Be aware of this cult and don’t feel bad if the program didn’t work for you or if you didn’t make it as a seva/volunteer or employee.
Tree of Life regularly employs these cult-like tactics:
1 Attempt to suppress opinions
Any type of criticism is met with defence and attack, rather than concern or attempts to change. Any negative comments are removed from their Facebook page and the poster is blocked.
2 Fake names
Many people working there go by spiritual-sounding names of their own choosing. In some cases, they have undergone the spiritual/priesthood program and have been renamed.
3 Bait and switch
Guests are baited with claims of natural healing through raw food and juice fasting only to be sold expensive supplements. Another draw is the quiet, spiritual (presumably non-denominational) oasis, yet New Age Judaism/Esseneism/Hinduism/Native American is practiced with weekly Shabats and other rituals (shaktipat, sweat lodge) around this faith. They claim to accept all faiths, but really only the aforementioned faiths are accepted. To not participate in them is to be outcast or asked to leave, at least for seva. Workers are prohibited from discussing their own spiritual beliefs.
4 Questionable teachings
Teachings such as a “man’s sperm balances out a woman’s body” is unfounded and promotes unsafe sex in this commune of mostly 20 year olds.
Teachings of poverty are in conflict with the expensive programs, services, and supplements that they sale. The rabbi/doctor/owner collects thousands of dollars in private consultations but encourages poverty. Workers and volunteers are not held against their will but if they want to leave (or are let go), they may not have the resources to leave this secluded area due to no to low pay.
5 Lack of accountability
One person died at the center. If programs/supplements don’t work for the person, the person is always blamed for not doing it “right”. Since this incident, the owner defers the running of this place to managers. Management deletes and/or attacks negative feedback.
[tucsoncitizen.com]
[www.phoenixnewtimes.com]
Whole Person Healing [info.treeoflifecenterus.com]
“Price Estimates
* Food, Accomodations & Retreat Facilities (paid up front): $99.50/night Sale Price (normally $199 per night)
* Expect to stay at least four nights,although you may need to stay longer - $398 or more)
* Testing (standard tests paid for while at the Tree of Life): Approximately $800 for the standard tests. Often, additional tests at additional costs may be necessary per your condition.
* Consultation (typically around 2.5 hours in length - may be longer/shorter, deposit of $1250 necessary to book your appointment): $500 an hour with Dr. Cousens ($1250 total estimate - may be more).
* Supplements (paid for while at the Tree of Life): Supplements prescription varies widely for each individual. Typically, it is wise to budget $2,000 - $2,500 for your initial 1-month supply of supplements. In special and extreme cases patients may be prescribed nearly double the amount of these estimates. Routine prescribed supplement regimen is for 3 months ($6,000 - $7,500 with higher rates in special cases).** We are consistently encouraged by the success of those individuals who follow Dr. Cousens' medical advice. Dr. Cousens' complete holistic approach works with all the body's systems simultaneously to uplift all systems in as short a time as possible through synergy. Dr. Cousens' approach is whole person focused as opposed to an allopathic approach, which treats only symptoms.
Total Estimate: For a WPH with Dr. Cousens, between $8500 - $10,000 or more. This represents the average costs for a total of three months of supplements plus the initial appointments.
Owner Bio [treeoflifecenterus.com]
He’s been part of the yoga world since 1973, and received much of his training and experience as a spiritual master and kundalini expert (he organized the first “Kundalini Crisis Clinic” in the world with Dr. Lee Sannella in 1976) during his seven-year sadhana with Swami Muktananda and his eleven-year sadhana with Swami Prakashananda. In 1981, Swami Prakashananda, Muktananda’s first liberated disciple, publicly recognized him as a “yogi of real spiritual attainment” who has “realized the innate perfection.” He was also acknowledged by Swami Muktananda just prior to his death in 1982.
Dr. Cousens is internationally celebrated as a spiritual master, a rabbi (ordained by Rabbi Gerson Winkler in 2008), founder of the Modern Essene Order of Light in 1993 and a Kabbalah student of since 1970. He is also a 4-year Native American Sundancer, Eagle Dancer, and Spirit Dance clan chief in the High Horse Lakota clan into which he has been adopted.
[www.yelp.com]
[www.tripadvisor.com]
[treeoflifecenterus.com]
[treeoflifecenterus.com]
[treeoflifecenterus.com]
[www.cousensschoolofholisticwellness.org]
[www.flickr.com]
Tree of Life regularly employs these cult-like tactics:
1 Attempt to suppress opinions
Any type of criticism is met with defence and attack, rather than concern or attempts to change. Any negative comments are removed from their Facebook page and the poster is blocked.
2 Fake names
Many people working there go by spiritual-sounding names of their own choosing. In some cases, they have undergone the spiritual/priesthood program and have been renamed.
3 Bait and switch
Guests are baited with claims of natural healing through raw food and juice fasting only to be sold expensive supplements. Another draw is the quiet, spiritual (presumably non-denominational) oasis, yet New Age Judaism/Esseneism/Hinduism/Native American is practiced with weekly Shabats and other rituals (shaktipat, sweat lodge) around this faith. They claim to accept all faiths, but really only the aforementioned faiths are accepted. To not participate in them is to be outcast or asked to leave, at least for seva. Workers are prohibited from discussing their own spiritual beliefs.
4 Questionable teachings
Teachings such as a “man’s sperm balances out a woman’s body” is unfounded and promotes unsafe sex in this commune of mostly 20 year olds.
Teachings of poverty are in conflict with the expensive programs, services, and supplements that they sale. The rabbi/doctor/owner collects thousands of dollars in private consultations but encourages poverty. Workers and volunteers are not held against their will but if they want to leave (or are let go), they may not have the resources to leave this secluded area due to no to low pay.
5 Lack of accountability
One person died at the center. If programs/supplements don’t work for the person, the person is always blamed for not doing it “right”. Since this incident, the owner defers the running of this place to managers. Management deletes and/or attacks negative feedback.
[tucsoncitizen.com]
[www.phoenixnewtimes.com]
Whole Person Healing [info.treeoflifecenterus.com]
“Price Estimates
* Food, Accomodations & Retreat Facilities (paid up front): $99.50/night Sale Price (normally $199 per night)
* Expect to stay at least four nights,although you may need to stay longer - $398 or more)
* Testing (standard tests paid for while at the Tree of Life): Approximately $800 for the standard tests. Often, additional tests at additional costs may be necessary per your condition.
* Consultation (typically around 2.5 hours in length - may be longer/shorter, deposit of $1250 necessary to book your appointment): $500 an hour with Dr. Cousens ($1250 total estimate - may be more).
* Supplements (paid for while at the Tree of Life): Supplements prescription varies widely for each individual. Typically, it is wise to budget $2,000 - $2,500 for your initial 1-month supply of supplements. In special and extreme cases patients may be prescribed nearly double the amount of these estimates. Routine prescribed supplement regimen is for 3 months ($6,000 - $7,500 with higher rates in special cases).** We are consistently encouraged by the success of those individuals who follow Dr. Cousens' medical advice. Dr. Cousens' complete holistic approach works with all the body's systems simultaneously to uplift all systems in as short a time as possible through synergy. Dr. Cousens' approach is whole person focused as opposed to an allopathic approach, which treats only symptoms.
Total Estimate: For a WPH with Dr. Cousens, between $8500 - $10,000 or more. This represents the average costs for a total of three months of supplements plus the initial appointments.
Owner Bio [treeoflifecenterus.com]
He’s been part of the yoga world since 1973, and received much of his training and experience as a spiritual master and kundalini expert (he organized the first “Kundalini Crisis Clinic” in the world with Dr. Lee Sannella in 1976) during his seven-year sadhana with Swami Muktananda and his eleven-year sadhana with Swami Prakashananda. In 1981, Swami Prakashananda, Muktananda’s first liberated disciple, publicly recognized him as a “yogi of real spiritual attainment” who has “realized the innate perfection.” He was also acknowledged by Swami Muktananda just prior to his death in 1982.
Dr. Cousens is internationally celebrated as a spiritual master, a rabbi (ordained by Rabbi Gerson Winkler in 2008), founder of the Modern Essene Order of Light in 1993 and a Kabbalah student of since 1970. He is also a 4-year Native American Sundancer, Eagle Dancer, and Spirit Dance clan chief in the High Horse Lakota clan into which he has been adopted.
[www.yelp.com]
[www.tripadvisor.com]
[treeoflifecenterus.com]
[treeoflifecenterus.com]
[treeoflifecenterus.com]
[www.cousensschoolofholisticwellness.org]
[www.flickr.com]