s close students joined the two men for dinner. “Watching the two of them together, there was just no question of which man was awake and which was asleep,” the former Burton student told me, “and I left the next day to become a student of Lord Pentland’s.”
125/9/Pillow Story
Conspiracy to Defraud, Negligent Misrepresentation, Collusion, Connivance, Malicious Intent, Misdescription,
Official Misconduct, Corruption in Office, Fraudulent Misrepresentation, False Advertising, False news, Falsifying a Record, Violation of Fiduciary Duty, Undue Influence.
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Dear Anonymous, re#79
Suggesting that people damaged by Robert Burton’s manipulation are just “upset” and that
negative reactions to the steady stream of abuse stories come merely from the subjective morality of the sexually repressed, makes you in my opinion, the sickest, “mo fo” to have turned up here so far.
Meanwhile over on Wikipedia, the unbelievably insincere statement below has been included to explain away Robert Burton’s predictions.
“Response to critical view of predictions;
There are several places in Burton’s book where world war is mentioned. The word “war”, can be used symbolically. Symbolism is a common method of esoteric teaching. He says:
“Hydrogen warfare seems inevitable, and one no longer has to be a prophet to predict it”. [29]
Since the Fourth Way teaching says that different levels of hydrogens rule over different bodies in man [| See section on Higher Bodies], the “inevitable hydrogen warfare” Burton mentions in his book ” might well be related to this “civil war within”, since it is common for spiritual teachers to talk in parables.”
There’s a small gang of people in the Fellowship of Friends responsible for the Wikipedia statement and the Howard Carter, Siddiq, Anonymous tag teams. They meet regularly and obviously have a plan. Exactly why, when the whole organization is gasping for honesty these people choose to continue to mislead is hard to understand, it’s trickle down lying and it starts from the top.
127/9/Ryan O’Poo
Companion to #504 (CONSPIRACY TO DEFRAUD)
Negligent Misrepresentation, Collusion, Connivance, Malicious Intent, Misdescription, Official Misconduct, Corruption in Office, Fraudulent Misrepresentation, False Advertising, False news, Falsifying a Record, Violation of Fiduciary Duty, Undue Influence.
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I have a close family member who was a student of Alex Horn for a number of years. He says that Alex never claimed he had a direct connection to Ouspensky or Gurdjieff.
Fellowship of Friends member 1978 to 1994
128/9/Wildz
SEXUAL PREDATOR, Hostile Environment Sexual Harassment, Malicious Intent, Negligent Infliction of Emotional Distress, Reckless Endangerment, Violation of Fiduciary Duty, Undue Influence, Breach of Trust, Coercion, Misapplication of Funds, Conspiracy to Defraud, Collusion, Connivance, Discrimination, Intentional Infliction of Emotional Distress.
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Like others how mentioned, I also dreaded when I was “on duty” at the academy. I couldn’t get behind the symbolic way RB was feeding on our sex energy at night, in the dark. I made the effort to give up my will, but the sex was just so not me. I felt something in me shift to the side, not open up, and that made me feel gross. I think the tipping point in my ‘relationship’ with RB was when he told me late one night that the school would be mine. It felt like he was playing up to my vanity. It just gave me the creeps when he said that. He took me for a fool. I also had reason to suspect he was arranging a relationship for me with a loyal female student, so that he could maintain access to me. I had to take my destiny into my own hands.
Thanks to JoelF, for your disclosure about what RB said to you on the drive to LA. about being the next man number 5. I really appreciate that you shared that tidbit! A pattern is beginning to emerge. I wonder to whom else RB told that?
Please don’t lump me with the others and shed doubt on my story when I poured my soul out on this blog. I was the eyes and ears for the rest of us in there. Working together, we can sort through the bits and pieces to get a clearer picture of the deception that RB foisted upon us. That’s how he keeps the FOF going for so many years; he only reveals himself a little at a time, keeping people at a distance. I am not hiding behind my anonymity. It is for my protection; it’s not a ruse. I don’t care what you think about anyone else, I’ll stand up for myself. I want you to know I’m am being sincere and telling the truth. Can you feel that?
I remember the first gift RB gave me, before the funny business started. It was a gold plated watch. Now in some traditional eastern spiritual circles, a present from a teacher has great meaning. It is endowed with the teacher’s energy. I was sincerely thankful, and gave RB a nice, warm, big hug. He said, “It’s only a cheap watch, dear.” I suddenly felt cheapened, too. It was a jab to the pit of my stomach, like something else would be expected from me to get a better gift. He was right, though, the watch fell apart about a year later.
130/9/Whalerider
CAUSE & EFFECT (Conspiracy to Defraud)
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Of course, they, in the inner circle all knew about his addiction but who would they tell? So many students trusted him, why would they tell? But Robert Burton, instead of telling, used us as the scapegoats. He sits Girard in front of the meetings so that he doesn’t have to sit me anywhere, he pretends to give him his hand but takes the carpet from under his feet, the symposiums, Sea Ranch, are banned and slowly he is replaced by Asaf so that those who know can buy into Robert Burton’s morality in chastising Girard’s immorality. Robert Burton, chastising Girard’s immorality so that he can continue to get away with his own, setting up a whole new generation of pimps. But to make it look even more legitimate, he sacrifices two or three more of his closest friends in the inner circle, who are too confused to understand the riddle.
But it looks good. It looks great in silk clothes and leather shoes. It looks legitimate, no matter at whose cost.
You see Wonder in Lust, when Cynthia found out that I was going out with Girard, she called me and told me that Girard was addicted to porno, child porno. I was of course shocked but precisely the day before, Girard had told me he would go back to his wife Cynthia and stop our relation, I had thanked him and accepted it. A month later he wrote to me and a week later he moved in with me. I did not know to what extent what Cynthia had said was true and even if it was true, I was convinced that the Fellowship was a conscious school, that Robert was a conscious being, that Girard was to become conscious and that with real love Girard would work himself out of such a horrible addiction, if it was as horrible as Cynthia put it, which I had reason to doubt. Of course I was terrified but at the same time I thought I was a hero serving the school!
136/9/Elena
EFFECT (FRAUD, Desecration)
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I remember calling my friend Stephen shortly after when he left, and asked him how does he feel. And he said something so strange back then – “I feel like I just walked out of prison.” I didn’t quite understand him then, still being a member, but boy do I understand him now. It’s exactly how it feels. Walk out of a stuffy dark room to an open fresh air and feel the wind on your skin. Wake up after a dark dream and smile. Free to simply live your life, not under any one’s questionable “conscious will” or under monitoring of fellow-students who would report you if you “sinned”.
I see now that one’s conscience and common sense are great natural “built-in” guides for one’s life.
Strangely I could only see it after I had to “walk out” and take first breath of fresh air. While inside – some strong buffers are still at work, lots of things are justified, and there is a big fear that there is “nothing out there”.
142/9/No Person
SEXUAL PREDATOR, Hostile Environment Sexual Harassment, Malicious Intent, Negligent Infliction of Emotional Distress, Reckless Endangerment, Violation of Fiduciary Duty, Undue Influence, Breach of Trust, Coercion, Conspiracy to Defraud, Collusion, Connivance, Discrimination, Intentional Infliction of Emotional Distress.
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Reading some of the surly, defensive posts from such as Anonymous, I’m reminded of when I joined the FoF thirty years ago, and how taken up I was with the FoF trip. Someone posted a link within the couple of weeks to a description of attending prospective student meetings in, I believe, Japan, and it was wonderful, and eerie, and humbling, how similar it was to my own experience. The sense of having stumbled upon something so hidden, so esoteric. Of being more aware, more evolved, than all the sleeping machines wandering the streets as I called my FoF contact from a pay phone; the cloak and dagger suspense of meeting the contact on a snowy street corner, to be driven to remote locations for my prospective student meetings; the students at the meetings dressed as if it were the 1950s; everyone so calm, so seemingly confident they knew the ultimate secret. Everything fraught with significance. And so forth.
I also remember how quickly I bought in to the notion that I had become a member of the ultimate secret society, how willing I was to start thinking of my family and friends as hapless life people, to be manipulated if possible, tolerated at best. I remember how heady it felt to be clearing trees at Renaissance, how glorious to be a part of the Great Work. It really was the most powerful vanity trip I’ve ever experienced, in which someone, no matter how modest his talents or accomplishments, could imagine himself one of the elite on earth. Considering this, teaching payments were a bargain.
I also remember a student attending my first meetings for several months who made somewhat bitter, cryptic statements about how Robert wasn’t what everyone seemed to think he was–at the time I hadn’t even met Robert, and had no idea what she was talking about, but I naturally repreated to myself the lines from In Search of the Miraculous about how people behave when they lose the school, “their little song has been sung,” etc.
I remember hearing about a student who had left the school having said that she felt like she had gotten out of a cage, and I thought, “Yes, freed from the need to make efforts, free to go back to sleep.”
I remember the first time a student told me, with some agitation, how something had happened to him at the Blake Cottage with Robert. I couldn’t understand exactly what he was talking about, because no one ever came out and just said “Robert _____ed my ___, OK? He told me to ___ him in the ___!”
So when I read a post from a student who is defending the FoF, or sneering at someone’s account of having been sexually abused, or even calmly and meticulously laying out the inevitable work angles that may be used to support any position in any discussion, I remember. I remember and try to understand what the person is defending, that asking someone to examine his beliefs about the FoF is asking a whole lot. It’s asking him to accept a huge blow to his vanity, to accept that he’s just another shlemazel. To consider relinquishing his place in the queue to paradise and go back to being what he was before, if an older and wiser version.
As Yeats put it, “Tread softly because you tread upon my dreams.”
157/9/Self Remembering
Conspiracy to Defraud, Negligent Misrepresentation, Collusion, Connivance, Malicious Intent, Misdescription,
Official Misconduct, Corruption in Office, Fraudulent Misrepresentation, False Advertising, False news, Falsifying a Record, Violation of Fiduciary Duty, Undue Influence.
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I am curious about what legal constraints apply to a church. Like other churches the Fellowship of Friends tithes its members, albeit excessively, and I have understood that churches do have the right to release members who do not pay the required tithe. Disciplinary action by the church against members who violate publicized tasks (like the smoking exercise, the drug exercise, or previously, the sex exercise) are also allowed, including fines and even “excommunication.”
However, as an institution the Fellowship of Friends obviously does some things very differently than conventional churches / religions.
Is it okay for a church to expel members over actions about which there are no clearly communicated guidelines or religious doctrines, nor any universally acknowledged legal or ethical non-acceptability? Many former Fellowship of Friends students have been “released” at the whim of its senior minister. Fellowship of Friends members who asked the wrong questions or used the wrong tone of voice in a public meeting, who slept with the wrong guy(s), who returned the wrong gift, who caught the wrong B Influence virus…have been summarily ejected from the Fellowship of Friends church. Other Fellowship of Friends members who enjoyed a closer relationship to the senior minister, but otherwise did the same or similar naughty acts, have historically received much less severe reprimands. Mihai and Dorian solicited sex with Fellowship of Friends women using vouchers for payment, and were only given a one-month timeout from the Galleria. Around the same time, Paola was given a leave of absence for acquiescing to their sleazy solicitation, ostensibly because she told a lie under cross examination (but in reality because she had been the girlfriend of Asaf). From longer ago Annie comes to mind as well. She was not only asked to leave the Fellowship of Friends but was literally told to get out of Oregon House by sunset (or was it sunrise?)…but this was during the Dark Ages of the sex exercise.
Also, are other churches allowed to have so many overt double-standards when it comes to what amounts to spiritual capital punishment by their own definition: i.e. in the Fellowship of Friends, the release of a member “by C Influence?” Are the senior ministers in other churches empowered to expel any member at any time without any due process? If the Fellowship of Friends only requested — but did not require — donations, this might seem less unfair; but in the Fellowship of Friends case the so-called “teaching donation” is not voluntary, and when you leave you lose access to every (material) thing you helped build with your money and/or your sweat. And what if C Influence “told” Robert Burton (e.g. through a license plate or a caveman drawing) that he should no longer let anybody stay in the school whose name ends with an “o”, or who was born in the state of Alabama, or whose skin has more than a certain volume of freckles, or who drives more than 25 mph on the property, or who does not look into his left eye during a meeting? Could he legally ask them to leave? (Don’t laugh, we’ve heard crazier ideas in the past.)
There is probably a lawyer out there who could shed some light on this.
Two last thoughts:
1) If members or ex-members of a church do have any legal rights at all with respect to discrimination or abuse at the hands of the church’s ministers, it seems to me that, for the Fellowship of Friends, the Fellowship of Friends Board of Directors may be its legal Achilles heel. Members of the Fellowship of Friends BOD are legally responsible for the actions of the organization, including its officers and its ministerial leadership, as is any BOD for any organization. This body has never been much more than a rubber stamp. But have they considered what could happen to them if the Fellowship of Friends were ever busted? Right now, May 2007, may be a good time to reevaluate.
2) Many Fellowship of Friends members living in the OH area are trapped by one or more heavy financial realities. Some have limited job skills. Others are nervous around “life people” and do not know how to behave in an interview. Others own houses they are not likely to be able to sell unless it is to another Fellowship of Friends student (not much of that happening lately). Many have jobs working for or with other Fellowship of Friends members, and risk losing these jobs if they leave the Fellowship of Friends. Others have children, which magnifies all the above. Earlier on there was mention of trying to mobilize some financial assistance for people like this, but I think another path has more potential. There are apparently thousands of us reading this blog on both sides of the Fellowship of Friends fence. Is there a way to create a kind of Monster.com for the Fellowship of Friends? Okay, I’ll put my hand up. If you are a business owner or manager who may be able to offer gainful employment somewhere on the planet, or if you are an Fellowship of Friends member who wants to explore his/her alternative career options, write to me at FOFmonster@sbsglobal.net and I will try to discreetly mediate a connection. No promises but what the heck, if it even helps one or two souls it’s worth a try.
With love.
159/9/Joseph G
Alex Horn and Robert Burton (CAUSE & EFFECT)
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He could intimidate people easily and would alternate bullying tactics with warm and friendly demeanor. He knew how to instinctively play on a person’s soft spots to get control over people. There was a lot of male ‘challenging’ and emotional bullying at the meetings and occasionally it would break out physically – usually between students. Although Alex intimidated people physically, he would always step aside and let someone else get physical for him. We seemed to be learning how to be ‘Alex,’ and he liked that. One of his regular themes was ‘feminine influence’ and how we had to avoid being dominated by women. He encouraged men to take advantage of women and tried to get the less adventurous of us to ’sleep around’ as a way of freeing ourselves psychologically. I think Alex was an imposter who used the Work to con people out of much money and energy.
Remembered another student of those early years:
Alex was definitely not a simple man, but a very intelligent Solar type, i.e., incredibly charismatic and smart. He had a vast knowledge of not only many Work books but seemingly much of the philosophical and poetic works of the Western world and plays going back to the Greeks. His teaching used Fourth Way terminology and also quotes from Ibsen, Whitman, Blake, Hal Shem Tov and others.
On weekends we would go up to a ranch his wife had bought up in Sonoma. I remember the camaraderie and laughter but in large part most of what I remember is Horn talking, talking and talking. He often spoke in sexual terms. People would feel loose and often meetings ended with much hugging and effusiveness.
Horn said this was due to ‘C Influence. We worked at preparing and planting a vineyard, building a sauna and staging plays. Besides this we also went on a fifty-mile hike through the Nevada Desert that was cut short to probably thirty miles and ended with a ride on a Greyhound bus to a brothel. There were a lot of rich experiences but there was no daily practice of any kind taught, and behind all the philosophical quotations there was something important missing.
Burton: A “Budding Man Number Five”
One of Horn’s students in the early 1970s was a tall, handsome young man with an Arkansas accent, Robert Earl Burton. After a year or so, Horn asked Burton to leave because he could not “stay on task.” The task was not to chase the other young men. Unabashed, Burton presented himself as a “budding man number five,” according to one of his earliest students. Burton had picked up from Horn the knack of spotting and pointing out the weaknesses of others. This power of observation, along with his quiet and contained manner, and his promise to start The Fellowship of Friends, a ‘Fourth Way School,’ attracted students.
Understanding the idealism that perpetuates many seekers’ search, Burton refocused the teaching’s challenge to self-love and vanity to a stress on living like a person of the Renaissance, cultivating impressions of beauty, the arts, music, poetry and fine living. Apparently influenced by Warren Miller’s best-selling book of the time, Canticle for Liebowitz. depicting a ravaged world after the world catastrophe, Burton made a number of prophecies, one of which was that California would fall into the sea on April 12, 1998 at 11 A.M. Those with him, being the elect of Christianity, would not perish. Like Liebowitz in the book, eight years after starting his school and now known as “The Teacher,” Burton stopped teaching to travel the globe to amass – he would no doubt say “salvage” – a large collection of art work as a kind of cultural ark in the coming Armageddon. (A recent auction of Burton’s collection of rare antique Chinese furniture at Christie’s in New York City brought in $11.2 million.). When the day passed for California to fall into the sea, Burton explained it with, “The Higher Powers [he claims to speak to 44 discarnate beings] have humiliated me.”
A Knack for Merchandising
Going Horn one better, Burton warned of “female dominance” and moved to the country, where he bought property he named Renaissance, now known as Apollo, created a vineyard, built a theater and a museum to house his various collections. Though a fourth grade school teacher by profession, Burton had a knack for merchandising. Recognizing that every reader of a Fourth Way book was a potential student, he had his students insert bookmarks in the books advertising his “Gurdjieff-Ouspensky Centres.” When the film Meetings with Remarkable Men was launched, Burton’s students stood outside theaters handing out pamphlets and recruiting people for his school. The ethics of Burton and his ’school’ having nothing to do with the books or the film wasn’t of concern.
Rumors kept surfacing over the years of Burton having sexual relations with his male students, all necessarily heterosexual (from the first he had outlawed homosexuals as members, probably to keep his own interests hidden and to have no rivals). His students’ reluctance and repulsion he countered by telling them “I promise you I am an angel in a man’s body” and declaring that he represented C Influence. Overwhelmed with lawsuits in the 1990s, Burton finally admitted his homosexuality. Following this admission and charges of sexual and financial exploitation, the Fellowship lost a great many American students, but its membership is said to be growing quickly in South America, Japan and Russia. A number of offshoots led by former Burton students have sprung up, such as The New American Wing.
162/9/Exlax 101
B.I.T.E. Model
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Note ~ The BITE model for application towards group structures that may be considered for CULT status can be found at ~ Post168/9/trademarker.
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EFFECT (FRAUD) **9
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Then the trauma books, support from others, etc. can help to move them along and then to begin to recover from the aftermath, the “PTSD symptoms” that so many of us have had to deal with after the mind-fuck we allowed ourselves (willing victims, all) to go through. Such relationships are mixed with all those goodies, you know, and play on infantile fears and wishes we can’t even imagine when we are in their grip. Actually, it’s a miracle to get out is what I think!
One more thought, maybe it takes being out for 15-20 years, especially for those of us who spent 15-20+ years in this strangely sick, yet wonderfully life-enhancing, environment to be ready to let ‘the fine mess’ we participated in for so long in without falling completely apart. For, the whole picture of the fine mess is a big blow, takes strength to absorb, as others have said here.
196/9/SandraC
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**9 ~ Sandy’s entire post is worthy of a re-read for the divine feminine in everyone, excluding self-initiated goddesses.
CAUSE & EFFECT (Fraud)
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Some people grow up fast, having a hard life, and leave their family at perhaps fifteen or seventeen. This is not my case. I grew up a devout Catholic and spirituality was central to my life. I was not thrust into the world but allowed to grow at my own pace which I must say was slow. I arrived in the Fellowship of Friends at 25, but was still young and tender in my psychology. So I can see what Joseph G. is speaking about when he speaks about age not being a factor when being seduced, especially by a “conscious being”.
When I met Robert B. it was at a Christmas Party in 1973. I was introduced – he looked at me briefly and bowed his head & body three times with his eyes to the floor and backed away from me. I thought, “This is the teacher?”
It is interesting that he was already developing the holy humble act – “the man who is different from all others.” You might ask yourself where he got these acts because he certainly didn’t develop them when he was teaching 4th grade.
I did not get a feeling of love from R.B., but I did get it from the students who were very huggy and warm. Who does not need love? The warmth of the students and the three prospective student meetings had me off and running for the next 20 years of my life.
I threw myself into making myself over. I was going to awaken and nothing was going to hold me back. We were given various word “exercises” to disrupt our normal way of speaking. One of the words we couldn’t say was the word “I”, so we began calling ourselves “it” instead.
Although the word exercises were introduced to disrupt mechanicality (that word is not in the Microsoft Word dictionary, by the way) I now know that this is a classic indoctrination technique. It begins to separate and create a new reality for you from the world at large. You, as a group, become dependent on one another, and when R.B. tells you to leave your “life family” behind, it seems a natural step.
That you are only false personality when you come into a “school” is another idea that makes you throw away all your values. You must create “true personality”. While it is true that there is a continuum from shallow to deep, a true student will attempt to become a clean slate to be filled in by whatever the teacher and directors deem appropriate.
You are told how to talk, how to dress – you pick up how to act. Notice how no one cavorts around R.B.? Not appropriate! Must look intentional! It is a wonder that anyone can untangle themselves from the Fellowship. You have to determine what is true – the real truths that led you in will still be true when you leave. Figure out what you have swallowed as truth and what you have come to believe through the closed society of the FOF. And for God’s sake, please really listen to R.B. and what he is saying. Try to separate yourself from the idea that he is conscious. This is all programming. He is pulling divinations out of the air with no foundation other than your belief in what he says is true.
And dear Siddiq, I know where you are coming from in #8/421. You are a seemingly sincere person. Don’t you know how much R.B. leans on the Sufi wisdom and poetry and the countless other quotes he uses to get inside your mind and heart? He is nothing without these crutches. He uses C-Influence, 44 conscious beings, almost all are world famous men known for great works and words of wisdom which he has co-opted for his own. He is a charismatic personality with reflected glory from all these great men. Just think how he has ornamented himself by making you think that they are all working for him, in his school.
Love and gratitude to you all.
198/9/The Quiet One
CONSPIRACY TO DEFRAUD, Sexual Predator, Collusion, Connivance, Deliberate Indifference, HOSTILE ENVIRONMENT SEXUAL HARASSMENT.
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The first question is, do you need a relationship to Robert Burton or the Fellowship of Friends to have these experiences? I certainly don’t, despite his claims that presence and consciousness is only possible with his intercession (I’d be glad to post a transcription of a typical interview with him, stating this—in context, if you like).
The second question is, if you must stay in the Fellowship of Friends to have these golden moments (this is implied in your posts), is it worth any price? You say you can’t ‘do’ anything about a lot of things, and you’re right, but you could investigate the claims that are near to you if you wanted, just like I did. Your choice, of course. If you don’t want to, why not? Supposing you were to find substance to these allegations, then a reasonable question would be, does the means justify the end? That is, if bad things happen to others, and you have evidence of it, can you stand by and just observe, and continue to profit from the situation without compunction? Or is there a price, not all of it to be paid by others, that is too great for the personal advantage gained?
Robert Burton claims that his ‘super-sexual’ adventures feed his astral body, the implication being that this brings advantages to the students at large as well as the students participating. Does ‘collateral damage’ have an effect on you, do you bear any responsibility? These are the questions I struggled with. You know what the answers were for me, and what I decided. My guess is, that at some point you’ll arrive at a place one day where you must answer them as well. What the correct answers are for any given individual depends on that individual, but first he has to be an individual, that is, make the questions his own, and get the answers for himself—so the usual rote angles are not going to help here!
200/9/Ames Gilbert
CAUSE (Conspiracy to Defraud)
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Congratulation!
Today is the Full Moon!
In Fellowship of Friends that usually means a lot of trouble.Gurdjieff was saying that the Work suppose to deliberate man from external influence,especially from the moon influence but in Fellowship of Friends the moon acts for a God.The longer the students are stay in Fellowship of Friends the more they becomes affected by this idea.
During my time in Fellowship of Friends I was observing many students and especially the older students who were experiencing a lot of frictions and difficulties during the New and the Full moon.
At the same time all of those difficulties were explained by the moon’s influence.Or by the meteor showers or by the “August” idea and of course by the “Mars is closer to the Earth”.
But since I left Fellowship of Friends those celestial influences are mysteriously disappeared and totally stopped bothering my mind. I have simply forgot about them.
I think this is a typical Fellowship of Friends bullshit. A kind of “a house specials”.The same way were created farther ideas such as:
“9 lifetimes”,
”the ideal Plato state”,
”The Ark”,
”the 30 imperishable stars”,
the “Sequence” ,
”the 4 wordless breathes”
and “the Asaf”.
Even duo those ideas are ridicules in their essence,they were still keeping people in deep sleep without any hope to awaken because no matter what you will do,you still will die at the very best on your 8th lifetime.
I can only imagine how many angry faces are cursing our beautiful moon tonight,which has for centuries inspired many poets,musicians and other artists to create an eternal Beauty.
203/9/Full Mooner
Fraudulent Misrepresentation, Conspiracy to Defraud, False Pretenses, Collusion, Coercion, Connivance, Undue Influence, Discrimination, Contractual Fault, Wanton Misconduct, FRAUD, Deliberate Indifference.
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If we look at the Fellowship of Friends, what is interesting is how this determination is colored by Robert Burton and Girard’s own sexual conditioning.
Robert Burton’s First line: Intimate relationships.
Utilitarian sexuality without the richness of marriage, without the friction, the questioning, the confrontation, the consistent loving between two people to “trim each other’s feathers.”
Second line: Person to person interactions.
Utilitarian relationships with both males and females within the community determined by money or services. Closely controlled delegation.
No time for friendship. Robert Burton has no “friends”, that I know of. That is, he does not have people with whom to talk with leisurely, without any particular aim but the joy of spending time together without ulterior motives.
Family: the royal family perhaps? The Tudor’s? Which reinforce his imaginary “kingly” picture?
I understand he is “ruthless” with his inner circle.
Third line: The community.
Robert Burton has established the guidelines of life at Isis in very specific forms. He addresses the rest of the student’s en masse meetings and dinners in which food is not honored but discarded and it is encouraged to look at him at all times. There is no dialog, no spontaneity, no freedom of expression. The teacher and his assistants present material researched by a hundred students which is closely tampered by Robert Burton.
He has imposed absolute control of the word or communication, who, how, when and where others can speak.
He has imposed absolute control of the life at Isis, the activities, the work, the pleasure.
And with the sequence he is trying to absolutely control the thoughts that students are allowed to think about. The way they use their mind and what for.
It is not just brainwashing, it is surgery with scalpel, “lobotomy,” and it is tremendously effective. But this deserves a whole different exploration of its own.
As long as we cannot fully understand the extent to which theory and practice need to be in close harmony with each other to be legitimate, we will continue to fall in the hands of all kinds of deceivers.
So let’s look at a regular student’s work in the fellowship, or what is expected of him with the teacher’s impositions.
First line. Intimate relations.
No personal relationship is above the relationship to the teacher. Give up your husband or wife if he/she interferes with your relationship with the teacher (the school). Your connection to the teacher is above everything else. The teacher that will never address or work with you closely, that cannot establish direct contact with you ever, that is willing to take only money from you because you are not awake enough to merit his time and that will use any and all your talent for his own benefit and discard you as soon as you have nothing more to give, wether it is because you’ve gotten sick or old.
This interaction between you and the teacher will be justified by Girard and the accepted dogma of the Fellowship with the idea that, Robert is a man number seven and you, barely a man number four.
If you do not value your awakening more than your husband or wife, you are under feminine dominance.
You cannot pretend a teacher to have time to speak to you when he has to keep the direction of the school for two thousand students.
Whatever you wish to share with Robert are just ‘Is’, don’t identify with them, be present, do your work.
These are just a few of the a hundred similar indoctrinations that Girard uses to justify this relationship, make it look reasonable and perpetuate it.
Girard’s first line is totally committed to this pattern:
Unconditional “love” for his teacher.
He is married to the School.
He has given up his will to serve Robert, the school.
The more intimate aspect reveals that Girard is a male with pornographic tendencies.
In porno, the woman becomes an object of pleasure. A “utility.” It is not someone worth bothering to speak to, there is no time for conversation because who wants to hear a women’s ‘Is’? Like listening to the ‘Is’ of a coffee maker…..but it is nice that it makes the coffee.
Here it is very interesting to observe that both Robert Burton and Girard are unable to establish anything but a utilitarian relationship with their partner.
Robert Burton with his multiple young boys, Girard with four wives that he is willing to discard as soon as they confront his practical life with his so called consciousness and with a fair practice of porno which was the ONLY pleasure Girard kept for himself.
Everything else, money, time, leisure, joy, love, fun, he gave up completely. There is no room for joy, no time for love, in Girard’s personal life or first line. He is the most damaged human being I have ever met, next to Robert Burton.
222/9/The Three Lines of Work (Elena)
SEXUAL PREDATOR (Fraud)
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For many years I had almost daily interactions with Robert Burton, and was mightily impressed with his ability to look at situations in creative ways.
Over time, I became increasingly troubled by what I saw, and by several young men asking what they should do about his unwanted advances. Ironically, as my commitment diminished, I was to spend more and more time around him, which proved problematical for continuing as a member.
I could not avoid the conclusion that he spent most of his days simply ‘screwing around’ (Charles R. used to refer to it as ‘a permanent vacation’).
Finally, after 20 years, I left just as I had joined – because I had no choice. Neither decision was intellectual – I simply could not stay any longer.
What’s life like post-Fellowship of Friends? Much like before… full, with daily joys and struggles and rewards and uncertainties. Unlike for many on this blog, the Fourth Way remains the most powerful tool for living that I have yet to encounter.
And while I believe that my “decision” to leave the Fellowship of Friends was the right one, I don’t regret my years there at all; my life was enriched and I became a man. My best friends to this day are former members.
223/9/James B.
Collusion, Joint Negligence, Connivance, Deliberate Indifference, Coercion, Hostile Environment Sexual Harassment.
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Disappointingly, I’ve also found out that the ‘celebrity therapist’ is still practicing. He doesn’t need to be a part of a ‘professional body’ to do so. I wonder if his present celebrity clients know of the fact that he has used his position to have sex with his female clients? Or whether they care about it at all? It seems that in the school not many care about what Robert Burton does as long as they feel comforted.
229/9/Rita Penfold
EFFECT (Conspiracy to Defraud)
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A huge part of my self-deception concerning the Fellowship of Friends was my projections onto students of common sense.
When I was first presented with the list of “the 44” and Robert Burton’s predictions, I was devastated. I was perhaps 1 month in the school at the time and really thought I had found something extraordinary, a true path for awakening.
When I heard these things, I felt it was the end right there – these people were obviously nuts. Yet an older student asked me about my reactions to this knowledge and when I told him (softening the sentiments greatly out of embarrassment), he said “Don’t think you are the first one to have such I’s”, with a mischievous half smile. I was immensely relieved.
He seemed to feel these “theories” were absurd, arrogant, and embarrassing also, yet he was an older student. At that point, a central core of my relationship to the school and its more bizarre aspects was set. Oh! I get it. It is intentional insincerity.
It is exactly like Gurdjieff’s wild stories that simultaneously taught by analogy and served the purpose of driving off the silly and gullible. So I went my way assured that, while there might occasionally be some complete idiot who really took these fables literally, the shocks inherent in the form of the school would weed them out so that the “serious” students could continue work on ourselves.
And every time I heard something bizarre that Robert Burton did or said and perceived that some students took it on face value, I chuckled arrogantly to myself at the students’ stupidity and quietly thanked Robert Burton in my heart for “voluntarily suffering” in playing the fool for the good of the school.
So I continued year after year defending the illusion that the people I liked felt they way I did. These were intelligent, discerning, emotionally mature people with humor and creativity. Of course they did not actually believe all these unverifiable fables!
Every time I was clearly shown my delusion, I made some excuse – they are just saying that because it is the form of the school and they are trying to fit in – they are experimenting with intentional insincerity themselves, emulating their teacher- I must have misunderstood them, they can’t really believe that…etc.
I spent almost all of my time in the school outside of Oregon House. I doubt I could have maintained my delusions for so many years if my face were shoved in the middle of the manure pile year after year. Who knows. Nicely detached and distant from the whirlpools of insanity emanating from the Blake cottage/Academy/Galleria, it was much easier to ignore the depressing truth: most of these people really did buy into the whole steaming pile.
The “buzz” around Robert Burton was primarily not higher hydrogens, just the flies that such piles draw. It is a symbiotic relationship; the pile and the flies draw each other.
And yet again it was not so simple to maintain, even in distant centres. Many of the students I knew well totally expected the crash of 84, were stockpiling goods etc. A well-off couple in their late 40’s even lost quite a bit of money investing in a scheme which depended on a crash to make a profit.
Then after many years of easy delusion came 1998 and again I was shown how literally people took things, how many were simply salivating for an ultimate external validation of their teacher’s divinity (Robert Burton).
Again, many people put their money where their lack of minds were, betting that the gods would make them stinking rich by murdering 30 million Californians (and much of the Pacific rim through tsunamis) on cue.
It always seemed a delicate balance; how to discourage students, particularly young students who had more of a chance, from being so pathetically credulous without crushing their beautiful hope and aspirations toward consciousness.
It was made more delicate because, at some level, I knew that if I pushed too far in such efforts, my own imaginary world would start unraveling. My secret (even to “myself”) need to feel superior, not just to most of “life”, but to many of the students, would not permit it.
Only after more than two decades did I become dimly aware of the arrogance and denial that ran like a lead thread through my entire school “career”. After that, about two years of consistent work trying to dismantle the feelings of superiority served not only that end, but also dismantled much of what had seemed magical and beautiful about the school.
For some students, the excrement from Robert Burton may have been literal and the smearing without consent. For me it was figurative, but smeared I was, and with consent. As the moral to the fable goes “if you are warm and happy in a pile of shit, keep your mouth shut”. I doubt that anyone is really happy once they realize where they are. Many sense that something really stinks, but they can’t seem to figure out what it is.
231/9/Joe Average
JOINT NEGLIGENCE
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Regarding Robert’s sexual life. I can say from personal knowledge that there is a great deal of disinformation and exaggeration of the graphic details published here and elsewhere along with many blunt lies regarding so called abusive conduct.
233/9/Hava Nagillah
CAUSE (Fraud in the Inducement)
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Some people seem to imagine Robert Burton is never negative, but only people who have had very selective experience with him, or just see him shuffling along or nodding humbly, could think so. Deny him something he wants–if you dare–and see how he deals with it. It ain’t pretty, believe me. What makes him seem “conscious” other than his having said so? Take away his say-so and we see someone who acts just like any teenager with a trust fund would act if he found himself surrounded by sycophants.
Re the revisionist history of Robert Burton’s predictions: How sad to be unwilling to own up to a mistake, even after he had done so within the Fellowship of Friends. When Yankees catcher Thurman Munson was killed in a plane crash, Robert Burton intuited that this meant “New York would be a catcher’s mitt for a thermonuclear warhead.” But he was only speaking about the internal New York, and an internal catcher’s mitt. It’s certainly possible.
235/9/Que sais-je?
FRAUD IN THE INDUCEMENT
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The 4th Way and the Church of Burton (Fellowship of Friends and Robert Burton) promise immortality ‘on the scale of the existence of the solar system’, if you can pass certain barriers/tests. For example, the daily card quoted above (#219):
“May 17, 2007
To make a machine conscious and immortal is the ultimate task, and to achieve this everything is asked from us.”
Robert Burton
Apart from the message seeming to encourage imagination of the useless kind and detract from the present, I have a response from my emotional center about the ‘immortal’ part (never mind ‘making a machine conscious’ and ‘everything is asked from us’, I’ll save those for another time).
The response is equivalent to the words:
—Fear of death equates to hatred of life.
Would readers like to share thoughts on the lure and the supposed advantages of ‘immortality’? I am also reminded of the associated feeling that became stronger and stronger through the years: that things, under the gleaming façade, actually seem to become colder, more unloving, more controlling, more fearful and less life–affirming, the closer one gets to the center of the Fellowship—the “Inner Circle” and Robert Burton himself?
255/9/Ames Gilbert
CAUSE (Fraud) ‘Undue Influence of The Twilight Zone’
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Later on he is said to have received an omen from influence C in the form of an advertisement for the company ‘Union 76′ written on the side of a truck, which meant to him that his higher centers would fuse (union) and he would crystallize in 1976.
Somehow he picked a date for his crystallization too, probably through another omen, and the whole Fellowship was preparing a festival and eagerly awaiting the crystallization of the Teacher. Big disappointment, Robert came and said it didn’t happen.
But a few days later, he says, he was lying in bed at night and there was great pressure in his head, like something waiting to be born, and he felt like he was shot right through the eyes and he was still standing, his higher centers were just there looking out. So he became a man number six and the school celebrated.
Then, it was 1989 or so, and Robert was once again sitting in a plane on the runway in San Francisco, and a large earthquake struck. As he later found out, the earthquake was of magnitude 7.2 or so on the Richter scale, which, he told his students, was a sign from the Gods that he had become man number 7.
256/9/Traveler
Sexual Predator, Hostile Environment Sexual Harassment
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The issue in my posts is only thirty percent, if a figure were to be put on them, the sexual issue, the other 70% that needs to be looked at, is the Cult that the Fellowship has become.
Regarding Robert Burton’s sexual life, I do not need to see what happens in the bedroom to know that something is and has been ever so sick for such a long time just from seeing how he treats and manipulates every situation and walks around with those men pretending that it is all just perfectly legitimate and I had been trying to transform it and assimilate it and buffer it because I was being unable to accept the fact that all the love and energy I had put into believing Robert Burton was a conscious being, was a foul mistake on my part.
I’ll tell you one thing. Last time I dined with Robert Burton he had a heterosexual man sitting next to him who could not be more uncomfortable in the situation. He looked as though he was having to go through the test of fire, as if Robert Burton were exposing him in front of everyone as his latest trophy. He sweat every time Robert Burton caressed his legs as if patting them.
The humiliation of people that I have had to bear with in the Fellowship will go down in history as the worst moments of weakness that I have experienced for if I had been anywhere close to my self I would have screamed my guts out at Robert Burton and everyone else in the Fellowship of Friends. I regret having left without ever saying how I felt directly at Robert Burton’s face and how he demeanored me by making me watch how he demeanored others.
Indeed, the Fellowship of Friends is efficient and teaches us to hold the guts that no human being should ever hold in front of the myriad humiliations that students have to put up with and still feel convinced that they are being loved by a conscious being.
Forgive me if I scream and know that it is not at you who could not have addressed me more gently. It is just that confronted with these things I am still screaming and will probably do so for a long time to come.
It will probably take much time for us to understand deeply enough how consciousness can only be genuine within the realm of the human.
Your understanding of external consideration is probably ever so different to mine and this is understandable when it did not exist in the Fellowship of Friends. If you could equate it that for me, external consideration is the fulfillment of self remembering, that self remembering is only complete when it naturally evolves into external consideration, then we would be closer to agreeing.
I completely agree with your exposition of the sequence. I sincerely believe that in working on oneself, the need to harness the thoughts is no different to the need to harness the heart, the instinct and the moving centre, and the harnessing of all of these centres is of no use if the sex centre is not equally harnessed.
Perhaps this is precisely why our situation in the Fellowship of Friends is so delicate because on the one hand we have aspects of the truth and on the other, we are asked to be conscious without assuming responsibility for ourselves or others in our community. Robert Burton is an artist at playing with all the systems and none at all. He brings the sequence from the monks, closes the Fellowship of Friends like a monastery, makes us sweat and faint in his meetings from the fakirs, makes us make money for him from the fourth way and trusts that we are naive enough to end up being too confused to question him. Our own mediocrity in not being able to know what is right for our selves, will prove its worth.
The sequence as used by Robert Burton is meant to detract people from being present to the overall situation in the Fellowship. When such powerful tools are used like that, they are trying to hypnotize and induce people into a certain behavior which we have much adopted already. We are great little lambs, sheep, going to the slaughter house without the slightest idea.
Thank you for reading and considering these thoughts. No aggression is meant for you. The facts horrify me, not the people. Not even Robert Burton, not even if I would scream at him. I would only be doing him a favor. He has crystallized in the softness of our consent. We are, each one of us, sick. I, no less than the rest, and I want to heal myself for I have been broken apart to bear this things.
257/9/Sex and Cult
CAUSE (Conspiracy to Defraud)
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At the last dinner I attended with Robert Burton he stated that it was a terrible shame that there were only 1100 people in the entire world who wished to awaken (no surprise, there were 1100 Fellowship of Friends students at the time). I had already decided to leave, but that pretty much sealed the deal. I didn’t believe this nonsense and I also no longer believed that people who joined and then left had no chance of awakening in this life or any future life, were food for the moon, etc. (his variation on the venerable “burn in hell” theme). Well, at least he didn’t say that apostates should be murdered, as does Islam, so I’m told.
261/9/Mark H.
REFERENCE ~ Italian and Russian Blog Sites
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There is the Russian: http://fofway.narod.ru/
And the Italian: http://laliberastrada.blogspot.com/
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COMPANION TO #531
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# Russian Translator Says:
May 18, 2007 at 4:57 pm
For those of you who do not speak Russian, but who are curious about what people are writing on the Russian blogs, I suggest that you go to post 237 above, click any one of the links (or the links below), and use the following website to translate from Russian to English:
http://www.freetranslation.com/
Use the “Russian to English” drop-down list, cut and paste the Russian text into the window, and then click the “Free Translation” button.
The very first line:
“I would like to name it for fun Apollo’s Horrors”
http://fofway.narod.ru/page5.htm
http://fofway.narod.ru/page8.htm
http://www.narod.ru/guestbook/?owner=3210512
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268/9/Russian Translator
EFFECT (Fault of Omission/Misrepresentation, Fraud)
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To Rumors and Lies: the child story was not written by me.
But I know enough horrifying details about it and will say that unfortunately it IS a true story, and there is more to it…
I also understand that students would buffer this – something so outrageous must be completely buffered, otherwise your belief in Robert Burton’s holiness would shatter.
It’s OK, keep protecting what you are protecting. I’ve done it too. One day you may have enough.
(I hope this day comes soon for you).
270/9/No Person
EFFECT (Conspiracy to Defraud)
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For many years, I stayed in Fellow of Friends in an effort to share with others what I had been learning, esp about emotional repression. And when I left, the precipitating factor actually was that my husband was diagnosed with lymphatic cancer — a great shock for us, and I no longer felt I could afford to spend my energy trying to help others in Fellowship of Friends.
At the time, I thought I did love Robert Burton, despite his hurtful behavior, and I see now that fact held me back from leaving for some time. Now I know that kind of attachment is a common experience in closed groups, much like a child with an abusive parent. It is a negative attachment, laced with a confusion of fear & love (irrational fear that survival is threatened without the protection of the leader/parent) and is actually more difficult to break away from due to the effects on the nervous system of the shocks associated with the betrayal/abuse. For people still in Fellowship of Friends this phenomenon may be playing a bigger role than they imagine.
My 1992 letter on leaving was very brief — a few lines, as I recall. I told Robert Burton my husband had just been diagnosed with cancer, that I needed to devote myself to my family. I did also say that I thought his ongoing comments about former students and the specialness of those who stay created an atmosphere of fear and were destructive to the community. It is true that I thanked him and signed with love.
276/9/SandraC
Malicious Intent, Undue Influence, Collusion, Connivance
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Dear anonymous poster, I would appreciate it if you could obtain a copy of this letter, because I never sent one.
I did have a rather difficult and acrimonious telephone conversation with rb, and I did receive a letter from him the next day (although it was signed by Abraham Goldman) threatening me with legal action if I communicated to friends why I had left.
Come to think of it, how come we who fled never got thank you letters for our years of work and $$ given freely to the fof? Curious minds want to know…
279/9/Skeptical Optimist
FALSE IMPERSONATION, Conspiracy to Defraud, CAUSE
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I had a weird feeling that somehow this conscious loving being (Robert Burton) actually CAN’T WAIT for the devastation and massive death to happen…
Now he wants to make “a machine” immortal according to his latest daily card…
If he is a realized being, as he claims himself to be – why such fascination with death of the physical body and obvious fear of it?
Hasn’t he supposedly created his “immortal astral body” already? So what’s with the fear?
Lots of older people are naturally scared of death – it is this inevitable Unknown that is so terrifying. Robert Burton (although he claims to be a realized being) doesn’t seem to be able to embrace Unknown and get comfortable in simply Not Knowing.
Look what he does – he restlessly tries to label, key, interpret, predict, dissect all that he encounters – to buffer with mental noise the simple truth that we really don’t know and cannot know…
Had anyone ever heard Robert say “I don’t know”? I personally haven’t – in all my years in the school.
289/9/No Person
NOTE (*^6)
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In regards to legal action against the Fellowship of Friends, Robert Burton and the Board of Directors. This is unlikely to produce much of a result in terms of the repayment of assets If for no other reason than RB, the Fellowship of Friends and Board of directors are somewhat judgment proof.. The Fellowship of Friends has no asset’s as it owes more than the value of its holdings and continues to relay on “donations” for income.
290/9/A Former Student
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*^6 ~ This is not a true to fact statement; the Fellowship of Friends does not owe in excess of 30 million dollars to any state or federal entity, so to speak, (yet)… So, charge ahead, there’s plenty of ‘looking present’ guys wearing concrete boots holding red capes for everyone.
REFERENCE ‘Class action lawsuit for FRAUD by the Fellowship of Friends’
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However it might be possible to make a case for the Fellowship of Friends leadership forcing dissident members out to cover up misappropriation of funds and gain the reinstatement of former members. It is possible to make and substantiate an argument for the Fellowship of Friends leadership misusing funds.
This has little meaning for me as I left some 25 years ago and the time limit for filing is 7 years. Those who left for the 7 years preceding the filing of a case would have a legal standing. As well as any one who is a current member who chooses to join. One value to investing in the cost of such an action is that it extends the time limit. If this is a class action suit the class would be all former students dating back 7 years from the filing of the case. What this course of action makes possible is that former students could gain a voice in the current Fellowship of Friends and as part of the future of the Fellowship of Friends .
The process of a lawsuit can last for several years. In our legal system Not a lot is required to file suit. The Fellowship of Friends attorney’s can file to have the court refuse to hear the case or dismiss it as frivolous but it requires only a very basic reasonable premise to initiate a suit.
One benefit of filing such a suit is to power to require that R and other’s of the Fellowship of Friends leadership have to go through discovery.
If interested check out the wikepedia entry on Discovery
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Discovery_(law)
In law, discovery is the pre-trial phase in a lawsuit in which each party through the law of civil procedure can request documents and other evidence from other parties or can compel the production of evidence by using a subpoena or through other discovery devices, such as requests for production and depositions.
What this means is that individuals can be forced to appear under threat of being found guilty of contempt of court to appear and answer questions. If Robert Burton was subpoenaed and fail to appear he can be cited and arrested.
290/9/A Former Student
EFFECT (FRAUD IN THE INDUCEMENT)
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I wonder what would happen if any of the operatives around Robert Burton suddenly were hit by a bolt of conscience and rallied round some of the young males students that were getting their knobs polished every night and helped them to get out or file a lawsuit against Robert Burton.
What is curious to me is that most of the operatives around Robert Burton are Jewish – Linda, Kevin, Asaf, Mark, Elisabeth, and others (that I missed) that defend the person who can cause so much suffering and damage over the years.
You would think that the long line of suffering that the Jewish people have undergone, and the horrible history of the second world war, would make them more sensitive to the bullshit and twisted lying that goes on every day at Isis – that they have to defend and pretend that everything is wonderful behind the closed doors of the academy.
All I can say, is shame on you. It is the same ’see no evil, hear no evil’ that went on during the second world war in Germany and throughout the occupied countries. Wake up my friends- in a smaller way, but no less insidious you are supporting someone that has a sickness and smell of corruption at its root.
304/9/Flying Free
THEFT OF UNITED STATES POST, Conspiracy to Defraud, Collusion, Connivance, Material Misrepresentation, FRAUDULENT MISREPRESENTATION, Joint Negligence, Negligent Misrepresentation, False Pretenses, Misdescription, FALSE ADVERTISING, Falsifying a Record, Breach of Trust, Breach of Duty, Fraud, Undue Influence.
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Many moving stories… Its very little screaming i hear in this blog,despite the deeply emotional subject.
As James B. ( who incidentally was introduced to me as a budding men #5 in the 80’s) and many others mentioned, I did not leave with a hateful heart and still have good memories about my life in Renaissance and Apollo.
But what caused that change in us that did not let us understand Roberts angles as we did before? I believe this is worth looking at.The little events are often the most transforming ones.
There was a student working as a server in a Nevada City restaurant and in a conversation he mentioned the arrogance and ‘above life ‘ attitude he see’s when Fellowship of Friends members enter the restaurant. I started looking .. and noticed it too.
A friend of mine gave an angle at a meeting and was asked to leave. Why?
Another friend had a bad experience with Robert Burton and distributed a letter in the mail boxes at the Lodge. Before lunch they where all gone.
In a meeting with Lodge staff I expressed my need to do something about my friends being asked to leave. Many agreed and wanted to talk. One said : ‘Do you think you live in democracy? This is Robert Burton’s school and if you don’t like it get out’.
I realized, I don’t like it and planned my escape. This was my awakening and I felt a strong hand of C-influence guiding me into my new life.
307/9/Michael
EFFECT (Conspiracy to Defraud)
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When I was in the Fellowship of Friends (20 yrs) I had lots of fun and met great people. That lasted about 10 years. The other 10 years was spent questioning and wondering whether decisions made and observations I was making were true. In other words, my mind was very clouded most of the time, so I filled myself up with wine to make myself feel better. It wasn’t unusual for me to have 3 glasses of wine in a 2 hour period of time, but hey, it certainly made the whole thing more palatable.
I have been out of the Fellowship of Friends now for 13 years and these are my observations of myself and what I think was and is still going on.
People call Robert Burton a sociopath but I rather like the term spoiled brat. People who turn into sociopaths usually have not worked through many emotions that come up during their lives, and become very narcissistic. Being in the Fellowship was that way for me. I put a lot of learning on hold and just tried to have fun. Working through emotions and becoming a mature emotional responsible adult was put on hold. I think that many people in the Fellowship have and continue to do the same thing to this day, hence becoming spoiled brats themselves.
Imagine after spending 20 years with your family, and one day they say to you: You have been bad. We want you to leave and sorry we cannot have valuable conversations with you any more. Perhaps we’ll see you in the street and nod or even say hello, but that’s it. You’ve been bad and now you’re on your own.
317/9/Wake up little suzy wake up
Reference ~ CHARLES RANDALL’S EXIT LETTER
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I am resigning my membership in the Fellowship. Attached is a copy of a letter I sent to Robert. In it I explain my thoughts to him and my recommendations to him.
I would like to share a couple of things with you, too.
Naturally, I recommend to you that you disassociate yourself from the Fellowship. However, I recognize that doing so is a process that takes time, sometimes a long time. For me, I would say it took me twelve years or more to finally take the step. I hope you hear what I am doing and saying with an open mind; that is, I hope you entertain the idea that I may be right. I am just like you. I wanted everything to be true.
As a member of the board of directors for almost 15 years, I know what goes on there. If you intend to continue in your capacity as director, I adjure you to rise up and take responsibility for what is happening in the Fellowship. I think you know Richard Buzbee’s letter is not an aberration; it appears to be the rule. None of the men in Robert’s harem really wants to be there, to my knowledge. And new recruits are added in an elaborate and subtle conspiracy in which they have almost no chance to say no. If you don’t know how it works, check it out. Ask Richard Buzbee. Stop being afraid.
In my current frame of mind I would not have agreed to many of the financial and operational decisions we all “rubber-stamped” in our monthly director’s meetings. The purchases of “art”, the budget for Robert’s endless vacation, the salary for Robert, including his gigantic year-end bonuses, the bogus arrangements for Robert to purchase luxury golf condominiums in Palm Springs and Gray Eagle, just to mention a few, are repellent to me now. I suggest to you that you a.) reacquaint yourself with your conscience and b.) vote your conscience from now on. I don’t mean to sound glib; I say this to encourage you to do what you vaguely feel to be right, but which contradicts the dogma you’ve learned to live with.
Please stand up and take charge — of yourself, of your life, and of the Fellowship if you plan to stay in it. I know you. You are one of of the most decent, intelligent, and well-meaning people I have ever met. You are unfortunately living in a fantasy as far as Robert and the Fellowship are concerned. I lived the same fantasy.
It is possible to escape the fantasy. You only have to want to.
Your friend, Charles Randall
318/9/Charles R.
CAUSE & EFFECT (Fraud)
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Hello Prior Young Worker (94, 303, 310), I remember you well. It’s good to see your voice added to this blog. You wrote:
“You have abandoned your most valuable human feature: your ability to reason.”
Amen.
It took me a lot longer to leave than you. Hopefully I wasn’t one of those students who gave you the cold shoulder upon your departure, but I do recall a short conversation with you a long time ago.
You said, “He only invites men to the Academy for his own pleasure.” What’s amazing to me now is that I was slightly surprised by that assertion. And yet it wasn’t an assertion at all — just a fact that I wasn’t quite ready to hear. We were in denial. We are in denial. Most of this is scripted to satisfy one man’s need for power and control over weaker individuals, but we don’t want to see that — sort of stating the obvious, but sometimes it’s good to state the obvious.
323/9/Another PYW
DESECRATION, Sexual Predator & Joint Negligence
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I have been thinking about integrity.
Integrity – adherence to moral and ethical principles; soundness of moral character; honesty
The 900 lb gorilla in the room is how Robert Burtoncoerces (coerce – to compel by force, intimidation, or authority, esp. without regard for individual desire or volition) heterosexual followers to have sex with him. The way we tended to rationalize this disturbing behavior in the Fellowship of Friends was by calling the sex consensual, but if something is “compelled” can it still be consensual?
And though Robert Burton as far as we know has not used physical force to coerce sex, it is well documented in this Blog and elsewhere that he regularly uses intimidation and his spiritual authority to convince his trusting young students to have sex with him. He makes them an offer they cannot refuse. (Basic reality check: what if it were your own 23-year-old son?)
Back to integrity. In the Fellowship of Friends the words “ethical” and “moral” are usually only found in the same sentence with the word “formatory” (a word that is not in the dictionary BTW), but common sense (the sense common to all centers?) tells us that coercing sex does not reflect adherence to any human “ethical and moral principles” in any culture all the way back to the caveman. Let’s face it, sexual coercion is what animals do, and what men who act like animals do.
But in the Fellowship of Friends we are very clever about using our own special language to redefine things, so the bird we see swallowing a worm is not simply that: a bird swallowing a worm. In this instance the bird is eating a whole can of worms and we call it consensual because the worms seem to be wriggling with enjoyment on the way down.
So can we agree that coercing sex from young hetero followers reflects a lack of integrity?
In my experience a lack of integrity in any one area tends to permeate many others as well. Here is where it gets interesting for me, because it explains why so many things have been bothering me for the last few years: why things are the way they are. Some examples…
1. You are waiting in line for a meeting. A woman approaches. She asks for $50 to buy a gift for Robert. You ask if it is mandatory and she says yes. You see a student in front of you raise his eyebrows at this, so you say “no, thanks, I do not have the money today.” Unperturbed, the woman moves to the next student in line, who is visiting from Mexico and obviously has very limited resources.
The Mexican student does not understand what the woman is saying, so the woman asks you to translate for her that Robert wants her to donate $50 for a gift. You say in Spanish: she wants $50 but you do not have to do it. The Mexican student thanks you and shakes her head at the woman. Later there is an auction. The tone of the auctioneers reeks of what from your earliest days in the school you were taught to recognize in yourself and others as false personality.
One of the auctioneers is the woman from before the meeting. Robert sits in the back of the audience, smiling paternally, proudly. Some people make sly jokes about themselves. You were taught to call this vanity. The cheerleading up front continues. You grimace. Something in you vows: never again.
2. You are at a dinner celebrating your 30th anniversary in the school. Around the table are 80 or so students who joined in American centers in 1976. The theme is an arcane Egyptian festival connected to the number 30. The numerology is mind-numbing. The numbers 30, 7, 6, 12, and possibly 36 and 72 are all given special significance. Numbers divisible or multiple by any of these important numbers are also implied to have special meaning somehow.
At one point there is a quotation describing five steps in a process. Robert’s comment on this points out that yet again we can see the number 6 woven into so many examples of ancient wisdom. You grow a little frustrated at this. Photographic images are shown throughout the meal by young men who have seemed to be frowning at you whenever you took a bite of your food.
Two of these men were recently caught soliciting ménage-a-trois sex from married women in the community. You have heard that these servers frequently make comments in the kitchen about how much food has been consumed by individual diners, after they remove their plates. You have heard that the photographic images have been photo-shopped to better fit the context of the keys they are meant to illuminate.
You see Graylin looking at you warmly but quizzically. People like him are the reason you have always loved this place. How could this beautiful place have changed so horribly. Something in you vows: never again.
3. You just filed your taxes and your FOF donations last year were close to $20,000. Spring donation is due: $750 plus your $1200 monthly. People in other countries pay about $300 per month plus a small seasonal donation, but this has never bothered you because you are proud to be able to support the school that has given you so much. Has made you who you are. You used to live at Isis and commute 120 miles each way to a job down in the valley, but your employer told you this was not acceptable so you were forced to move.
You have young children. It is hard to visit Isis and you cannot often afford $100 for a meeting because your teaching payments are usually running late, but this weekend you will make the effort. The meeting is led by Asaf. You notice a strange ritual as Asaf enters the tent. He is a young good-looking man who seems unable to do anything but smile.
He walks slowly, solemnly, from his pre-meeting stroll around the fountains. Some older students embrace him as he arrives at the tent. He beams at them with that special inner circle look. They beam back at him with collegial goodwill. They are “keys” specialist. Nevertheless, you stand in the back of the meeting and try to remember yourself by way of keeping an open mind to the knowledge being shared. The talk is focused on the esoteric meaning of “grass.”
Many quotes about grass from throughout history. You feel faint but are going to get through this thing. Almost every quote seems to mean the same thing. The king of hearts leads to the steward who fights imagination with the sequence, defeats the devil / lower self, and achieves higher states when the master comes. All is clear, nothing is in doubt or has any alternative interpretation.
After the meeting you are relieved to be with some old friends, but careful not to get entangled with certain people. Later you are strolling with your small children around the idyllic lawns and fountains. The kids are laughing and running around, people are smiling and happy.
A student approaches you. He photographs your children’s behavior. You were dreading that something like this might happen, again. Previously you have observed this man treating his own children with neglect bordering on abuse. You thank him and move on. Something in you vows: never again.
Is integrity such a big word? We used to say we valued consistency. This meant “being the same person.” Is the school “the same school?” I’m not talking about the form here, but the substance…the level of being. Did I leave the school, or was my teacher the one who left it, years ago? Have we stopped being friends, you who are reading this? Do you think I am lost now? Can you really risk judging my decision, my perceptions? Is this who you wanted to be, who you want to be? Is this the teacher you loved? My personal answer is self-evident.
With love.
Joseph G.
1976-2007
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324/9/Joseph G.
MORAL TURPITUDE, Reckless Endangerment, Sexual Predator, Hostile Environment Sexual Harassment.
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To prior young worker (9/310) “I knew Brian S… He was a very gentle person and I saw him wither.”
and More Rumors & Lies (9/317) “Brian S. Many tried to help him in many ways, he was an incurable alcoholic and although was given a task not to drink, simply refused to stop.”
and Whalerider (9/308) to exlax 101 #243 “Would you be willing to tell more details of what you know to be true in the sad circumstances of Brian’s passing? The FOF party line is that he was a “hopeless alcoholic”, which you and I both know is false.”
and especially to you good, good friends still in the Fellowship of Friends
I knew Brian as a sweet, artistic, very vulnerable young man (solar lunar) who became one of RB’s boys. Over time it was clear to all that he was suffering from very serious mental problems (erratic behavior, withdrawal, etc.) and he was diagnosed as a schizophrenic. I don’t know if he was treated by Fellowship of Friends psychiatrists, but RB eventually sent him away from Oregon House.
According to the unfortunate Fellowship of Friends parlance of the time (current members, has this changed?), Brian was ‘a damaged machine’ – and, after all, ‘some come to eat, and some to be eaten.’
Brian landed homeless in Sacramento, where he was attacked one night on K Street, suffering multiple stab wounds. While he was in the hospital in critical condition, his father came from the midwest to take care of him – and RB sent me and another (now ex-)member to meet with him.
We met Mr. S., a good householder type, at the hospital and then went to a coffee shop. Obviously, it was an emotion-filled scene. After a few minutes of pleasantries, Mr. S., asked us ‘You seem like decent fellows; what are you doing being involved in something like this?’
We had no answer, and a deep sense of shame came over me, a feeling that I could never buffer by calling it ‘mechanical goodness’ or ‘feminine dominance’ or ‘the play’ (I believe at that moment my conscience was jolted awake).
Eventually Brian recovered enough for Mr. S. to take him back home to recuperate and to receive psychiatric care. Several months later, he was much better and asked to return to OH, which RB allowed him to do. Fairly soon, it was clear that his mental state began to deteriorate… Perhaps someone else can pick up his sad story here.
By the way, I never saw Brian under the influence of alcohol, and calling him a drunk with moral failings is a vile slander.
As I said in my previous post, over time, I became increasingly troubled by what I saw in RB and the Fellowship of Friends, and I could not buffer how heartless our group had become.
Just one small example that stands out for me were the many times RB would speak about someone who ‘had lost the school’ and then laugh. Each time I heard him laugh I would ask myself ‘how can he think it is funny that someone has been sentenced to eternal damnation? Isn’t that the saddest, most serious tragedy that could ever befall someone?’
I’ll close with a few other questions I struggled with:
Why would RB have sex with a vulnerable and troubled young person?
Why would RB allow someone with serious mental illness into a Fourth Way school?
Why doesn’t RB own up to his own personal mistakes in these matters?
And just one from today:
Why would RB allow his representatives to besmirch sweet Brian’s memory on this blog?
I can still hear Mr. S. – ‘You seem like decent fellows; what are you doing being involved in something like this?’
325/9/James B.
Misapplication of Funds, Fraud, Negligent Hiring
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#310: We were all cheap labor.
(In the course of my 20 years, I believe I earned $6K from Fof — 6 months salary in France — and paid well over $100K in payments).
331/9/SandraC
ALL THE ABOVE
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Some more history…
After Richard Buzbee (school name, Richard Laurel) distributed his letter telling of his sexual encounter with Robert Burton and how he discovered his son Troy had been having sexual relationship with Robert Burton (beginning when Troy was underage), Robert Burton called quite a few students to ‘try to quell the flames’. Here is one of those conversation, verbatim.
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Phone call from Robert Burton to James Battaglia, October 23, 1994
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Robert Burton. Hello James, how’s your liver? Are you
feeling well?
J. I’m fine, Robert, and it was a kidney transplant that I had.
Robert Burton. Yes, that’s right. Are you disturbed by this Richard Buzbee incident? I understand you left the meeting in protest.
J. Let me explain the scenario. I had been standing for an hour and you know my physical condition. It was two minutes to eight o’clock and there were about a hundred cars at the Town Hall. Why do you think I left?
Robert Burton. To beat the traffic!
J. That’s right. If I was protesting this meeting, I’d do it verbally.
Robert Burton. I don’t want the meeting to be an arena to discuss my sexual life and I allowed it to happen. C Influence wants me to be a homosexual and have sex with my students so that I may have humility. It’s a beautiful experience for myself and my students. I’m very loving and careful with them. The morality of the ark will not be based on Judeo-Christian principles.
J. What will it be based on?
Robert Burton. I don’t know yet.
J. I’d like to ask you some questions concerning this matter about Richard. Are you open to that?
Robert Burton. Yes.
J. Did Richard consent to having sex with you?
Robert Burton. I’m over fifty and not a strong man. Richard lifted his buttocks up so that I could remove his pants. After we were through, he said that it was beautiful.
J. Had you had sex with him previously?
Robert Burton. We had laid naked together in the other (Ethan’s) house and I fondled him. My students willingly have sex with me, I don’t force anyone.
J. I’ve talked with Richard myself and I feel that I have a good understanding of his experience.
Robert Burton. Just remember I am a conscious being and Richard is an unconscious being. Richard is lying through his teeth, and he set me up. Richard is a wolf in sheep’s clothing and I fell for the setup.
J. I’m not conscious and I can’t verify if you are conscious. The system tells me that the lower cannot see the higher.
Robert Burton. I am the brightest light in two thousand years.
J. I can’t verify that.
Robert Burton. Have you verified C Influence?
J. Yes.
Robert Burton. Well, the reason you’re able to do that is because I am a conscious being. Do you remember when I sent the car for you?
J. What do you mean?
Robert Burton. I have to make about five hundred decisions a week. That I was able to send a car for you to pick you up at the hospital was an act of a conscious being. It’s the little things that matter.
J. Robert, I don’t see how that allows me to verify that you are conscious. Are acts of kindness an indicator of consciousness?
Robert Burton. You don’t sound like you are coming from the king of hearts, more from your king of clubs.
J. I’m glad you brought up the king of clubs. It seems like you have a big identification with things pertaining to the king of clubs. What do you think is the right work of the king of clubs?
Robert Burton. Gurdjieff says the king of clubs is the beast of the jungle, it protects the machine from harm. It lives in the jungle.
J. Then it seems to me a necessary part to recognize and understand. Yet you have an aversion to king of clubs things like holistic healing, hands-on healing, etcetera.
Robert Burton. (vague response)
J. Robert, the only thing important to me is to keep my ears and eyes open and try to be in the moment. This moment. Talking to you is the most important thing happening. It helps me see the truth. That’s why I came to this school; I felt it was a bastion of truth. In time, though, I’ve found that most students don’t want to face the truth. Whenever I make an observation, the general response is that I’m being negative or that I’m losing the school. I see fear and feminine dominance as tools to keep students in control, I don’t have any fear of losing the school. I just need to be in the moment and if C Influence takes me out, so be it. Being in the moment is all that’s important to me.
Robert Burton. That’s not enough.
J. What do you mean, not enough? That’s what you’ve been preaching all these years, self-remembering. What more is there?
Robert Burton. You have to be concerned with your future.
J. What?!
Robert Burton. You have to be concerned with YOUR future.
J. I’m concerned with the moment.
Robert Burton. Remember when you were thrown out of the raft?
J. Yes.
Robert Burton. C Influence can shake you out of the school just the same.
J. Robert, again let me say all I can do is keep my eyes and ears open and stay in the moment. That’s all that’s important to me. I don’t fear losing the school if I’m bounced out of it.
Robert Burton. You have to be concerned about your future.
J. I’m only concerned with my present.
Robert Burton. You have to be concerned about YOUR future (very strong emotional energy coming from Robert). Well, I’m glad that you’re o.k. about this incident. It’s fine to share this conversation with other students.
J. I won’t do that, Robert, because it would influence their thinking on this matter. I would encourage them to speak with Richard and you to form their own opinions. Are you open to them calling you?
Robert Burton. Yes. Well, there’s a wedding here today and I have things to do.
J. Let’s keep the channels of communication open, Robert, and thanks for calling.
Robert Burton. Goodbye, dear.
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James followed up this conversation with a letter a few days later…
Dear Robert Burton,
I appreciate you calling me and have taken time to digest the experience, and I’d like to offer you my perceptions.
My emotional center registered from your tone that you were very concerned with how I was dealing with what I’ll call the Richard Laurel incident. My action at the meeting of questioning Wayne’s angle and then leaving soon after was the catalyst for your call. I find it interesting that this was reported to you and that you acted so quickly on it. It verifies to me that you are quite active in the process of damage control over this incident with Richard and it makes me question why.
I made thorough notes of our conversation and thought about the emotional content of your voice during it. I feel that you put a lot of energy out to convince me that you are a conscious being, bordering on divinity. “The brightest light in two thousand years”, as you put it. The examples you gave to me for verification, such as my having verified C Influence because you are a conscious being and your sending me to a car to pick me up at the hospital did not penetrate as valid verifications of consciousness.
I had verified C Influence before and after being in the Fellowship of Friends and I don’t see any connection with your theoretical consciousness. As to you sending a car for me and supplying rides to my doctor’s appointments at my request, I appreciate it greatly and that shows me that you were very considerate of my situation, yet I don’t know they constitute acts of consciousness. Yet I have a pretty good idea of what is not consciousness through self-observation and observing others.
As to our discussion of your sexual preferences and that C Influence wants you to be a homosexual and have sex with your students, this in unverifiable to me. Your sexuality is your business and is not a real issue with me. The issue with me and other students I’ve confided in is the possibility of you using your position as a means to gratify what appears to be a large sexual appetite. I’ve talked with students who have been your partner and their experiences have been as diverse as the individual.
Some have said they were pursued quite vigorously until they succumbed, others felt it was a beautiful experience from which they gained tremendously, and others felt they were treated as an instinctive object for pleasure, then discarded. You said that your students willingly are with you and you do not influence them and t his my be true. You do hold a very influential position over many and I’m sure that you realize this does affect a person’s process in responding to you. Years of observation about the type of men you have in your entourage have shown me that they are predominantly very similar in their psychologies and appear to be particularly malleable.
My final concern is that over the years it appears you have many sexual partners and that precautions for sexually transmitted diseases are not taken. I feel this is not responsible action by all parties involved and can lead to dire consequences for you and many others. Have you ever had an AIDS test and have any of your consistent partners been tested? What do you feel is your responsibility and how do you deal with this issue?
My responses and statements to you appeared to make you more defensive of your position until you photographed my as being in the king of clubs rather than the king of hearts. This appears to be a standard response by you that one is becoming instinctive if your authority is questioned. The Fourth Way, as I understand it, is a process of questioning, observing, and verification. One that does not question is asleep, in my opinion. My questioning is a step in the process to find the truth, it does not come from disrespect or judgment.
At the start of our conversation you mentioned that you had just returned from staying at a hotel, I believe it was named after Muir, and that the address was 1998 and you made a reference to the numerical significance. At the teaching dinner I attended in September, you spent a considerable amount of time talking about interpreting license plate, place names and the like.
Robert Burton, what relevance does that have towards evolution and why is it such a common topic by you to students? I searched books by Ouspensky, Gurdjieff, Collins and Bennet and have not found any references to predictions. What does this information have to do with the Fourth Way and awakening? To me it appears to feed imagination. I may be wrong, so could you clarify your intent on speaking of these matters? I’d appreciate some relativity.
Robert Burton, I feel the intention of your call was to assure me that everything is fine and as you put it, Richard was lying through his teeth, a wolf in sheep’s clothing, as you stated and you fell for his setup. I don’t know why you made a particularly strong effort to convince me. I’ve been told that one of your roles is to keep students asleep as well as awaken. If this was said by you I feel that you were trying to assure me that all is well and that it’s business as usual.
And you (Robert Burton) realized that I wasn’t buying it. Thus your example of being knocked out of the school felt like a strong warning to me. As I said to you, I’ve never felt as committed to my work and to supporting students as I do now. All I can do is to try to be present to the moment, keep my eyes looking and my ears listening. Trust my conscience and I’ll be shown the truth. The future will unfold as it will and I will accept it as it happens, without fear.
Robert Burton, I appreciate all the opportunities I’ve been given to self observe and try to develop will. For our efforts and all the efforts of all students who have built and are building Renaissance/Apollo I am forever grateful. I know of no other community where I have 1901 teachers and it is something I value highly. My observations to you come from a place of caring, support and concern for what we are building and I know that you can understand and appreciate that. Let’s keep the communications open.
Thank you.
With love and friendship,
(signed) James Battaglia
On the 13th November, 1994, James received his reply. He was told to leave the Fellowship, along with five others, including myself.
Historical note: “Wayne” is Wayne Mott, onetime Robert Burton’s personal secretary (can’t remember if he was so at the time). The meeting referred to was led by Steven Dambeck, with Wayne Mott, Gunter Weninger and a couple of others (can’t find my notes right now!) up on the podium. What was notable about this ‘public’ meeting is that these folks started by freely admitting having sexual relations with Robert Burton, and each testified that the experience was helpful for their inner work. Steven then continued the meeting on the lines of morality (with special emphasis on the inapplicability of ‘life’ morality), and steered away from any concerns about abuse of power and so on (refused to accept such questions by asking for others that suited his agenda better). A couple of days later, I responded with a letter to him that photographed him for the sleight of hand and misdirection, which I may post later.
With love to all,
Ames
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339/9/Ames Gilbert
CAUSE (Desecration, Conspiracy to Defraud)
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# Woman, marriage and Community Says:
May 20, 2007 at 3:19 am
From Elena
One of the consistent questions that seem to be relevant in this discussion is:
Who is responsible for your suffering in the Fellowship of Friends? You, or the Fellowship of Friends?
I would say that the Fellowship of Friends is responsible for the damage that students suffer by following the ideas that are taught and practiced in the Fellowship of Friends.
It is very interesting that when you talk to students they say they do not feel that they have been damaged and this is what I would have said the day before I left a month and a half ago. Today I am beginning to realize much more deeply the areas in which there has been great damage to my integrity.
This are ideas that are new to me, so again, this is just an exploration in which others are welcome to add or detract, but please do so with reasoning, not just by calling me names. If looked at in terms of the three lines of work here are some things that come to mind:
Integrity in the first line
Keeping one’s health. Mentally, emotionally and physically. Brian Sissler’s story sounds one extreme one in which the pressure was too much for him to deal with. Was he really the only responsible one?
It is common knowledge in the Fellowship of Friends, the amount of physical work that is expected of each student on salary. It is my impression that few “buy” into this practice any more and are much depressed into making hardly any effort.
The problem here is that both ways it is harmful. If there’s too much effort, because the break downs or chronic fatigue cases come, if there’s little effort because the students are depressed, not stimulated by the school, by Robert Burton, by what they are doing with their lives besides watching Robert Burton live his, the damage to their integrity is expressed in the depression.
The tendency of students in the inner circle to divide into two very distinct personalities, could that be any more damaging? One that tries to live a fairly normal life within his/her home and another one that tries to support the Fellowship at all cost usually resulting in the failure of the first one. Many older students now say they are willing to talk with exstudents and even if their wife leaves they are happy to continue with them.
The amazing thing to observe here is that what they are pretending is to have a wife with whom they cannot share the community that they’ve given their life to. This is the division into different personalities that becomes so clear. It is the expression of people whose consciousness has split into different areas and they are trying to survive all of them by splitting their lives also in practical reality. A wife or a husband devoid of space within the community.
A first and second line without a third line. An individual, a couple, without a community to live their lives. How much more suffering do you think the Fellowship of Friends can continue to promote? But this inner circle men are convinced that this is perfectly legitimate because after all, women are third class citizens in the Fellowship of Friends so who cares if they throw them out completely as long as they can continue to receive their love and services.
There are many more areas but I would now like to browse at the other two and work on each more later.
Damages to a student’s integrity in the second line.
The damages to the integrity of couples who have to put up with a husband that goes to have sex with Robert Burton regularly.
The lack of spontaneous communication between students who have to consistently pretend they are being intentional by being uptight, stiff and modelling.
The so called “intentionality” that is much closer to the practical expression of the “indoctrination” in which basically student’s have to live under the two mottos:
You’re here to work only on yourself
Don’t express negative emotions.
Which leave no room to question ANYTHING inside the fellowship. In not questioning anything, students are NOT part of the Fellowship of Friends no matter how much they pay. If you cannot participate in the decisions you are NOBODY. Getting used to being a nobody damages your integrity.
The abolition of official events that allow for self expression and communication. This is the another extremely damaging practice to me in the Fellowship of Friends because it slowly renders students into a state of self denial in which they do not think themselves worthy of expressing themselves and participating in the life of the School in any other way than the established curriculum in which they always have to be listening to the teacher, Girard or other inner circle students with their researched quotes, making you believe that if they have accepted to live like Robots or Roberts you should also be able to accept it.
If you cannot feel free to participate fully with all your being how can you expect to be present with all your being when you are having to deny 70% of it?
There are many more in this line but let’s move on.
Damages to a student’s integrity in the third line:
As I am conceiving consciousness in the third line, it is the capacity to assume responsibility for the community you live in. Not just yourself but everybody and everything in it.
I was hurt when students were kicked out and I did not know. They were human beings that no matter whether we had become close friends or not, they had become people that mattered to me and I have an emptiness in myself about many people who I do not know where or why they went.
When Joseph Monteleone died on his own in his room from a stomach ache that got severe enough, I was appalled by the fact that he had had such a miserable play that at that point he had no one to call for help.
All the young men in Robert Burton’s circle are my responsibility. I am convinced that no matter how opportunistic they may be, it is the responsibility of the more mature people in any community, to not allow for a situation in which younger men are used by Robert Burton, to not allow people to be exploited economically making them believe this is a conscious school when it is a money making business for Robert Burton and a few students. The individual efforts work everywhere, not only in the Fellowship of Friends, it is the Fellowship of Friends as a school or a community that doesn’t work.
A Community is a big thing and being damaged in one’s sense of community is being damaged in one’s hopes and dreams for humanity, in one’s consciousness. One might not live eternally but one lives eternally in one’s kind, one lives in what one has left the subsequent generations. Each one of us might sew only a thread in the carpet of humanity but being denied to sew that thread and not only that, being stimulated to destroy threads that were already struggled for and achieved is damaging to the soul. The soul that is common to all of us. The real I.
A community is the arena in which each man presents himself. If there is no community to be present to, there is no presence worth its name. Each man and woman must be able to present her/his work to his community because it is in that continued dialog that the spirit of a man, a woman and mankind, can evolve.
340/9/Woman, marriage and Community (Elena)
NOTE/DIRECTIONS FOR ~
‘Solar System Waste Management Cleanup Crew’
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If I may, I would like to introduce everyone to Isis.
Go to Google Earth and type in the following:
12585 Rices Crossing Rd., PO Box 1000, Oregon House, CA 95962
Just to the left of W121 15 9 is the gate house. Travel up that road to the first roundabout take a right (South) and you get to Galleria (Robert Burton’s house) (Between N39 19 41 and N39 19 39). It is surrounded by Gardens. The white lines are crushed stone paths. Tons of palm trees and Roses. East between N39 19 41 and N 39 19 39 is the Theatron. A large marble structure that replicates a Greek theater.
Heading back north until the top of the hill you can find the Apollo D’oro. A restaurant and meeting place for students (formerly called the lodge).
If you focus on the lodge you can see a yellow blob. This is a beautiful outdoor dining area that students frequent.
The winery is located at N 39 19 39 and W 121 14 33
All the hills around are terraced for the vineyard.
There is alot more, but I am not going to tell. Former and current Fellowship of Friend’s should have fun with this.
344/9/Moon Angel
EFFECT (Sexual Predator, Hostile Environment Sexual Harassment, Coercion, Negligent Infliction of Emotional Distress.)
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Joseph and integrity – you didn’t stay until 2007 did you? And Steve Dambeck succumbed to Robert Burton too? He was leading a meeting? I can see that, but it is despicable that he would defend Robert Burton’s manipulations. Steven is a smart guy and he has made a deal with the devil; abandoning his integrity. Did you all? What is up you guys?
And Sandra, Joel, Elena, James, Charles, and even Ames: if you knew this was going on, how can you imagine that we want to hear your insights now? Joel is analyzing O and RC? Please.
You think Charles is a great guy because he finally couldn’t take it. 15 years is too long. Maybe something besides your integrity motivated you. Even a pig gets full. You are known by your acts. People change and can be forgiven and their respect renewed. But they should humble themselves first. How about an apology?
Robert Burton never approached me, but evidently my friends allowed themselves to be manipulated by him. Graylin. Are you still there? I thought I knew you. We were about 20 then I think. You worked in the dining room and I wished I did because it was clean and cool. You always dressed so nicely and you were so polite. What has become of you?
I wish I could remember all your names and call you out – I would want to awaken you to realize your wasteful use of your energy and creativity. You are better than that.
Everyone – tomorrow is too late to begin rediscovering your integrity. If you are in, get out. If you were in and accepted the criminal behavior – apologize and stop giving angles about consciousness.
Colin L. and Linda T. and so many others whose names I won’t take the time to remember- I can’t imagine how you rationalize your lives.
348/9/Prior Young Worker
COLLUSION, CONNIVANCE, JOINT NEGLIGENCE
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Charles: Actually, I remember you to have been a nice fellow. I read your letter and I’ve extracted a portion:
In my current frame of mind I would not have agreed to many of the financial and operational decisions we all “rubber-stamped” in our monthly director’s meetings. The purchases of “art”, the budget for Robert’s endless vacation, the salary for Robert, including his gigantic year-end bonuses, the bogus arrangements for Robert to purchase luxury golf condominiums in Palm Springs and Gray Eagle, just to mention a few, are repellent to me now.
It’s not Robert that keeps the things going. It is the ‘Yes People’ under him that keep the gears greased, the Charles’, the Joel’s, the members of the board and others. What the hell was the matter with you people? You were the people that were supposed to be looking out for peoples’ welfare. And then you say it took you a decade to figure it out. Sounds a bit like the Nazis in WW2. Yes, people want to hug you and let you know wonderful it is that you’ve come clean. The fact of the matter is that you should be in prison.
352/9/Mannumberseven
MORAL TURPITUDE ‘Cause & Effect’
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As mentioned on the blog, the frightening part is that no matter what is stated in regards to Robert Burton’s excesses, it doesn’t seem to shock me either. He conducts himself above the law in the spirit of: “do as I say, not what I do”. The law I am referring to here is the law of humanity and it the flaunting of this law which was probably the most painful part of the Fellowship Of Friends experience. Not the sex, the drunkenness, the misogyny – all of which I found distasteful and like many was willing to put up with for far too long. But what really swayed it for me was the utter lack of humanity this unnatural lifestyle finally induced.
In the Fellowship Of Friends we become for the most part dehumanized. Why do I know this? I didn’t until I left. But one only has to read half a dozen of the posts on this forum to be able to differentiate between what I would regard as a “human” comment and one that is void of what I call soul.
Of course what we deem as human behavior might be interpreted differently depending on circumstances, though I don’t think anyone would argue that it involves what we know as the three lines of work to a greater or lesser extent. However, in order to undertake these lines in their truest sense, one has to have a conscience which is functioning properly – that is, for the most part is free from delusion (Ego with a big “E”) and all that this implies: a willingness to listen to others, show a modicum of humility, refrain from unjustified and venomous criticism of fellow souls etc. etc.
When I read some of the stories on this blog, it evokes all the memories of the sordidness which many of us including myself were happy to brush under the carpet for so many years. Having been a party to Burton’s excesses and dare I say “victim” – I say this with hesitation as I know some of you out there feel the need to question if it was as one sided as many of us make out. I myself know where the power lay / lied! Irrespective of this, one cannot deny that on this blog we have merely touched a large tip of the iceberg.
During my time, I was in a position to talk to several young lads who were subject to Robert Burton’s advances and as a result became very confused. (Some may remember young C. the Brazilian lad who went through a trial by fire as he struggled with his moral conscience, or H. the gardener with whom I traveled around Italy and who one night poured out his heart and all the contradictions which Robert’s actions evoked in him.
Then there was J. who almost died after breaking his neck and who I would visit quite regularly in hospital and whose main concern was not the x-rays of his body, but getting an aids test. These are just a three instances of many.
In the beginning I too tried to justify Robert’s actions to others – I had to – if only to convince myself that what I was supporting was useful to my evolution and my existence within the Fellowship of Friends.
However later, as I began to wake up the dangerous game Robert Burton (and myself) was playing, I was less willing to tag along. On the contrary, I began to resist at first and finally rebel, which didn’t amuse Robert Burton. You don’t joke with Robert Burton unless he gives you permission.
My own story concluded in a major stand off with Burton after I refused his will / sexual advances one more time. It’s only when you catch him at a moment when he doesn’t get his way, you begin to see the true colors of this man. The coldness behind the “conscious” persona (the mask of presence he puts on before the students at his dinners and meetings and public appearances).
I will never forget that look in his eye – the momentary glimpse of contempt (it’s the only way I can describe it) of someone who is not getting his way (someone who is used to getting his way all the time!) and realizing that his power is being undermined. Then the subsequent stratagems he employs to try and work you round to his way of thinking.
The offer of gifts is an obvious one, but if that doesn’t work, the subtle nudges from feminine dominance, reminding you that he is your teacher and should be obeyed. Finally there are threats he invokes using the weaponry of higher forces, and that by going against the will of the teacher there is a serious risk of terminating any possibilities of becoming conscious and endangering your soul in the process.
Though by this time I had seen through this facade and nothing could change my overwhelming desire to escape the oppression / depression that was overcoming me, it was a heavy trip all the same. That said, the more he ranted (yes, Robert Burton does rant!) the more I knew I was correct in my actions and I believe something in him probably knew it too, because after that episode his attitude toward me consisted of either token efforts of reconciliation, or mild threats to remind me that by abandoning him / the school the only option I had was life (death) / food for the moon and all that detritus we were so willing to accept.
In a word, anything to make you feel small, insignificant, helpless and fearful. It worked, for upon leaving the Fellowship Of Friends shortly after, it resulted in many years of extreme low self-self esteem, doubt and fear.
Postscript:
This is just part of my story and I’m sure there are many similar in nature. But the question which continues to intrigue me is: what is it that draws us to a place like the Fellowship Of Friends, which on hindsight is so obviously a cult? More than that, what duped us into remaining for so long – in some cases half our natural life time. Okay, Robert Burton is the charismatic instigator and figurehead behind the Fellowship Of Friends, but he is like many leaders throughout history who have presided over some morally dubious and corrupt regimes.
Such groups are made up of people, so there is a continuing collusion between its members to ensure its existence. Often this is done “voluntarily”. Being a member of the Fellowship Of Friends is something all of us here share in common, except the Sheik and possibly one or two posters who ended up here by accident, so in a way we each shoulder a portion of the responsibility, I suppose. At least we must always ask, when pointing the finger of blame, what part we played in this. Only then perhaps can we help others.
*******
Finally, I though I vowed (so much for vows) that I would not contribute to this blog again unless it was under my real name. I feel I now have said all I can under an assumed name. Even though I have the utmost respect for those who have the courage to do use their real names, I could not have said what I have here had I used mine.
That said I am willing to post an e-mail address should anyone feel they would like to ask me about anything I’ve said. The only condition is that I ask that you reveal who you are, just as I will do the same (I promise to keep true identities confidential.) I do not have the time for the likes of the cold, impersonal reasoning of H Carter, or the vitriolic rants of Rumors & Lies.
In the meantime let us celebrate our freedom,
Simon
borne2357@yahoo.ca
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354/9/Simon
NOTE for those of ‘CONNIVANCE,COLLUSION, DELIBERATE INDIFFERENCE, JOINT NEGLIGENCE, FRAUD’ in the Fellowship of Friends of Oregon House, CA.
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If you want to give hard time to people who were ‘high up’ in the school, why don’t you ask yourself the same question (#352 ManNumberSeven): “It’s not Robert Burton that keeps the things going. It is the ‘Yes People’ under him that keep the gears greased, the Charles’, the Joel’s, the members of the board and others.” – others: is it not you, who also paid as long as you stayed? Actually, you state it yourself: “In my current frame of mind I would not have agreed to many of the financial and operational decisions we all “rubber-stamped” – and then you go on saying that you want to see Charles and Joel in prison?!! Is it self-loathing speaking?
To me, the act of leaving the school is a redeeming act in itself and doesn’t require apologies for the past or (especially) public self-beating.
359/9/Rita Penfold
MILES BARTH’S DEPARTURE ‘a note’
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When Miles Barth left, I did get a copy of his letter (someone made sure it was well distributed, maybe Miles himself). Well written—in my opinion—(I was in tears at the time with the shock and sorrow), he said that he was leaving because his conscience told him to, and that was sufficient unto itself. He gave no details. I asked around, could get nothing. But I did enquire into his ‘school’, and was sent a copy of the first meeting. There was no clue I could find into why he left, or why I should leave the Fellowship of Friends and go join his group. But, there was a subliminal clue.
He left during or just after the Samuel Sanders case; presumably he found out something so disturbing or revolting that he had to leave. I understood that he was involved in the case, had attended meetings if not the court.
I understood that there had been depositions. Miles knew something, if not everything. I admired Miles for his straight talk out of meetings, and something in me trusted that he had acted for the best; but still, this was not enough to motivate me.
361/9/Ames Gilbert
UNITED STATES FEDERAL TAX FRAUD & CONSPIRACY TO COMMIT FEDERAL TAX FRAUD
(35 years and counting)
SEXUAL PREDATOR, FRAUD, COLLUSION, CONNIVANCE, Misapplication of Funds, Joint Negligence,
UNITED STATES MAIL THEFT
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But, the balance was tipping. Once I became curious and listened harder to the ‘gossip’, and asked questions to see if there was any basis, I started to see that yes, Robert Burton did give a ‘leave of absence’ to the wife of his personal secretary and sex partner, a woman who presumed to have an affair of her own because she became so lonely.
That Robert Burton did give an expensive sweater to a man who tattled about the sex life of his landlady because she demanded he pay his rent. That the chief sex police officer did have sex with two separate vineyard workers the same week she turned in others for breaking the no sex outside marriage exercise. And so on, dozens upon dozens of examples of ‘things that didn’t fit’. The scandals and inconsistencies mounted, the evidence accumulated. Seeing some person’s pay stub by accident; that person was paid thousands of dollars, yet was in the same penury as any other worker.
Asking the question. Yes, the Fellowship of Friends does pay certain people much more than others, they are expected to ‘donate’ the surplus back, and why–so Robert Burton can get income at the lower rate of tax of the worker, rather than as a millionaire. And so on, and on… Charles R. and James B. left—the usual reasons, “they’ve lost their work, they’re negative”, and so on. But these were good people, and they were not negative.
And finally, every camel has a straw, the special straw that breaks its back. No different from any other straw, yet that’s the One. In my case, it was more like a whole bale.
The Richard and Troy Buzbee case… Richard’s instance didn’t interest me so much, it seemed he knew more than he told, was less naïve than he claimed. But his son, that was another matter. Underage, primed by his dad to regard Robert Burton as a god, he was led to the slaughter. One ‘older student’ said that “everyone knew, why the outrage?” as some sort of justification. But, I hadn’t known.
So, I started asking, sometimes directly, sometimes in a roundabout way, just like a detective, the people who would know. The boys, the people who had suffered ‘injustice’, the ‘procurers’, the ‘older students’. I studied the work books, the directors, the meetings, my fellow students, with the critical eye that had been so long lacking. I let the stew simmer, then took a taste. I enjoyed the feeling of empowerment, taking back my own power. My conscience spoke up.
I asked questions publicly. And, after sixteen years in which I never once offered an angle (outside of ‘small groups’), I ended my career by offering two in my last two meetings. The first was a suggestion that we change the form of the meetings so we could exchange more personal energies and deal with personal problems rather than theoretical and intellectualized questions, and the last in response to what I perceived was a brush-off by Linda of a student’s question; I asked that we deal with her question instead of seeking one that suited Linda’s agenda that night. The next day I got the Boot.
Young Worker, that’s why it takes time. It’s a process, different for everyone. It is much easier now to exchange information. Back in ‘my day’, I did it by publishing a little newsletter of encouragement (three issues), by copying letters that came my way and distributing them, by asking questions and telling everyone who would listen what I had found out. Others did the same.
The letters were easy to intercept, I never imagined until late, late, late that folks like Girard regularly ‘swept’ the mail of what they deemed offensive or subversive material. I never imagined that the leaders coordinated policy and damage control. I never imagined that Abraham Goldman so ruthlessly attacked all criticism, or made settlements under condition of seal to avoid total defeat and then claimed victory to the Fellowship of Friends.
Before ‘my day’ (the day of laser writers and personal publishing but not the web as we know it today), others like Thomas Easley (one of the earliest to speak up about his abuse) had to try to distribute their typewritten letters by hand. There was no Internet, no blog, no website to distribute information. Hopefully things can now happen faster.
361/9/Ames Gilbert
DISPARENT TREATMENT
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To H. Nagillah, 353. from Elena
The school is not a monastery not did it ever say it was a monastery no matter how much you pray. Your inner prayer is no prayer at all if you cannot bring it out to harmony with your community.
Do not read me if you don’t wish to but don’t be angry at yourself if you can’t help it. I am not the truth but the truth stands on its own in each one of us and it is recognized.
I am not the issue, not my likes or dislikes, it is the way we live that is the issue and I am questioning it because it requires questioning.
The horrors of the fellowship have had me suffering for seventeen years but every day of those years I thought I was there not to judge and to not express negative emotions. Robert Burton showed me who he really was in the play with Dorothy against my will. It happened to me. One human, Dorothy, against another, Robert Burton, destroyed my imaginary picture of Robert Burton and then I understood that his lack of second and third line were merely inhuman. A sick man like all those who support him unconditionally (Robert Burton). We were all sick.
Your work is yours, it is not against that that I am talking. Guard it well. Remember the quote we so much loved by Shakespeare? “This to thine own self be true and it must come like the night the day, that thou canst then be false to any man” (paraphrasing perhaps?) But know that your self walks in the fingers of your lover and in the movements of your friends. Never imagine that you are alone or can be alone.
The inner prayer is meant only to allow one to open the doors that keep others out. The lawfulness of our lives is the practical expression of those prayers. There are twelve thousand students knocking at your door or maybe it is only I who am knocking. You live inside of me, don’t ask me to throw you out because I cannot.
362/9/Inner Prayer
EFFECT (Hostile Environment Sexual Harassment’
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Ames #339
re: Phone call from Robert Burton to James Battaglia, October 23, 1994
“R: Have you verified C Influence?”
“R: You don’t sound like you are coming from the king of hearts, more from your king of clubs.”
“R: You have to be concerned with YOUR future.”
“R: C Influence wants me to be a homosexual and have sex with my students so that I may have humility…”
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ENOUGH IS ENOUGH!!!
I CANNOT READ THIS SHIT ANYMORE!!!
I AM HAUNTED AND REPULSED BY THAT MAN’S VOICE!!!
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TO ANYONE STILL IN THE FELLOWSHIP OF FRIENDS:
———————————————
I AM SCREAMING IN MY INNER WORLD NOW AT THE TOP OF MY LUNGS WITH EVERY OUNCE OF MY BEING!!!!!!
I GRASP YOUR SHOULDERS
AND SHAKE, SHAKE, SHAKE YOU OUT OF YOUR DEEP SLEEP!!!
WAKE UP!!! WAKE UP!!! WAKE UP!!!! WAKE UP!!!
WHAT THE FUCK IS THE MATTER WITH YOU????
ARE YOU BLIND????
ARE YOU INSANE????
YOUR HOUSE IS ON FIRE!!!
OBSERVE THE TIME AND FLY FROM EVIL!!!
DON’T BE A FOOL!!!
THIS GUY IS THE SLEASIEST GUY IN THE UNIVERSE!!!
HE’S A SVENGALI!!!
HE HAS YOU STUCK IN A DOUBLE BIND!!! A CATCH 22!!! A HEAD LOCK!!! A DEATH GRIP!!!!
YOU ARE IMPRISONED IN YOUR OWN MIND!!!
FREE YOURSELF NOW!!!
DON’T WASTE ANOTHER NANO-SECOND OF YOUR LIFE!!!
RUN AS FAST AS YOU CAN, DON’T EVER LOOK BACK!!!
HE GETS OFF TOYING WITH YOUR LIFE!!!
TAKE CONTROL OF YOUR FATE TODAY!!!
YOU ARE NOT HIS PLAYTHING!!!
YOU ARE BETTER THAN THAT!!!
I CAN TELL YOU FROM THE BOTTOM OF MY SOUL…
HE’S LYING!!!
THAT’S NOT HOW THE GODS MAKE MEN HUMBLE!!!
ROBERT GETS PLEASURE FROM WHAT HE DOES WITH HIS BOY-TOYS!!!
THAT’S NOT HUMILITY!!!
CAN’T YOU SEE THAT?????
THE JOKE IS ON YOU!!!
HE DOESN’T CARE ONE BIT ABOUT YOUR “EVOLUTION”!!!
HE WOULD DROP YOU IN AN INSTANT WITHOUT EVEN GIVING YOU A SECOND THOUGHT!!!
POOF!!! AND YOU ARE GONE!!!!
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CAN YOU FEEL ME NOW?????
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To everyone who has already left the Fellowship:
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However long you were a member,
It doesn’t matter!
Each night, before you enter first state,
Humbly,
From your heart of hearts:
THANK GOD ALMIGHTY!!!
…that you had the luck, courage, strength, and common sense to free youself from this self-imposed prison! All that matters is that you are free to start living YOUR life!
And for God’s sake, trust yourself!
You are very much still on the path to your enlightenment!
It is not meant to be easy!
Be in good householder,
Listen to your conscience,
Make the virtuous choice,
And the Gods will always help with you.
PLEASE, TELL YOUR STORY SO OTHERS CAN LEARN FROM YOUR MISTAKES! THEN HISTORY WILL FORGIVE YOU, TOO.
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I hug my children,
And my wife,
And I make sure to tell them I love them every day.
I work hard so they can be proud of me,
and I let the Gods take care of the rest.
WhaleRider
1979-1985
PS. For Cathie #360…I WAS YELLING!!!
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378/9/Whalerider
CAUSE (Conspiracy to Defraud, False Impersonation)
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A few “before I knew” stories:
NYC
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Once, while on the plaza at Lincoln Center with a bunch of students waiting to see the ballet, Robert Burton got behind me, took my arm, stretched it out and made me point to a scantly dressed young female performance artist who was doing some kind of edgy routine for the crowd. He whispered in my ear “she is evil”. I was appalled and shot back “no she’s not”. I felt a great deal of tension at that moment because I was an actress too and also and disappointment that my teacher could be so provincial. Little did I know.
Another story: London
Once, around 1981, while having lunch at the Waterside Inn (one of the most expensive restaurants in the world) Robert Burton and I were having a chat. It was shortly after T. and I were married and, T. being T., I discovered how s-t-u-b-b-o-r-n that man could be.
Well, I knew that T. had lived with Robert Burton from 1972 to 1980 and I said, “Gee, I’m glad he was with you before he was with me because if he’s this stubborn now he must have been a real case before he lived with you!” Well Robert Burton looked at me with horror on his face. I didn’t know what I’d said wrong!
Another story: Venice
OK- so we’ve had enough graphic sexual descriptions on this blog that I hope the following won’t shock any of the more sensitive readers. And T., if you’re reading this, forgive me but it’s just too, too funny not to share with the more literary bloggers.
SO- This is not so much about Robert Burton as it is about synchronicity. Anyway here goes… Anybody here heard of Erica Jong? Her famous book Fear of Flying reveals that she and RB have a favorite sexual pastime in common, except that Ms. Jong is famous for doing it in airplanes.
380/9/Shelley M
YES and NO (Connivance, Collusion, Coercion)
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The students are to my mind far more impressive than Robert Burton.
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389/9/’I see’ said the blind man
BLACKMAIL, VISA FRAUD, Negligent Infliction of Emotional Distress, Reckless Endangerment, Undue Influence
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Some 4 years ago two of Robert’s boyfriends, both Russians, were rejected visas to the US. Robert then came to the aid of students (then in Rome) to acquire forged Czechoslovakian passports through Italian mafia with which they tried to enter the country.
Immigration officers discovered the forgery and the two boys spent some time with police at the airport.
Decision was made to send them back to the country from which they came from, i.e. France. They spent about 3 months in prison there, after which time they were sent back to Russia.
Being in the prison did some good to one of them, as he had time to ‘come to his senses’ and finally decided to leave Robert and the school.
The other, however, is still ‘serving’ Robert, although hating it, but such is the price of staying in the country of his choice.
The one who was leaving told Robert about his decision, to which he said that if he does leave him, his wife is going to leave him and he’s going to loose some attractive things offered to him by his teacher. Still, he left and after a while his wife left him.
After a while, he decided to blackmail Robert by writing an article about his experiences with him in American papers. I told him to get a good lawyer if he were to do so, but he went ahead alone and had to deal with Mr. Lawyer A.G., who blackmailed him back, using his knowledge of certain circumstances of the boy’s life. The whole thing was settled for a pitiful $3.000 in exchange for a signature on a paper stating that the information about Robert should not be disclosed to anyone.
390/9/Intercontinentia Buttocks
EFFECT (Conspiracy to Defraud)
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I was a member of the Fellowship of Friends for 5 years, from ‘79-’84. By the time I joined Robert Burton had quit public teaching, and I had little direct contact with him. After reading some of the excellent and disturbing posts here, this now seems fortunate, though at the time I just felt unworthy. From our few interactions I got a sense of his power- no doubt with some projection on my part- but I agree that he probably has some abilities and talents which make him seem “conscious”. These talents are not so rare, but rare enough so that when used skillfully they weave a powerful spell. In this case he successfully conjured the fatherly/divine intermediary to “higher states”, and I bought it.
The first few years in Fellowship of Friends were particularly seductive because after years of bohemian wandering a part of me could relax and experience a parent-child dynamic for the first time since childhood. It was a novelty and a relief to have a structure- exercises and studies and particular music and art, food and wine, the vineyard, and all in the service of awakening!
A lot of the people Fellowship of Friends attracted were extraordinary, and the work knowledge sometimes worked. The emphasis on beauty in an often sordid world, the meetings and conversations, dinners and drinking, plays and concerts actually did produce cracks in old, ingrained habits and thought patterns, releasing plenty of joy and energy. Not much body involvement, but heady stuff indeed!
After a while questions came up, trouble in paradise, the kid sees the zipper on the Santa suit (open)- and the response was to abuse these favorite ideas- the dissonance of discriminating mind squelched repeatedly as “negativity”, or rationalizing the emergence of conscience as “unnecessary suffering”, as I think I did for a while after learning about some of the lying and sexual scandals in ‘83. I continued to be a “bad student” and saw old friends and family, doing what I increasingly felt was right, and eventually left the group. In a way I see that my weaknesses were protective here. I am so sorry some of you were hurt while you were involved. I wish you healing.
Eventually it came to feel that one of the core problems with Fellowship of Friends (by no means exclusively) is the old familiar “us and them” stance, used since ancient times to control, invalidate, and make war upon other human beings, other species and even the planet itself. It is subtle and pervasive and extends itself deep into our psychology where we torture ourselves and others with it. It has nothing to do with anything like awakening.
I am thankful to Fellowship of Friends for receiving a “vaccination” against this type of thought which seems to be gaining strength in the various religious fundamentalist movements across the world right now, and causing so much suffering. I think Sandra C. mentioned this as well. (so great to hear you Sandra !) The uncertainty and complexity of post- modernity is scary, and it’s a very human desire to want to retreat back to a time when the parent/child dynamic was strong and mother and father knew best. Same goes for teacher, preacher, etc.
Caveat emptor!
392/9/Martha
CAUSE
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From Robert Burton’s book “Self-Remembering.”
[The following is posted as a review of the content of the book and comes under fair use provisions.]
“A cataclysmic disaster may be imminent that could be a prelude to hydrogen warfare. If California fell, there would be no major population center near Renaissance and so the coast would be clear.” (page 53)
“Almost all of Christ’s disciples died an unnatural death. We must talk of these things to prepare us for what is to come. Enduring suffering, one takes up one’s own cross. We are chosen to play these roles.” (page 87)
“They [C Influence] have given us some prophecies that are facts for them but, until they turn into facts for us, they must be called prophecies.” (page 142)
“Influence C ushers us to Heaven’s gate.” (page 151)
“We have been chosen by Influence C to awaken, while almost all others have an indifferent fate. That is, they are left alone to a great extent by higher forces. Influence C wants something for us: an astral body. And they want something from us: an ark to survive hydrogen warfare.” (page 155)
“Hydrogen warfare seems inevitable, and one no longer has to be a prophet to predict it. Incredible events may happen in our lives, and I will be very surprised if anything but us survives.” (page 156)
“We are truly involved in tremendous events, such as hydrogen warfare, and yet these events favor us because they have evoked a school on earth from higher forces.” (page 161)
“I still have considerable difficulty transforming negative emotions, primarily due to the violence of the suffering I must absorb to lift a school and humanity out of the chaos of impending hydrogen warfare.” (page 176)
“Our school will produce seven conscious beings. Apollo will not reach its peak for centuries or millennia. Our school is one of the greatest schools in recorded history, and that is why suffering is so abundant.” (page 185)
Seven decades ago Ouspensky stated the obvious: “Consciousness is not functions.”
Strangely, it seems necessary after decades of influence from people like Ouspensky to state another obvious and yet often misunderstood law: “Psychosis is not consciousness.”
Those still behind us, those still working with the psychological test known as the Fellowship of Friends, where it is in limbo whether each will ever discover that their state of insanity is below the level of everyday life, do not know what we, those who have passed the test of developing ‘critical mind’, know: the Fellowship of Friends is a school of imagination (depression-1984, fall of California-1998, “hydrogen warfare”-2006).
There is no consciousness there, instead they mistake the intensified hydrogens of World 192 as something higher. They mistake psychosis for consciousness. Some of us that have moved up now understand the difference between extreme identification with an egomaniac that mistakes himself as someone important to the scheme of world events and the necessary sanity required to actually do genuine work.
The Fellowship of Friends was created by C influence as a test for rising beings in order to teach them the difference between the lure of madness and the requisite reasonableness of real consciousness.
Those of us that have gone through the Fellowship of Friends have developed an indispensable understanding, we can now recognize the difference between the enticements of madness and the nature of higher consciousness. Those of us that have worked our way up out of that ridiculous barrier now have no doubts: we have ascended with more possibilities and far more consciousness than anyone left behind.
GWG
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393/9/The King of Clubs
The Notorious ‘Hostile Environment CUFF LINKS’
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I was under a happy spell for many years, until this big Robert Burton event at our house…This when I suddenly got the first glimpse of an uncomfortable feeling that may be we all are being dooped. Strangely, but before this event I saw nothing wrong, heard nothing wrong and would defend the school like it was my own home – just like you do now.
Our center had to prepare for big Tea.
Our center didn’t have money to rent a large space in the city so we were asked if our house could be used. At that time it was a total construction zone, but we agreed – and gladly so! And we went nuts, preparing for this event and spent thousands of dollars just to make it nice doing temporary improvements just for this event. We even built a temporary wooden fence to disguise the dumpster in front of the house… Of course we never even asked for reimbursement – there wasn’t even a thought about it!
All was done from our heart, sincerely, and we didn’t care how much it costs us… We were good students.
And Robert Burton arrived, and briefly gave his usual keys performance with Asaf, and everyone stared in silence with smiles and glossy eyes. No one haven’t even touched the fine French pastries or tea… I was seated on the couch next to my Teacher and I was in total heaven, listening to his voice so close to me, smelling his fine cologne and feeling the flavor of pastries in my mouth…
Yes, I was actually eating the whole time. Love those pastries, can’t help it! It was caught on camera, and later quite few of my friends called me to tell how shocked they were to see me eat and drink at Teaching Tea.
The event was over, and Robert rushed to the door. And then the ugly “cuff link scene” occurred. Robert Burton was rushing his boys to run get the car, to get to the city quickly, before the jeweler closes… One of them asked: Robert, do you really want these cuff links?” – “Yes, yes! I told you. I want them! Hurry up, get the car, let’s go. Now. Quickly. Call him, now, make sure he is still open…” His face was tense, he sounded… just like an identified angry guy. Yes, he was very identified. I have never seen my teacher like that, although I heard stories before.
My boyfriend and I were allowed to stand nearby and so we heard every word. Suddenly he turned to us and gave us one of those peaceful loving smiles… The smile we know and love so much… That makes you feel OK…
But I felt so bad. I felt deception. I felt like this was all fake and we were just taken, used by this powerful man… He just used us, our friends and our house to make good money on his brief performance and now is done with us and rushing to get what he wants. And doesn’t give a damn about this huge crowd of devoted students, who love him and made huge efforts to travel to our place from all over just to spend time with him… A stupid piece of jewelry was – obviously – so much more important to him than all of us.
I had mixed thoughts in my head, I couldn’t understand, justify, explain all this. And it only got worse, when I returned to the kitchen. I saw that all these polite good students, who were just nobly “preferring presence over food” in front of the Teacher (Robert Burton), were now devouring pastries right from the plates by the sink, using their hands, stuffing their mouths like hungry beasts! This was just hysterical. The falseness and hypocrisy of the whole thing was unbearable.
I suddenly saw things in a different light.
This event was a first wake-up call for me. I still needed few more like this, and I had them soon after that. I guess everybody has to have theirs to pry open their shell.
Question to Siddiq and Howard Carter (or anyone who wishes to answer) – do you ever see any hypocrisy and falseness in Robert, in Council actions, students behavior, in teaching events? Ever?
If yes – what do you say to yourself about it? I am really curious.
395/9/No Person
NOTE ‘Double-Bind’ ~ CONSPIRACY TO DEFRAUD ~
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Howard Carter #379
“The ones who stay do so because to them there is no point in leaving.”
Prime example of a psychological double bind.
from Wikipedia:
Explanation
“The (psychological) double bind is often misunderstood to be a simple Catch-22 situation, where the victim is trapped by two conflicting demands. While it is true that at the core of the double bind are two conflicting demands, the difference lies in how they are imposed upon the victim, what the victim’s understanding of the situation is, and who imposes these demands upon the victim.
(You must give up your will to the teacher or school to be free. There is only one real school on earth.)
Unlike the usual no-win situation, the victim is largely unaware of the exact nature of the paradoxical situation he or she is in. (new student or young student vs older student) This is because a demand is imposed upon them by someone they regard with respect, and the demand itself is inherently impossible to fulfill.
(To make a machine conscious and immortal that is the ultimate task. Be a conscious toaster oven!)
(Gregory) Bateson defines the double bind as follows:
The situation involves two or more persons, (Fellowship of Friends) one of whom is designated, for the purposes of definition, as the “victim” (student). The others are people who are in some way in a higher position to the victim, for example a figure of authority such as a parent whom the victim respects.
(Teacher, man number 7.3, brightest light in 2,000 years, older student, take your pick)
Repeated experience. The double bind is a recurrent theme (fourth way work language) in the experience of the victim and as such cannot be constituted as a single traumatic experience.
A primary injunction is imposed upon the victim by the other person in one of two forms: (a) Do “X”, or I will punish you. (b) Do not do “X”, or I will punish you. The punishment is assumed to be either the withdrawing of love, the expression of hate and anger, or abandonment resulting from the authority figure’s expression of extreme helplessness.
(If you leave the school, I/we will shun you. Do not confront me or question me or you will be asked to leave the school.)
A secondary injunction is imposed upon the victim that conflicts with the first at a higher and more abstract level. For example, “Do what I told you but only do it because you want to.” However, it is not necessary that this injunction be expressed verbally.
(I am a conscious being. No matter what I do, no matter how you feel about it, you must obey me. I am your direct link to influence c. Do not trust yourself, it is your king of clubs wanting you to leave.)
If necessary, a tertiary injunction is imposed upon the victim to prevent them from escaping the dilemma.
(If you leave the school, you lose your soul and wander among the multitudes of sleeping life people. You must stay and pay.)
Finally, Bateson states that the complete list of the previous requirements may be unnecessary in the event that the victim is already viewing their world in double bind patterns.
(Magnetic center angst makes a nice prerequisite.)
Bateson goes on to give the general characteristics of such a relationship: When the victim is involved in an intense relationship; that is, a relationship in which he feels it is vitally important that he discriminate accurately what sort of message is being communicated so that he may respond appropriately.
(If I don’t play along with the number game (ideas fo reference) and “verify” influence-c I could lose the school. To be a good student, I must read the signs, too.)
And, the victim is caught in a situation in which the other person in the relationship is expressing two orders of message and one of these denies the other.
(Be more conscious AND put up with my perversion and greed.)
And, the victim is unable to comment on the messages being expressed to correct his discrimination of what order of message to respond to, i.e., he cannot make a meta-communicative statement.
(The lower cannot see the higher, duh.)
Thus the essence of a double-bind is two conflicting demands, neither of which can be ignored, which leave the victim torn both ways in such a way that whichever demand they try to meet, the other demand cannot be met. “I must do it but I can’t do it” is a typical description of the double-bind experience.
(I must be more present and conscious, but I am unable to sustain it for any length of time. I must stay in the school and ingest my feelings no matter how much new INSANITY Robert Burton spews out.)
For a double bind to be effective, the victim cannot plainly see that the demand placed on them by the primary injunction is in direct conflict with the secondary injunction.
In this sense the double bind differentiates itself from a simple contradictory Catch-22 to a more inexpressible internal conflict where the victim vigorously wants to meet the demands of the primary injunction but fails each time because the victim fails to see that the situation is completely incompatible with the demands of the secondary injunction. Thus victims may express feelings of extreme anxiety in such a situation (or take wine, antidepressants or both)as they attempt to fulfill the demands of the primary injunction, but are met with obvious contradictions in their actions.
For example, a common double bind in western culture are the marriage vows taken by the bride and groom when they make an oath to love each other until death (HC:People come to a school to know themselves and that is a lifetime endeavor). In this situation, the primary injunction is the oath itself, and the secondary injunction is that which is imposed onto them by their society, that their love must be true. Thus a conflict arises in their relationship if either party falls out of love with the other(or realizes they have been deluded), but attempts to fulfill their obligation to the oath (I must make more efforts!). The more he or she tries to love the other, the less genuine their love is. (the Fellowship of Friends ultimately undermines your evolution the longer you stay.)
The double bind was originally presented as a situation that could possibly lead to schizophrenia if imposed upon young children, or simply those with unstable and weak personalities (Hmmm, now who could that be?). Creating a situation where the victim could not make any comment or “meta-communicative statement” about their dilemma (the lower cannot see the higher) would, in theory, escalate their state of mental anxiety. (Brian S. perhaps?)
The solution to a double-bind is to place the problem in a larger context….(THE BLOG!!)…(otherwise the victim will) create an escape from the conflicting logical demands of the double bind into the world of the delusional system (Robert Burton’s Fellowship of Friends, sequence, etc).”
I rest my case.
WhaleRider
1979-1985
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396/9/Whalerider
CAUSE ‘Deliberate Indifference’ to a SEXUAL PREDATOR, Joint Negligence, Collusion, Connivance.
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385 Half Life: “Yes, I accept the the truth of these postings and I do accept that Robert burton may be suffering from a psychopathic personality disorder. And yes, it is a cult for those who have the need to believe in the bizzare fantasies spun by Robert Burton. For those who do not have the ability to think for themselves it is even a dangerous environment; but, for them, so is life…….we regarded Robert Burton from afar as a liability or a sort of a ‘libidinal’ phenomenon that has to be tolerated or studied from afar as a dangerous paradox.”
Interesting post – you describe an unusual stance for a Fellowship of Friends student, at least in my experience. It seems strange that you would keep on making the enormous donations, or working for almost nothing on salary, while believing that Robert Burton, who after all decides pretty much everything about the Fellowship of Friends teaching, is a “liability”. What’s the point of remaining in the school if you don’t believe the teacher? But maybe I’m not understanding you correctly.
403/9/Rabbi Burns
CAUSE & EFFECT ‘Conspiracy to Defraud’
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From Elena
Post #370 from ‘I see’ said the blind man Says, “Assuming that the Fellowship of Friends is actually a bogus organization…”
“what should one do?”
The question is one of conscience, consciousness.If one is serious about presence one’s being is in one’s movements, as much as in one’s emotions and one’s thoughts. There is no consciousness without functions, there are conscious functions; there is conscious life.
Within the boundaries of my body, the food, the clothes, the water that feed me, dress me, bathe me have come from the beyond me of nature and other people’s work. When in the Fellowship of Friends is nature or other people’s work acknowledge? The whole being of the world is neglected by this disacknowledgement. Within the Fellowship, not even the student’s work is acknowledged. Only Robert is acknowledged. A poor human being.
Within the boundaries of my heart, your being is received by mine in the openness with which I hear the words spoken by you; in the openness with which I appreciate you with my eyes; in the warmth with which my hands confirm my arm’s embrace.
Within the boundaries of my thoughts, the lawfulness of reasoning fits like a glove in the community that embraces us and allows us to be one with the other.
There is no community where we cannot embrace beyond the formal kiss. Is that what you are so willing to settle for?
No community where some think they have better rights to decide for others and no individuality where any one human being gives up his will. Giving up one’s will in our times is selling one’s soul to the devil. One must be willing to struggle with one’s own will without giving it up to any body else because when it is given up, there’s no need to struggle.
This is the tragedy of the men in the Fellowship of Friends who gave up their will to Robert Burton and then had to give up their wives, their children, their friends, themselves, to remain in the school and pretend that it is lawful to live a double life that half supports the school and half supports the people they wish to love. The sickness of this figure speaks for itself of the sickness that divided fellowship students into two people, to definite personalities who had to live a life in life and live an imaginary spirituality within the Fellowship of Friends.
It is ironic that they are being abandoned by Robert Burton because there is not enough money for them and the new generation and they feel they did not become conscious enough to be able to demand some kind of retribution for their lives work. They have lost the sense of value of their own work.
We have all suffered this abnormality in different degrees and have degraded ourselves to support Robert Burton, an authority with insignificant human values.
Moving from authority means becoming authority. It means, knowing that for the rest of your life you are willing to not allow for anything that happens around you to go unchecked. There may be a thousand things that one cannot solve but there are a million things that one can take care of.
Consciousness is not an abstract state in which you are one with the Gods, consciousness for a wo/man means a state in which you bare the burden of your humanity and carry it on your shoulders for the rest of your life without feeling miserable at having been given the play that you in fact, chose with the pride of knowing it is what you are strong enough to carry. Not knowing this is not knowing yourself. There is no consciousness in an individual without a community in the fourth way.
The way of life, is, the way of the community. It is the way in which the Absolute makes itself present in World 192 after transforming world 96. The world of false personality transformed into the world of true personality to catapult the being of world 24, 12, 6 and 3 into life; a living community. It is influence C filling influence A with meaning, not sucking the energy out of life to support a bubbly brothel.
It is not in the height of the state that you can measure your consciousness with, it is in the way you drink your tea, listen to others, drive your car.
The forms within the Fellowship of Friends demand that you greet your friends with a kiss, but have no lawful instances where you can question each other’s thoughts and emotions, movements and manners. It stands for what is civilized without allowing the students to civilize themselves.
It demands that you treat Robert Burton with the considerateness that you and everyone else around you would be treated in a conscious school or a civilized community and in as much as you give yourself up for only one person in your community to be treated with the considerateness that you yourself deserve, you practice a relationship in which you are inner considering yourself and not the other. Inner considering means giving up one’s self to the other, wether it is in how others value one, or how one devalues one’s self.
There is no lawfulness in this relationship and anyone that is willing to stand above you and demand that he/she be treated in a way that he/she is not willing to treat you back, is using and abusing your life being, your love and energy. Never allow any man to treat you any less than you are treating him.
What you should do, as you ask, is know that you cannot ask anyone what you should do. That in your question is the horror of a wo/man that has allowed for too long to be told how things should be.
We did like the dream of a conscious community and payed with our being for a few roses. The gardens of Isis have been built with the measure of our beinglessness. We gave up struggling with each other for pretty dresses and empty kisses, we gave up the necessary friction to mold diamonds and settled for deformed essences.
If you listen to Siddiq you now hear the justification that no community is perfect, it is not that it is not perfect Siddiq, it is that it is not human and for the Last Conscious School on the planet, for the community and School that a supposed man number seven has developed, it should at least be human enough to not divide people into two weird personalities filled with buffers. Look around you, find out what is happening to people in your community and know that it is discarding people who worked for it all their lives. Friends discarding friends convinced that Robert Burton will keep them secure but Robert Burton will only look after himself.
406/9/Elena
CAUSE ‘False Impersonation of Robert Burton by Robert Burton’, ‘Collusion with the Mirrors’, ‘Self Coercing Self’.
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This blog has helped re-define the term Robert Burton acts.
During my days in the Fellowship of Friends, I often heard people use this expression to indicate “a student imitating Robert Burton, often without being aware of it, in an attempt to appear conscious or a ‘good student’ in the eyes of others.”
After reading this blog for a few weeks, it’s becoming apparent that the “act” that we should have been more concerned about was the act coming from Robert Burton himself — the mannerisms that he himself used to appear conscious, benevolent, thoughtful, kind, wise, and so on. For example, as so many people have noticed over the years, Robert Burton often tilts his head to the side, or he often looks down in a crowded room as though feeling humility, or he sometimes crosses his arms and rubs his chin (a thoughtful pose), or he walks very slowly, or he talks very quietly — not a bad set of postures and mannerisms if you want to appear guru-like.
Students in-the-know would often criticize those sleeping masses of Fellowship of Friends students who applied these same mannerisms. “Be yourself, dude. Stop imitating Robert Burton.” Ok, sure, that’s always been worth mentioning. Howard Carter, for example, has a type of “Robert Burton act” in the way he writes. But who has the most significant Robert Burton act?
That would be Robert Burton.
And it’s a very impressive act when you consider how many he has fooled with it. And included in that group would be me.
408/9/2b
NOTE ‘Scale and Relativity’ or Collusion, Connivance, joint Negligence, Deliberate Indifference, Undue Influence and Conspiracy to Defraud.
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An incident that maybe sheds light on the question so many have: why did I (you)stay if you ‘knew’ what was going on?
Scene: Thanksgiving at my house with 12-14 guests, my parents included. I am in my early 40s, with a young daughter, husband…After dinner, we are all sitting around the living room, my father is standing up talking to one of the guests. I, my mother and a few others are sitting on two couches (L-shape). I am sitting kitty-corner from my mother about ten feet away from my father in front of me.
My mother says something, apparently, not to my father’s liking. He turns and with a great deal of force throws a small football he is holding at her and hits her in the face. (He was a college running back in his day). My mother winces, looks indignant and glares at him with the ‘I will get you later’ look.
Throughout this event, I sit there, stunned in silence. My father immediately makes a joke of his behavior. Soon afterwards, I get up to take care of something. About half an hour later, I am in my room looking for something, and I need to sit down as it dawns on me. ‘Ohmygod, he threw the football at her and hit her in the face in an outburst of rage.’
Here is the weird part: While I was in the same room with him, I DID NOT EVEN REGISTER that he hit her, even though I was sitting there watching it with my own eyes.
When I did register it, half an hour later, I felt outraged, dizzy with anger even, and determined I had to say something to him, ‘Not in my house, never again,etc.’, But although a few hours passed before they left, I could not get up the courage to approach him. Nor could I call him and confront him, although I vowed I would. (A few years later, I finally did).
Mostly, I was in shock to realize the time delay in letting my perception connect with my conscious mind. I realized that it probably occurred much more often that I simply did not let myself see things I could not bear to see, did not know how to react to, things that might threaten my own safety.
I realized that as part of my family trance, we agreed not to ’see’ my father’s violence (among a number of other damaging parental behaviors). Another, stunning aspect of the trance I learned about later: When my father went to therapy with me once as a favor, he actually sincerely denied ever striking my mother, which I could not believe because it happened often. “Well, I might have shaken her once or twice.” Apparently, perpetrators split off parts of themselves too that cause harm, minimize the behavior, call it something else.
Our psyche is amazing. The degree of unconsciousness, numbing, denial, projection — all those terms are not just psychobabble — that we are capable of is humbling, especially to the rational ‘intellectual’ self-image so many of us carry.
Am I sorry that I have been subject to these kinds of mental states, yes? Do I blame my family? Do I blame Robert Burton? Not any more. Instead more often these days I have so much more respect for what I don’t know about myself. I try to keep this in mind when I find myself being certain about anything!
You decide if this applies to the situation in Fellowship of Friends, I think it does.
409/9/SandraC
UNITED STATES VISA FRAUD
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I. Buttocks – this story is true. I heard it too from the guys themselves and from many other students. I’ll never mention any names here for the same reason – I don’t wish any trouble for the guys, both of whom I like very much and wish them well.
Funny how an illegal thing could be almost glorified in the Fellowship of Friends because Robert Burton went against feminine dominance. So many things that are immoral and simply wrong or criminal can be justified and glorified based on a belief that the teacher can do no wrong.
I only wonder if Department of Homeland Security thinks that crossing US or European border under fake name using a forged passport is OK and is no wrong doing… Especially in post-2001 era.
What shocking is that Robert Burton went to such risky extreme only with a purpose to get personal sexual pleasure out of these 2 young males. He would have never done a similar thing for a female student or an older male student from a different country.
Many students knew about this story, news spread quickly in Isis. Friends would secretly tell each other: Robert Burton got him a fake passport so he can come here to be with him under different name, but – psst! – don’t tell anybody it’s a secret…
I guess as long as Robert Burton goes against feminine dominance, doesn’t inner consider and uses intentional insincerity he can do whatever he wants. He can even bend the US law if he wishes and students will have to faithfully keep his secrets.
412/9/Secret Kepper
CAUSE ‘Conspiracy to Defraud’
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Last and least, Howard Carter #424
No, I will not allow you to revise your unambiguously and carefully crafted worded comment. Why on Earth would I do that? It’s evidence. It stands as a monument to your deception.
You said, “The ones who stay do so because to them there is no point in leaving.”
ROBERT BURTON and THE FELLOWSHIP OF FRIENDS employ double binds to create enough cognitive dissonance in its ardent followers to psychologically paralyze them into remaining members. It spins a web of lies around its victims to immobilize and isolate them from life while it drains them of their life force.
The ongoing Fellowship of Friends ’student’ is confronted by a plethora of conflicting issues: the need to belong, the wish to be liked, the fear of abandonment, the fear of spiritual death, fear of the unknown, the moral issue of homosexuality and promiscuity, sex with a minor, pleasing an authority figure, abuse of power, breaking the law, invasion of personal privacy, and freedom of religion…and it emotionally and intellectually overwhelms its members.
It is no surprise that the anxiety caused by so much cognitive dissonance is relieved by its members by drinking wine, a culture that the Fellowship of Friends promotes. Members are confronted by the conflict of leading a more conscious and spiritual life while having to endure the increasing perversions, extravagance, and greed of its leader, Robert Burton. The powerful fear of abandonment and fear of the unknown psychologically motivates the ardent member into self-censorship of any criticism of the leader’s style, thus remaining a “faithful” member and maintaining the status quo.
The Fellowship of Friends presents mixed messages through its spokespeople such as Howard Carter, that the faithful remain members because they have no other choice. The can stay members, pay the escalating dues or leave and face spiritual death.
The rampant use of this psychologically binding dilemma is not unheard of in other religions. Most Fellowship of Friends members relieve the anxiety caused by these conflicts and fears by staying on and ingesting their feelings. Engaging in the act of suspending the conscience once, it gets easier. One eventually learns to accept increasing conflict and dissonance as one becomes desensitized to feelings of disgust and revulsion as the leader continues on his path of self-destruction.
One could reasonably predict that the least likely to leave the Fellowship of Friends will be those whom are employed by the and paid handsomely. I believe that the damage caused by the Fellowship of Friends to individuals who repress their conscience is significant.
449/9/Whalerider
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The end of postings from PART 9
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It’s like seeing a shooting star on your honeymoon and then saying ~ ‘That reminds me, we have to buy insect spray tomorrow’.
:.]
BOUNCER NOTE
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Post ~ 87 From Part 21; concerning the Fellowship of Friends Bouncer ~
One can only hope that Fellowship of Friends B.C. Bouncer grabs as many arms as possible and that people even struggle a little, then they can sue the Fellowship of Friends for Assault & Battery; that should pretty much top the cocktail off, so to speak.
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Assault
An assault involves:
1. An intentional, unlawful threat or “offer” to cause bodily injury to another by force;
2. Under circumstances which create in the other person a well-founded fear of imminent peril;
3. Where there exists the apparent present ability to carry out the act if not prevented.
Note that an assault can be completed even if there is no actual contact with the plaintiff, and even if the defendant had no actual ability to carry out the apparent threat. For example, a defendant who points a realistic toy gun at the plaintiff may be liable for assault, even though the defendant was fifty feet away from the plaintiff and had no actual ability to inflict harm from that distance.
Battery
A battery is the willful or intentional touching of a person against that person’s will by another person, or by an object or substance put in motion by that other person. Please note that an offensive touching can constitute a battery even if it does not cause injury, and could not reasonably be expected to cause injury. A defendant who emphatically pokes the plaintiff in the chest with his index finger to emphasize a point may be culpable for battery (although the damages award that results may well be nominal). A defendant who spits on a plaintiff, even though there is little chance that the spitting will cause any injury other than to the plaintiff’s dignity, has committed a battery.
Privilege
In order to be liable for an assault or battery, the defendant must lack privilege to assault or batter the plaintiff. The following are examples of “privilege”:
Consent
Where a defendant has the plaintiff’s consent to commit an act of assault or battery, the plaintiff may not later bring a lawsuit. The most typical context for consent occurs in sports. The intentional foul in basketball, or the tackle in football, are an anticipated part of the game. While it may be possible for certain conduct to be so far outside the realm of what is reasonable to nonetheless give rise to a tort – for example, chopping an opposing player off at the knees in a football game, an action which is known to have a very high probability of causing serious and even crippling injury – rule violations which are part of standard play are unlikely to support a legal action. Consent also exists in the context of authorized medical or surgical procedures.
Police Conduct
A police officer is privileged to apply the threat of force, or if necessary to apply actual force, in order to effect a lawful arrest. A defendant who suffers injury as the result of reasonable force exerted by the police to effect a lawful arrest will not be able to sustain a lawsuit against the arresting officers for assault or battery.
Self-Defense
A person who is assaulted may use such reasonable force as may be necessary, or which at the time reasonably appears to be necessary, to protect himself or herself from bodily harm. An act of self-defense must ordinarily be proportionate to the threat. That is, if you believe a person is going to spit on you, depending upon the context it may be reasonable to push the person away, but it would not be reasonable to hit the person with a baseball bat.
A plaintiff may be expected to withdraw from the threat, if possible, before engaging in forcible resistance. However, if the plaintiff is in his own home and the defendant is not a member of the plaintiff’s household, a plaintiff will typically not be required to further withdraw from the threat once the plaintiff has retreated to his own home.
Defense of Others
Defense of others is similar to self-defense, and usually occurs in the context of one family member protecting another. Some jurisdictions permit a defendant to assert defense of others, even where the defendant is mistaken as to the existence of a threat, as long as the mistake is reasonable. Other jurisdictions do not permit this defense unless there was an actual threat or battery against the other person.
Voluntary (Mutual) Combat
Where the plaintiff voluntarily engages in a fight with defendant for the sake of fighting and not as a means of self-defense, the plaintiff may not recover for an assault or battery unless the defendant beat the plaintiff excessively or used unreasonable force. If two people voluntarily enter a brawl, it is unlikely that either will be able to sue the other. However, if one falls, and the other takes advantage of the situation by kicking him and causing injury, that act may well be considered to be an excessive use of force which would support a cause of action.
Defense of Property
Many jurisdictions allow the use of some amount of threat or force by a person who is seeking to protect his own property from theft or damage. In most jurisdictions, there is no privilege to use force that may cause death or serious injury against trespassers unless the trespass itself threatens death or serious injury. Please note that there are some jurisdictions with extraordinarily broad laws, permitting the use of significant and even deadly force to prevent the theft of property. (Leaving aside the moral issues of using physical force to defend property, be sure that you know your local laws before applying force in such a situation.)
Discipline
Some people are legally authorized to apply physical restraint or battery in order to discipline others. For example, in most jurisdictions, parents are legally authorized to apply reasonable physical discipline upon their children. In some jurisdictions, school teachers are permitted to apply a certain level of physical restraint or discipline against students. The staff of a mental health facility may have legal authority to apply reasonable restraint to prevent a patient from causing harm to himself, to others, or to property.
Merchant’s Privilege
Most jurisdictions grant merchants the right to apply reasonable force to detain shoplifters, or other persons who the merchant reasonably believes are attempting to steal the merchant’s property.
Provocation
Words alone, no matter how insulting or provocative, do not justify an assault or battery against the person who utters the words.
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Bring it on B.C. Homey.
Part 8 is dedicated to R.P.
Often and more than often, what disgusts us is love’s limit’s way of saying “Try harder Lover, to see me beyond my obvious forms, into you, not me, not them, not it, not even thee, you, you first, you first, because even after you’ve chosen to think or act towards another selflessly, YOU have chosen, you have happened first… dwell in that R.P. and try to love the sweet, cheap American Cheddar Cheeses and the Ancient European Smelly Ones too. I love you and yours.”
EFFECT
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sarcastic life people, like bruce and paul, could not sustain the work required even to begin to understand the true path that i follow BEYOND the 4th way.
as a successful elite athlete i had experience of hard physical pain, i had learned to cherish the gift of pain, (as robert showed me he does), i can pass through the pain barrier wherever it occurs, mental, psyscial, emotional, etc.
you have to embrace difficulty to achieve a higher plane of consciousness. I KNOW that through roberts grace as chaperon I CAN become one of the 7, and that is an achievement that only the elite ‘workers’ can possibly attain.
one of roberts (Robert Burton) recent messages to us says it most beautifully;WHEN A MAN HAS RECEIVED THE HOLY FIRE OF CONSCIOUS COMMUNION WITH GOD, WHAT LIES BEFORE HIM IS NOT PEACE BUT GREAT LABOUR. (The Philokalia)
and so i labor on – INSPIRED!
i pray that these words will inspire otherworkers to greater effort.
_________________________
HigherM/10/8
CAUSE
____________________________
Why is that?
Once you have given up your soul in the Fellowship of Friends, you actually cease to be a responsible full fledged adult – you become a “student”, with a body type, center of gravity, alchemy, chief feature, lifetime photograph, and a “school” history of payments, centers and roles you have been in, spouses/relationships/children, etc. You are asked to fit your life into the school, whereupon it ceases to have a separate existence. You are in this role for your entire natural life.
Even if you learn “unpleasant facts” about the Fellowship, and even if your conscience is painfully aware of the problem, you cannot really muster the force necessary to escape the situation until you GIVE YOURSELF PERMISSION TO EXIST, and you regain trust in your own thoughts, feelings, and judgments. It is that process, the regaining of your soul, which takes the time – sometimes a long time.
And only you can do it.
__________________________________________
Charles R./12/8
Companion to Post 575
____________________
Discussion with a current student ~
Are you still in the school?
S. ~ Barely.
Do you read the blog?
S. ~ No, I am not interested, I knew all that stuff already; I don’t go to meetings, I am mainly focused on making money and surviving.
Yes, though each month you write a check and it goes somewhere.
S. ~ Facial expression of quizzical far off smile and retreat.
EFFECT (Fraud, Moral Turpitude, Connivance, Joint Negligence, Collusion.)
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Here are more work I’s I hear from many students (Fellowship of Friends) while discussing the blog:
• These people are not credible. They are lying. They are negative losers
• I want to build the school (Fellowship of Friends)
• I want to die in the school (Fellowship of Friends)
• Robert is not the school (Fellowship of Friends)
• This is Robert Burton’s school (Fellowship of Friends)
• So, what it is not my business!
• It is Robert Burton’s right to have his private life the way he wants it
• They are adults and know what they are doing, nobody is forcing them
• The attitude toward the teacher is a reflection of the attitude to your own higher possibilities
• You still can work on yourself and take responsibility for yourself
• Shut up and be in the moment
• Shut up and let me self-remember!
____________________________
Somebody/17/8
EFFECT (Conspiracy to Defraud, Hostile Environment Sexual Harassment, Sexual Predator, Undue Influence.)
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I am very happy that this is an available medium and wish that everybody before joining would come across this info. I have gained a lot in my years in the fof (who would not: working 16-18 hours a day, making tremendous efforts, never doing enough, always more was needed…many beautiful people, the promise of the beautiful community ).
On the other side many of my years have gone by and I have no college fund for my children, nor retirement (yet)…I have left family and friends behind and it hurts. I hurried form one octave to another, often doing too much…
Yes Robert could be worse and he is a kind man…if he would be more sadistic or criminal this would not have lasted as long. He is kind and it is hard to believe that he can be that cold and that he is what he is. He surely believes his own words…
So often I am angry to older students who did not tell me the truth…I did not question more. Who is too blame. Me..? Not wiser and trusting others point of view because I had too many of my own, and could not, dared not, to figure it out.
Yes I hurt and this blog is healing salve for me. I am sorry I can not move one (yet). Wait give me time, sit with me, endure me, as I have to do myself. It is alright, really I will survive and carry the hurt with grace, just give me time and your kindness, as many do and have done.
Love to all of you.
From the place of acceptance new possibilities can arise.
_________________________________
Another Name/21/8
CAUSE (Fraud, Collusion, Fraudulent Misrepresentation, False Pretenses, Breach of Duty, Breach of Trust, False Impersonation, Negligence, Intentional Infliction of Emotional Distress.)
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You see, what I find most dangerous about the Fellowship of Friends is that I sincerely believe that it makes us, the students, believe that we are not good enough. That we are not allowed to talk or participate because we are not “conscious” enough, “good enough.”
I believe people join a school because they know they need to work on themselves but if the school (The Fellowship of Friends) treats them repeatedly for a long time as if they are not worth while people, then the school itself is discriminating them. For whatever excuse, I was not allowed to participate or given the slightest support in seventeen years that I was in this school. Even my husband allowed them to discriminate me and supported their actions with his.
I was given the exercise not to give angles at meetings for two years because I asked a question to Robert Burton, an insignificant theoretical question.
I know there are many more abuses in the Fellowship of Friends than this one done to me but the subtlety with which the inner circle of the Fellowship of Friends denies a huge population of the Fellowship of Friends the right to participate on equal ground is discriminatory. It harms the SELF and people get used to being less. It is so subtle but it is the most dangerous aspect of any cult.
_________________________
Elena/30/8
CAUSE (Fraud in the Inducement, Undue Influence)
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Robert Burton: “You have been seeking all your life and now you have found the right school, for I have a connection with a higher school on another plane. Follow me, do such-and-such, struggle with such-and such, and I will take you to heaven. You have the inexplicable good fortune to have been selected by Influence C. With their help, you will eventually create a soul, become immortal and conquer death. This is the greatest task you must perform and no price is to small for such an achievement.”
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Traveler/35/8
EFFECT (Moral Turpitude, FRAUD)
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# Siddiq Says:
April 30, 2007 at 12:27 am
“To Lady B who wrote: “So, my role in the school — according to other students — is to pay. That’s my role and for many years I’ve been paying my teaching payment.”
I am very sorry for you (no doubt many on this blog will applaud your decision to leave but not me) as you have apparently for many years accepted what you believed your fate should be–I hope for you that your experience included more than just being somebody who pays.
You see, I do not know any mothers who applaud their sons being Robert’s lovers (there are very few mothers in the Fellowship whose sons are Robert’s lovers–this cannot possibly be more than a handful, at most as there are few such families in the School).”
____________________________
Gunter had no problem (it seems) in letting his young son step into Robert Burton’s ‘inner circle’.
Due to Robert Burton ordered abortions and hysterectomies, what do you expect? Few students boys in the Fellowship of Friends ‘willing to be sacrificed to the Sexual Predation of Robert Burton’ are old enough to do so (yet).
And, BTW, there’s more baby and young girls around here than boys, thank some body’s gods, not Robert Burton’s 44.
Not to forget the Buzbee parents ‘sacrificial gesture’ in giving up their son to Robert Burton’s supposed ‘God status’.
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“I also do not see the depressed students and people unable to have an emotional life (I assume you do, so there must be more than just paying money in your life) any more so than anywhere else outside of Isis or the Fellowship.”
_________________________________
That’s because they are immediately expelled from the school, shipped back to the country they (having been measured and photographed for Robert Burton’s secret approval) came from, or ~
Hang themselves,
Drown themselves,
Die, thrown away for growing too old to be of ‘aesthetic use’ in the gold alchemy eyes of Robert Burton ~ Hence ~
Gloria C.,
Brian S.,
Brian T.,
Dorothy,
Steven M.,
Edith S.,
Michael S.,
etc, etc.
Steven M., ~ Sent away for closing his eyes due to an eye disease during a tea with the Teacher (Robert Burton); told that they could return (IF) they would sell their property to a Fellowship of Friends student ONLY.
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“I also do not know of anyone of nobility, blue blood, or artistic talent here that gets special treatment. The artists here pay, in many ways, as all do, and as the universe exacts from us, whether we are in or out of the School.”
____________________________________________
Eliza T., (What about that cancellation of the house payment thing via the Fellowship of Friends carrying your mortgage?)
Greylin R. (?)
Allison (Nice ancient olive trees in your front yard.)
Where do the ballet dancers stay during Ballet season and what ‘perks’ do they get via Robert Burton’s Palm Tree Stock? Maybe a few choice palm-clusters next to the flagstone pool worth thousands, for free, that student donations paid for, though never permitted. (?)
Eugeney G., your Russian painter whose entire sales income first flows through Robert Burton’s hands via Allison first, giving out a ‘salary’ and vodka too, when Robert Burton really wants something a little more photo-realistic done of him and for him…
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“Finally, children appear to me healthy and well adjusted, not mistreated, not in any danger. There are hundreds and their parents (of which I am one and I assume you are too, which makes me wonder why we have never connected or if we did why you never spoke out against the abuse you perceived). Do you believe they are worse off here than let’s say in some big city with all its problems?”
____________________________
You mean outside the ones who have tried to commit suicide and have been sexually abused by a Robert Burton’s boy?
____________________________
Good luck to you.
Siddiq
______________________
Right, good luck, indeed…
______________________
Original ‘Siddiq’ quotes from Siddiq/41/8
Committee On Finance
219 Dirksen Senate Office Building
Washington, DC 20510-6200
(202) 224-4515
_________________________________
Dear Senator Grassley;
Concerning the Non Profit Church called the Fellowship of Friends in California lead by Rev. Robert Earl Burton …
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Write lovers, write!
SLANDER & DEFAMATION NOTE
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Supposition ~
Regarding attorney review of the petition and libel–the law of defamation has fine points, such as that “public figures,” which Burton may or may not be, have a harder time suing for libel. But in simplest terms, I think any lawyer will say that there are statements in the petition that are potentially libelous (like “Mr. Burton is a sexual predator who has abused his role as a spiritual teacher to prey upon young men for sex,”) but also that truth is a defense to libel. So those promoting the petition should consider whether they believe that evidence (documents, testimony from witnesses, etc.) establishing that the statements in the petition are true can be made available if push comes to shove.
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Facts
What Are Defamation, Libel and Slander?
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Generally speaking, defamation is the issuance of a false statement about another person, which causes that person to suffer harm. Slander involves the making of defamatory statements by a transitory (non-fixed) representation, usually an oral (spoken) representation. Libel involves the making of defamatory statements in a printed or fixed medium, such as a magazine or newspaper.
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Typically, the elements of a cause of action for defamation include:
1. A false and defamatory statement concerning another;
2. The unprivileged publication of the statement to a third party (that is, somebody other than the person defamed by the statement);
3. If the defamatory matter is of public concern, fault amounting at least to negligence on the part of the publisher; and
4. Damage to the plaintiff.
In the context of defamation law, a statement is “published” when it is made to the third party. That term does not mean that the statement has to be in print.
Damages are typically to the reputation of the plaintiff, but depending upon the laws of the jurisdiction it may be enough to establish mental anguish.
Most jurisdictions also recognize “per se” defamation, where the allegations are presumed to cause damage to the plaintiff. Typically, the following may constitute defamation per se:
* Attacks on a person’s professional character or standing;
* Allegations that an unmarried person is unchaste;
* Allegations that a person is infected with a sexually transmitted disease;
* Allegations that the person has committed a crime of moral turpitude;
While actions for defamation have their roots in common law, most jurisdictions have now enacted statutes which modify the common law. They may change the elements of the cause of action, limit when an action may be filed, or modify the defenses to an action for defamation. Some may even require that the defendant be given an opportunity to apologize before the plaintiff can seek non-economic damages.
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What Defenses Are Available To People Accused of Defamation?
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The most important defense to an action for defamation is “truth”, which is an absolute defense to an action for defamation.
Another defense to defamation actions is “privilege”. For example, statements made by witnesses in court, arguments made in court by lawyers, statements by legislators on the floor of the legislature, or by judges while sitting on the bench, are ordinarily privileged, and cannot support a cause of action for defamation, no matter how false or outrageous.
A defense recognized in most jurisdictions is “opinion”. If the person makes a statement of opinion as opposed to fact, the statement may not support a cause of action for defamation. Whether a statement is viewed as an expression of fact or opinion can depend upon context – that is, whether or not the person making the statement would be perceived by the community as being in a position to know whether or not it is true. If your employer calls you a pathological liar, it is far less likely to be regarded as opinion than if such a statement is made by somebody you just met. Some jurisdictions have eliminated the distinction between fact and opinion, and instead hold that any statement that suggests a factual basis can support a cause of action for defamation.
A defense similar to opinion is “fair comment on a matter of public interest”. If the mayor of a town is involved in a corruption scandal, expressing the opinion that you believe the allegations are true is not likely to support a cause of action for defamation.
A defendant may also attempt to illustrate that the plaintiff had a poor reputation in the community, in order to diminish any claim for damages resulting from the defamatory statements.
A defendant who transmitted a message without awareness of its content may raise the defense of “innocent dissemination”. For example, the post office is not liable for delivering a letter which has defamatory content, as it is not aware of the contents of the letter.
An uncommon defense is that the plaintiff consented to the dissemination of the statement.
Public Figures
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(Robert Earl Burton; has committed “High Profile Crimes” and it is recorded in court documents and Public Newspapers as well as Cyber Space Sites, i.e., Rick Ross, The Fellowship of Friends Blog, etc.)
Under the First Amendment of the United States Constitution, as set forth by the U.S. Supreme Court in the 1964 Case, New York Times v Sullivan, where a public figure attempts to bring an action for defamation, the public figure must prove an additional element: That the statement was made with “actual malice”. In translation, that means that the person making the statement knew the statement to be false, or issued the statement with reckless disregard as to its truth. For example, Ariel Sharon sued Time Magazine over allegations of his conduct relating to the massacres at the Sabra and Shatila refugee camps. Although the jury concluded that the Time story included false allegations, they found that Time had not acted with “actual malice” and did not award any damages.
The concept of the “public figure” is broader than celebrities and politicians. A person can become an “involuntary public figure” as the result of publicity, even though that person did not want or invite the public attention. For example, people accused of high profile crimes may be unable to pursue actions for defamation even after their innocence is established, on the basis that the notoriety associated with the case and the accusations against them turned them into involuntary public figures.
A person can also become a “limited public figure” by engaging in actions which generate publicity within a narrow area of interest. For example, a woman named Terry Rakolta was offended by the Fox Television show, Married With Children, and wrote letters to the show’s advertisers to try to get them to stop their support for the show. As a result of her actions, Ms. Rakolta became the target of jokes in a wide variety of settings. As these jokes remained within the confines of her public conduct, typically making fun of her as being prudish or censorious, they were protected by Ms. Rakolta’s status as a “limited public figure”.
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Why Commencing A Defamation Action Is Not Aways A Good Idea
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While people who are targeted by lies may well be angry enough to file a lawsuit, there are some very good reasons why actions for defamation may not be a good idea.
The publicity that results from a defamation lawsuit can create a greater audience for the false statements than they previously enjoyed. For example, if a newspaper or news show picks up the story of the lawsuit, false accusations that were previously known to only a small number of people may suddenly become known to the entire community, nation, or even to the world. As the media is much more apt to cover a lawsuit than to cover its ultimate resolution, the net effect may be that large numbers of people hear the false allegations, but never learn how the litigation was resolved.
Another big issue is that defamation cases tend to be difficult to win, and damage awards tend to be small. As a result, it is unusual for attorneys to be willing to take defamation cases on a contingent fee basis, and the fees expended in litigating even a successful defamation action can exceed the total recovery.
Another significant concern is that, even where the statements made by the defendant are entirely false, it may not be possible for a plaintiff to prove all of the elements of defamation. Most people will respond to news that a plaintiff lost a defamation lawsuit by concluding that the allegations were true.
In other words, the plaintiff in a defamation action may be required to expend a considerable amount of money to bring the action, may experience significant negative publicity which repeats the false accusations, and if unsuccessful in the litigation may cement into the public consciousness the belief that the defamatory accusations were true. While many plaintiffs will be able to successfully prosecute defamation actions, the possible downside should be considered when deciding whether or not such litigation should be attempted.
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What it is
The basic idea of defamation law is simple. It is an attempt to balance the private right to protect one’s reputation with the public right to freedom of speech. Defamation law allows people to sue those who say or publish false and malicious comments.
There are two types of defamation.
* Oral defamation — called slander — for example comments or stories told at a meeting or party.
* Published defamation — called libel — for example a newspaper article or television broadcast. Pictures as well as words can be libellous.
Anything that injures a person’s reputation can be defamatory. If a comment brings a person into contempt, disrepute or ridicule, it is likely to be defamatory.
* You tell your friends that the boss is unfair. That’s slander of the boss.
* You write a letter to the newspaper saying a politician is corrupt. That’s libel of the politician, even if it’s not published.
* You say on television that a building was badly designed. That’s libel due to the imputation that the architect is professionally incompetent, even if you didn’t mention any names.
* You sell a book that contains defamatory material. That’s spreading of a defamation.
The fact is, nearly everyone makes defamatory statements almost every day. Only very rarely does someone use the law of defamation against such statements.
Defences
When threatened with a defamation suit, most people focus on whether or not something is defamatory. But there is another, more useful way to look at it. The important question is whether you have a right to say it. If you do, you have a legal defence.
If someone sues you because you made a defamatory statement, you can defend your speech or writing on various grounds. There are three main types of defence:
* what you said was true;
* you had a duty to provide information;
* you were expressing an opinion.
For example:
* You can defend yourself on the grounds that what you said is true.
* If you have a duty to make a statement, you may be protected under the defence of “qualified privilege.” For example, if you are a teacher and make a comment about a student to the student’s parents — for example, that the student has been naughty — a defamation action can only succeed if they can prove you were malicious. You are not protected if you comment about the student in the media.
* If you are expressing an opinion, for example on a film or restaurant, then you may be protected by the defence of “comment” or “fair comment,” if the facts in your statement were reasonably accurate.
* There is an extra defence if you are a parliamentarian and speak under parliamentary privilege, in which case your speech is protected by “absolute privilege,” which is a complete defence in law. The same defence applies to anything you say in court.
The same basic defences apply throughout Australia, although the things you have to prove to apply them may differ. For example, in some Australian states, truth alone is an adequate defence. In other states, a statement has to be true and in the public interest — if what you said was true but not considered by the court to be in the public interest, you can be successfully sued for defamation.
What can happen
* You can be threatened with a defamation suit. You might receive a letter saying that unless you retract a statement, you will be sued. There are numerous threats of defamation. Most of them are just bluffs; nothing happens. Even so, often a threat is enough to deter someone from speaking out, or enough to make them publish a retraction.
* Proceedings for defamation may be commenced against you. This is the first step in beginning a defamation action. Statements of claim, writs or summons shouldn’t be ignored. If you receive one, you should seek legal advice.
* The defamation case can go to court, with a hearing before a judge or jury. However, the majority of cases are abandoned or settled. Settlements sometimes include a published apology, sometimes no apology, sometimes a payment, sometimes no payment. Only a small fraction of cases goes to court.[1]
The problems
There are several fundamental flaws in the legal system, including cost, selective application and complexity. The result is that defamation law doesn’t do much to protect most people, but it does operate to inhibit free speech.
* Cost. If you are sued for defamation, you could end up paying tens of thousands of dollars in legal fees, even if you win. If you lose, you could face a massive pay-out on top of the fees.
The large costs, due especially to the cost of legal advice, mean that most people never sue for defamation. If you don’t have much money, you don’t have much chance against a rich opponent, whether you are suing them or they are suing you. Cases can go on for years. Judgements can be appealed. The costs become enormous. Only those with deep pockets can pursue such cases to the end.
The result is that defamation law is often used by the rich and powerful to deter criticisms. It is seldom helpful to ordinary people whose reputations are attacked unfairly.
* Unpredictability. People say and write defamatory things all the time, but only a very few are threatened with defamation. Sometimes gross libels pass unchallenged while comparatively innocuous comments lead to major court actions. This unpredictability has a chilling effect on free speech. Writers, worried about defamation, cut out anything that might offend. Publishers, knowing how much it can cost to lose a case, have lawyers go through articles to cut out anything that might lead to a legal action. The result is a tremendous inhibition of free speech.
* Complexity. Defamation law is so complex that most writers and publishers prefer to be safe than sorry, and do not publish things that are quite safe because they’re not sure. Judges and lawyers have excessive power because outsiders cannot understand how the law will be applied. Those who might desire to defend against a defamation suit without a lawyer are deterred by the complexities.
* Slowness. Sometimes defamation cases are launched years after the statement in question. Cases often take years to resolve. This causes anxiety, especially for those sued, and deters free speech in the meantime. As the old saying goes, “Justice delayed is justice denied.”
In Australia, a common sort of defamation case brought to silence critics is political figures suing, or threatening to sue, media organisations. The main purpose of these threats and suits is to prevent further discussion of material damaging to the politicians. Other keen suers are police and company directors. People with little money find it most difficult to sue.
In the United States, there are hundreds of cases where companies sue individuals who oppose them. For example, citizens who write letters to government bodies opposing a real estate development may be sued by the developer. Also sued are citizens who sign petitions or speak at public meetings. Defamation is the most common law used against citizen protest, but others are used such as business torts, conspiracy and judicial process abuse. These uses of the law have been dubbed “Strategic Lawsuits Against Public Participation” or SLAPPs. Companies have little chance of success in these suits, but that doesn’t matter. The main object in a SLAPP is to intimidate citizens, discouraging them from speaking out. SLAPPs are increasingly common in Australia too.
Media power and defamation
One of the best responses to defamatory comments is a careful rebuttal. If people who make defamatory comments are shown to have gotten their facts wrong, they will lose credibility. But this only works if people have roughly the same capacity to broadcast their views.
Only a few people own or manage a newspaper or television station. Therefore it is difficult to rebut prominent defamatory statements made in the mass media. Free speech is not much use in the face of media power. There are cases where people’s reputations have been destroyed by media attacks. Defamation law doesn’t provide a satisfactory remedy. Apologies are usually too late and too little to restore reputation, and monetary pay-outs do little for reputation.
Most media organisations avoid making retractions. Sometimes they will defend a defamation case and pay out lots of money rather than openly admit being wrong. Media owners have resisted law reforms that would require retractions of equal prominence to defamatory stories.
By contrast, if you are defamed on an electronic discussion group, it is quite easy to write a detailed refutation and send it to all concerned the next hour, day or week. Use of defamation law is ponderous and ineffectual compared to the ability to respond promptly. This suggests that promoting interactive systems of communication as an alternative to the mass media would help to overcome some of the problems associated with defamation.
Examples
* Physicist Alan Roberts wrote a review of a book by Lennard Bickel entitled The Deadly Element: The Men and Women Behind the Story of Uranium. The review was published in the National Times in 1980. Bickel sued the publishers. He was particularly upset by Roberts’ statement that “I object to the author’s lack of moral concern.” There was a trial, an appeal, a second trial, a second appeal and a settlement. Bickel won $180,000 in the second trial but received a somewhat smaller amount in the settlement.[2]
* Sir Robert Askin was Premier of the state of New South Wales for a decade beginning in 1965. It was widely rumoured that he was involved with corrupt police and organised crime, collecting vast amounts of money through bribes. But this was never dealt with openly because media outlets knew he would sue for defamation. Immediately after Askin died in 1981, the National Times ran a front-page story entitled “Askin: friend to organised crime.”[3] It was safe to publish the story because, in Australia, dead people cannot sue. (In some countries families of the dead can sue.)
* In 1992, students in a law class at the Australian National University made a formal complaint about lecturer Peter Waight’s use of hypothetical examples concerning sexual assault. Waight threatened to sue 24 students for defamation. Six of them apologised. Waight then sued the remaining 18 for $50,000 for sending their letter to three authorised officials of the university. He later withdrew his suit. Subsequently the students’ original letter of complaint was published in the Canberra Times without repercussions.[4]
* In 1989, Tony Katsigiannis, as president of the Free Speech Committee, wrote a letter published in the Melbourne Age and the Newcastle Herald discussing ownership of the media. Among other things, he said of a review of the Broadcasting Act “that its main concern will be to save the necks of the Government’s rich mates.” Although he mentioned no names, he and the newspaper owners were sued for defamation by Michael Hutchinson, a public servant who headed the review of the Broadcasting Act. Hutchinson sued on the basis of imputations in the letter, which can be judged defamatory even when not intended by the writer. Hutchinson said he wouldn’t accept just an apology; he wanted a damages payment and his legal costs covered. Katsigiannis received $20,000 worth of free legal support from friends, but after three exhausting years of struggle he agreed to a settlement in which he apologised but Hutchinson received no money.[5]
* In 1985 Avon Lovell published a book entitled The Mickelberg Stitch. It argued that the prosecution case against Ray, Peter and Brian Mickelberg — sentenced to prison for swindling gold from the Perth Mint — was based on questionable evidence. The book sold rapidly in Perth until police threatened to sue the book’s distributor and any bookseller or other business offering it for sale. The Police Union introduced a levy on its members to fund dozens of legal actions against Lovell, the distributor and retailers. The defamation threats and actions effectively suppressed any general availability of the book. Over a decade later, none of the suits against Lovell had reached trial, but remained active despite repeated attempts to strike them out for lack of prosecution.[6]
* In the late 1970s, fisherman Mick Skrijel spoke out about drug-running in South Australia. Afterwards, he and his family suffered a series of attacks. The National Crime Authority (NCA) investigated Skrijel’s allegations but in 1985 ended up charging Skrijel for various offences. Skrijel went to jail but was later freed and his sentence set aside. In 1993, the federal government asked David Quick QC to review the case; Quick recommended calling a royal commission into the NCA, but Duncan Kerr, federal Minister for Justice, declined to do so. Skrijel prepared a leaflet about the issue and distributed it in Kerr’s electorate in Tasmania during the 1996 federal election campaign. Kerr wrote to the Tasmanian media saying he would not sue Skrijel but that he would sue any media outlet that repeated Skrijel’s “false and defamatory allegations.” The story was reported in the Financial Review but the Tasmanian media kept quiet.[7] Skrijel’s view is that most media wouldn’t have published much on his case no matter what and that defamation law provides a convenient excuse for media not to publish.
Options
In practice, the structure of the court system and the media serve the powerful while doing little to protect the reputation of ordinary people. They undermine the open dialogue needed in a democracy. There are various options for responding to uses of defamation law to silence free speech. Each has strengths and weaknesses.
Avoid defamation
Writers can learn simple steps to avoid triggering defamation threats and actions. The most important rule is to state the facts, not the conclusion. Let readers draw their own conclusions.
* Instead of saying “The politician is corrupt,” it is safer to say “The politician failed to reply to my letter” or “The politician received a payment of $100,000 from the developer.”
* Instead of saying “The chemical is hazardous,” it is safer to say “The chemical in sufficient quantities can cause nerve damage.”
* Instead of saying, “There has been a cover-up,” it is safer to say “The police never finalised their inquiry and the file has remained dormant for nine years.”
Be sure that you have documents to back up statements that you make. Sometimes understatement — saying less than everything you believe to be true — is more effective than wide claims.
If you are writing something that might be defamatory, it’s wise to obtain an opinion from someone knowledgeable. (Remember, though, that lawyers usually recommend that you don’t say something if there’s even the slightest risk of being sued.)
Another way to avoid being sued for defamation is to produce and distribute material anonymously. Some individuals produce leaflets. They are careful to use printers and photocopiers that cannot be traced. At times when few people will notice them, they distribute the leaflets in letterboxes, ready to dump the remainder if challenged. Gloves of course — no fingerprints. For those using electronic mail, it’s possible to send messages through anonymous remailers, so the receivers can’t trace the sender.
These techniques of avoiding defamation law may get around the problem, but don’t do much to eliminate it. They illustrate that defamation law does more to inhibit the search for truth than foster it. If an anonymous person circulates defamatory material about you, you can’t contact them to sort out discrepancies.
Say it to the person
Send a copy of what you propose to publish to people who might sue. If they don’t respond, it will be harder for them to sue successfully later, since they haven’t acted to stop spreading of the statement. If they say that what you’ve written is defamatory, ask for specifics: which particular statements or claims are defamatory and why? Then you can judge whether their objections are valid.
It’s not defamatory to criticise a person to their face or to send them a letter criticising them. It’s only defamation when your comments are heard or read by someone else — a “third party.”
Keep a copy for posterity
If you have to censor your writing or speech to avoid defamation, keep a copy of the original, uncensored version — in several very safe places. Save it for later and for others, perhaps after all concerned are dead. You might also inform relevant people, especially those who might threaten defamation, that you have saved the uncensored version.[8]
Defamation law distorts history. How nice it would be to read the uncensored versions of old newspapers, if only they existed! By saving the unexpurgated versions, you can help challenge this whitewashing of history.
Call the bluff
If you are threatened with a defamation action, one strategy is to just ignore it and carry on as before. Alternatively, invite the threatener to send the writ to your solicitor. Most threats are bluffs and should be called. The main thing is not to be deterred from speaking out. The more people who call bluffs, the less effective they become.
If you receive a defamation writ, try to find a solicitor who is willing to defend free speech cases at a small fee or, if you have little money, no cost. Shop around for someone to defend you. You can try public interest groups, contact the Communications Law Centre at the University of New South Wales (The White House, UNSW, Sydney NSW 2052; phone 02-9663 0551; fax 02-9662 6839), or ask members of Whistleblowers Australia. If you send us information about your case, we may be able to refer you to a suitable person.
Use publicity
Just because you are sued doesn’t mean you can’t say anything more. (Many organisations avoid making comment by saying that an issue is sub judice — under judicial consideration — but that’s just an excuse.) You can still speak. In particular, you can comment on the defamation action itself and its impact on free speech. It’s also helpful to get others to make statements about your case.
A powerful response to a defamation suit is to expand the original criticism. Defamation suits aim to shut down comment. If enough people respond by asserting their original claims more forcefully and widely, this will make defamation threats counterproductive.
Helen Steel and Dave Morris, members of London Greenpeace, produced a leaflet critical of McDonald’s. McDonald’s sued. Steel and Morris, with no income, defended themselves. They used the trial to generate lots of publicity. Because of the trial, their leaflet has reached a far greater audience than would have been possible otherwise. The whole exercise has been a public relations disaster for McDonald’s.
Recommend law reform
Law reform commissions have been advocating reform of defamation law for decades. Possible changes include:
* public figure defence so that it’s possible to make stronger criticisms of those with more power;
* adjudication outside courts, to reduce court costs;
* elimination of monetary pay-outs, requiring instead apologies published of equal prominence to the original defamatory statements.
In spite of widespread support for reform among those familiar with the issues, Australian law remains much the same. That’s because it serves those with the greatest power, especially politicians who make the law and groups that use it most often.
Fixing the law is at most part of the solution. It’s also necessary to change the way the legal system operates.
Campaign to reform the legal system
Any change that makes the system cheaper, speedier and fairer is worth pursuing. The sorts of changes required are:
* reducing costs that are disproportionate to damage done or large compared to a party’s income;
* allowing court orders to remove tax deductibility for the legal costs of corporations assessed to have acted high-handedly;
* making laws simpler;
* introducing compulsory conciliation;
* speeding up legal processes.
There’s a much better chance of change when concerned individuals and groups organise to push for change. This involves lobbying, writing letters, organising petitions, holding protests, and many other tactics. In the United States, campaigning by opponents of SLAPPs has resulted in some states passing laws against SLAPPs.
Speak out
Petitions, street stalls and public meetings can be used to directly challenge the use of defamation law against free speech. One possibility is to circulate materials that have been subject to defamation threats or writs. Another is to protest directly against those who attempt to use defamation law to suppress legitimate comment. If enough people directly challenge inappropriate uses of the law, it will become harder for it to be used.
Conclusion
Defamation law doesn’t work well to protect reputations. It prevents the dialogue and debate necessary to seek the truth. More speech and more writing is the answer to the problem rather than defamation law, which discourages speech and writing and suppresses even information that probably wouldn’t be found defamatory if it went to court. Published statements — including libellous ones — are open, available to be criticised and refuted. The worst part of defamation law is its chilling effect on free speech.
The most effective penalty for telling lies and untruths is loss of credibility. Systems of communication should be set up so that people take responsibility for their statements, have the opportunity to make corrections and apologies, and lose credibility if they are repeatedly exposed as untrustworthy. Defamation law, with its reliance on complex and costly court actions for a tiny fraction of cases, doesn’t work.
Defamation actions and threats to sue for defamation are often used to try to silence those who criticise people with money and power. The law and the legal system need to be changed, but in the meantime, being aware of your rights and observing some simple guidelines can help you make informed choices about what to say and publish.
Selected references
ABC All-Media Law Handbook: for Journalists, Presenters, Program Makers, Authors, Editors and Publishers (Sydney: Australian Broadcasting Corporation, 1994, 2nd edition).
Sharon Beder, “SLAPPs: Strategic Lawsuits Against Public Participation,” Current Affairs Bulletin, Vol. 72, No. 3, October/ November 1995, pp. 22-29.
Robert Pullan, Guilty Secrets: Free Speech and Defamation in Australia (Sydney: Pascal Press, 1994).
The principal author of this document is Brian Martin, with extensive advice and comment on drafts from Richard Blake, Sharon Callaghan, Michael Curtis, Don Eldridge, Chris Fox, Judith Gibson, Jack Goldring, Mary Heath and Mick Skrijel. Rocco Fazzari and Jenny Coopes kindly granted permission to reproduce their cartoons.
Prophet Motive
The stories behind the most sinister cults in Bay Area history.
By Todd Dever ~ ‘THE WAVE MAGAZINE’
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We all take great pride in the Bay Area’s tradition of leading the world in technology, wine, culture and progressive politics … but there’s one more field in which we lead the globe, though it’s rarely celebrated. For the past 40 years, the Bay Area has been the world’s top breeding ground for totally whacked-out, bizarro, kinky, freakazoid cults.
We’ve handpicked what we believe are the worst of the most bizarre cults with ties to the Bay Area and presented their stories below. But don’t think for a moment that crazy cults are a thing of the past, the unfortunate hangover of the hippie era. “Since I started my work in 1982, the cult phenomenon has just been growing and growing and growing,” says full-time cult basher Rick Ross, who runs the Rick Ross Institute, a non-profit anti-cult foundation he founded after watching his grandmother get duped by a scam cult. “I can’t think of any time in the last 20 years that it’s been bigger than it is right now. I think America has become increasingly religious, and we’re at the most religious point in our nation’s history. People are searching for answers, a sense of community and belonging. These groups seem to provide that and [cults are] becoming an ever-increasing phenomenon in America.”
ADI DA (aka Johannine Daist Communion) http://www.adidam.org
Founder: Frank Jones (aka Da Free John, Bubba Free John).
History: Adi Da rose to cult prominence in the ’80s and continues to thrive. Followers believe Bubba Free John is God incarnate. His latest book is titled Adi Da: The Promised God-Child is Here. Up until 15 years ago, Adi Da owned the Dawn Horse Bookstore in San Rafael (now known as the Open Secret Bookstore) and used it as its primary Bay Area recruiting center. In 1983, Bubba Free John purchased a remote Fijian island from actor Raymond Burr for $2.1 million. He lives there with hundreds of his devotees, including a harem of women, one of whom, Julie Anderson, was Playboy’s Playmate of the Month in September 1976. Most of Adi Da’s 1,000 – 3,000 members are concentrated in Marin County.
Sex scandal: In 1985, a former San Francisco Symphony flutist filed a $5 million lawsuit against Adi Da alleging false imprisonment, clergy malpractice, orders to surrender her children, assault, brainwashing and forced participation in sex orgies. Many former members cite Bubba Free John’s appetite for caviar and women’s lingerie.
ANANDA CHURCH OF SELF REALIZATION http://www.ananda.org
Founder: Donald J. Walters (aka Swami Kriyananda)
History: Founded in 1968, Ananda has gone from a local commune to an international mega-cult with branches throughout North America and Europe. Based on the teachings of Paramhansa Yogananda, the group teaches members how to live by classic yogic teachings. Today, Ananda owns and operates the successful East West Bookstore in Mountain View, in addition to a church and 100-person commune in Palo Alto. The Ananda Community near Nevada City, California, has its own elementary and middle schools, two publishing houses, dairy farm, medical clinic, bakery, market and construction guild. They also have their own telephone company, named Ananda Bell.
Sex scandal: In 1994, Anne-Marie Bertolucci of Palo Alto was awarded more than $300,000 in damages against Swami Kriyananda for sexual exploitation she claimed occurred while she was a member. Then, in 1998, a Redwood City jury awarded six former female members more than $1 million after they proved that the Swami and other church officials used their positions of religious authority to sexually manipulate them.
THE FAMILY (aka The Family International, Children of God, God’s Salvation Church) http://www.xfamily.org
Founder: David Berg (aka Moses)
History: Started in the ’60s in Oakland as a community devoted to sexual liberation (they even claimed that sexual relations could exist between adults and children, until public scrutiny forced the group to issue a declaration of condemnation against pedophilia in 1986), the Family promotes awareness of the impending apocalypse – in which Family members will lead the battle against Satan as Jesus Christ returns. Today, the Family boasts 8,000 “full-time missionaries” in more than 100 countries. In December of last year, two Family missionaries visited a Milpitas High School Spanish class to hand out religious leaflets and spread their gospel. The school board has since disciplined the Spanish teacher.
Sex scandal: You might recall news headlines from January about a 29-year-old named Ricky “Davidito” Rodriguez, who stabbed a Family board member to death before killing himself in an attempt to track down the secret location of his parents. Turns out he wanted to kill them, too, in revenge for raising him amidst alleged rampant sexual abuse at “The Family.” Rodriguez claimed that by the age of nine, he was having daily forced sex with scores of women to prepare him for becoming a group leader. In a video he made the night before the murder, Rodriguez is seen loading bullets into his gun and saying, “Anger does not begin to describe how I feel about these people. I’ve seen how ugly humans can get.” Stephen Kent, a professor of sociology at the University of Alberta, has interviewed dozens of former Family members and claims pedophilia was widespread in the group before the mid-’80s.
PEOPLE’S TEMPLE Founder: James Warren Jones (aka Jim Jones)
History: Preaching a hybrid belief system of Christianity and communism, Jim Jones had attracted more than 1,000 followers by the mid-’60s, most of them from the Bay Area. When the IRS started snooping around, suspicious that Jones was bilking his minions out of huge sums of money, the People’s Temple suddenly moved to a 27,000-acre commune in Guyana, South America. In November of 1978, congressman Leo Ryan led a group of journalists to Guyana to investigate the cult. When 16 cult members secretly begged Ryan to take them home with him, Ryan made the fatal mistake of informing Jones. As a result, Ryan and three others were killed in an assault at the airport by Jones’ henchmen. At that point, Jones realized his jig was up. Rather than rot in jail for his crimes, he convinced his cult to drink poisoned Kool Aid so they could die with him and rendezvous in the next life on their very own planet. When it was all said and done, 914 people died, including 276 children.
Sex scandal: During the murder-conspiracy trial of former Temple member Larry Layton, testimony from multiple witnesses established that Jones used sex to humiliate and subjugate followers who misbehaved.
THE FELLOWSHIP OF FRIENDS http://www.apollo.org
Founder: Robert Earl Burton
History: Founded as a non-profit church in 1971 by a former elementary school teacher and San Jose State alum, FoF members believe their leader is “an angel in a man’s body,” whose spiritual authority is trumped only by Jesus Christ. Followers also believe that Burton has the ability to speak with up to 44 other angels, including Benjamin Franklin. Burton is renowned for his strange rules (no swimming, smoking or jokes are allowed – and homosexuality was banned until 1993, despite Burton’s allegedly renowned appetite for men) and even stranger predictions (though he was wrong about predicting a 1998 earthquake that would destroy California, he sticks by his claim that a nuclear holocaust will ruin the earth in ’06 and only FoF members will be spared). More than 600 FoF members live on their infamous Yuba County vineyard known as Apollo, where they produce up to 40,000 cases of wine per year under the Renaissance Vineyard and Emery labels. Their award-winning wine is so respected in the industry that it has been served to the Prince of Wales, former president George H. W. Bush, at one of Ronald Reagan’s birthday parties, and the Ritz-Carlton in San Francisco sells the Renaissance Cabernet 1996 for $10 a glass.
Sex scandal: Though the church is more noted for tax evasion (they’re currently paying off more than $2 million in back taxes), the FoF was slapped with a $5 million lawsuit in 1996 by a former member who claimed he was brainwashed and sexually abused by Burton. The suit stated the church was a front for Burton’s “voracious appetite for perverted sexual pleasure and elegant lifestyle.” The case was settled out of court for an undisclosed amount.
THE HELZER GROUP (aka Children of Thunder) Founder: Glenn Taylor Helzer
History: Glenn Helzer, a self-styled spiritual awareness guru and Martinez native, only needed two followers in his cult to wreak havoc on the Bay Area in 2000. Helzer, a former stockbroker and Mormon, who was excommunicated from the church because of drug use, convinced his younger brother Justin and a woman named Dawn Godman that he was a prophet. Their mission was to defeat Satan by first training Brazilian orphans to kill the leaders of the Mormon Church so Helzer could become its new leader. Naturally, they would need money to carry out their ambitious plans, so they extorted $100,000 from a retired couple in Concord before bludgeoning them to death. Two days later, Glenn and Justin killed Selina Bishop, daughter of ’70s rock star Elvin Bishop. The following day, Glenn and Godman shot to death Bishop’s mother and stepfather in Marin County because Glenn feared they might suspect them in the death of their daughter. The Helzer brothers and Godman were arrested on August 7, 2000.
Sex scandal: None
THE MANSON FAMILY Founder: Charles Manson
History: Perhaps the most infamous cult leader of all time, Charles Manson began his cult career in San Francisco’s Haight-Ashbury district in 1967. Once he’d recruited a core group of followers from the Bay Area, Manson’s Family moved to the desert in Southern California before embarking on their murderous rampage, killing 12 Los Angelinos in 1969, including actress Sharon Tate (who was pregnant with director Roman Polanski’s baby) and coffee heiress Abigail Folger.
Sex scandal: Manson first recruited young women into his cult and convinced them he was the Son of God before using them to seduce men to join the Family. Manson himself once initiated a 13-year-old girl by sodomizing her in front of the rest of the group, which held frequent orgies that Manson conducted but never participated in.
SPIRITUAL RIGHTS FOUNDATION http://www.celestia.com
Founder: William Baldwin (aka William Duby, Reverend Bill)
History: Blending New Age spiritualism and fundamentalist Christian doctrine, Reverend Bill went from being a down-and-out gambling addict to becoming the founding father of the SRF with his self-proclaimed insight into God and ability to channel the thoughts of Jesus. Founded as a non-profit religious organization in 1981, the SRF runs the Academy for Psychic Studies schools in Berkeley and San Jose, operates “1-900” psychic numbers, and allegedly requires its members to donate 40-plus hours per week and up to two-thirds of their income to the SRF. Most parents in the group elect to home-school their children rather than subject them to outside influences. One former member, successful businessman Larry Adams, blew his own head off with a shotgun in 1993 after failing to find gold in the Sierra foothills with his SRF-honed psychic ability. If interested in learning more about the wonders of SRF, you can listen to Reverend Bill give a sermon each Tuesday on KEST 1450 AM between 10:00am and 11:00am.
Sex scandal: Although it has never been proven, several former members allege that Reverend Bill seduced the 15-year-old daughter of one of his top aides, Reverend Angela.
SYMBIONESE LIBERATION ARMY Founder: Donald DeFreeze (aka Cinque Mtune)
History: Upon escaping from San Quentin prison in 1973 (where he was serving time on an armed robbery conviction), Donald DeFreeze founded the SLA as a militant cult with designs on bringing down America’s ruling class. Recruiting heavily at the UC Berkeley campus, the SLA is most renowned for their abduction and subsequent brainwashing of 19-year-old Patty Hearst, daughter of media mogul Randolph Hearst. After forcing Ms. Hearst to rob a San Francisco bank, the SLA saga ended in dramatic fashion on May 17, 1974, when more than 100 law enforcement officers surrounded the SLA’s Los Angeles headquarters and killed most of the members, including DeFreeze, in a vicious gun battle.
Sex scandal: After her kidnapping, Hearst was raped by her captors and kept blindfolded in a closet for days while she was programmed to support SLA politics.
SYNANON http://www.synanon.net Founder: Charles Dederich
History: After Synanon purchased land in Marin County in 1967 to build a drug rehabilitation center, the group received large donations from Fortune 500 companies and much political support for their work in turning around troubled lives. But the dream morphed into a nightmare once Dederich became intoxicated with power. The rehab center quickly became little more than a front for a Synanon cult where violence and emotional abuse were rampant. As word leaked about the troubles within Synanon and concerned relatives and Marin neighbors started snooping around, Dederich declared a “holy war” against anyone who confronted his group. One local rancher was attacked by a Synanon mob for helping Synanon runaways. A man who tried to retrieve his child from Synanon was beaten with croquet mallets on his own front lawn. And a lawyer who sued Synanon was bitten by a rattlesnake planted in his mailbox – doctors had to use 11 vials of anti-venom to save his life.
Sex scandal: In 1976, Dederich decided that children were a nuisance, so he ordered all of his male members to undergo vasectomies, sans himself. And when his wife died of cancer in ’77, he chose a new wife and ordered all married couples to break up and take new partners so they could share in their master’s experience.
THE WRIGHT FAMILY Founder: Winnfred Wright
History: The saga of the Wright Family made national headlines in 2001 after a few women entered the Kaiser Permanente emergency room in San Rafael with a dead baby in tote. One of the women calmly told the receptionist, “Our child isn’t breathing.” When a doctor informed them that their 16-month-old baby could not be revived and had died of malnutrition, the women barely reacted. One of them asked if there was a coroner on duty. When the doctor said that there was, she replied, “Good, because we’re ready to go home.” The ensuing investigation by police unearthed one of the most bizarre cult tales of our time, centered around an African-American man named Winnfred Wright who brainwashed four white women (one of them an heiress to the Xerox fortune) into becoming his servile wives out of reparation for the sins committed by whites against blacks. From their Marinwood home (north of San Francisco), the women bore him 13 children, all of whom were imprisoned in their house and weren’t allowed to go to school or a doctor and were often beaten. Wright and the three eldest women of his cult are currently serving time for the negligent death of the baby.
Sex scandal: Not only did Wright convince his four wives that serving him sexually was their duty, he had them go out in public to lure other women to have sex with him.
“We have to raise $4,000 more to meet our $12,000 target.
So far, all tickets have been sold within Apollo. We’d like outlying centers to purchase at least $2,000 for this auction.”
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Committee On Finance
219 Dirksen Senate Office Building
Washington, DC 20510-6200
(202) 224-4515
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Dear Senator Grassley;
Concerning the Non Profit Church called the Fellowship of Friends in California lead by Rev. Robert Earl Burton …
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Write lovers, write!
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“Move On” ~ meaning… to a larger Hamster Wheel?
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Even if you’re still in the Fellowship of Friends, you can write, inform, send copies/information, etc. to Local, State and National Agencies, particularly memos to the Oregon House Local Residents, their Town Hall meetings and Yuba County City Council…
BTW… It’s sobering to see new Russian boys being sized up at Tuxedo Den in Yuba City via one of Robert Burton’s Russian ‘veterans’ and compliments of California’s non-profit status bequeathed to Robert Burton and Friends…
Glad to know that Genia refused to return from Russia on Robert Burton’s request that he do so due to a new religious visa success…
Whalerider and Elena ~
May right now bring you both deeper and deeper solace in the storm, like Rembrandt’s painting, “Christ in a storm on the Sea of Galilee”.
_________________
l.t.y.a.
deleted at the author’s request
In case somebody just started reading the blog, here’s a little history that bares reposting:
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Some more history…
After Richard Buzbee (school name, Richard Laurel) distributed his letter telling of his sexual encounter with Robert Burton and how he discovered his son Troy had been having sexual relationship with Robert Burton (beginning when Troy was underage), Robert Burton called quite a few students to ‘try to quell the flames’. Here is one of those conversation, verbatim.
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Phone call from Robert Burton to James Battaglia, October 23, 1994
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Robert Burton. Hello James, how’s your liver? Are you
feeling well?
J. I’m fine, Robert, and it was a kidney transplant that I had.
Robert Burton. Yes, that’s right. Are you disturbed by this Richard Buzbee incident? I understand you left the meeting in protest.
J. Let me explain the scenario. I had been standing for an hour and you know my physical condition. It was two minutes to eight o’clock and there were about a hundred cars at the Town Hall. Why do you think I left?
Robert Burton. To beat the traffic!
J. That’s right. If I was protesting this meeting, I’d do it verbally.
Robert Burton. I don’t want the meeting to be an arena to discuss my sexual life and I allowed it to happen. C Influence wants me to be a homosexual and have sex with my students so that I may have humility. It’s a beautiful experience for myself and my students. I’m very loving and careful with them. The morality of the ark will not be based on Judeo-Christian principles.
J. What will it be based on?
Robert Burton. I don’t know yet.
J. I’d like to ask you some questions concerning this matter about Richard. Are you open to that?
Robert Burton. Yes.
J. Did Richard consent to having sex with you?
Robert Burton. I’m over fifty and not a strong man. Richard lifted his buttocks up so that I could remove his pants. After we were through, he said that it was beautiful.
J. Had you had sex with him previously?
Robert Burton. We had laid naked together in the other (Ethan’s) house and I fondled him. My students willingly have sex with me, I don’t force anyone.
J. I’ve talked with Richard myself and I feel that I have a good understanding of his experience.
Robert Burton. Just remember I am a conscious being and Richard is an unconscious being. Richard is lying through his teeth, and he set me up. Richard is a wolf in sheep’s clothing and I fell for the setup.
J. I’m not conscious and I can’t verify if you are conscious. The system tells me that the lower cannot see the higher.
Robert Burton. I am the brightest light in two thousand years.
J. I can’t verify that.
Robert Burton. Have you verified C Influence?
J. Yes.
Robert Burton. Well, the reason you’re able to do that is because I am a conscious being. Do you remember when I sent the car for you?
J. What do you mean?
Robert Burton. I have to make about five hundred decisions a week. That I was able to send a car for you to pick you up at the hospital was an act of a conscious being. It’s the little things that matter.
J. Robert, I don’t see how that allows me to verify that you are conscious. Are acts of kindness an indicator of consciousness?
Robert Burton. You don’t sound like you are coming from the king of hearts, more from your king of clubs.
J. I’m glad you brought up the king of clubs. It seems like you have a big identification with things pertaining to the king of clubs. What do you think is the right work of the king of clubs?
Robert Burton. Gurdjieff says the king of clubs is the beast of the jungle, it protects the machine from harm. It lives in the jungle.
J. Then it seems to me a necessary part to recognize and understand. Yet you have an aversion to king of clubs things like holistic healing, hands-on healing, etcetera.
Robert Burton. (vague response)
J. Robert, the only thing important to me is to keep my ears and eyes open and try to be in the moment. This moment. Talking to you is the most important thing happening. It helps me see the truth. That’s why I came to this school; I felt it was a bastion of truth. In time, though, I’ve found that most students don’t want to face the truth. Whenever I make an observation, the general response is that I’m being negative or that I’m losing the school. I see fear and feminine dominance as tools to keep students in control, I don’t have any fear of losing the school. I just need to be in the moment and if C Influence takes me out, so be it. Being in the moment is all that’s important to me.
Robert Burton. That’s not enough.
J. What do you mean, not enough? That’s what you’ve been preaching all these years, self-remembering. What more is there?
Robert Burton. You have to be concerned with your future.
J. What?!
Robert Burton. You have to be concerned with YOUR future.
J. I’m concerned with the moment.
Robert Burton. Remember when you were thrown out of the raft?
J. Yes.
Robert Burton. C Influence can shake you out of the school just the same.
J. Robert, again let me say all I can do is keep my eyes and ears open and stay in the moment. That’s all that’s important to me. I don’t fear losing the school if I’m bounced out of it.
Robert Burton. You have to be concerned about your future.
J. I’m only concerned with my present.
Robert Burton. You have to be concerned about YOUR future (very strong emotional energy coming from Robert). Well, I’m glad that you’re o.k. about this incident. It’s fine to share this conversation with other students.
J. I won’t do that, Robert, because it would influence their thinking on this matter. I would encourage them to speak with Richard and you to form their own opinions. Are you open to them calling you?
Robert Burton. Yes. Well, there’s a wedding here today and I have things to do.
J. Let’s keep the channels of communication open, Robert, and thanks for calling.
Robert Burton. Goodbye, dear.
__________________________________
James followed up this conversation with a letter a few days later…
Dear Robert Burton,
I appreciate you calling me and have taken time to digest the experience, and I’d like to offer you my perceptions.
My emotional center registered from your tone that you were very concerned with how I was dealing with what I’ll call the Richard Laurel incident. My action at the meeting of questioning Wayne’s angle and then leaving soon after was the catalyst for your call. I find it interesting that this was reported to you and that you acted so quickly on it. It verifies to me that you are quite active in the process of damage control over this incident with Richard and it makes me question why.
I made thorough notes of our conversation and thought about the emotional content of your voice during it. I feel that you put a lot of energy out to convince me that you are a conscious being, bordering on divinity. “The brightest light in two thousand years”, as you put it. The examples you gave to me for verification, such as my having verified C Influence because you are a conscious being and your sending me to a car to pick me up at the hospital did not penetrate as valid verifications of consciousness.
I had verified C Influence before and after being in the Fellowship of Friends and I don’t see any connection with your theoretical consciousness. As to you sending a car for me and supplying rides to my doctor’s appointments at my request, I appreciate it greatly and that shows me that you were very considerate of my situation, yet I don’t know they constitute acts of consciousness. Yet I have a pretty good idea of what is not consciousness through self-observation and observing others.
As to our discussion of your sexual preferences and that C Influence wants you to be a homosexual and have sex with your students, this in unverifiable to me. Your sexuality is your business and is not a real issue with me. The issue with me and other students I’ve confided in is the possibility of you using your position as a means to gratify what appears to be a large sexual appetite. I’ve talked with students who have been your partner and their experiences have been as diverse as the individual.
Some have said they were pursued quite vigorously until they succumbed, others felt it was a beautiful experience from which they gained tremendously, and others felt they were treated as an instinctive object for pleasure, then discarded. You said that your students willingly are with you and you do not influence them and t his my be true. You do hold a very influential position over many and I’m sure that you realize this does affect a person’s process in responding to you. Years of observation about the type of men you have in your entourage have shown me that they are predominantly very similar in their psychologies and appear to be particularly malleable.
My final concern is that over the years it appears you have many sexual partners and that precautions for sexually transmitted diseases are not taken. I feel this is not responsible action by all parties involved and can lead to dire consequences for you and many others. Have you ever had an AIDS test and have any of your consistent partners been tested? What do you feel is your responsibility and how do you deal with this issue?
My responses and statements to you appeared to make you more defensive of your position until you photographed my as being in the king of clubs rather than the king of hearts. This appears to be a standard response by you that one is becoming instinctive if your authority is questioned. The Fourth Way, as I understand it, is a process of questioning, observing, and verification. One that does not question is asleep, in my opinion. My questioning is a step in the process to find the truth, it does not come from disrespect or judgment.
At the start of our conversation you mentioned that you had just returned from staying at a hotel, I believe it was named after Muir, and that the address was 1998 and you made a reference to the numerical significance. At the teaching dinner I attended in September, you spent a considerable amount of time talking about interpreting license plate, place names and the like.
Robert Burton, what relevance does that have towards evolution and why is it such a common topic by you to students? I searched books by Ouspensky, Gurdjieff, Collins and Bennet and have not found any references to predictions. What does this information have to do with the Fourth Way and awakening? To me it appears to feed imagination. I may be wrong, so could you clarify your intent on speaking of these matters? I’d appreciate some relativity.
Robert Burton, I feel the intention of your call was to assure me that everything is fine and as you put it, Richard was lying through his teeth, a wolf in sheep’s clothing, as you stated and you fell for his setup. I don’t know why you made a particularly strong effort to convince me. I’ve been told that one of your roles is to keep students asleep as well as awaken. If this was said by you I feel that you were trying to assure me that all is well and that it’s business as usual.
And you (Robert Burton) realized that I wasn’t buying it. Thus your example of being knocked out of the school felt like a strong warning to me. As I said to you, I’ve never felt as committed to my work and to supporting students as I do now. All I can do is to try to be present to the moment, keep my eyes looking and my ears listening. Trust my conscience and I’ll be shown the truth. The future will unfold as it will and I will accept it as it happens, without fear.
Robert Burton, I appreciate all the opportunities I’ve been given to self observe and try to develop will. For our efforts and all the efforts of all students who have built and are building Renaissance/Apollo I am forever grateful. I know of no other community where I have 1901 teachers and it is something I value highly. My observations to you come from a place of caring, support and concern for what we are building and I know that you can understand and appreciate that. Let’s keep the communications open.
Thank you.
With love and friendship,
(signed) James Battaglia
On the 13th November, 1994, James received his reply. He was told to leave the Fellowship, along with five others, including myself.
Historical note: “Wayne” is Wayne Mott, onetime Robert Burton’s personal secretary (can’t remember if he was so at the time). The meeting referred to was led by Steven Dambeck, with Wayne Mott, Gunter Weninger and a couple of others (can’t find my notes right now!) up on the podium. What was notable about this ‘public’ meeting is that these folks started by freely admitting having sexual relations with Robert Burton, and each testified that the experience was helpful for their inner work. Steven then continued the meeting on the lines of morality (with special emphasis on the inapplicability of ‘life’ morality), and steered away from any concerns about abuse of power and so on (refused to accept such questions by asking for others that suited his agenda better). A couple of days later, I responded with a letter to him that photographed him for the sleight of hand and misdirection, which I may post later.
With love to all,
Ames
______________________
339/9/Ames Gilbert
A Little Reminder as to What the Petition may help Cease
_______________________________________
Fat Boy ~
Explain ‘violent’, do you mean ‘obvious negativity’ (like the type the Fellowship of Friends stays away from externally showing in voice and gesture) or ’subtle negativity’ (like the one the Fellowship of Friends indulges in every day in bending and shaping your private relationship to your ‘mechanical’ conscience) ?
Would you consider ‘date rape’, where the girl or boy is so drunk that they don’t understand the exact intent, slipping in and out of passing out and waking up; nor can they control their motor functions enough to stop the unwanted sexual advances, not violence, not rape?
I have met women and men who were date raped and they exhibited the same (if not deeper) remorse as those who had been ‘consciously’ raped.
You’re simply being Professionally naive Fatboy; alright, you wanted it and Robert Burton gave it to you, so what?
This is not the ‘triad’ we are talking about on this blog; maybe you need to contribute to a Dear Abby forum where anything goes…
We’re not talking about consent between two adults here, this is what we’re talking about, for instance ~
_____________
A boy (young man) gets a call from Dorian; Dorian says “Robert would like to get to know you better. Would you like to meet with the Teacher tommorrow after the meeting?”
The boy says ~ “Sure, thank you for the invitation.”
(Thinking that “get to know you better” somehow refers to knowledge and the partaking thereof, maybe some hug, hug, coffee table talk, casual stuff, you know… nothing graphic, nothing nude.)
So, Sunday meeting is over, boy is shown to the study where he is seated by Dorian, (similar to how a detective on duty might seat a man wondering where his kidnapped wife was to be found); the boy is wondering a little, ‘being present’…
Robert Burton walks through the library/study, passes the boy, saying nothing as he makes fleeting eye contact with him as he’s walking and darts (Bee line) straight into his bedroom and disappears from sight, so far as the library couch-view from the left is concerned.
The boy sits, stays right where he was seated by Dorian, waits for the “Get to know you better” to start…
Maybe some shared reading, a little walk in the garden, perhaps a good (one) glass of wine together discussing this or that casual student-teacher thingy, whatever that is or is to be…
Robert Burton appears in the bedroom doorway and says ~ “Dear… (blah, blah, something about a recollection he had of the boy, yet, the boy, has not a chance to say anything to this, when, right after the blah, blah, ‘The TEACHER’ says to the boy ~
“Come in here dear”.
So the boy shyly walks into the bedroom and the TEACHER immediately closes the door, locks the door with a key, puts the key in his left pocket and (as cold and routine as a pair of surgical “scrotum scissors’) says to the shy, a bit confused boy ~
“Dear, take off all your clothes and hang them there on the back of the door, on those hangers.”
The boy is dumbfounded, so quick, so little words, yet plenty of presence, right? (No, not right, though presence, yes.)
Robert Burton quickly proceeds to his bathroom and begins to wash his hands.
The boy is standing stunned, cold, nervous, mind is racing about 117 mph, heart somewhere near the tonsils he never had taken out as a child,
then something snaps, all the being of a fairy tale demi-god raises up inside him and he looks at THE TEACHER, looks with a sort of knowing clarity that precludes the marriage of the Sperm and Egg… sees where the winterly clamminess atmosphere is getting its fuel…
He goes to the teacher, takes him by the hand and looks him straight into the eyes and says ~
“I cannot do this Robert; I do not want to hurt your feeling, but, I did not know it would be THIS, like this, involving getting naked with you, etc., etc.”
Robert starts to say things like ~
“You don’t have to do me.”
“You don’t have to do anything for me.”
“I just want to lay with you.”
The boy says to Robert ~ “Robert, this is much more than just getting to know me…”
The boy is interrupted, Robert says “You know my lifestyle, etc, etc”.
The boy begins to walk to the locked door, Robert moves in front of the door and says ~
“What is it?”
The boy says ~ “Robert, But I am in a relationship…”
He gets interrupted again, Robert says ~ “What? Is it a woman? (with a very negative, spiteful stress on the word ‘woman’)
The boy admits (and is made to feel like it’s a religious confession in a Catholic confession box) “Yes, it is a woman.”
Robert swirls his eyes and starts pontificating and saying such things like ~
“There’s six billion sleeping heterosexuals on the planet, these are mechanical relationships, they are not conscious, not conscious love, these are asleep, I am a conscious being, I am your teacher.”
The boy is still with his state of being so sure of the connection between consciousness and conscience he senses that he is truly slicing time with a butter knife, so easy, so smooth, as Robert Burton’s impression simply begins to peel off, like a billboard sign during an oncoming hurricane…
The boy says ~ “Robert, I am not going to play the justification game with you, but what about my feelings, the feeling of ‘her’ ?”
He is interrupted again
(the door is still locked and THE TEACHER is less than thirteen inches away the whole time) ~
Robert Burton says ~ “You said ‘But’, (But) is inner considering… Feelings? Hafiz said ‘Get out of the way Hafiz, you’re standing in my way’.”
This the boy takes as meaning that ‘feelings’ are mechanical, worthless, an obstacle to awakening;
yet, everything is crystal clear that Robert is speaking to himself, a reflection in the mirror, not the one, the boy now standing behind the reflection;
the boy starts to feel a bit odd, in that he’s being seen as a mirror, a thing, and not his standing behind the mirror-ness. After all, this guy is supposed to be an angel in a man’s body and he can’t see another swan (?)
The boy repeats, “Robert, I cannot do this…”
He is interrupted again, yet this time THE TEACHER is a bit more desperate, irritable, slightly panicky in his tone of voice, Robert Burton says ~
“You do not know what you are saying, you are missing an opportunity to have a relationship with a conscious being, this may be your one and only chance to have this opportunity.”
The boy feels for a duration of time in the moment, smallness, threat, a sort of ‘your going to be out if you don’t’ implication, a sort of ‘I don’t want Dorian to see my failure in this, I don’t want to fail at having had you’ sort of moody static in his tone of voice, his body language, etc.
The boy says ~ “Robert, would things be different if we get together?” (The boy says this because he’s wondering what all this is really about, where’s it leading, if his answer will reflect some consequence in his saying ‘No’?)
Robert says ~ “More meetings, going places with me, more times like this, etc., etc.”
The boy replies, “Robert, No, I cannot.”
Robert gives the ‘pretty pissed off behind the scenes’ look and says ~
“Thats alright dear, I’ll transform it… maybe we’ll get together in some more spontaneous way later. Don’t worry, I’ll transform it. You may go now.”
Robert unlocks the door and says ~ “Alright dear, you can go.”
The boy walks through the library and goes to sit down in the Galleria main room. The door to the library is closed, 1 minute passes and the door to the library opens, it’s Robert, he asks the boy to go downstairs and get Dorian (the responsible party?)
So the boy does ‘fetch Dorian’…
As the downstairs bedroom door opens Dorian looks a bit stunned to see the boy he had not so long ago lead into the library (back before the usual time?)
Dorian does not follow the boy upstairs right away, but closes the door and begins talking to Mehia (spelling?)
the boy goes back upstairs and sits back where he was prior to the ‘go fetch order’
Dorian appears, then disappears into the library alongside/with the TEACHER and the door closes… end of story (in more ways than one).
The ‘role’ the boy had for nearly two years abruptly ended in a very ’subtle’ way; certain people simply stopped calling him for ‘regular third line duty’ and he was ostracized, not exiled by just the TEACHER, ostracized with the fullest meaning and depth of the word from the Fellowship of Friends, nothing would ever be the same, for on this day BELIEF was annihilated by love and LOVE replaced ‘mind-games’.
_____________________________________________
Part 18/Post 525/unoanimo
Hello Fellowship of Friends Member (F.O.F. blog name ~ “Daily Cardiac”) ~
I’ll answer you sentence by sentence since that’ll make it precise enough even if the post looks outrageously long. I’ll just write my entries with a line ————–
DC: The FoF offers one product, and that is presence/self-remembering. So it’s a question of priorties. If someone values presence over the form that contains presence then esoteric schools make sense and are even vital for those individuals. If someone does not value presence above everything else then schools make no sense. Being in a school of presence and not putting presence first is the worst case scenario, as the higher in one will not be fed nor will the lower.
Based on my own experiences those who value presence first thrive in the school. That does not mean they agree with everything or understand everything that goes on; it just means their priorities are in order for them to succeed spiritually.
————–I wonder what the judge will say when you tell him that! When a lawyer asks a hundred of you, “What were you present to while members sent photos of young men to Mr. Burton? While these men were given priority visas? While they were dresses like Barbies? While they battered their wives and said nothing would happen to them because they were in Mr. Burton’s inner circle?”
What will you say then?
If the priorities of the Fellowship of Friends act against the well being of its members and causes harm on hundreds of people economically, sexually, emotionally and intellectually, the priorities of the FOF are against everything that the Constitution of the United States stands for. You cannot take a group of people and take all their rights out and pretend that after years of submitting to mental and physical control they can respond for their acts. It is not the members who are responsible for their acts, it is principally the Cult leader and the Inner Circle of the Cult who is responsible.
DC: I’ve been listening to people’s thoughts on the blog and answering from my heart, that the main disconnect with ex members is that they do not consider or respect the needs and laws of the spirit world. They do not get the scale correct, they do not distinguish between the different scales/levels.They do not remember that spirit supersedes matter and thought, is greater than matter and thought; and must be given priority over matter and thought.
——————You can expand on that one, it is still very weak. I don’t think you’ll get by with it with anyone serious enough. I do not expect you to believe my beliefs either but just in case you wish to listen to them, the Spiritual World is based on the grace of its beings. No being who is above in the Hierarchy can hurt anyone who is above or below. We are all helping each other. We are all, even in this physical realm, helping each other. The different dimensions are interconnected. To serve is to help without doing harm. You cannot harm and help at the same time and the Fellowship Cult only harms.
DC: Elena – “Could you, Mr. Robert Burton, or any of his followers, explain how separating mothers from their children is an expression of Consciousness?”
This can be an expression of consciousness when it is determined to be what’s best for the mother’s spiritual evolution, or for the school’s evolution.
Generally children have not formed a magnetic center and are not ready to engage in a life dedicated to self remembering. These same issues probably came up in other schools and will again in future schools.
————————How cheap, tell the judges that. You better get more specific or you’re all going to end up in jail.
DC: Actually the fact that Robert did not allow children in the school is one proof the FoF is not a cult.
————-Robert Burton did allow children in the School but only under certain conditions and those conditions neglected the children’s and the parent’s well being. They neglected the integrity of the family.
He only just recently tried to invite a member’s son who I think is not even eighteen to work at the Galleria when he found him young enough and probably thinking that his father had been such a good treat, he would allow his divine Teacher to taste his son too, after all, he wasn’t even his son was he, he was adopted. Fortunately the member left the Cult in horror.
DC:Cults are quite happy to absorb children into the fold as it’s a good age to be indoctrinated.
In most of the cases of mothers relinquishing care of their children to family or spouses it has not been determined if anyone, mothers or children, were really harmed by this exercise.
—————- You probably weren’t there when K would scream up and down the corridors of the London center because of the situation with the children that she had abandoned. You probably weren’t there when the other lady cried for months because the child she’d given up for adoption twenty or more years before had cancer and it was the first time that she was going to see her. How would you be there when you are desperately trying to not be present to reality?
There are things that no spiritual path would ask of a human being unless it is one of black magic. I dare say that you are all too stupid to even be intentional black magicians (for which I am grateful and do not judge you harder) but the carelessness of your lives runs so close to darkness that it is just a line away from black. Your practices are dark as hell. There are members who sit quietly outside the blog, who sincerely claim that Mr. Burton’s intense swallowing of semen, between six and sixteen times a day, have been quoted, are directly connected with black magic practices. I personally do not think that Girard Haven or other members are consciously practicing such things even if the things they practice or allow Robert Burton to practice are so dark, that they could very well be black.
DC. For one thing this exercise was part of the school’s early years, and has not happened, that I know of, for close to 30 years.
—————— Your eyes are so closed you think abandoning children is just the act of giving them away but children were not allowed in the Fellowship until late nineteen ninety five or so. That is twenty five years after the Fellowship began to function. When I joined in 1990 and moved to Renaissance in 1992, my children were not allowed which gradually implanted in my psychology a permissiveness to separate from them. I left my eldest daughter in a boarding school and my youngest I eventually left her with her father when she was eleven. This is the worst mistake I have ever made in my life prompted by the attitude the Fellowship of Friends Cult had on the biological connection of families. My children were all the family I had and I gave them up for years. The rest of my family had broken apart badly since my mother’s death. The FOF took the System’s ideas and distorted them until it ruined our lives. RUINED OUR LIVES. The fact that we will heal and learn and overcome the damages one day, does not mean that having participated in The Fellowship of Friends Cult did not ruin too huge a portion of my life to let it continue ruining other people’s. I beg forgiveness to my children and my family for the damages I brought to their lives in my blindness to belong to the Fellowship. It made me look at the sacred connection between us as something I could relax and let go of and we are, my younger daughter and I, still years away from healing from it. I am responsible for having left her, but the Fellowship is responsible for having induced me into leaving her. I swear to God, you will not continue to do these things to people with the same freedom you’ve been doing it for years.
I could write a book about this, why don’t I since you can’t see it.
Children are still banned from the Fellowship life and the Fellowship is NOT A SCHOOL, IT IS A COMMUNITY OF SLAVES WORKING FOR ROBERT BURTON’S BROTHEL. Children are banned “psychologically”. They are made to feel that they do not belong there, that they are biological accidents in their parent’s lives, that they are in fact a burden rather than a joy. Oh Daily Cardiac and company, how many times do you want me to write Heather’s story? Eileen’s story? Why were these children abandoned until they committed suicide? Why did Heather’s mother never take her into her house even after she tried to commit suicide three times? At least I knew enough about suicide to know that she had to be thoroughly and totally embraced. Why did Eileen come begging for help after being an alcoholic and did not get it from her father’s community and was so lost, so fucking lost that she opted to drive herself into a light post because there was no light at the other end of life?
Please help, please help these people get out of their madness, please help yourselves to a more dignified life.
You could say that Dorothy, Eileen and Heather are just a few people, the exception to the rule but they are not: They are the physical expression of the extreme to which the attitude of a community can bring their members to. Each one of these people is the result of the Fellowship credo, the Fellowship ideology, the Fellowship Way of life and in every one of these cases the results are simply put, PERFECTLY INHUMAN: they are the acts of people in a mind control environment that distorts their inner being so badly that they are willing to hurt children and old people.
DC: Now what really did happen in most cases? It’s not like people left their babies on a stranger’s doorstep. Possibly in all cases the children went to live with grandparents or the father.
Do you know how much this happens in today’s world, how many mothers willingly give their children to a spouse or family? Do you know how many young couples give their children to their parents to raise while they pursue a career. Sometimes both parents have to work and they have no choice. Where is the brutality in this?
—————-Life might be brutal but the Fellowship is criminal.
DC: What was Apollo like then? It was a thicket of brush with two dilapidated buildings. People lived in tents exclusively on FoF property, worked 12 + hours, 7 days a week. Is this an environment for children? On one level Robert was being humane for not allowing children on the property back then.
——————-For how long do you want me to laugh at your reasoning, you sick pimp. IT WAS ROBERT BURTON’S CHOICE TO TAKE THE MEMBERS OF THE FELLOWSHIP INTO AN ENVIRONMENT IN WHICH CHILDREN NEEDED TO BE BANNED FOR THEIR APPARENT WELL BEING. IT WAS HIS CHOICE TO PUT THEM UNDER THOSE CONDITIONS. IT IS HE WHO IS RESPONSIBLE FOR MAKING THE MEMBERS COMMIT SUCH ACTS THAT gradually made them into the pitiful human beings that all those poor women in the high ranks of the Fellowship Cult have become who, having abandoned their children, now think it is rather amusing to have other people’s children get systematically raped by the same man who asked them to abandon their own. Tell me if most of the “survivors” of the oldest generation today are not precisely those who made such drastic sacrifices in their lives? What makes it so difficult for you to put one and one together? What makes you think that these women who abandoned their children are not those who are in fact in power in the Fellowship and promote the seduction and brainwashing of those young men into THE LEGITIMACY OF Robert’s abuses, they have to do it because it justifies their own sacrifices. If Robert is wrong, who will forgive them for what they did to themselves? And their children? Every single member of the Fellowship of Friends who remained inside after those things happened was no longer a normal human being. They had each tresspassed the boundaries of human sanity. Even at war, no human society has ever sacrificed its own children or old people. The Fellowship Cult is not only not a Conscious School, it is the most retrograde expression of Consciousness of all times. The dysfunctionality of the Fellowship of Friends is so corrosive that the traces of humaneness has disappeared.
Daily Cardiac:
As far as separating:
“Members from their families,
Member’s from their cultures,
Members from their previous friends,
Members from their functions,Members from their bodies, their minds, their emotions and their sexuality?”
People made personal choices.
—————-People do not make personal choices under situations of mind control. Girard Haven’s books are systematic mind control bibles. Those holy scriptures of the Fellowship of Friends will prove in any court of law, how the Fellowship of Friends indoctrinated its members. I can open any page and find the dogma separating people from their own consciousness.
DC. All of the above happens in life on a routine basis to tens of millions of people.
How many students were helped out of a third world country by the FoF?
——————-Tell us how many if you know. Tell us how many young men under twenty five were helped and not other people. I dare you give us the numbers. Tell us how it used the musicians and exploited them so that they could not get proper jobs. Tell us everything or you will eventually tell the court. We will know sooner or later, because we need to know.
DC: How many were overjoyed for the opportunity. Many of them are ex students today, still enjoying the freedoms they gained as a result of them being in the FoF. How many foreigners married Americans through the FoF and made a new life for themselves here?
————Life?, Is that what you call life? Have you in fact forgotten that for the Fellowship of Friends LIFE is influence A, something a member should never touch so that he can be at the disposition of Influence C every time Robert wishes to have sex or have enough money to take his whores on a trip where he can bribe them more easily?
DC: You have spoken of abortions in the past, supposedly prompted by Robert. It’s easy to make claims but how are the claims substantiated? I’ve never heard anyone’s name mentioned in that regard? And if names are mentioned what does it prove? Abortion is legal. It is legal by society’s law. Morally/spiritually we don’t know for sure when the soul comes into the fetus. But I would think an all knowing and compassionate deity would monitor and consider well the needs of unborn infants, and not leave the fate of a soul in the hands of men.
—————There will be names, you can be sure of that. For the past eighteen years people have been helping many of the women who were in a relationship with one of Robert’s boys, abort. Many, many women and one of them will come forward and speak against you and tell us how it worked. Hell is black enough that you can’t hide it in daylight. I won’t give you their names but I know who I am talking about.
DC: It can however be proven how many lives the FoF is directly responsible for helping to bring into the world. How many children were conceived by students who would never have met each other without joining the FoF? Is it fair to say these individuals, and their parents, owe a debt of gratitude to the FoF? How many of these children of students/ex students are there? Hundreds, and each one verifiable; their existence not a question of debate.
—————-The irony of your statement makes it even more repulsive.
DC: How many viable careers were formed through training received in the FoF? Do any or all of these things count as good fortune arising from participation in the Fellowship of Friends?
—————–Tell us how many and who profitted from these careers? How many of Robert’s boys in proportion to others? How and why were those people who were helped, helped?. Why don’t you explain why the rest of us weren’t even given a chance to speak.
DC: As far as separating from previous friends, I wonder what percentage of previous friends remain in the average person’s life?
People in life constantly turn their backs on previous friends by changing schools, growing up, changing jobs, cities, spouses.
How many millions of people disown their parents and siblings, entirely without the help of the FoF? Gurjieff said about our world
that it’s a pain factory.
——–As I said, life might be brutal but the Fellowship is criminal and it will have to respond for its crimes. Lucky you that I am persecuting you before you actually kill someone, although for me you actually killed Dorothy, I simply saved her. In fact, for me, you killed Heather and Eileen, and I helped Heather enough and unfortunately was not able to help Eileen because I was myself too weak. And you certainly killed Joseph Monteleone with your repulsive neglect of Fellowship members in any kind of suffering. Yes, there are exceptions like Tamara who after making a film showing the wonders of Divine Robert was sent to Springs….. to suffer less, but tell me how this exceptions do not prove our points, not yours.
DC: Suffering exists in every corner of the world; independent of the FoF.
Why focus your complaints on a measly 1700 people?
————–Because you are the people I loved and trusted and invested my intellectual, emotional and economic resources in for seventeen years. Because you are responsible for ruining a beautiful portion of my life and because knowing what I know I will not let you continue doing what you do, just like I would take a rapist to the police if I was able to catch him. And I have caught you. I know you better than I know the palm of my hands.
DC: And who precisely are you complaining to? A deity? Do you think they haven’t heard you by now? Do you think they have somehow lost track of this notorious organization run by a sociopath impersonating themselves for the last 40 years? And if not to a Deity then to whom? A government? Robert Burton has not broken any laws.
—————Robert Burton has broken every human law of decency, integrity and respect for each and all the members of the Fellowship Cult. He has broken innumerable Constitutional Laws with the Fraudulent presentation of the Fellowship of Friends Cult as a School of Consciousness. If the Fellowship of Friends were not a fraud you would have sued me from the moment I began speaking and you have not sued me only because you know you cannot prove me wrong. If the laws today protect Cults like you, the laws must be changed so I am appealing to the people who can see what is right beyond the law. The laws are written to protect people from abuse and when criminals like you make up new forms of abuse, protected by the laws, the laws must be changed to protect the people, from people like you.
DC: The FoF is a rape factory? One of the many ironies of the blog is that ex members fail to consider the spiritual realm and point to Robert’s failings based on ordinary man’s moral code, but when it comes to rape, they disregard what constitutes rape in the eyes of most governments, and more importantly, in the eyes of reasonable men using common sense, and invent their own laws when judging Robert Burton.
——————- Under mind control environments, inducing young men in socio-economic disadvantages to sexually submit to the authority of the institution is RAPE. These men are not in an ordinary environment.
DC: Abuse of power? This is indeed a mighty joke. What individual with even modest power has not abused it at one time or another? In sexual matters has there ever been a rich, or famous man who has not tried to use his wealth or status for his own enjoyment?
Has there ever been a beautiful woman who has not used her beauty to manipulate men? I’m sure there have been exceptions to the rule. But as a rule people use their status to get what they want.
In terms of conscious teachers and sex, it’s a much more complex issue. No one knows Robert Burton’s motives in that regard.
—————-Abuse of power not only with the men who had to submit sexually but to every single member who had to pay for it convinced that she/he was supporting a School of Consciousness and not a sophisticated brothel.
Good! Why don’t we let Robert tell the judges what his motives were? Maybe they’ll like it sweet!
DC: To be conscious implies having will, and if one has will one can apply that will when and where necessary. Conscious teachers can also use their status for any reason they deem appropriate to higher aims (Conscious beings live for themselves, but they also are in service to higher schools first and foremost.)
——————Yes, being conscious implies having the will to not hurt people who have been rendered defenseless in a mind control environment. “DEFENSELESS” IN A MIND CONTROL ENVIRONMENT PROPER OF A CULT LIKE THE FELLOWSHIP OF FRIENDS. IF THE ARMS OF YOUR INTEGRITY ARE MADE TO BE SURRENDERED WHEN YOU ENTER THE CULT, YOU ARE MADE DEFENSELESS AND THAT IS WHY EACH AND EVERY ONE OF US SACRIFICED MORE THAN WE CAN EVER RECOVER. We were made “defenseless” because we were stripped of our psychological make up in disconnecting us from our references and submitting us to the Fellowship references that we had to adopt to survive within that environment just like any person who is kidnapped willingly submits to the kidnappers. We were not kidnapped but we were indoctrinated to believe that salvation was only possible in the Fellowship, that war was imminent, that leaving meant the death of our possibilities.
PLEASE DON’T LET OTHER PEOPLE GO THROUGH THIS SAME GRINDER.
DC: There is one thing I have understood in this area and that is the majority of reasoning I read on the blog by ex members would not fit into today’s FoF.
—————–Today’s FOF is not the FOF of the past thirty five years or the FOF of the future. Today’s FOF is a Cult trying to save a few members under desperate conditions. All the “good” changes you’ve made today will succumb as soon as you are left without pressure and you will return to your favorite bad habits or priorities which are making money for the brothel and pimpimg for mummy Bobby.
DC So if Robert’s lifestyle is being used as a tool by higher forces to force people’s hand on whether to stay or go, I can see it’s an effective tool.
Those who manage to keep presence as the top priority have stayed, while those who have placed something above being present (I think of Old Fish’s list of joyful things) have departed.
——————-Try giving the judges that answer dear and they’ll wonder if they are in a Court room or in a Latin soap opera!
DC: Elena, I am also certain of another fact. You have already condemned Robert Burton and the FoF. Nothing anyone says will change that. And any information you hear, no matter how factual and / or positive will have to be turned around in your mind and made into whatever fits your extreme position.
————-You’re right, you cannot change the facts now. Everything that has been presented here by members and exmembers has deeply supported my claims against the Fellowship of Friends Cult. It is not I who will change my position, it is you who will disappear as a legal institution to defraud innocent people from every corner of the world.
DC: That being the case can anyone believe the things you say about Girard, or Dorothy? With all of the hate you have displayed on the blog can you be impartial about what you experienced, or have you molded those experiences into whatever fits your preexisting position.
————Anyone in their right mind can easily recognize that what you call “hate” in me is suffering and that I am in fact the one who has opted for non violent actions against the Fellowship. Legal and moral or ethical action but non violent, inspired by the same Ghandi your “beloved conscious teacher” despises so badly.
DC: Regarding Dorothy I have visited homes where she lived after she was in an advanced stage of her disease and I saw her to be well cared for. I know the the people who cared for her and they certainly don’t fit your profile of Dorothy’s caregivers.
————–Do you want me to give more names and details? I will in court. Dorothy had not been bathed for a year when I volunteered to look after her for the second time thoughout various years. She had not been given a bath and she stunk. Her nails were like a fakirs nails they were so long and black in dirt. She walked around with a doll who no one else could touch because she screamed and ate five loafs of bread a weak because her caretaker said she did not have enough money for more decent food. How many times do you wish me to tell you this story.
DC: One of Dorothy’s last requests when she was still in control of her thought processes was to live the remainder of her days at Apollo. The school made good on her request.
————–All those are lies. Janet asked Robert what to do with Dorothy when her alzheimer was in its early development and Robert told her to send Dorothy to a home. Janet who was Dorothy’s best friend was not able to do so and carried on her back the load of taking care of Dorothy on her own for years. When the situation got bad enough volunteers without payment were required. When it got worse, paid caretakers were required and when it got even worse she was dumped at my door with a “call me when she dies” and not one of the six high rank women of the Fellowship who had been carefully feeding her mostly bread for the past year, offered to look after her for even one hour a month. One of them personally told me, it was not right to have Dorothy in the Fellowship any more, she had to go to a home and therefore she would no longer help.
DC: Dorothy was not the FoF’s responsibility to care for.
—————-Tell me you sick criminals, if the FOF induces members and actually induced Dorothy into leaving her son with her mother and disconnect her from her family, who is responsible for the old people of the Fellowship if not the Fellowship itself? Tell me, what kind of School is this that simply uses people until they are helpless and then discards them because they are no longer its responsibility? Who if not the Fellowship of Friends is responsible for an 84 year old woman with Alzheimer’s who has been a member for over thirty years? What in your sick mind, makes you think that a human being who has worked to support her community for thirty years does not have the right to be cared for by that community, when that same community induced her into disconnecting from her family and people outside of the community? If the Fellowship Cult thinks that people outside of the Cult are sleep, dead, unconscious beings, why is it so willing to throw its members out into the hands of those people, when the members become helpless? If it were as conscious as it claims to be, would it not be coherent enough to protect at least its most disabled members from the people outside of it, who, it claims, are the six billion dead or sleep people on the planet?
DC: If the school is as heartless as you characterize, it could have easily put her into a car and drove her to her son’s house in L.A., knocked on his door and said here she is, she’s your responsibility, not ours. But that did not happen.
———–The irony of your response makes me puke for the second time in this post. After separating Dorothy and her son, with what face would you show up to his house and tell him that she was his responsibility? But you’re lying, he had stopped seeing her for ten years before she died, their relationship had not been good ever and no one knew where he was. But the saddest thing about this story is that in the deep mist of her alzheimer the only person who Dorothy still held dear to her consciousness was her son who she would ask about minute after minute forgetting she had asked about him the minute before and we would tell her that he worked in San Francisco and that he was alright. Then she’d ask again.
DC: On more that one occasion you said when you received Dorothy into your care she had not taken a bath for over a year and her fingernails were inches long and packed with dirt.
This statement is highly suspect. It does not fit human behavior. Even if those people neglected Dorothy, they would not jeopardize their reputation by giving her to you in that condition. Most people would, if nothing else, inner consider too much or would be in too much vanity to allow someone to know the degree of their irresponsibility.
If a friend calls me unexpectedly on the phone and says he or she is on the way to see me, I will probably do a little tidying up, wash a dish or two, pick up my socks off the floor, because I want not to be thought a slob. This is human nature. What you say makes no sense at all. Almost anyone would cover up that kind of neglect.
—————–Yes, any normal human being would have done those things but we’re talking about Fellowship of Friends members who got used to abandoning children and raping men in their twenties who couldn’t be “touched” by an old woman slowly dying in the most heartbraking isolation. They went to look after her and sat doing their work on the computer, or reading their book because the attitude that they expressed, including Mr. Haven’s in a letter to me, was that Dorothy was a useless, mindless “shell”. They thought she was worth looking after only as long as she didn’t actually require attention!!!! Only as long as she didn’t need to be touched, helped, made to move, do a little exercise so that the body would not pain her to death in a bed and the skin would not rot in the sheets. All these things were needed for a member of the Fellowship of Friends who had paid for thirty five years and instead they drugged her and starved her until she began having seizures so bad that they justified giving her hal dol and other extreme drugs that would kill that body over the weekend and Janet did not allow it because she knew and she knew that I knew and that I was extremely afraid something like that could happen. She could not bare her own conscience, THANK GOD.
DC: Also knowing how you felt at the time from your own writings, I can’t believe you would not have documented Dorothy’s condition by taking photographs of her in the condition you described. That would have been the most intelligent and reasonable thing to do.
—————I have photographs of Dorothy in each of those periods, in fact I have videos of her. The most difficult picture of her is with her doll. The only connection to love that she had during that period.
DC: For someone who put so much into the mistreatment of Dorothy, I can’t seriously believe that it would not occur to you to show the world what really goes on in the FoF. You had all the proof in the world delivered to your doorstep. And if your statements were true you would have shared that proof with everyone.
I did not put so much into the mistreatment of Dorothy, only you put that into the octave. I was no saint though. I did my best, but Dorothy and I fought like dogs every once in a while and everyday I would have to force her to get her into bed because she wanted to sleep in the chair where she’d been resting at the end of the day. Nothing was easy during those three years for either one of us, but we bonded with each other for eternity. May she forgive me for every time I was too tired or too weak to be more patient. Taming a mad dog is not a far off analogy to the condition in which Dorothy was brought to me. From an old woman with alzheimer’s in strong physical condition, in three months she was rendered a crazy, violent, drugged piece of meat that could not even stand when she was left at my door. I had to carry her in because Janet just walked away as she said, “call me when she dies”. Indeed, she came only a few times during those three years but I will defend Janet in any court because in the end she too knew that the Fellowship was humanless as she states in a letter after a confrontation with Linda.
————— I was much tempted to go to the police but at that point I still believed in Robert Burton and had not connected all the threads that I was able to connect after three years of looking after her and directly experiencing the attitudes of the Fellowship and Robert towards its members. At the time I held the caretakers responsible, not the Fellowship and since the Fellowship was to me still the School of Consciousness, I was called upon to assume responsibility for what I thought consciousness was and therefore, assumed the job of taking care of a Fellowship member, not because it was my job or because I had been trained as a nurse or because I did not have enough in my hands serving my disabled husband, but because as a member of a Conscious School I felt that it was OUR responsibility to take care of OUR members and if no one else was able to do the job, I was willing to do it. As the wife of the Second in Command of the Fellowship I felt it was my responsibility to assume the problem. I did it for three years, twenty four hours a day and every time I went on a teaching trip with Girard, Dorothy regressed terribly, except when Elizabeth took care of her: a trained nurse with a lifetime of experience. Agnes was also good.
WHY WAS THERE NOT ENOUGH MONEY IN “THE FELLOWSHIP OF FRIENDS CONSCIOUS SCHOOL OF AWAKENING” TO HIRE A TRAINED NURSE AND THERAPISTS TO RENDER A THIRTY THREE YEAR OLD MEMBER A LOVING DESCENT INTO THE HANDS OF THE BEYOND.
TELL ME YOU SICK CRIMINALS, IN THE NAME OF WHAT GOD DO YOU SPEND FIVE HUNDRED DOLLARS ON EACH OF ROBERT’S UNDERWEAR AND ARE NOT WILLING TO PAY FOR A NURSE FOR YOUR HELPLESS MEMBERS?
Tell me, where is the dignity or the consciousness in having one of your members die like a pig on bread and drugs while hords of dandys walk up and down the corridors of the Galleria exposing the outrageous expense of their clothing?
Your arguments Daily Cardiac defy common sense and while you and the rest of the members might have lost it completely, you still belong to a world that will demand it of you. When you confront Robert Burton’s expenses in a court of law with these outrageous human offenses, you will not find one judge in your favour. I long for the day in which you no longer exist for your own well being and humanity’s.
——————-
Part 55/Post 148/Elena