Concerned and/or in agreement
Email Responses:
Sent: Friday, May 23, 2008 8:09 AM
Subject: Thanks and well wishes
Dear Michael
I wanted to email you to express my deep sadness at the news that I received from Deida central, about the choices that David has made in his professional and ethical life.
I wanted to thank you for continuing to use his teachings, which I agree have so much truth and relevance in our world today, but also for passionately and actively taking action to protect women and men in regards to the truth.
I feel like someone has died almost (does that make sense), in that I looked up to David and his teachings so much. I am so grateful that you are out there working in an ‘above-board’ way, to continue to spread the beauty and power of David’s teachings, in a positive and safe way.
I first discovered David’s work in 2003 and it is a part of my life and heart now.
May you continue in your work with success, happiness and security.
[Name pending permission, female]
Sent: Thursday, May 22, 2008 4:02 PM
Subject: deida
Michael,
As for David, if you didn’t know five years ago that he was headed in the direction that you now believe he is going, then you, Michael, were blinded by the light. I’ve known and worked with Deida since ‘99. Even though I have personally grown through attending his workshops and being involved in a discussion group that began nearly eight years ago, I also knew that David was not the most stable of individuals.
Where were you several years ago when, through his association with Ken Wilbur, many people bought into the program and essentially ruined their lives? I’m really surprised you are only now getting the message, so again please take me off the list.
[Name pending permission, male]
Sent: Friday, May 23, 2008 7:17 PM
Subject: Re: David Deida Exposed
From:
To: info@deidacentral.com
Sent: Wednesday, May 28, 2008 12:39 PM
Subject: thank you, micheal jascz
thank you for sending me this. some time ago, i became offended by the style and content of the new advertising ‘campaign’ authored by adam gilad and consequently asked to have my name removed from the mailings. i had no idea! i will forward your message to friends who have been deida followers.
thanks again,
[Name pending permission, female]
Sent: Friday, May 23, 2008 1:54 AM
Subject: Re: David Deida Exposed
I am sure that it is done with integrity and took a great deal of courage. I appreciate (as someone who has studied David for years and lead sexuality work for women) that you took this risk.
Best regards and wishes for your work
[Name pending permission, female]
Sent: Thursday, May 22, 2008 11:09 PM
Subject: Re: David Deida Exposed
Dear Michael,
I think it was quite courageous to do this - i.e., to stand up and say out loud, this person (David Deida) has crossed an ethical line and my own integrity demands I speak out in hopes of saving people from being victimized by their participation or association with him… frankly, I think most people wouldn’t bother, not that I agree with that stance, but it’s certainly been my observation that’s often what happens.
I took the time to read through the information you’ve presented and I visited the various websites, particularly because of the workshop being offered here in Seattle this weekend… although I had not signed up for that workshop, I have often looked at the various offerings to see if there might be something I could afford to do as I am, and have been, interested in this type of work. But having attended “spiritually”-based workshops in the past and seen firsthand the kind of abuse and emotional damage that can easily be inflicted, indeed requiring years to sort out on the other side, I’ve become very careful about what I attend or expose myself to, given that incest and PTSD are among the cast of characters in my personal pantheon of gods and demons…
Again, thank you.
[Name pending permission, female]
Sent: Thursday, May 22, 2008 11:09 PM
Subject: *greetings michael* i was saddened by the information i clicked into after receiving an email
About David & his associations…..truly….saddened…..
If…in fact all this is true…….i do want him to know …that i am one who has followed his work thru many years…& i have held him in high esteem….may he Again find what is Good/right/holy & divine………
[Name pending permission, female]
Sent: Thursday, May 22, 2008 8:36 PM
Subject: Re: David Deida Exposed
Should I be surprised? … which is a more powerful motivator, sex or money? Did you see CNBC’s episode of ‘American Greed’ last night, the Martin Frankel story?
I first read WOTSM in 2002, and was wowed by it, in fact I use it today as a reference to understand the whims of my woman …
yikes
The other one is that David D’Angelo, the “Double your Dating” guy ..he has made reference to Wotsm more than once …
Thanks for your care and concern … you have a deep heart …
[Name pending permission, male]
Sent: Thursday, May 22, 2008 5:18 PM
Subject: Re: David Deida Exposed
thanks for sharing this information, I’m not at all surprised.
I’ve recommended to hundreds of my students and clients to read the David Deida books over the years and myself have gained a lot from his writing. I turned a friend on to him years ago, when I was so excited about this work, but I’ve always recommended his books with a disclaimer as to his personality and have had my questions about how he was conducting workshops.
I started reading “The Game” a while back on the recommendation of a friend and was so appalled I had to put it down.
Anyway, just want to thank you for speaking out.
[Name pending permission, female]
Sent: Thursday, May 22, 2008 4:11 PM
Subject: Re: David Deida Exposed
Thank YOU Michael for clueing me in on this new activity…. I was actually around when Ross Jeffries began the Seduction Community… (being involved in NLP and Hypnosis)… I have tracked the going-ons, and am shocked, too, that Deida would get involved. And it does seem dangerous… and as a Woman, I am lit up… an “oh no, another danger for us, towards our opening… more confusion!” Glad I have my
I will do my research and will get involved, if I agree.
Many thanks for your passion, action and grounding.
[Name pending permission, female]
Sent: Thursday, May 22, 2008 4:00 PM
Subject: Re: David Deida Exposed
Dear Michael~
Thanks for your courage in speaking out about this issue. And I agree with you it is very, very sad. Perhaps he will indeed make some inroads in helping to transform that community but unless he is explicitly addressing how women can both protect ourselves AND stay anchored in our deep femininity it’s a very dicey deal.
This must be especially difficult for you given how tied your work is to Deida’s. I have recommended or given his book to so many men who are oriented toward a second stage.
As we know, just because someone is well developed in one line does not mean that they have a high level of moral development.
Blessings and thanks,
[Name pending permission, female]
Sent: Thursday, May 22, 2008 3:55 PM
Subject: David Deida’s Work
I’m sickened by his new ventures, and do not want to take anymore of his workshops. As a woman, I want to feel safe in a workshop. It’s obvious his ego is working overtime, and it will eventually hurt his work.
I appreciate your help in making people aware of his new ‘ventures’…….
[Name pending permission, female]
Sent: Thursday, May 22, 2008 3:53 PM
Subject: Re: David Deida Exposed
Wow. I did the training in LA, met Adam, thought he was cheapening the David Deida brand just on basis of his hard sell.
This is gross.
Sent David an email.
Thank you, I’m sure this is really hard.
[Name pending permission, male]
Sent: Thursday, May 22, 2008 6:46 PM
Subject: Sick
That is so sad. My friends and I have always loved his books. Then he seemed to drop off the planet and then popped back up again. His website changed frequently and things didn’t seem as spiritual as it once was. When we looked into his seminars and the prices are ridiculous for anyone but the very rich. Obviously, it’s only for the money and now I’m being told, also, for sex. It makes me sick.
Thank you for bringing this to our attention, if it is all true.
[Name pending permission, female]
Sent: Thursday, May 22, 2008 7:49 PM
Subject: (no subject)
Michael:
thank you for your courageous work here. I do not know you nor do I know Adam. But I am impressed with what you write here.
My wife and I may well be one of those one-in-ten thousand you refer to. My wife and I have benefited tremendously from David’s teachings. We have gone to places in our relationship that few people probably do. It is profoundly rewarding but it is also playing with fire. It is left-handed work, very heyoka, and needs to be handled with tremendous care, for you can enter a world of No Rules; as a couple this can be hard enough, in a group setting it can be utterly reckless. As a leader, the realm of No Rules provides opportunity to overwhelming power over others and must be approached by only the highest integrity.
I have great respect for David’s teachings. I have no need to go “Deidabot”, nor to despise him. But your words confirm my own inclination that above all my wife and I have to take responsibility for our own protection and safety as our marriage sadhana unfolds, no matter how inspiring a teacher might be to us.
blessings
[Name pending permission, male]
Sent: Thursday, May 22, 2008 8:03 PM
Subject: thank you
Hi Michael - I applaud you for your courage!
I have turned so many people on to the work of Deida and therefore will broadly circulate the information exposing his lack of integrity. In my heart, I will also hold space for him to reclaim real power in the Light.
In radiant gratitude,
[Name pending permission, female]
Sent: Friday, May 23, 2008 12:03 PM
Subject: Re: David Deida’s New Seduction Classes
Michael,
I think it’s important for us to sometimes do things that aren’t easy, and stand up for what we believe in. You are doing many people, including women, a service that is important for their welfare, and spiritual growth.
This world can be a cold, heartless place if we choose to come from a place of total materialism, and self-centeredness. In the spiritual world, I’ve found that there are many people who exploit others and I believe after reading your website that Deida’s ego has influenced him in such a degree that he’s lost his sensitivity for the values that govern self-happiness, and promote the happiness of others.
I’d be happy to contact a girlfriend who took the workshop with me. We shared many thoughts and feelings about what took place, and it wasn’t all positive…………in fact, both of us had some negative reactions - which I remember left us in a weird space after the workshop. What I remember was feeling criticized for having a masculine side, etc….. yet what I felt wasn’t processed……..there wasn’t anyone there at the workshop (including the women leaders) to help with the feelings that came up.
I got the feeling that all the trainers were pro Deida - had tunnel vision, with little authentic depth, or wisdom. They seemed like parrots - parroting someone else’s beliefs…..I didn’t detect any compassion or sensitivity to several of the issues that women wanted to talk about. I remember feeling ‘less-than’ ……..’defective’ because I had a strong masculine side that now had to be somehow eliminated….
Thanks for your work in helping others ………and I’ll think through my experiences at the workshop, and what Deida is doing now - and do a posting. Just let me know where….and the areas you would like me to address? I’ll also have my girlfriend do the same…
[Name pending permission, female]
Sent: Friday, May 23, 2008 9:09 PM
Subject:
I am currently about to start the event in
[Name pending permission, female]
Sent: Thursday, May 22, 2008 5:37 PM
Subject: To Michael Jascz
Thanks for the website and information - I’m still looking through it all and doing more research. I have to say that a part of me feels a bit verified, as although I have received good information from David Deida’s books and lectures, I have also had some reservations and have not felt completely comfortable with how some people have interpreted the work.
I did notice that some in a few of the workshops that I attended I did not feel it was a safe environment as a woman - and yet to voice such concerns would be seen as being very “second stage” etc.
Thank you for voicing your concerns over the ethics of David Deida, and for continuing to work with the information that has been passed down to him and us through the countless sages of the Vedas,
Sincerely
[Name pending permission, female]
Sent: Friday, May 23, 2008 6:09 PM
Subject: Good Luck to Deida, and to you, and to everyone else on this mortal coil
Hi Michael
Is the issue you are ‘exposing’ here simply one of a difference in values - that is, the difference between your values today and Deida’s values today?
In no way do I condone or live by the values that Deida seems to live by these days - I have heard a similar report about his sharp practices: I was at a Tony Robbins seminar a couple of years ago, and he told a story about Deida getting so out of hand on a seminar he was leading - I seem to recall that it was on one of these big cruise ships - anyway, to cut a long story short, Robbins and others had to literally manhandle and frog march Deida off the stage, and lock him up in a cabin, following Deida’s almost successful attempt of seducing a woman in the audience - whilst she had her husband sat beside her! As you can imagine, all hell was let loose, the wheels came off the wagon, and the event broke down into a bit of a shambles by all accounts. I believe they ejected Deida at the next port of call. I would have loved to have been there to see the drama unfold, if only for the entertainment value. Were you there?
However, you talk about ‘forcing’ David Deida to change his practices. But in truth, why on earth should Deida have to do anything against his will? And why on earth should you preach about what he should or shouldn’t do? Furthermore, what gives you the right to post information like this on a website? Is anything that Deida is doing in anyway against the law? The fact is this: Deida is in a place right now, and he is where he is, and he is operating with a set of standards. You, my friend, are operating to another set of standards. In your world, Deida has lowered the bar of what is an acceptable standard. But the truth is that he is precisely where he is supposed to be right now. That is God’s way. And you are where you are supposed to be right now, and that is God’s way too.
The truth is that he is on a journey and so are you. It just seems that you were both on the same journey for a few years walking on the same path at the same time, learning and enjoying each other’s company, until you both arrived at the fork in the road. He went left, you went right. Neither of you were wrong for taking those roads. It’s just the way it is. The truth is that even further back in time, when you first met Deida, you were at a crossroads, and had no way of knowing which way to go. If it hadn’t been for Deida, you may not have traveled the road on which you currently stand. Be thankful for that and accept the time, the learning and the wisdom that he has shared with you and you with him as a gift, and move on. Thus, is it not fair for people to make up their own minds about Deida, his values, practices and standards?
Additionally, say that the time and energy that you have put in producing your “Deida Exposed” website could have been used to make something more constructive. Do you think that this would have been a better use of your time and his?
Bless you Michael and best wishes on your journey. You have the skills to make it happen if you want to. You don’t need Deida anymore. Now you walk alone.
Kind regards
[Name pending permission, male]
Comments from blog:
Author: Antwan Martin Jul 23, 10:09 AM
I think anyone who is curious should take a look at Deida.info, their is an audio recording of David Deida talking to young “pick up artists” at a seminar for such things. When you listen to it, it might appear that he is taking his talents to a place that is filled with man that have lost touch with themselves and perhaps need to hear his words the most. Or maybe he is just trying to teach them to be seducers… Listen first, then decide, after you have heard what he is actually saying at these Pick Up Artist seminars.
I felt the need to comment since I have benefited greatly from David’s work but I dont want to just blindly believe that everything he does is right.
Author: cj Jul 16, 6:54 PM
i love david deida. i have read most of his books and went to a weekend workshop in LA a few years back. so he no longer separates the men from the woman? that only pisses me off because i was talking to the most beautiful man when he made us move to opposite sides of the room.
i’m only half kidding.
anyway, i think we all need to be mindful of our own state when we choose where, when and w/ whom to open our hearts, as most of us have not arrived at the place where we can remain open regardless of the circumstances.
i can see–could see then–very clearly that dd has feet of clay. some of his minions are deplorable boors, and i witnessed behavior even from “gia” that was very self-indulgent. but i get it: dd is not interested in coddling us, but in blasting us open to the harsh realization that we are dying! like makes no sense! so do we still want to give our gift anyway?
i signed up for the last LA weekend, but changed my mind and got my money back. i decided i really didn’t need to pay dd $1,000 to piss on my shoe. i still love him tho…
peace out.
Author: bp May 25, 8:05 PM
Comment: it is not clear to me and something i wonder about: what is david deida teaching at these seminars with groups that are associated with PUAS? is he changing what he teaches with less emphasis on integrity and more emphasis on how to “manipulate” women for men to get their own pleasure and put women at risk.
i totally understand that sexuality is a risky territory as a subject of a seminar, and i don’t have a solution to totally avoid that risk, especially when dealing with men who have or had interests in seducing women in “first stage” ways. i would like to know how david deida is influencing men who have been using sexuality to manipulate in the past. is he calling them on that and challenging them to a way of living in the sexual realm that is aligned with higher principles of respect and seeing women as divine. that is the big question that i have on this issue.
i put this challenge to david deida: that if he is involving himself with pua communities to absolutely stand firm in what he teaches and to uphold integrity with women. if so, then i think at least a big part of the risk about harming women with sexuality will be allayed. this is an influence that would be very helpful in the pua communities, and my hat goes off to david deida for doing that. if he is compromising his own integrity in what he teaches, i think he deserves to be called on it very clearly and insistently by men who can hold him to what he knows is the way of the real superior man.
From the Integral Institute’s online forum:
Re: Michael Jascz open condemnation of David Deida
Posted on Fri, May 23, 2008 – 8:32 AM
Without seeing more info, like about Michael, or rebuttal, I feel a little premature in nodding to this condemnation, but at a quick read-through, 1) I am not very surprised, 2) it sounds believable, and 3) I feel the sleeze factor.
I admire Michael for speaking out, which is seldom easy when facing the kind of power and emotion surrounding sex, around spirituality/religion, and the dollar-sign industry with might that surrounds them. Again, without knowing the larger story I feel tentative, but Michael presents his case for caution and disclosure with clarity, strength, and, I think so far, balance and restraint.
I am so not surprised by the rationalizations drawing support from spiritual and other realms of authority to justify the ‘will to power’ and a self-solidity that seems to stabilize our shaky selves, nor by many of our seemingly endless quests for images and sensations of the sensuous and the yummy.
Though I haven’t completely trusted my motives and reactions to David Deida in the little that I have read, listened to, and heard from a friend, I didn’t trust the material much. Again, my knowledge is very partial, my own defensive processes are legend in my own mind, and other apologies, but I got a sleeze factor whiff from it as well. (I’ve been trying to get my nose checked out, but I never seem to get fully to it.)
I’m glad you posted this.
Ambo Suno
Re: Michael Jascz open condemnation of David Deida
Posted on Sat, May 24, 2008 – 12:47 PM
For the most part, I consider myself positively challenged by Deida’s work. I’ve read most of his books, listened much of his pre 2003 audio recordings, and even attended at workshop of his at Omega. So my interest is not to smear or dismiss his contribution in any way.
BUT… many of the things that Michael says resonate with my complaints about Deida’s community or followers; plus it points to important questions we all ought to have about the strength and efficacy of his teaching.
Here are two other prudent considerations put forword by Jim Benson, that enlarge upon some of my complaints:
http://www.jimbenson.net/2007/03/david-deida-run-other-way.html
http://www.jimbenson.net/2007/07/whines-about-deida-work.html
Up until now, I always suspected that my concerns had to do with OTHERS misappropriating his work; but now I worry that Deida himself has succumb to something: perhaps an unhealthy obsession with being the spiritual maverick. If so he may be somewhat blinded to the karma being spun out of his work. And this remains HIS responsibility as a teacher. It also remains the responsibility of his supporters, who endorse his work, and who forge integral alliances with him.
So I call upon them to help me adjust to what might be a challenging altitude. Ken has endorsed Deida’s most recent book, “Instant Enlightenment”, so I presume that he, and others like him, can see around this dilemma.
~Katie
Awareness brings choice; choice brings freedom.
From the Deida Tribe on Tribe.net forum:
Re: Deida in San Francisco/April and Seattle/May
Posted on Tue, February 19, 2008 - 3:54 PM
I got VERY turned off by the way the last weekend was handled by him in LA.
He is just going about it like it’s a marketing scam. (When it’s not!)
all the hype about getting on the priority list, fake “questions” from eager would-be participants and overall just hyping it up and charging A LOT more than Deida’s workshops were before, not revealing the cost until you are thoroughly amped, panties in a twist, after 3 dozen emails pumping the event, cheesy hype.
I would like to go to the
Anyway…. someone said he’s on this tribe. So hi Adam Gilad, here’s some feedback for you…… nothing personal…
[Name pending permission, male]