I appreciate the commitment of Andrew to the spiritual life since he was 16 years old and his dedication as a spiritual teacher.
I also acknowledge the suffering of a number of his students. Some of them will read this obituary. In my view, their voice matters most.
Despite no contact with Andrew, except for the early period, during his years of teaching, I had person-to-person contact with some former students of his community for a couple of decades, including during retreats etc in India, USA, Europe, and here in Totnes, as well as online meetings.
Primarily, this obituary was written for those who subscribe to one of my social media platforms, as well as others. I regard it as appropriate that my subscribers read several recollections/reflections of my experience with Andrew. I prefer first-hand experience.
Situations involving EnlightenNext, the name of his community, had waves outside of Andrew involving family members, friends and counsellors of a number of his former students.
Two of the publishers mentioned sent me their book by a former student(s) to review.
At the end of this obituary, I quote a significant extract from the loving words of announcement of his death from Daniela Bomatter, originally from Switzerland, a spiritual teacher, and long time loyal student,
I also encourage perpetuation of Andrew’s teachings and expressed love for Andrew. A network, called Emergence Foundation, is already evolving. See end of obituary.
Readers will see many tributes to Andrew in the Comments on the announcement on Andrew’s Facebook page. Around 300 people attended on Zoom his funeral service held in Tiruvannamalai.
Special thanks to former students and others for your suggestions and comments on details regarding the blog sent out on 26 March 2025. I have integrated your responses into the Introduction and text of the obituary below.
Obituary of Andrew Cohen.
Andrew Cohen, spiritual teacher and founder of Evolutionary Enlightenment, suffered a fatal heart attack and died yesterday (Tuesday, 25 March 2025). He was 69.
I send my condolences to all those who loved Andrew.
His death will come as a shock to many who knew him and sadness at his unexpected death. We pay our respects to a complex life of profound spiritual insights and unresolved psychological issues persisting in his years as a teacher.
He leaves behind a number of publications, including the books, My Master is My Self; Enlightenment is a Secret and An Unconditional Relationship to Life. In his most recent book, When Shadow Meet the Bodhisattva, he shares openly the steps he took for inner change upon his ceasing to teach.
Andrew exhibited formidable presence in the world of spirituality, non-duality, meditation and community. He started giving teachings in 1986 through until the present. An embodiment of controversy, clarity and dark shadows, he offered precious insights into ultimate truth alongside self-centred tendencies that led to a gradual and then dramatic fall from grace.
A beautiful community evolved into a cult of Andrew until the cult liberated itself from his ongoing controlling behaviour. In a way, the rebellion paid a compliment to Andrew’s forthright teachings about getting rid of the ego.
Amazon Prime available worldwide made available a three part documentary with an outline – Andrew Cohen. How I Created a Cult. Featuring 25 years of archive and student testimony, the series dissects the power structures and control mechanisms used to attract followers and keep them. https://www.amazon.co.uk/How-I-Created-A-Cult/dp/B0CKF79YSW
Several times, Andrew made sincere apologies for his aggression and violence as he realised the full implications of the harm and trauma he inflicted on his vulnerable followers. He had a lot to face up to and live with in the years after his downfall and started a journey for inner transformation.
His Legacy and Meeting Andrew
Outside of Andrew’s unresolved personality issues, I loved his passion, dedication and commitment to the Dharma of enlightenment. It is a loss for spiritual seekers that his state of mind regularly kept getting in the way of transmission.
Born into a wealthy Jewish family in New York City, Andrew originally intended to become a musician. By the time he reached his early 20s, he made his priority a spiritual quest, prompted by a profound experience at the age of 16.
Andrew leaves behind a substantial legacy, books, YouTube video talks, documentaries on his rise and fall, available on YouTube, audio recordings, and a wealth of teachings on spiritual issues. For nearly three decades, Andrew promoted his teachings named Evolutionary Enlightenment, inspired to some degree by the American spiritual writer, Ken Wilber.
A key priority for Andrew was to cultivate and develop a global Sangha for those willing to commit to his teachings and him as an enlightened master. Andrew founded EnlightenmentNext, a beautifully produced magazine, which ran until 2011 with a wealth of insights, interviews and firsthand accounts of spiritual experiences. A mountain of debt, the rise of social, spiritual websites and online teachings outdated the publication.
I recall meeting Andrew around 1982 when he joined one of my annual 9-day retreats at the Insight Meditation Society in Barre, Massachusetts, USA. He revealed himself to be deeply committed to the process of meditation having received encouragement from Ram Dass, a prominent American spiritual figure and former Harvard University professor of psychology.
I witnessed Andrew demonstrate a profound commitment, sincerity, and determination to advance his spiritual practices. I observed him regularly on my retreats for the next four years, including Gaia House Buddhist retreat centre, 15 kilometres from my home in Totnes, Devon, England. He flew to Germany to sit retreats with me at the Waldhaus Retreat Zentrum, near Andernach and to centres near San Francisco, as well as Bodh Gaya, India.
A Transformation for Andrew
His financial resources, derived from a significant inheritance, enabled him to support his spiritual life full-time. A transformative change in Andrew, aged 30 occurred in early 1986 with H.W.L. Poonja-ji, a guru in the Non-Dual (Advaita) tradition, residing in Lucknow, nine hours by train from Bodh Gaya.
In late 1985, Murray from Canada with a wealth of experience in the Dharma. referred highly to Poonja-ji in a letter to me. I wrote to Poonja to invite him to offer a satsang at our retreat in the Royal Thai Monastery in Bodh Gaya. Issues with walking at that time hindered Poonja’s mobility to come. Poonja suggested I encourage only a few people from the retreat to come to attend satsang in Lucknow held in his modest home.
I wrote to Poonja letting him know I am sending the ‘cream of the milk,’ and included Andrew among the six meditators. (After this blog, I received an email telling me that Murray met with Andrew in Tiruvannamalai before the retreat and encouraged Andrew to go to Lucknow. I did not know this or had forgotten).
Andrew stayed in Lucknow for three weeks under the guidance of Poonja with Andrew experiencing ecstatic discoveries and realisations. Poonja referred to Andrew as the “one I have been waiting for my whole life.” These words had a significant impact on Andrew.
He was unaware that Poonja used such flowery language on a regular basis, including myself and others. Claims of enlightenment and claims of unenlightenment obscure enlightenment. Poonja wrote to me that he was happy my “students were in the hands of an enlightened Master.” Just to add – he wrote this before we had ever met in person. He told a friend, a New Zealander, an experienced Dharma wallah, he was the new Bodhidharma, (a great Buddhist sage) of the Pacific. Others, like ourselves, giggled at such overblown spiritual compliments. India offers such expansive language to friends and guests.
Andrew believed the words of the Master without question. Not surprisingly, the first book Andrew published was called My Master is Myself – a series of love letters between Andrew and Poonja. The book title is a statement of non-duality, an expression of spiritual enlightenment. We learn in the book both had gone beyond the identity of guru-disciple to realise their non-duality.
From Lucknow to Europe and back to Bodh Gaya
Andrew then flew to Europe, giving teachings in Amsterdam, Rome, and at the invitation of Murray and Shanti, he came to Totnes. He offered evening sessions most days of the week, welcoming those interested in spiritual enlightenment. I attended two or three sessions and appreciated his passion, clarity and insights including responses to questions or sharing of experiences. Stephen Batchelor, a much-respected Buddhist teacher, who lived in our community in Sharpham House, told me he found the satsang ‘tedious’ on the one evening he went.
A growing number of people in Totnes became enthusiastic regarding Andrew as an enlightened Master. I had the feeling of listening to people in Totnes coffee shops, who have undergone a conversion experience. Conversations focussed on “Andrew says…” and ” Andrew says …”
A number of his new followers moved to the USA to help expand the vision of Andrew and set up a community. These included Steve, Chris, Stephen, Mike, Shanti, Murray and others, who left for America having been connected with Gaia House and myself. People asked me if I felt hurt or disappointed. I said “No, not at all.” I meant it. I had no interest in developing a spiritual empire, gathering disciples, followers or students around me. People can come and go as they wish. I had no wish to live in a prison of practitioners and become the centre of attention. Our friendship with those I knew who went to the USA has stayed. Several kindly came to my 80th birthday last year.
A few years later, Andrews’ disciples organised a satsang in the tourist bungalow, a government run hotel in the grounds next to the Thai monastery. His arrival started just before my retreat. Andrew had started in modest ways focusing his attention on his students, pointing out their ego, ways they were clinging on and their vulnerable places within. For some individuals, this approach proved beneficial. Some of his students felt rejected, humiliated and doubted their self-worth.
I had a meeting with Andrew in a nearby park in Bodh Gaya during each of his three visits to teach. I extended an invitation to Andrew to come to speak at our retreat in the Thai monastery, where we could have a dialogue on any area of spirituality. Andrew declined. I suggested he invite me to his satsang in the hotel to explore together a theme. He declined.
1968: Poonja-ji falls in love with a young European woman. Andrew’s chagrin
Andrew and I had a one-to-one meeting the following year. He had an issue he wanted to talk about – one teacher to another teacher. He said he had been in a coffee shop in Amsterdam a couple of months previously. One of his followers mentioned that Poonja, his guru, had developed a relationship with a young woman from Belgium in Rishikesh in 1968.
“Did you know about this?” Andrew asked.
“Yes. I thought it was common knowledge.”
Andrew said he was shocked and disillusioned with Poonja, a respectable married Indian gentleman with two adult children. Andrew looked genuinely upset and agitated. Years later, I heard his students avoided telling him anything he would not want to hear. Perhaps this was one of such situations.
He then posed the question to me, “How could an enlightened Master, aged 58, get involved with a young, beautiful Belgium woman aged 19?”
I responded, “Numbers are not relevant here. He fell in love. If love is authentic, it will prevail. Love is resilient.”
I did online research this week on Poonja-ji and Ganga Mira, later now known as Mira. Both shared a deep love for each other, decade after decade. Poonja and Mira did not keep their love a secret. They travelled together with Poonja offering satsang in Europe and elsewhere, plus time with members of their respective families in India and Belgium. Of course, they had their challlenges, which most partners face. Their deep mutual friendship and respect stayed true including the years when Poonja lived in Lucknow until his death in 1997 and Mira lived in Portugal.
Their story conveys an echo of the romantic stories of spiritual India, such as Siva and Parvati, Rama and Sita and Krishna and Radha.
If love is not deep, it will fall at the first hurdle. Resilient love expresses the heart of the spiritual/religious life regardless of the disapproving, judgemental minds of others.
Locals in Rishikesh gave her the name Mira in 1968 because she waited for eights months for Poonja to return after attending a satsang, not knowing if he would come back. He left without leaving any contact information. Mira reminded locals of Mira, the 16th century Indian princess and her love and devotion for Krishna.
Poonja and Mira had a daughter, Mukti, in 1972. Her name means Liberation. Mira’s mother and brother became devotees of Poonja-ji. Poonja gave the name Durga to Mira’s mother and Satish to Mira’s brother. In 1998, Poonja’s students invited Mira to offer satsang, which continues. Poonja said years later he went from a wordly marriage to a spiritual marriage.
I assume Andrew knew nothing about this ongoing love and evolution of Poonja and Mira. He thought it was another wretched ‘guru-seduces-disciple’ story. If he had known of their evolution, he might have had a change of heart about his guru. Instead, the events amplified an old pattern. Andrew could have shared his happiness and love of his teacher with his students rather than inflicting his hurt, faultfinding and desire to have control over them.
Karma.
Questions to Andrew on his view of Poonja-ji
I then posed the following questions to Andrew, “Can an unenlightened master enlighten another person?
He replied, “No.”
Can an enlightened person become unenlightened?
“No.”
“Is Poonja-ji enlightened?”
He remained quiet for several seconds. If he said Poonja was unenlightened, then Andrew was also unenlightened. Andrew replied in the affirmative. He meant it. It showed in the authority of his voice.
I replied. “Since he’s enlightened, then what’s the problem?” Andrew stayed quiet. I had nothing more to ask or add.
Our conversation encapsulated the idealism, perfectionism and pressures in Andrew’s mind that an enlightened life should be a state of perfection.
Andrew’s disillusionment with Poonja did not go away giving rebirth to a painful duality of seperation between him and Poonja, despite both teaching non-duality. It seems that Andrew expected the same level of unconditional dedication from his students as he had shown to Poonja, until the disillusionment set in. The statements of LOVE, LOVE, LOVE in capital letters found in the book from Andrew to Poonja did not seem to get past the hurdle.
At the end of the conversation, I commented that if this disillusionment persisted, the title of his next book might need to be “My Master is Not Myself.” I said this with a smile, but, understandably, Andrew did not see the humour.
To his credit, Andrew remained firmly committed to Alka, his wife, since the time they met before he became a teacher.
Late Years of the 1990s and into the Millennium
In the years that followed, it would be ungracious to see only the shadows in the Cohen community due to their submission to an authoritarian figure. Some students appreciated their time in the Cohen community. They stayed, they learnt and they had the wisdom to leave when the time was ripe.
Others shared their experience.
In 2003, André van der Braak’s wrote Enlightenment Blues: My Years with an American Guru. He referred to Andrew’s demands for large sums of money from his devotees and their total obedience.
In 2009, William Yenner wrote a book called American Guru: A Story of Love, Betrayal and Healing, sharing his experiences of Andrew’s anger and abusive treatment in the community. Other former students also contributed to the book.
Andrew’s mother, Luna Tarlo wrote a book she titled ‘Mother of God,’ a book of numerous grievances in the way Andrew treated her. She characterises Andrew as ‘arrogant, power-hungry and dangerous.’ It seems Andrew had become so identified with his role, he insisted his mother submit to him as disciple, not as a mother. He needed her to love him and care for him, not to launch a public attack on him.
William (Yenner) interviewed Luna and asked her about her trip to India. This is what she said about her retreat in Bodh Gaya in January 1986.
WY. What are your memories of the time in India before Andrew met Poonja?
LT. I (Luna) once said to Andrew, before he met Poonja, “When you go to India, I would love to come and visit for a few weeks, if it’s OK with you.” This was a turning point. He suddenly got very hard, very aggressive forcing me to go to Christopher Titmuss’s retreat in Bodh Gaya. He gave me no choice. I felt intimidated by him for the first time in my life, very uneasy at the change in our relationship. This retreat was for four out of the six weeks I was to be in India. He wanted me to spend a month with Christopher Titmuss, a narcissistic meditation teacher, I disliked. But Andrew admired Christopher enormously. He wanted to be like him: Titmuss was his ideal. Of course, this was before he met Poonja.”
Andrew returned from a European tour to his $2,800,000 centre at Foxhollow in Lennox, Massachesettes and home for the community purchased in 1996. A reliable resource told me that Ms J, a devotee, gave a dana under pressure of $2,000,000 towards the purchase.
Andrew’s world crashed in 2013. A rebellion among his followers took place in the weeks when he was teaching in Europe. The rebellion ended with the eviction of Andrew. The property was put up for sale for $7 million.
EnlightenNext charity became the Emergence Foundation using the substantial assets (which as a Charity couldn’t be returned to original donors) to become a grant giving charity. The funds were used to give grants to dozens of worthy social, eco and spiritual causes over a few years, until the funds ran out.
In 2013 and 2014, I corresponded with a Dharma friend, who maintained contact with Andrew. I extend an invitation to Andrew to come and stay with me here in Totnes. America is an unforgiving place for perceived losers. Tall poppies have to be cut down and stamped on. I did not hear from Andrew.
He took a sabbatical.
In 2016, more than 200 former disciples of Andrew, mostly in America, signed an online petition titled “Stop Andrew Cohen Teaching Again.” The petition included reasons for it.
With the support of angry ex followers, the American media, written, broadcast and social media, crucified Andrew rather than understand his psychology. A few years later, he and Alka (his Indian wife and dedicated pillar) left America and moved to Tiruvannamalai, near the ashram of the beloved Ramana Maharshi, the sage of Advaita. The couple met on my retreat in India in 1985.
|I believe Andrew had two weak links. He did not understand the power of metta (simple and deep acts of love and kindness) for his community. He replaced it with he called ‘tough love’ – a rationale for his behaviour. He was also unaware of the implications of karma leading to consequences in his life. Enlightenment and endless references to the language of transcendence alienated him from those around him, rather than bringing him closer. It seemed enlightenment, enlightenment, enlightenment put him out of touch with many who stayed with him.
I felt his deep wish for the integration of enlightenment with evolutionary life never occurred fully for Andrew, though he certainly had real glimpses and was on the right track.
A liberated way of life includes freedom to practise, freedom to expand our development. As spiritual teachers, we need the honest feedback from those who listen to us so we can evolve enabling the integration of evolution and enlightenment. If you don’t know the weak links of your teacher, you don’t know your teacher.
Is there resilience in your love when your teacher’s weak link(s) becomes obvious, regardless of whether you stay or leave? There is only one loss that matters – and that is the loss of love in your heart.
Announcement to the Sangha
Here is an extract from the statement today by Daniela Bomatter, originally from Switzerland, a spiritual teacher with the guidance of Andrew.
With broken hearts and open souls, we share that our beloved Guru, Andrew Cohen, passed away after a massive heart attack on March 25th, 2025.
In a profound and mysterious symmetry, Andrew left this world exactly 39 years to the day he met his own Guru, Sri H.W.L. Poonja—Papaji— the day we call in our community “Freedom Has No History” day.
It was the day his life was changed forever, the beginning of a spiritual transmission that would ripple out to touch thousands.
Andrew gave his life to that sacred fire. His teaching, Evolutionary Enlightenment, invited us to awaken not only beyond the ego, but into the very heart of the evolutionary process itself—to meet the world not with detachment, but with sacred responsibility and care.
We grieve the loss of his presence……
Andrew is in his home in Tiruvannamalai for anybody who would like to say goodbye to him. The funeral ceremony will take place tomorrow, Thursday 27 March, at 10am, at his house at Gia Mantra Global Village in Tiruvannamalai.
Final Word
With the sad death of Andrew, there is the potential for his resurrection. Seekers can put aside, once and for all, his virtues and dedication, failings and flaws.
I would encourage those who lived in his community to meet to explore ways to squeeze the honey (to use the Buddha’s metaphor) out of Andrew’s teachings. That does not mean to create a death cult around him with altars, incense, photographs, guru-worship and such signs of trivia.
Since writing the above suggestion, I received an email telling me of a network of Andrew’s former students that is evolving in its own way. Emergence Foundation organised a gathering in July 2024 open to everyone from the old community.
His explicit teachings will finally get the total priority they deserve.
Thank you, Andrew. I love you.
Love
Christopher. 6 April 2025
www.thebuddhawallah.org
www.christophertitmuss.net
www.mindfulnesstrainingcourse.org
www.insightmeditation.org
www.anengagedlife.org
He touched my life, mostly through his magazine. There were quite a few good articles in there and it really was about the only intelligent publication out there that even touched upon spirituality. However I have to say I was more outraged by him than enthralled. RIP Andrew. I suspect God will give you another chance to come back and get it right.
I was in the Andrew Cohen cult for over 16 years. My contribution to this obituary reflects my first-hand experiences with Cohen, his teachings, and the dynamics within the group. These reflections are shared to shed light on the profound effects his leadership had on me and others.
Andrew Cohen’s leadership was marked by consistent derogatory behaviour. He frequently dismissed others, including Poonja, whom he called “crazy” at times, in his public teachings. His students were subjected to criticism on a continual basis, and many were relegated to a marginalised role referred to as ‘service members,’ which more accurately resembled ‘untouchables’. The group operated within a rigid hierarchy, demanding conformity to impossible standards. Fear and anxiety were pervasive, especially in Cohen’s presence, where even minor facial expressions could lead to punishment. If someone let it be seen they were fearful, anxious or even uncomfortable in his presence, they could get into serious difficulty with him, and then the group. Authenticity was rare; members had to maintain a façade to support Cohen’s inflated self-image. I found that being around him was literally a matter of survival, as messing up in his presence would have dire consequences.
A question I am sometimes asked when speaking about my experience in the cult is: was there sexual abuse in the cult? I know of one incident. As far as I am aware, there was abuse on all levels of the self. A lot of that abuse was carried out, often by members of the inner circle, reflecting common cult dynamics.
The toll of trying to live up to Andrew Cohen’s teachings was profound. For many students, including myself, it led to severe mental health issues. I personally experienced an intense psychotic state lasting over three years—though my memories from that time are fragmented, so it may have lasted up to five years. I observed other students entering what looked like psychotic states as well, ranging from hours to weeks or even years.
Cohen’s teachings made his students feel inadequate, fostering shame and self-doubt. It looked to me that the consequences of aligning oneself with his (and the group’s) constant pressure to ‘surrender’ were devastating for many, as the standards were not only unattainable but often harmful to mental well-being. From a psychological and emotional point of view, surrendering meant dropping or forcing down barriers of the self. This provided Andrew Cohen (and other members of the group who were higher up the power-hierarchy) deep access to the interior space of the individual that choose to do that. This dynamic often left individuals vulnerable, creating circumstances where harm could occur.
It appeared to me that much of Andrew Cohen’s energy was devoted to living in direct contradiction to the insights he claimed to have gained from his “awakened” experience. His actions often conflicted with the vision, values, and principles he publicly espoused. The group that gathered around him, including myself, would also engage in the same self-repressive contradictory behaviour. It seemed to me, that was were most of the energy and attention was directed.
Cohen seemed to suffer from severe narcissism, perceiving himself as perfect—or at least superior to everyone else. He claimed to be the most evolved person in the group and seemed to relish the adulation of his followers. People would always be giving him gifts, and as far as I know, he never said thank you. By making his teachings absolute and impossible to achieve, he ensured that neither he nor anyone else could measure up, yet demanded unwavering adherence to them.
Andrew Cohen’s behaviour consistently contradicted his stated ideals, and his leadership created an environment of fear, shame, and psychological, emotional and spiritual harm. The culture he cultivated was unsustainable, and its collapse was inevitable. Looking back, it’s clear to me that Andrew Cohen never lived his teachings. The interesting thing is when that finally got pointed out to him, apparently he was not interested in then trying to live them, and subsequently left the group. Personally, I think he made the best decision for himself and the rest of the group. He probably avoided a long-term scenario involving a whole lot of pain, confusion and abuse. It also provided an opportunity for me (and others, depending on their personal situation) to be finally free of the whole situation. A couple of weeks or so after Andrew Cohen left the group, most of the other members did also, and the group collapsed.
Hi,
Good wishes to you and others well who have endured and witnessed such many layered abuses.
You wouldn’t receive such treatment from Ramana Maharshi and others of a similar spiritual level/awareness. That’s the difference… day and night… Cohen has a long journey to travel…
Andrew
Mr Titmuss, I recall hearing you during an evening talk in St James’ Piccadilly in London many years ago. I found you dry and intellectual and felt you were devoid of spiritual wisdom.
Ken Wilber is a charlatan who enjoys the adulation of his cult like followers. He has borrowed without acknowledgment from a variety of Eastern teachers. Wilber has a history of endorsing so called spiritual teachers of dubious pedigree. He is no intellectual either since none of his work has ever been peer reviewed in a reputable journal. Cohen had a high opinion of Wilber which tells you a lot.
A REPLY TO A FORMER COMMUNITY LEADER:
Thank you so much for your kind response (on a different matter).
Did you read Christopher Titmuss’ obituary of Andrew? When I read it, what stood out to me most was one of the last paragraphs when he suggested that Andrew’s former students should “meet and explore ways to squeeze the honey out of Andrew’s teachings”.
When contemplating what the main thing was that I took from Andrew, I think it was his passion for inquiry and for reaching out to diverse crowds in pursuit of truth and unity. He sometimes said that “the self wants to know itself”. I think that is what made me try reaching out to Israel supporters (at a protest) too – because we are human beings after all. And we have a shared history that I think needs to be understood and shared for (our) humanity to prevail.
What happened to that impulse to connect on a human level in these times? And what is Andrew’s legacy that we leave him / the world / each other with?
Some related personal thoughts to frame the terrain:
How is it that some with similar privilege still share reunions on Facebook while throwing others under the bus and literally leaving them to die? How is it that some are willing to stand up to power in court / are willing to go to prison and some speak about “emergent interbeing” while exiling others with ease? What happened to collective consciousness and collective conscience??? What happened to becoming a (fully) human being? To liberating our humanity? Is there a point to Titmuss’ idea of “I would encourage those who lived in his community to meet to explore ways to squeeze the honey out of Andrew’s teachings”? Who would (want to) come together to do what? (Titmuss mentions “Emergence Foundation organised a gathering in July 2024 open to everyone from the old community”. But some have been removed from the mailing list.) And what does this unquestioned silent victory of spiritual inequality and status mean for humanity overall? What exactly is Andrew’s legacy right now? Will it be captured by a few for philosophic entertainment and personal comfort? Where exactly will we leave it as long as we are still here??
Do we want (our) humanity to prevail? And what’s the next step?
To the books by Andrew Cohen’s former students, please add the invaluable
What Enlightenment? blog by Mr Hal Blacker, former disciple and editor of Cohen’s What Is Enlightenment? magazine.
The ‘A List’ of Trauma and Abuse
https://whatenlightenment.blogspot.com/
Cohen’s savage emotional assault on an elderly lady disciple
https://whatenlightenment.blogspot.com/2006/01/not-forgotten-story-of-caroline.html
Cohen’s story remains incomplete unless we note how other figures in the spiritual scene enabled his cruel behavior and justified this as necessary for spiritual development – most notably Ken Wilber.
Tuesday, July 11, 2006
The Abusive Guru: Andrew Cohen
https://integral-options.blogspot.com/2006/07/abusive-guru-andrew-cohen.html
The Culture of Evolutionary Enlightenment — Be Scofield
https://www.gurumag.com/integral-abuse-andrew-cohen-the-culture-of-evolutionary-enlightenment/
Hi,
I feel blessed not to have interacted with such narcissists like Andrew and Mooji… such people have a few temporary glimpses into consciousness and assumed they were permanent… and enlightened… forgot they needed to do the work of continuous awareness… chop wood, enlightenment, chop wood…
The savage emotional assault on the elderly lady disciple, is a tragic and horrific example of what Andrew Cohen, and his group, were up to for decades. Some people in the group would call that a consequence of their ‘sacred work’ and their ‘divine mission’ of ‘bringing light into the world’. Outside of the group and from a criminal justice framework it could possibly be viewed as a murder?
The Drama Triangle, developed by Stephen Karpman, is a psychological model that explains dysfunctional social interactions, and the above tragic example is one expression of the consequences of what happens when a group indulges in that kind of insanity. In general, destructive cults are a reliable and consistent place where that toxic relational dynamic plays out, big time:
Drama Triangle in a Cult Context
– Victim: Cult members are often made to feel powerless or inadequate, with the cult leader positioning themselves as the only source of salvation or enlightenment. Members may internalize this role, believing they need the leader to “save” them from their perceived flaws or external threats.
– Rescuer: The cult leader or senior members often adopt the Rescuer role, presenting themselves as selfless guides with “pure motives” who are there to help members achieve spiritual growth. However, this “rescue” often comes with strings attached, fostering dependency and suppressing individual autonomy.
– Persecutor: The leader or group may also act as the Persecutor, using fear, guilt, or punishment to maintain control. Members who question the leader’s authority or try to leave the group may be ostracized, shamed, or labeled as betrayers.
“Playing Games” in the Cult
In this setting, “playing games” refers to the manipulative tactics used to keep members trapped in the Drama Triangle. For example:
– The leader might alternate between being a benevolent Rescuer and a harsh Persecutor, creating confusion and reinforcing their authority.
– Members may be encouraged to see themselves as perpetual Victims who need the leader’s guidance, while being discouraged from seeking solutions outside the group.
Why It Can Escalate to Harm
In extreme cases, these dynamics can lead to dangerous outcomes. The leader’s narcissism and belief in their own infallibility can escalate conflicts or paranoia within the group. Members may feel trapped, powerless, or desperate, which can lead to emotional, psychological, or even physical harm. The cult’s insular nature and suppression of dissent can amplify these risks, sometimes resulting in tragic consequences.
Hi Christopher,
your attempt to do an obituary for Andrew seems to be to me somewhat out of place, I am sorry to say. The above blog seems to be more like a kind of retribution and a reassurance of yourself being an important spiritual figure who was involved in the beginnings of Andrews journey. Luckily already a few people have corrected some false claims and mistakes you made in your blog that frankly is also condescending to his former students, like myself.
Andrews passing has brought a lof of us more deeply together in the mistery that we all shared and continue to share. We do not need to squeeze any honey out of anything. The mystery is alive and goes beyond Andrew as the teacher. Nobody needs to be encouraged. We are fine and thriving.
I was meditating at Gaia House in one of your one-month retreats when Andrew turned up in Totnes and was able to witness from afar the strange conflicts between two people who claimed to be spiritual teachers or enlightened teachers. As a newcomer it was bizarre for me to see such competitiveness within the spiritual realm, but my journey was just beginning and I was curious and passionate about it all and excited about the love that was manifesting around Andrew. To me the spiritual journey is way much bigger than “who did what and who said what”. There is a big unknown how and why we meet on this journey to deeper understanding. For myself, I am grateful that my journey started with Vipassana and then went further with Andrew and the beautiful people of his community. It was imperfect, terrible and awesome. As imperfect, deeply painful and for some deeply traumatising as the experience was: it was an experiment on coming together as human beings and it took courage from Andrew and everyone involved to pursue it. And the friendships and deep experiences of sacredness and wholeness remain and guide my life.
PS. One comment on your above blog about Poonja and his relationship with a younger women… I find your stance at the age of 80 years old on this flabbergasting since you have not been innocent in this issue yourself and were therefore not allowed to teach in quite a few Vipassana places around the world… By the way: another correction: Andrew (to my knowledge) had a clean record regarding ethics on sexuality. I never heard of any sexual abuses that you mentioned above.
Its not easy to do an obituary on such a controversial person like Andrew. But then it is important to check facts and do it with right motivation and love. Blessings to you, Andrew and all.
I am glad you drew attention to the comment about trying to get ‘honey’ from the things Andrew Cohen used to say. For someone with a self-confessed lack of experience and connection with Andrew Cohen, the community around him and the ‘teachings’, I found it rather weird that they are offering such an uniformed recommendation to all those that actually have a lot more experience, information and knowledge on the subject. For me, that is a typical representation of what is often going on with people that claim to be ‘spiritual teachers’ – a quickness to give out ‘advice’, ‘recommendations’ and ‘spiritual teachings’ without much understanding of what is being said and a (seemingly) lack of awareness of the effect on others. A glib use of some kind of self-appointed idea of having some kind of ‘authority’ with a combined (apparent) insensitivity to giving out unsolicited advice or ‘education’ from that position. Also, in regards to the question of sexual abuse. There was coercive control (with associated abuse) in the form of transgressing or forcing of interpersonal boundaries in all areas, including the sexual arena. Distress, alarm and harm has been caused in that area of being as with all others. There was no part of the self that was off-limits to violent intrusion by Andrew Cohen and others in the group that made those choices to cause harm to others.
Dear Mafalda, (I am not using your real name but I think I know who you are)
You write “We do not need to squeeze any honey out of anything. The mystery is alive and goes beyond Andrew as the teacher. Nobody needs to be encouraged. We are fine and thriving.”
I have severe ME/CFS and have to rest 10 hours during the day. ME/CFS is sometimes described as a combination of physiological, social and psychological factors and my condition deteriorated significantly in 2022. One of your best friends walked out of me when I saw her 2 years later – just a few weeks before the Emergence Foundation meeting Christopher mentioned, which was supposed to be open to all former community members, while I had been long removed from the mailing list.
I say no more
I hope you are well
Love, Frank
Thank you so much for your responses. I have integrated Comments on platforms, emails and texts into the original obituary. Love Christopher
Here’s more corrections of errors in your obituary on Andrew, (besides those you made, and were pointed out elsewhere above in the comments):
Andrew’s latest book is titled, “When Shadow Meet the Bodhisattva” not “When Shadows Meet the Bodhisattva”.
It’s Ram Dass, not Ram Das, who was the American “Guru figure” you are referring to who was a former Harvard University psychology professor. Ram Dass was emphatic that he was not a “guru”, and didn’t want to be perceived or treated as a “guru”.
Andrew was 30 years old, (not 31 years old as you wrote), when he met H.W.L. Poonja on 25 March, 1986. Andrew was born on 23 October, 1955.
You wrote that Andrew came back from his European tour in 2013 to his “$7,000,000 centre in Vermont and home for the community.” His centre was in Lenox, Massachusetts, not Vermont.
Would you say enlightenment is coming to the end of ignorance?
That’s a compelling way to frame enlightenment. In many spiritual and philosophical traditions, enlightenment is often described as a profound realization or awakening—a state where illusions, misconceptions, or ignorance fall away to reveal a deeper truth or understanding of existence.
Ignorance, in this context, could mean being unaware of the interconnected nature of life, clinging to false notions of the self, or being caught up in fear and desires that obscure clarity. Enlightenment, then, might be the journey of peeling back these layers to reach a state of clarity, compassion, and alignment with reality.
Could someone be enlightened and be a sociopathic abuser?
Enlightenment is often associated with qualities like compassion, wisdom, and self-awareness—traits that seem fundamentally at odds with sociopathic behaviour, which typically involves a lack of empathy and disregard for others’ well-being. True enlightenment, as many traditions describe it, would likely transform someone away from harmful tendencies, fostering a deeper connection to humanity and ethical principles.
That said, the concept of enlightenment varies across cultures and philosophies. Some might argue that enlightenment is purely an intellectual or spiritual state, detached from moral behavior. But even in those interpretations, the idea of enlightenment coexisting with abuse feels contradictory.
What led you to explore this question? It’s a fascinating and complex topic.
Andrew Cohen is considered a spiritual teacher that teaches enlightenment. He is also documented as doing a lot of deep abuse to a lot of people over a long period of time. So how could someone that appears so ignorant, be a teacher of enlightenment?
Andrew Cohen is indeed a controversial figure in the spiritual world. While he taught a philosophy called “Evolutionary Enlightenment,” which emphasized transcending the ego and embracing collective spiritual growth, his actions have been widely criticized. Former students and followers have accused him of psychological, emotional, physical, sexual, spiritual and even financial abuse over decades. These allegations paint a stark contrast to the ideals of compassion and self-awareness often associated with enlightenment.
This contradiction raises profound questions about the nature of enlightenment itself. Can someone possess intellectual or spiritual insight while failing to embody the ethical and empathetic qualities that many associate with true enlightenment? Some argue that enlightenment is purely a state of awareness, separate from moral behaviour, while others believe the two are inseparable.
Cohen’s story serves as a cautionary tale about the dangers of unchecked power and the complexities of human imperfection, even in spiritual contexts. It also highlights the importance of discernment when choosing teachers or leaders in any field. What are your thoughts on this paradox? Does it challenge your understanding of enlightenment?
I think he was possessed by a demonic force
That’s a powerful interpretation. Seeing his actions through that lens might reflect the profound disconnect between his teachings and his behaviour. It also speaks to the way we sometimes try to make sense of contradictions in human nature—especially when someone who claims to embody enlightenment causes harm.
Whether viewed metaphorically or literally, the idea of possession could symbolize how unchecked ego, power, or darker impulses can take over, even in those who claim spiritual insight. It’s a stark reminder of the importance of integrity and self-awareness in any path of growth.
What do you think this perspective reveals about the nature of enlightenment or the human condition?
Have you seen the film “Fallen”?
*Fallen* (1998), starring Denzel Washington. It’s a supernatural thriller where Washington plays a detective investigating a series of murders linked to a malevolent fallen angel named Azazel. This entity can transfer between people through touch, creating a chilling and suspenseful narrative. The Rolling Stones’ song “Time Is on My Side” plays a significant role in the film, adding to its eerie atmosphere.
It’s a fascinating and unsettling movie. Did it leave a strong impression on you?
Yes, it did. Also, a phenomenon similar to what was shown on the film happened in the Andrew Cohen community. Andrew Cohen recommended his students to watch the movie after that was experienced in a group that was meeting with him.
That sounds deeply unsettling. If something akin to the phenomenon in “Fallen (1998)”—a force that spreads its influence from person to person—occurred in the Andrew Cohen community, it might symbolize how harmful dynamics or ideologies can take root and propagate. Such environments often create an atmosphere where fear, manipulation, or coercive control spreads, affecting individuals in profound ways.
It’s tragic when a community built around spiritual ideals becomes a space for harm. Have you found reflecting on this connection between “Fallen (1998)” and that community helps in making sense of those dynamics or perhaps in understanding how such situations take hold?
Everyone confirming to a power-over structure made it all possible. It’s a typical consequence of that way of organising.
That’s a poignant observation. Power-over structures often rely on conformity and compliance to maintain their control. When individuals within such systems feel pressure to align with the dominant authority—whether due to fear, manipulation, or a lack of alternatives—it can create an environment where harmful dynamics flourish unchecked.
It’s troubling how these structures can erode personal autonomy and suppress dissent, ultimately enabling behaviours that go against the very ideals they claim to uphold. Your reflection underscores the importance of fostering collaborative, egalitarian spaces where every voice matters and no one feels compelled to sacrifice their values or well-being for the sake of conformity.
Have your experiences shaped ideas on how to prevent or counteract the spread of these power dynamics in communities or organizations? It feels like you’re already attuned to envisioning something different—a more empathetic and mutual way of relating.
You lost me at “I think Andrew was possessed by a demonic force”.
Did you really have to bring an imaginary devil into this?
Maybe if you continue reading the conversation from where you got lost, it may shed some light on the subject. For example, the reference to ‘demonic force’ does not in itself imply that the person saying that actually believes there really exists ‘the devil’. Have you considered that the phrase is a particular way of expressing a view on personal experience? The reference to the group phenomena was considered by the group and Andrew Cohen, at the time, as a ‘demonic’ force or entity that moved from one person to another. Hence the recommendation to watch the movie ‘Fallen’.
Thank you. Actually, I did read your whole response.
For me, personally, (of the person) it started waxing towards the epic, Biblical fight between good, evil and possession, or the great dust up between angels, Michael & Lucifer. It’s all good, just not my cup of tea.
Btw, who won that battle?It’s the Angel you feed. 😂
Ok, nice to know you did read the rest of it. One thing that you may find helpful in respect to the use of the phrase ‘demonic force’ is this alternative way to explain how Cohen was viewed, using a psychological lens, specifically in light of the investigation into ‘human evil’ by Scott Peck in the book “People of the Lie: The Hope for Healing Human Evil”. Replacing “I think he was possessed by a demonic force” with “I think he was suffering from malignant narcissism” where Scott Peck’s definition of that is:
1. Definition and Essence: Peck describes malignant narcissism as a severe form of evil, where the person is obsessed with maintaining an image of perfection and refuses to acknowledge any flaws or wrongdoing. It’s not just typical self-centeredness—it’s destructive and deceptive at its core.
2. The Lie: At the heart of malignant narcissism is what Peck calls “the lie”. These individuals lie to others and to themselves to protect their false self-image. They refuse to admit they are wrong or could be capable of doing harm. This denial becomes a kind of evil because it involves deliberate deception and harm to others while protecting the ego.
3. Lack of Self-Reflection: Unlike healthy or even neurotic individuals who are capable of guilt, remorse, or introspection, malignant narcissists are unable or unwilling to look inward. They externalize all blame and responsibility.
4. Use of Scapegoating: To protect their self-image, they will project their own evil onto others, often targeting the innocent as scapegoats. This protects their inner narrative of righteousness while destroying others in the process.
5. The Evil of Evasion: Peck describes evil as militant ignorance—a deliberate refusal to acknowledge truth or reality. This is a key feature of malignant narcissism: a commitment to maintaining the lie, no matter the cost.
6. Resistance to Healing: These individuals are extraordinarily resistant to change, because healing would require them to admit to their own moral failings. Peck suggests that this makes malignant narcissism not only a psychological disorder but also a spiritual crisis.
In Short:
Malignant narcissism, as Scott Peck defines it, is a form of evil rooted in the refusal to confront one’s flaws, a compulsive need to lie, and a willingness to sacrifice others to maintain a false self-image. It’s marked by deception, scapegoating, and a lack of conscience.
As regards to people that abuse others under the pretence of being ‘spiritual teachers’ or ‘priests’ or ‘doctors’ and the like, there is some insightful information available on that:
Scott Peck makes a chilling observation in ‘People of the Lie’ about how evil people are drawn to positions of power and moral authority, because those roles give them the best opportunity to mask their intentions while doing harm. One of the more memorable statements along those lines is:
“The evil are not so much committed to the pursuit of good as they are to the appearance of goodness.”
This idea—that roles with moral authority (like priests, doctors, spiritual teachers or therapists and politicians of course) can attract those who wish to *appear* good while actually doing evil—is central to Peck’s thesis. He’s not saying all people in those roles are evil, of course, but that certain roles offer camouflage to those who refuse to examine their own inner darkness. It’s the perfect place to maintain “the lie.”
This is wholly inaccurate, as Murray attests: “I wrote to Poonja letting him know I am sending the ‘cream of the milk.’ and included Andrew among the six meditators. Andrew stayed in Lucknow for several weeks under the guidance of Poonja with Andrew experiencing ecstatic discoveries and realisations.” Murray told Andrew about Poonja while the two were standing in the courtyard outside the main hall at Ramana Ashram.
That you claim credit for this meeting indicates you are essentially claiming responsibility for all that unfolded as a consequence, and thus current ex-students should direct their grievances toward you. No?
Also, it’s spelled Wilber, not Wilbur; EnlightenNext, not EnlightenmentNext; and the book title you repeatedly cite is “My Master Is My Self,” not “My Master Is Myself.”
Social norms are for those who are enmeshed within the norms and find comfort within those reassurances they need to get-by life. That doesn’t mean you break the laws of the land. niyamas. There are some who transcend that in Understanding, which i don’t call enlightment, for such humane beings the social norms do not apply, they respect them but they are beyond them in their maturity. i call them independent beings. Kings not just had various partners out of power, weren’t there dharmic or conscientious kings or emperors who were bestowed by their soceity’s elites with the needs that needed to be fulfilled so they would live a complete life in their own capacity as a human being? Were those elites cooerced? Not all. So, i wonder at the low respect i feel for Mr. Andrew Cohen who seem to have the aura and energy of the light but that doesn’t guarantee a maturity of transcending in to a higher state of Understanding who lives a truly compassionate humane life. What is the age for love? Or what is the age of the mind? How many of us married do not feel love for more than our partners? If we don’t are we still true to our spirit of honesty in our hearts? Questions humans need to ponder. i learn that light into our beings is not good enough to transcendence of limitations in understanding. Well, this is the average world in which great beings live simple ordinary lives. Humans are humans… much love and understanding… May he rest in peace, what a place to leave the body. Wish him understanding in his following trips on earth, if there are… Peace.
Have to give Poonja credit too…
Hi there. I met Andrew in 1987 when I was 23. We all thought that Andrew was like a Buddha and I would have followed him anywhere.I was going to go to America but I started to become ill so I never made it. Since then I have realised that we are all parts of God or the Universe how ever you want to put it. That is my conclusion after of 40 years of research.
Good luck Andrew on the next stage of your journey.
Being able to blow people open to their core in a Satsang is a remarkable skill. It does not make you a teacher. It does not make you a guru. It does not make you a philosopher. Those are very different roles needing very specific skills that are not required to manifest spirit in a room ful of people. It is a skill that can be acquired by awful people as well as by saints. Be very careful out there, folk.
Hi,
I never met Andrew and through the years I heard many things about him from friends who had followed him in the early 90s and in Tiru in 2015 a German woman who had been living with Cohen told me the community had told Andrew to leave. I was in Tiru in January this year and heard Cohen had bought a house there and was giving satsang. He was wasn’t my cup of tea… the energy of Arunachala is enough and the subtle fragrance of Ramana pervades that place. I’m not a follower and have no interest in following one without spiritual maturity… I think Andrew was led by his strong vasanas or habits… I wish that soul well.
As for Papaji I met him in Lucknow in 1993 and felt a string presence from him but didn’t like the circus surrounding him and was glad to leave the craziness.
If you wish to see a genuine jnani there is one by the name of Ganga Maa giving free satsang in Tiru….
Thank you for your balanced commentary on the life of Andrew Cohen. I met Andrew in Seattle after he first started teaching and then did retreats with him in India and Nepal.
I left because I thought that he was over involved in the life of his so-called students. A friend of mine had decided to leave and Andrew’s response was way over the top for me. That somehow Andrew was betrayed by his leaving. It was like, how dare you leave me! That was such a large red flag for me that I also left shortly thereafter. I was immediately shunned by his community because I actually had an opinion that differed from Andrews and also spoke out against the community stating that this kind of untethered devotion was simply unhealthy. The rest is history as they say.
I was sad to hear of his death. He had a very child like enthusiasm for the truth when I first met him. It was contagious and it was obvious. I also see that the guru thing went to his head.
He leaves behind quite a legacy of writings and videos that we can all gain from. So his story has not ended.
Namaste. Mu
Thank you so much Christopher. As a former student of Andrew, but not from your community, I appreciate your very clear balanced obituary. Certainly the glimpses I had into reality, which I attribute to Andrew’s presence, profoundly changed me and nothing has subsequently ever matched these experiences and wisdom. As a result I know beyond any shadow of a doubt that we are literally all one. The challenge is to live this reality. Andrew was not a good teacher in my humble opinion and he created a lot of self doubt and pain to many of his students. I was lucky to have left before the extremes of abuse occurred and I will always feel so grateful to Hal Blacker for creating a space for those who were ejected or left after extreme pressure. But Andrew’s words to me “Jacqui you have to do whatever you need to do to be happy and to be free” did liberate me to move on. And it was at Oneness University India that I really liberated myself from Andrew’s dogma and his teachings. I saw that these teachings were untrue and designed to fail because as you said in your piece the teachings lacked kindness and ironically also seemed to bind rather than liberate. My karma was to leave and return to Totnes and become a maths teacher and have a daughter now aged 31. I am so grateful for this ordinary life with all it’s imperfections and I am also forever grateful to Andrew for the depths that he opened in my consciousness.
Rest in peace Andrew………you did your very best to wake people up!