My experience at the Seed is filled with mixed feelings and to this day I feel bad when I post my criticisms. As in all human institions the Seed was filled with good and bad.
I do not question what the Seed taught I feel that the philosophy was both sound and true. The problem ran deep within the basic dynamic set up of the group. What I mean by this was not in the power structure the very defininition of this structure fell into the normal structures of a group with a purpose. It was the inter rivalries within the people that ran the group and that were considered favorites of the staff. The small petty issues of who was who, and who welded the most importance are what determined where you fitted in. All this hinged on how Art and to some extent Libby perceived who you were. This caused many people to become nothing more than a good ass kisser and as they kissed ass they did not realize how they were stunting their growth in the areas they needed to grow the most. Examples of this are: How well someone related in the group, The length of time someone was around, The career someone had or was pursuing. For most people this became the most important factor as they kept up the façade of being part of the group for the good of the group. This type of behavior is what overshadowed everything and became the primary driving force in the group. People parroted much of what they said oblivious to the fact that they should have questioned their motives and reasons why they were at the Seed. We all should have developed our independent though process more and learned to rely more on ourselves rather than the group. In this manner the group empowered but yet on the other hand debilitated making cowards of us all.
The group thinking or collective thought process became dangerous and very debilitating.
One of the ways this group thinking manifested itself was through the over bearing control the Seed maintained over everyone. Al thought when someone first came on the program this control could be justified in the name of teaching self- discipline after a person progressed it became smothering and stifling. Why not allow people to reasimulate back into the world with encouragement rather than the threat of expulsion? The Seed ruled with a velvet glove that concealed the Iron fist.
Another way this group thinking hurt the Seed was in the manner people were blackballed when someone did not conform to the groups norms. People were labeled as malcontents, ungrateful assholes who threw away their opportunity to become great. If you dared question this accusation you ran the risk of being on the wrong end of the groups wrath. This behavior caused many people to swallow their feelings and not allow their true feelings to be exposed causing many people to live out a lie only making them more dependant on the Seed causing them to become extremely isolated from the world while perpetuating their weaknesses even more.
In the end ego and prestige and lack of a purpose once the Seed stopped taking new commers is what ruled and brought down the group, Resulting in a collective full fledge group rebellion due to the lack of willingness in questioning one?s self and the motives of being around for so long. In my opinion was the greatest fault the Seed had.
Yet in my humble opinion the Seed still for all of it?s imperfection still was a power for good and in fact did help many people that needed it.