Excursion into Philosphy and a possible cult
This Autumn just gone I decided to enrol in a Practical Philosphy course. It is run by the School of Economic Science, a registered charity based in Mandeville Place, near Oxford Street in London. It's main activity seems to be to provide courses in practical philosophy.
According to Wikipedia,
The School of Economic Science was founded in 1937 by Andrew MacLaren, the Labour Member of Parliament for Burslem, to study the economic theories of the American economist Henry George, an advocate of land value taxation. The leadership later passed to his son Leon MacLaren (1910 - 1994).
In the 50s, Leon MacLaren introduced and developed courses in philosophy, which subject became and has remained the School's principal area of study. Also during the 50s he became for a time a member of the Society for the Study of Normal Psychology (now known as the Study Society), a spiritual organization influenced by the teachings of Georges Ivanovich Gurdjieff and P. D. Ouspensky. After meeting the Maharishi Mahesh Yogi (later to find fame as the Beatles' guru) in London, MacLaren and the Study Society founded the School of Meditation in 1961, to promote the practice of Transcendental Meditation.
In the 1960s the SES's philosophy courses became grounded in Advaita Vedanta following a meeting between Leon MacLaren and Shantanand Saraswati, the 'Shankaracharya of the North', one of the heads of the tradition in India. The Shankaracharya's successor Vasudevananda Saraswati continues to provide spiritual inspiration to the SES today.
Leon MacLaren was succeeded upon his death in 1994 by Donald Lambie, the current leader of the School of Economic Science.
The course outline gave me the impression that we would look at an overview of a fairly wide range of philosophical influences and a friend who had just finished the introductory course gave me the impression there would be a chance for interesting discussions in the group.
What actually happened was that we were given selected quotes and encouraged to think that they offered an element of enlightenment. Discussion in the group was limited, very much directed by the tutor, and questioning of his opinion was not encouraged. A form of meditation was introduced in the first session, called the 'Exercise'. Although it was a very ordinary kind of meditation, sitting quietly, being aware of the present moment, our bodies and our senses, what we could see and hear, yet we were encouraged to believe there was something unique about this 'Exercise'.
After a few weeks the tutor started to insist that we should be doing 'the Exercise' at least once a day, and after a while he was strongly suggesting that we should do it twice a day. I wasn't the only member of the class who wasn't impressed with being told we must do this. At this stage there isn't much he could do about it if we didn't do 'the Exercise', but it seems those who want to continue for more than a year or two must practise quite a lot of meditation.
Socrates and Plato were given as examples of wise men whose ideas were worth considering. As someone who has come to realise that I have tended to rely too much on reason and not taken my emotions into consideration enough I wasn't too keen on accepting that Reason should be allowed to rule over Spirit and Passion, so I sought to gain clarification on what Plato might have meant by that. Our tutor was either unable or unwilling to explain further. I got the impression that they were guiding us to a particular way of thinking. Whether the tutor was doing this intentionally, or because he had been taught certain things and hadn't questioned them, or investigated further, I can't say.
Later on we were given a brief outline of the Gunas, which in the Vedic tradtition, are the three fundamental forces of nature or qualities. The three main Hindu gods, Brahma, Vishnu and Shiva represent or embody these qualities in some way. It was suggested that these gunas were a helpful way of understanding life, the universe and everything. To me this seemed much the same as suggesting that a literal interpretation of the first chapters of Genesis was a helpful way of understanding the origins of life.
The course just didn't feel right. I was tempted to continue with it for a while as there seems little opportunity to explore ideas otherwise, but then I realised that I hadn't actually explored any ideas properly on this course either, I had just been offered the hope that we would do that, but going by my experience so far it looked unlikely that this was likely to happen in the foreseeable future, if at all.
Although it states that
'Its founders wished to explore new possibilities for a system that would bring about economic justice, against the background of the severe economic depression of the early 1930s'I was not able to discover how the school puts this into practise in the way it is run in spite of asking directly.
I also wonder why a group whose tutors are volunteers need to charge £65 for a ten week session if they are trying to keep fees to a 'practical minimum' as stated.
For anyone worried about cults in Britain an organisation called Inform can supply helpful information. It is based at the well-known London School of Economics, LSE for short, which has nothing whatsoever to do with the School of Economic Science.
This leaflet, produced by Inform, gives detailed information about what the School of Economic Science believes and how it operates.
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16 comments:
Sounds rather like a course in Theosophy which I took many years ago. I found that experience harmless - it was meant to be enlightening, however from my point of view I found it rather nonsensical. I remember one or two of the authors - Leadbeater, Annie Besant and probably Krishnamurti. In the process of taking the course I met numerous people, some of whom I considered quite 'batty'.
There was no coercion - which may be a little different from your own experience. In your case I wonder whether the course conveners are not being a little dishonest by not revealing clearly beforehand that they are realy talking about eastern philosophy, rather than taking you through a course of western philosophy.
It would be interesting to know where your course is leading to eventually. . .
I've added a link to a leaflet produced by Inform that gives a lot of information about the school's beliefs and how they operate, which might answer your questions.
One criticism often aimed at the school is that it does not make clear that it offers a particular philosophy rather than looks at Philosophy in general.
If you can sum up what Theosophy is about in a nutshell, I'd be interested, Gordon. I believe it has something to do with Rudolph Steiner, but I can't work out exactly what it's about.
Did you last the ten weeks?
I did, Joe, although I missed a couple of weeks in the middle due to feeling unwell.
Karin, I think one of the best websites regarding cults is found here:
http://www.cultinformation.org.uk/faq.html#cult
After reading through the brochure I wonder whether the School of Economic Science could really be defined as a cult.
Wikipedia has a fairly lengthy article on Theosophy. However a very brief look at the list of basic theosophical beliefs found under the contents section will show that the basics of theosophy are closely related to Hinduism. It is found here:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Theosophy
I don't think the SoES is the most extreme cults, but they are mentioned in the list of cults on the website you mentioned.
They are initially deceptive about their purpose. They say they encourage you to have a questioning mind, but they actually discourage genuine questioning.
Reports I've read state that they gradually become more demanding of time and money and discourage members from associating with friends and family members who disagree with the ideas of the cult. They also discourage the idea of individuality.
They allow people to live in society, but do seem to exercise undue control over how they live their lives.
However, this website also call Jehovah's Witnesses and Mormons cults, and as they do control their members by guilt and strict rules I would agree with them, but some would not. There are numerous Christian churches that verge on cultish behaviour by some definitions.
Yes. I think they are probably fairly harmless, but then I am always suspicious about all these instant enlightenment wallahs.
Did you know that they tried to infiltrate the Liberal party as a way of gaining influence. Hell-o....
LOL
Didn't you know the Liberal party control all other political parties, Mike? Gordon Brown is their puppet, and so is David Cameron!! ;)
From one who was brought up as a child in the grips of the London School of Economic Science- this is a dangerous CULT- which ruins people's mental health, and destroys families. I escaped (literally) in 1974, having (amongst other things)had to go to weekends of hard physical work at one of the cult's manor houses at Waterperry House near Oxford. We were made to wear longVictorian style dresses( the recent pictures of the women and children escaping from the polygamist compound in the USA brought back vivid memories of those dresses), we were not allowed access to newspapers or TV, were made to get up at 5am to start a day of hard physical work:(sleep deprivation as I later found out is one of the ways these cults break people down). We were told that when we returned home from these weekends, that even if your home was to catch fire we must attend the weekly "group" -then being held at another of the cult's many expensive properties at Queen Anne's Gate in Kensington.
At the weekly group we were told "Many are called but few are chosen" in another words we were all privileged to be there at all.Clever rhetoric designed to slowly tighten a grip on people.
All I could see around me a s a young girl were people being subjected to powerful mind control( we were forever being told how to think),and people being subject to mental abuse. On one occasion at another of the cult's properties(Sarum Chase at Haampstead), I saw a man faint,half way through yet another of their tedious lectures and were were told by the group's leader Mr McLaren that the man was "wilful", in another words he was doing it deliberately....
No one went to help him, which I thought was appalling.The cult steadily got worse, we were told to eat only bread and cheese daily, there was talk of arranged marriages by Mr McLaren, contraception was banned- we were told that "women knew what days of the month were the fertile ones!". One of my friends was encouraged to marry a man aged nearly 50-she was only 20.At this point I became really worried.
Eventually I escaped, literally, I ended up terrified and alone, in a bedsit, but I had done it; even though I was told by the cult that my family would turn their backs on me.Unfortunately my life had been ruined permanently, and I am still receiving counselling now-30 years later. This awful cult should be disallowed..It is still operating very cleverly and secretly behind closed doors at Waterperry, and the other properties.I wonder if they still carry on with some of the awful practices I have mentioned.....
Thank you for your comment, Anonymous. It sounds like you had a pretty awful experience. I'm sorry to hear the experience has left such deep scars.
You'll find a discussion board about the SES and the schools it set up at http://www.whyaretheydead.net/phpBB2/viewforum.php?f=7&sid=5758e2ead67a606bae506a63cdfaa721 .
Doesn't sound like much has changed, based on your experience, Karin.
My experience has been harmless and different to Karin's. It has contribute postively and perhap if they called it other named as oppose to philosophy it would be less controversial.
As to the problems with the schools it is incredible that cruelty of that kind occurs with such a loving and caring people around and I refer to the good in humans in general but it is something that will remain in any walk of life as it is a fact that there are born pscyhopaths in this world.
I'm amazed how many comments this post has attracted, and even more so by the fact that nearly a year on it is still attracting comments.
I'm glad the last anonymous poster has found it more positive.
I suspect that the way it is set up makes it more likely for those who want to control vulnerable people to be able to do so, but perhaps they have learnt something from that as we always had an observer sitting in on the class.
However, I did feel that the way the teaching is structured is designed to slowly but steadily convince those who do not think too deeply, or who have had limited experience of religion and philosophy, that ideas of the SES were correct and superior, much like the way fundamental religion tends to do, in my experience.
The school is a well known cult - it was exposed in detail by the London Evening Standard in the 80's and I think there was even an expose book published.
I met a couple of people who joined - and neither thought it anything other than a cult - and a pretty strict and unpleasant one at that.
I joined the School of Economic Science around 1986 and continued there until I left in 1991 when I moved to Edinburgh. I have to say just about all the people I met were lovely people and the things I learnt stay with me to today. I accept though that it is a different culture to everyday society and so after making friends there, leaving can be a very isolating experience. If you think about it though, we're all party to the "culture" of our society, and so it's really a matter of what "cult" we have all joined, whether intentionally or not. For me the distinction should always be how loved we are for being ourselves, and how at home we feel. That's for us to decide. Some of my best younger day were spent on the weekend retreats at Waterperry. Ok, you had to get up early, which in a life of modern convenience goes against the grain. Imagine a day where you get up as the sun rises, meditate for 30 mins in complete silence with your friends, drink tea chatting in companionship, go out and work on the farm for the morning, have a delicious fresh lunch, work again in the afternoon, paying attention to everything within and without, have a lovely fresh dinner, and then relax in the evening to beautiful music and listening to words of wisdom from spiritual masters. Finally tea, laughter, then exhausted to bed. Some would call that bliss! I accept though that when one is caught up in the middle of something like this it is hard to split off between the "real" world and your SES life. I used to wonder what to say on a Monday morning in the office! The words of wisdom about inner stillness have stayed with me throughout my adult life and I would ask that those reading this ask what messages are being given to you by the nightly news, the daily press or those in authority? Until we claim our own authority and our own life we are always at the whim of those with a powerful message, whether good or bad. I'm very grateful for my time at the SES, it was an important part of my education. When one thinks how the children of today are educated with little reference to values or the eternal aspects of life I would suggest that it is "real life" education that can learn some things from the SES and other values based educations if we wish to make the country a happier place.
I attended for about three years and each class was a struggle in that I intuited something was wrong but I was in a vulnerable place in my life and needed to better manage what was happenning (which makes one vulnerable to be in a cult).I had seen these ads on the subway for years and checked it out. I stayed as far as the initiation (about 2 years) which was secretive and shocking in that you have to bow down before an Indian Hindu "swami" as someone recites in Sanskrit.This was not disclosed- you were simply asked to dress appropriately and to bring flowers and a white handkerchief. In the class before initiation they ask you to fill out personal information in a questionnaire -the questions are REALLY personal.They actually keep a file of each student.
They really harp on emotions not being important and I believe this is a method to dull your responses so you ignore your intuition when something is uncomfortable- since everything "passes" you can put up with a lot.THere is definite brainwashing going on and I had "withdrawal" symptoms after I left...I felt rather numb and with dulled emotions.They are always asking the students to do service so they can practice- cleaning, and serving food etc.
At the ceremony you are "given" a mantra (RAM) to use in your meditation it is supposed to be secret but this is really a build up to make you think that you have special access.THey claimn that it would cost you thousands to get a mantra. THey also ask you for a donation of one week's wages for the initiation and mantra.THey claim it is a sliding scale but theis is when they begin to ask for money.
Bottomline for me was that I was forced to choose between my Christian faith and this place. I was actually told that by my "tutor" who called me repeatedly when I didn't sign up for the subsequent class that this school trumped Christianity, that it was "higher". THat call was uncomfortable and weird.My particular Church may pass a basket on Sundays but I also know how many social service programs they are involved in so I can see where my $ goes. This place is all about their survival and control of unsuspecting new students and current students. I saw a lot of unkindness there as well, abusive tone and behavior.
Everyone initially is perfectly nice and the fact that they are vegetarian was a draw but they are sexist, and all the women there have that joyless countenance.
When I contrast this with my church which is full of vibrant strong and beautiful women and men I know there was no other choice to make.
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