Is Shambhala A Cult? Part 1: An Integrative Experiential Perspective
by Elliot Benjamin, Ph.D. November, 2017
Introduction
As I traverse through my late 60’s, to my utter surprise I have found myself involved with a spiritual community, the Shambahala organization,1 which has…..
This article was published in January, 2016 on the Integral World website at www.integralworld.net
Andrew Cohen’s Apology Ex-student/Author Marlowe Sand Responds Elliot Benjamin 
I had not intended to write any more essays about Andrew Cohen, as I thought I had put closure on my thoughts about whether Cohen’s May, 2015 apology was “truly sincere, manipulative, or other” [1]. However, about…..
NOTE: This article was published in 2015 in Pinnacle Sociology & Anthropology, ISSN: 2360-959X.
Divine Light Mission: Cultic Commitment Over A Lifetime Story
Elliot Benjamin, Ph.D.
Accepted 30 August 2015
ABSTRACT
This article describes the commitment to the religious organization Elan Vital (whose original name was Divine Light Mission) over a lifetime
through the author’s intermittent correspondence with a childhood friend for over 40 years. Elan Vital was rated by the author in…..
NOTE: This article was published in the International Cultic Studies Association e-Newsletter in 2005: Vol. 4, Issue No. 2: http://www.icsahome.com/articles/on-avatar-benjamin-en4
On Avatar
by Elliot Benjamin, Ph.D.
I first became introduced to Avatar, Harry Palmer’s new age spiritual, philosophical, and psychological organization founded in 1986, at an evening workshop at a metaphysical bookstore in Bangor, Maine in the summer of 1997. There were only 3 people (including myself) attending this event, and one of the people described what he heard…..
NOTE: This article was published on the Integral World website in 2006: http://www.integralworld.net/benjamin.html
There have been a number of people who have expressed serious concerns and misgivings regarding the cult dangers of philosopher Ken Wilber’s Integral Institute (c.f. [1]). These criticisms have generally focused upon Wilber’s harsh comments regarding scholars who disagree with his philosophical opinions. This has become increasingly more evident with the development of the Integral Institute website and especially Ken Wilber’s private website (c.f. [1], [2]),…..
NOTE: This article was published on the Integral World website in 2015: http://www.integralworld.net/benjamin75.html
I think both Frank Visser and David Lane have given stimulating, fair, and balanced perspectives on Andrew Cohen’s recent “apology” [1]. One can see from the comments to both Visser and Lane’s essays the divided responses of Cohen’s ex-students in regard to their feelings of whether Cohen was being truly sincere in his apology, or rather manipulative to rebrand himself as a more “user-friendly”…..
