Reforming Landmark from a Position of Power and Possibility: Distinguishing Landmark from Transformation

Many Landmark participants struggle at some point (or on an ongoing basis) with the issues of Landmark methodology appearing "wrong" in some way (manipulative or self-serving or strange or harsh or whatever) on the one hand, and Landmark doing great things for people on the other. As part of the transformation process, many let go of their concerns, embrace their love of Landmark, and do not let themselves go down that critical path. This is very understandable as the path of doubting Landmark methods or intentions is typically a path of cynicism and negativity that makes it extremely difficult to fully engage in conversations of transformation and possibility within the current Landmark curriculum. Full engagement in the reformation of Landmark requires that one be in possibility, neither conflicted and resigned about the way Landmark is, nor uncritically loving Landmark and unable to evaluate, accept and address issues with the organization.

The access to possibility in dealing with the imperfections of Landmark is to fully distinguish Landmark from transformation, and having separated the two, to understand transformation as manifest in reality, independent from what happens in Landmark. In other words, it is necessary to fully distinguish transformation as a result from Landmark as a vehicle that provides access to transformation.

Conversations in the Landmark curriculum tend to collapse Landmark and transformation. For examples, consider discussions you've heard in Landmark courses or events about giving, sharing or being a stand for someone's transformation. Was the assumption or explicit statement in that conversation that bringing transformation to others involved Landmark, whether it was a Tuesday night introduction or registering them in the Forum, the Advanced Course, SELP, and so on? When spreading transformation equals inviting and registering people for Landmark, the two have been erroneously collapsed in that conversation. In reality, Landmark is Landmark (an organization of people, facilities, etc.), and transformation is transformation. The two are distinct. But what is the reality of transformation distinct from Landmark?

Transformation is defined on "the boards" as "the genesis of a new realm of possibility," a fairly abstract definition compared to what is apparent when we see transformation manifest in reality. Remember the reserved guy who became vibrant. Real, not abstract. The perpetually grim-faced woman whose face was lit up at the end of the Advanced Course. Remember the kids who were impacted by your SELP project and how you got the power you now exercise to make a difference. That is transformation manifest in reality, not abstract. Consider how you were before the Forum and how you are today. What are the key things you picked up for yourself? Those changes in yourself and others are transformation manifest in reality. Consider for yourself what those changes or transformations are in reality, not as an abstraction. Perhaps transformation is something like a sustained ability to see things as they are (distinguish "what is" from "story") and to manage and create and sustain thoughts, feelings, a clear mental state to live life positively and powerfully. Consider various ways that people might get access to this way of living. If you see possibilities for people getting access to this way of living without taking Landmark courses, you have distinguished transformation as manifest in reality from transformation as what happens in Landmark.

Once you see transformation as distinct from Landmark and get transformation as a possibility independent of Landmark, you are free to love transformation and also see Landmark for what it is. You can trust and love Landmark or you can mistrust and criticize Landmark or anything in between, and from any of those viewpoints, you can live in the possibilities of transformation and work to reform Landmark into an extraordinarily effective engine for spreading the experience of transformation around the globe.

Who Would Join this Effort? Why Would I?

This blog is intended for Landmark graduates who appreciate Landmark's teachings and power to positively impact the experience of life, and who are open to the possibility of reforming aspects of Landmark Education that sometimes turn people off or turn them away. It is also a place for those who are new to Landmark, struggling with perceived pluses and minuses and looking for perspective from those who have been there. Whether or not one has issues/concerns about Landmark for themselves, this blog is for those who see that many who consider or participate in Landmark get a negative impression of the organization and choose to drop out or not participate to begin with, which can actually inhibit the spread of the good stuff of transformation.

Reforming Landmark will require a community of graduates who are willing to be a stand to reform the Landmark structures and methodologies at the source of those negative perceptions in order to transform Landmark into an extraordinarily effective engine of transformation for all.

Landmark continually listens to feedback from graduates and participants and makes adjustments to it's methodology in response. Indeed, the ideas and structures that gave birth to this vehicle of transformation have been through profound revolutions in recent years with events like the creation of EST (which adopted core ideas from an earlier organization called Mind Dynamics) and the reconstitution of EST as Landmark Education. The reforms to come, driven by the community of graduates, will take that evolution of this vehicle of transformation to an entirely new level - a greater transformation than even the evolution of EST from Mind Dynamics, because this revolution will be the first that is driven not by a handful of insiders, but by Landmark graduates with the single goal of making transformation easily accessible to all. An extraordinary group of graduates with extraordinary dedication to possibility will transform Landmark Education and make a fundamental difference in the lives of millions.

Why Reform Landmark?

Landmark and 'transformation' have enormous potential to improve the experience of life. I have seen and experienced the incredible difference that Landmark graduates can make in their families, communities, and beyond, and I would love for more people to have the positive experience that so many have had in the Curriculum for Living.

Although Landmark has constructed effective means of access to transformation (such as the Landmark Forum and Advanced Course) , Landmark is not achieving its potential as a vehicle for spreading transformation and remains relatively unknown and not broadly appreciated in larger society. The vast majority of people, including those in cities with local Landmark centers, are either unaware of the organization or do not have a sufficiently positive image of Landmark or its impact that they take action through Landmark to gain access to transformation. Even more inhibiting to the spread of transformation, many who consider or participate in Landmark have a negative impression of the organization and choose to drop out or not participate to begin with. Consider that this is not merely a matter of marketing, but a result of the fundamental structure and methodology of Landmark today.

Those who consider Landmark but do not take it on are not resistant to living powerfully, to living a life they love, or having great, loving relationships. The reason that many people don't get to the good stuff is that Landmark itself is or appears to be rather closed, odd, suspicious, cult-like and/or otherwise intimidating to the outsider. Consider the cost of Landmark failing to reach all those people and all who they in turn could touch and so on. Then consider the possibility of Landmark itself transforming into an open, inviting, and [put your own words here] organization that is clearly trustworthy, good, and worthwhile to join.

The goal of reforming Landmark is to change the structures and practices that create negative perceptions about Landmark and are unnecessary for the access to and sharing of transformation. The experience of transformation will be accessible to many more millions when Landmark itself reforms into an open and extraordinarily effective engine of education and transformation.