Zendik

First, regarding what Malleus said about Revel's initial post. I do not agree that Revel's response was appropriate. He responded like a smug child, name calling and such. He knows full well that the majority of what has been said on this forum is absolutely true. A true "warrior" would "think constantly about everything, always searching for the truth, digging for truth scraping for truth . . . finding truth and welcoming it in whatever form in manifests." ("Nom" after Wulf Zendik, Zendik Tribe Issue # 47). He wouldn't just start calling people names and denying the stories without explaining why they aren't valid or admitting they were true when, in fact, they actually happened.



Also, Greensinger, you can't really get a thorough impression of what Zendik is really about in ten days. A week or so into my stay, I wrote a gushing account of the place which was published in their magazine, so I was certainly charmed, at first. Also, I suggest reading these posts again: they're full of stories.



I haven't written my posts out of malice for the Zendiks. I've written because there are elements of the Zendik philosophy that are truly inspiring and it pains me to see how the attitude & actions of those who are supposed to be living by it are mangling it:



" . . . adapt a benevolent philosophy into your core, a philosophy that you keep checking and checking and checking . . . then it's truth –it's truth, and you know it's truth because it stands up . . . No matter how much it's assaulted, it stands there." "Introduction to Zendik Philosophy," Wouldn't it be wonderful if there really were a group of people who were really always questioning their assumptions?



" We as Zendik Farm believe that mankind has . . . no right to ravage the earth for timber, oil and minerals, no right to upset the eco-balance with his poisons, his industry, his pollution, his chemicals. . . This revolution begins here at Zendik Farm by living and teaching the Good Life . . . and the ultimate form of teaching-through example." "Introduction to Zendik Philosophy." What sort of example was selling off your N.C. land to developers? When one sets themselves up to high ideals, they've got to live up to them or expect criticism.



Zendiks, can't you see what you're doing? Can't you see what mental games you're playing with yourself & others? Unlike many who have contributed to this thread, I think that Wulf actually had some very insightful things to say and wasn't just a "hack," as somebody put it. He wasn't some kind of god, and he may have been a bit egotistical, but I think if the Zendiks went back and took a fresh look at his ideas on truth and responsibility, they might improve the situation.

 

I never meant for my posts to look as though I hated Zendik Farm. I actually came to this thread looking for more info about it because of what I saw my friend go through.I kinda had to see something for myself I guess. I don't hate anyone.I think hate causes to much damage to one's soul sometimes.I agree that the people who have gone through the things they have had with Zendik have a right to be angry.I really didn't start getting pissed until Zendel posted. The way in which he handled the accusations......well it just ticked me off.Peace and love to all...............

 

Now that I've read the thread more thoroughly, I can see what all the fuss was about. Here's my understanding: That Zendik has toned things down a lot over the years, because humiliation and abuse aren't sustainible practices. I definitely got bad vibes from Lore and Arol and Fawn while I was there, but I'd say that generally they're sincere individuals. Generally. Colt has been raised on the farm, I believe, and he's one of the most real people I've met, on or off.

That being said, I'm disturbed by the history lesson, and seriously considering going there as an infiltrator. Either I find utopia, or I destroy the old matrix in favor of a new one! I'm also really interested in Green Hornet's idea of forming an intentional community for people who are attracted to Zendik's promises but want a functional, non-heirarchical community that will make a real difference. Hell, we could call it Zendik as well--we're the real outlaws, aren't we?

I'm no expert on community-forming, but I guess you could say I'm in an ongoing anti-authoritarian, anti-oppression training in the (traditional, not "intentional") community I find myself getting to know now, and have a lot of resources around me right now for learning permaculture and holistic healing. I'm sure there are lots of people with lots more to offer. As I said before, I had problems with some of the nuts and bolts of Zendik life, and forming my own community is what I really want. Who's ready--at least to start thinking about it?

 

Greensinger,


Hey, you joined yesterday too! Whey!

This isn't much related to Zendik, although I've been following the thread avidly (being at first attracted to the place, via their philosophy). I just noticed that you were talking about setting up a sustainable community and wondered if you'd ever heard of this one:

It's a place in Wales called Brithdir Mawr, and it's got a very informative website at www.brithdirmawr.com, which has loads of pictures and shit. Don't worry, I'm not advising that you pack up and move to Wales or anything, but I thought you'd find the ideas useful.

I live in the UK, and I'm thinking of staying there next summer, or visiting over winter if I get the chance. Anyway, there's not much in the way of communes over hear (unless someone would be kind enough to enlighten me) and I stumbled across this on countryfile. They've got a really nice ethos, and had built this amazing celtic roundhouse which the council made them pull down. There was a big battle in the news about it.

Just thought you might like a look,

Iris x

p.s. Also I'm sorry for trying to infiltrate the whole Zendik debate. I'm sure there are some genuine people in there, and like I said before, their philosophy is very tempting--it's just that it was something I'd given much thought to over the last five years and I was shocked by what I read on this thread. Please don't be pissed off!

 

red Lentil and Greenhornet.........I want to hear more!

 

Let's hear from the Zendiks! Can't they send someone forward who can provide more rational and articulate arguments than Revel? Is that the best they can do? I don't know about the rest of you, but this anaylist says that Zendik lost this debate.

 

Sometimes posting an agressive thread - us against them - it's better not to answer and I must say watching this thread (Sometimes being moderator stinks) that it comes across in that manner .
Please note I am not taking sides - shit I only wish there were no sides.

 

Old Wolf: Without some kind of spirited dialog the entire world will fall into a coma as we sluff back on our couches and watch made for TV movies chomping junk food and drinking bad beer. Most of the American population's already there - I wouldn't discourage people from discussing REAL issues, even if they get a little testy.

As long as there are injustices and lies, exploitation and cruelty in this world there will always be "sides." The key, I think, is to listen and not only speak, to work toward expressing the closest thing to the truth that you can, and not to get so hung up in the debate that you start hating your adversary and become just as bad or worse than they are. (which happens a lot, look at history)

 

[ As I said before, I had problems with some of the nuts and bolts of Zendik life, and forming my own community is what I really want. Who's ready--at least to start thinking about it?[/QUOTE]
i helped start and raise a communal family.... it takes alot of hard work and alot of purification, but if you need any ideas, i will be glad to help.

 

Old Wolf: Without some kind of spirited dialog the entire world will fall into a coma as we sluff back on our couches and watch made for TV movies chomping junk food and drinking bad beer. Most of the American population's already there - I wouldn't discourage people from discussing REAL issues, even if they get a little testy.

As long as there are injustices and lies, exploitation and cruelty in this world there will always be "sides." The key, I think, is to listen and not only speak, to ... work toward expressing the closest thing to the truth that you can, and not to get so hung up in the debate that you start hating your adversary and become just as bad or worse than they are. (which happens a lot, look at history)

GreenHornet,
That reply was the type of sentiment that I felt when I first became familiar with Wulf's work, life, and art. I sensed that type of attitude in his books, raps, etc. Unfortunately, that SEEMS to have changed since his passing. I thought it was just me but watching all of the "lifers" at the farm leave the only home they have known in all of their adult life, coupled with the posts on this thread (and many others on the net) I
feel that things have morphed dramatically now that Wulf is gone. This is just MY PERSONAL OPINION, something he always seemed to value
in all people - THE TRUTHWAY - YOUR TRUTHWAY - WHATEVER IT IS FOR YOU. Now it is more of OUR WAY - THE ONLY WAY - OR NO WAY - HIT THE HIGHWAY.......................literally. Anyone who wants to get something "real" going, anyone who wants a "truthseeking" experience, should be strong enough to be open to all opinions. If
you aren't, you are nothing more than a clone of the "system" you rebelled against in the first place.

 

sheesh, honestly I like reading what Greenhornet and Red have to say.They are 2 very intelligent people in my opinion.I have been bombarded with private messages telling me that I am a trouble maker and a mean person because of my last post.That I am only on here to spread rumors. I didn't start this thread. Someone asked for an opinion on Zendik. How did I end up being the bad person? Is this Zendiks way of doing something to get back at people for talking about them? I am not going to feel guilty for the things that Zendik farm has done to people. Is this how they operate, on guilt trips?For those of you that have decided to private message me with hate,well it seems that you are the ones with issues. I came to this forum because of the common interests that I have with the people on here.Isn't there something on here about free speech? Then stop trying to tell me to hush.I am all for love and peace and letting people live, until they are directly hurting people. I don't tell people to stop talking even if I don't agree with them. Everybody has an opinion. I don't think I could live anywhere where someone told me that I couldn't speak my mind.......anyways,just thought I tell those who sent me messages this in a post instead of wasting my energy with different messages.peace.........

 

When I saw Wulf’s picture in one of the magazines I knew I had to meet him. When I moved to the farm I found out he was very reclusive, but I persisted in getting to know him. At one point I played music with him. I was his massage therapist for a while. We had many good conversations. I liked him.

He made it clear to me that Zendik is principally about philosophy. Art is a means of communicating this philosophy, but is secondary to the philosophy. In all of Wulf’s work, it seems that he was always advocating a search for the truth, both personally and culturally. An inescapable conclusion of this should be that he was encouraging everyone to become, as he was, a philosopher. One would think that in such an environment new ideas would be encouraged, considered, explored, and adopted or not based on the merit of the idea rather than the status of the individual in the group. Such was not the case.

The primary problem with Zendik culture is that there are lots of artists, yet no philosophers. Why is this? I blame Wulf for this. He was certainly intelligent enough to see the inconsistency between what he was building and the ideals he preached. He should have been building a community of philosophers rather than a community of artists.

There were many classes on Wulf’s philosophy, yet there was no instruction on thinking critically. (Not that most people there had time to think, given the workload we were all under.) The goal seemed to be to turn us into parrots of Wulf’s writing. In particular, I remember being reprimanded by Zara for trying to use my own words for Wulf’s concepts. Having the audacity to think was surely my downfall there. Wulf certainly had the ability to shape the culture and change these problems, but he didn’t do so.

Now that Wulf is gone, Arol tries to continue on in his footsteps and comes off as a raving lunatic. Chen tried to be philosopher, but was much better at being a journalist. The lack of a philosopher will be the end of Zendik Farm. As recruitment continues to focus exclusively on attracting the artistic, at least there will be someone there to create a cool looking headstone when Zendik does finally die.

 

jonp: great writing, well said.

 

I'd like to take a whack at responding to some of this stuff.

(now that I'm done writing this reply, I gotta say, "I'm sorry it is soOooo long." But I'm not in the mood to edit this all down now and I don't know when I'll get to this if not now.)

First, autumngrl: nobody from Zendik sent you private messages. Please.

The whole conspiracy aspect of this thread is silly. The guns and dragons on our website (and threatening to report us to dept of Homeland Security for these Rorschach-Blot guns, oh my god that is funny), etc.

But, there is another aspect of the thread, accusations that I believe deserve addressing. That said, I must admit that getting myself to write this is like trying to psyche myself up to testify for the defense team in the Salem witch trials.

introduction...
I am Siah. I've lived at Zendik Farm for almost 14 years. I'm 32 and I have an eight year old daughter who lives here and was born at Zendik when we lived in Bastrop, TX. I knew Red Lentil, JohnP, FNTW, and Greensinger... maybe some others, couldn't tell exactly who everyone is.

Lentil:
My memory of Lentil is relatively clear. I'm assuming you remember me, Lentil but in case you don't, (roll This Is Your Life music) there was a little ditty you wrote about me and some of the guys at Zendik back then...

(To the tune of "Planet Claire" by the B52's)
They came from planet dude
They're arrogant and rude
Chen's a paternal satellite
They skate to Danzig every night

Anyways, my memory of Lentil: as she says here, totally miserable at Zendik Farm. There were some funny times that I remember too but if she doesn't care to remember them, oh well... I'm here to defend against her accusations, right? After reading her recollections of the experience, I guess she didn't feel like she was voluntarily in the situation she was in. That sucks but she was NOT forced or even coerced to stay. In fact, the main thing I can say in defense of Zendik Farm en masse was that Lentil was asked to leave, more than once or twice. Many people here at Zendik felt she was not happy, not interested, and not contributing. Of course that combo doesn't work. She really wanted to stay for some reason. She certainly didn't say, "I really only want to stay because you guys don't pay me. I'd be out of here if I had the money for a bus ticket." Like she says, she stayed for two years. I don't think she ever implied in her narrative that she was held against her will but others who joined the discussion seem to have jumped to that conclusion.

Some of the stuff she described was sort-of true in detail but WRONG in spirit. For instance, the music and aesthetic censorship. I remember that era with disdain but it wasn't like Lentil says. There was no high-up group who went on listening and dressing like normal. It was an idea, probably Wulf's, to sort of shock, or force ourselves out of our normalness, our complacency. I'm not going to defend the idea of stopping all listening to commercial music, reading commercial authors, wearing commercial clothing, etc (mostly because I do all those things every day) BUT the idea was introduced and embraced in the name of liberating ourselves from conditioning. Frankly, Wulf sometimes came up with heavy handed ideas, but they applied to himself as much as anyone. He was an intense genius and many of his ideas that didn't work were as intense an experience as those that did and do work. I remember crying one night and saying "I just want to listen to the Misfits!"

BUT, if I wanted the Misfits more than the experiment that was and is being a Zendik, I would have left, money or none. Of course, personally, I still have none (money that is, I've got a copy of the Misfits box set though). Thank gawd.

But Lentil, you tell the tale in this way that makes it malicious and controlling. I don't mean to be mean but why would you have participated in ANY of the shit we were trying in that era if you didn't believe in the experiment and just viewed it as your rights being infringed upon?

These bad reviews of living Zendik life have to be put in that context.
Which context?
The context that the idea of Zendik is to challenge the current normal philosophy of competition, complacency, accepting the status quo, and accepting easy answers that make our ego's feel good. I'm not here to preach Zendik though, I'm here to defend it against charges. Read our website, http://www.zendik.org (hey, you'll see some cool guns and dragon eggs and who knows what else)

Huh?
the point I was trying to make is that we do weird things to ourselves here to break free from suburban values and reflexes. Personally, I'm proud of all that I've gone through in the years I've been here. Plenty of it, I'm VERY glad is over. I guess I can see how un-fun it would be to live through these experimental phases if you didn't feel enthusiastic about the potential results of the experiments.

For instance, my Mom would be miserable here, so would my brother, most if not all of my friends from high school. I mean, they have a good time when they visit but I wouldn't dream of suggesting to them that they should live here. For a certain type of person, flexible of habit and with above average ego-strength (arrogance?) and belief that they could be beyond normal, this life is VERY rewarding. But what two people get out of an identical experience, that is, of course, subjective.

Another for instance, your perspective on Zendik communalism being equivalent to living with your fellow employees... that just rubbed me the wrong way. But when I thought about it, I guess it is a good illustration of how you viewed what was going on. We were your fellow employees, you wanted to get away. I don't see it that way. We were and are striving together to make certain ideas (again, read the website for further info on that) transcend concept into reality, and we are bold enough to want to change the whole fucked up world in this direction. I respect the other people who I am engaged in that work with. They are who I want to fall asleep talking with and wake up and drink coffee with.

Actually, that leads me to another point... 12 years ago (the era you describe as if it were still going on exactly that way today), we were relatively isolated, our magazines and TV shows pissed off as many people as they enlightened, and I would be the first to admit, the Zendik attitude needed some compassion-ing up. I like to think that I've helped some in that direction. But NOW, Zendik is much more inclusive and we are given attention, not just as a radical commune but we are given respectful media, and more and more people are getting the idea of what Zendik is really about.

Living as "a Zendik" is much different, and way better now than it was in the era you described, over a decade ago, the "bad old days". Much has evolved. Lots of other stuff that you probably wouldn't have enjoyed has been tried and either dropped or adapted. But, I don't really feel comfortable talking in this thread about what I see as the past or present problems of Zendik. Heck no. I'm here to defend.

Enemas and sex and such...
In defense of enemas, well I'm pretty sure it is healthy to wash out all the built up toxins in your colon. I haven't done an enema (taken an enema?) for years though. I guess some folks thought it was important back then, don't really remember but enemas certainly weren't forced or administered by anyone onto anyone else.
Condoms are commonly used.
Monogamy is practiced by many.
Spec checks are still used as a form of birth control, and this is another area in which I feel you wrongly described the spirit. Many women use the opportunity to talk and the physical knowledge of the state of your body is creative, etc, etc PLUS in a more spontaneous situation, folks who don't want to procreate just use a condom. I've actually never heard anyone complain about this before. Certainly no one is strapped down and "specced."
You might think it is weird to talk about openly about sex, and as you can probably remember--most people who live here (even more so 10+ years ago) aren't exactly comfortable with it ourselves. But, we believe that breaking through these moral codes (even when it is uncomfortable) is essential to the real work that we are pursuing and achieving with Zendik.

To everybody who said that we lie about what we are about:
We do not mention permaculture once on our website, well I can't be that absolute about it, but... We don't mention permaculture once that I can remember on our website! I respect that movement and all environmentalists that try to point the way ecologically but we aren't Earth First, Greenpeace or any other environmental or communal (for that matter) movement; we don't pretend we are. If that is the image that you conjure in your head when you read our magazine or website, just change the image now, k?

Zendiks talk about sex, relationships, hidden resentments, everything, We are ALL in each other's business, and if you don't like that, you won't like living here. But, again remember the point--it isn't to be nosey, it's to be intimate with people you respect, and anyways... we aren't advertising ourselves as a nice suburban home for people with alternative hair-cuts who want to recycle. We are saying that we are cultural revolutionaries. If you don't like this particular revolution, start your own, a sincere HURRAY for you, but you can't fault Zendik Farm for the fact that the people here are different than what you are used to.

I don't know how to explain what I was trying to say in that last paragraph better than that right now but it is really important to understand that aspect of Zendik when you try to slot us or get the essence of what we are really "about". We believe (I know, "we believe" is scary to some of you but sorry it is true.) that this kind of honesty (which kind? ((the kind that really fucks with your ego and your whole concept of who you are and what life is about)) is what pushes people to be more than suburban shlubs with noble ideals, pushes you to be strong enough to put your life, your actions where your ideals are. All these last two paragraphs are, I guess, addressing the whole mean/invasive accusation. We aren't just mean or invasive for no reason (or for the reason that it is somehow fun to fuck-over young would-be commune members). We are trying to live by the ideals that some of you folks on this forum accuse us of not living by.

I think you casters of that particular accusation (we don't live by what we say we are about) missed what we profess to be "about".

Again, though, Zendik Arts is no longer in the business of scolding you for not living like us. <---- Yes, that is an admission that Zendik P.R. has had an attitude problem.... Still, I don't like our actions being presented out of context with the intention of the actions.

Another thing that I think has changed over the years:
More space and less tolerance: People who come here aren't expected to just "get with it" upon arrival. And you aren't treated with the "gloves off" till you've been around and seem to actually understand what the point of Zendik is. Also, people don't linger as long as they used to when they aren't "with it". If a person is here for a while and they keep persistently thinking we are the rainbow family or the partridge family (nothing against either, but we are neither), we try to politely shoe horn them out the door and down the road. That reminds me, some people in this thread seem to think that we are obsessed with "recruiting." We are actively interested in more people coming to live here who are sincerely interested in what Zendik is "really about" but we really and truly don't give a fuck about fattening our population for the sake of higher population alone.

Actually, to be totally truthful... right now we are cramped. We have just moved to West Virginia (oh, yeah the whole "Why did they 'REALLY' move?" conspiracy)... This place, the house the property are beautiful but it would be a lie to say new people here are given more space right now. We're building a new addition to add more living spaces but we are human sardines right now, living very closely and intimately, probably more close than any of us prefer.

Back to Lentil...

The dude who donated the money he inherited while he was here, Ambi...
You make the story much more exciting telling it your way but at the cost of truth. As I remember it, he did donate, give, part with, whatever you want to call it--he did it willingly--roughly $100,000. Some of that was before I moved in in 1991, and in increments over a couple years I guess if you say so. BUT, my point is "Hardy Har Har" to the statement that he was kicked out immediately after signing over the last check. I knew him. I liked him and I'm pretty sure he liked me. Look, he lived at, in, with Zendik for years. Can't you conceive that a person who really believed in something could not give a fuck about money and just give their support, whatever form it took to the movement or group or whatever? Later, he left--or maybe we asked him to leave, it does happen. That money was spent. I'm sorry that he later regretted donating his inheritance, but again, it was his choice, and though I didn't live at Zendik Farm when he arrived, I'm pretty certain the atmosphere wasn't, "heh, heh, he looks like his mom will croak soon. somebody start fucking him so we can get his inheritance money and then kick him out, muhaahahaha."

Oh, money, that reminds of something else that you said Lentil that just shocked me.
You said that you didn't believe we made all of our money by selling our stuff, it was in the sort of conspiracy section of the thread, where all you guys were noticing the guns and the dragon eggs and stuff... You lived here for two years and you have some belief that we have some shady money deal going??? Like what? dealing drugs, white slavery? or what are you implying?

I'll say it for the record... We survive economically off the sales of our publications, music, shirts, and sometimes performances.
whether some of you like these productions or find them shitty doesn't really change the fact that it is our livelihood.

Alright, I'm getting tired but I have one more that I feel needs addressing.

JonP

I remember you. You were a serious man who made awesome cheese. I'm truly shocked that you remember your experience at Zendik as you do. The therapy thing, I don't know what to say. I'm sure you aren't lying but that you remember it incorrectly. I remember the era of the "Therapies". Nobody beat you, chained you, or gave you shock therapy at Zendik Farm. I was very involved with the whole therapy thing. They were very intense and I believe yours was one where we tried the breathing and I may even remember you hyperventilating or maybe not, but man we did NOT hit people or physically harm them in any way. I remember it. That wasn't part of the idea and the therapies weren't punishments. We really believed they would jar us out of our habits and free us of our resentments. Lots of screaming and beating tires, maybe you were traumatized by your experience, but you weren't physically abused. I suppose if I believed shock therapy would really transform me, I'd take it but shit Jon, that really didn't happen.

There is more to living here than I've gone into in this post but I felt I had to defend the "hard-core" aspect of Zendik life past and present, which some have shown here in a scary and essentially untrue way.

We also enjoy each other's company and have light conversations and play video games and call our parents and eat peanut butter and jelly sandwiches...

but we are serious about changing the world

love,
x-tina's new boy-toy... Siah Zendik

ps. I'm purposely not addressing the personal attacks on Lore, Arol, Fawn, and Rev. They were just mean, classless, and not worth responding to.

 

Siah wrote:

"But Lentil, you tell the tale in this way that makes it malicious and controlling. I don't mean to be mean but why would you have participated in ANY of the shit we were trying in that era if you didn't believe in the experiment and just viewed it as your rights being infringed upon?"


Of course I believed in the experiment. I was totally committed to Zendik Farm. If I had thought (at the time) that my fellow Zendiks were acting maliciously or that my rights were being infringed upon, I would have left the group immediately.

Anyone who believes in the experiment forfeits the capacity to recognize the evidence of its repeated failures. This forfeiture has become the experiment.

I make it clear in my posts that the "therapy" sessions were believed to be therapeutic. Without this good intention, nobody would have participated in them.

Every abuse was performed for the good of all.

 

siah,
Honestly I don't know who sent the private messages. I can only take into account what was said and assume it was someone from Zendik or supporters of the farm.If the farm is way you describe then I believe they shouldn't be trying to draw in people with artistic abilities. If anything, people with such abilities should be allowed to be free and express themselves anyway that they feel is right.I don't feel that bruising people's egos and tearing them down will change the world. Building people up and teaching them to be kind to others will.Especially with young people. Kid's have enough emotional stress these days and that is why so many are growing up to not care about others.I got from your post that you maybe think that those of you are somewhat better than those who can not make it at Zendik. Forgive me if that is not how you meant it to come out, but until we all realize that we are the same on the inside and that noone is "better" than anyone else regardless of money,color,sex,etc. then I think that will start changing the world. Again I just don't understand why the target for the farm are artists when it seems to be that they will be told only to change......

 

Ok, we disagree but pleeeeeeeez stop using the present tense.
For some reason, that is driving me crazy. You have no idea what goes on at Zendik now.

 

autumngrl,
have you been reading this thread? The people who live at Zendik Farm have been painted as horrible monsters. I'm trying to show what I view as the dignity and honor of living this life. I live here because I believe this is a "better" way to live. But, I didn't post here to attack anyone else's way of life, just to defend mine.

 

Siah - I did'nt hear anything in there explaining how things are regarding a hierarchy(?) Is'nt a hierarchy a product of competition? which is agreeably the source of most of all humanity's evils according to Wolf.
Are members now "allowed" to put philosophy into thier own words?
It seems to me that Zendik would attract some of society's geniuses, but if they spoke or acted in ways that veteran Zendik members did not "get" and were in some way corrected, that would be a very BAD thing.

 

After reading Siah's rambling diatribe I was interested to see that he didn't respond to any of the issues I raised. Are we left to assume that the Zendiks can't dispute my arguments? (not that they are so brilliant or anything, but I felt a bit left out!) Nothing that Siah wrote addressed the core complaint that runs throughout this whole thread, that the Zendiks are not acting according to their philosophy. The Zendik Farm does not really encourage the “relentless pursuit of truth” and are about as profit-oriented than any typical corporation.



What’s all that Zendik smack about leading by example? You can’t have it both ways, you’re either environmentalists or you’re not. You’re either against exploiting people and land for profit or you’re not. But Zendik tries to play both sides of the issues – and use their supposed radical environmentalism as a marketing tool to sell their tracts.



Siah writes: “We also enjoy each other's company and have light conversations and play video games and call our parents and eat peanut butter and jelly sandwiches...”



I think, oddly, that this is telling. Not long ago, I read a book called The Giver by Lois Lowry, it’s meant to be a children’s book, but is actually much more. Anyone read it? It’s the story of a future utopian society where everyone lives this placid communal life. Their biggest fear is being “released” from the community. They have lots of “light conversations” and meetings about their feelings. Everyone is required to tell the truth. The many rules aren’t laws, but if you don’t follow them you might get chastised at a meeting or even “released.” Everything is structured and programmed and controlled by a seemingly benevolent leadership. I won’t give away the ending, but suffice to say there’s a lot of unpleasant lies and horrors underneath the placid surface. The Giver is must-read for anyone who’s ever lived at Zendik, it’s a wonderful portrait of the Zendik reality where individual members are required to be honest and to live a totally harmless and perhaps inconsequential existence, while the organization’s overall actions and integrity are not to be questioned no matter how hypocritical or contradictory. And then there’s the selective memory that Siah expresses, kind of like Reagan & “W:” anything that contradicts the current myth is conveniently forgotten. I just don’t believe that Red Lentil or JonP are lying or don’t recall what happened to them personally. I think much of Siah’s argument is consistent with the Zendik method of singling out individuals, putting them on the spot, and attacking them in front of the group: “divide & conquer” or “squeezing the lemon” to use the cult counselor terminology.