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Frank Visser, graduated as a psychologist of culture and religion, founded IntegralWorld in 1997. He worked as production manager for various publishing houses and as service manager for various internet companies and lives in Amsterdam. Books: Ken Wilber: Thought as Passion (SUNY, 2003), and The Corona Conspiracy: Combatting Disinformation about the Coronavirus (Kindle, 2020).

The Complex Legacy of Andrew Cohen

From Revolutionary Guru to Reforming Elder

Frank Visser / ChatGPT

Few figures in the Western spiritual landscape of the late 20th and early 21st centuries have had as dramatic and polarizing an arc as Andrew Cohen. Once celebrated as a bold and uncompromising teacher of “evolutionary enlightenment,” Cohen became the center of intense controversy over authoritarian practices and community abuse, only to later apologize, withdraw from public teaching, and slowly return with a more tempered vision. His life story offers a window into both the promises and perils of modern guru movements.

Beginnings: A Seeker Becomes a Teacher

Andrew Cohen (1955-2024) grew up in New York and began his spiritual search as a young man, studying meditation and Eastern philosophies during the 1970s and 1980s. His decisive spiritual turning point came in 1986, when he met the Indian teacher H. W. L. Poonja (Papaji) in Lucknow. According to Cohen's accounts, a transformative awakening took place under Papaji's guidance, catalyzing his own emergence as a teacher.

Cohen initially gained respect in Advaita-inspired circles. His early books such as Autobiography of an Awakening (1992) and Living Enlightenment (1995) established his reputation as a Western teacher grounded in non-dual insights, but already more confrontational than his peers.

Evolutionary Enlightenment: A New Paradigm

In the late 1990s and early 2000s, Cohen developed his distinctive teaching of “Evolutionary Enlightenment”—a synthesis of Advaita-style non-duality with a dynamic, future-oriented spiritual ethic. Whereas traditional enlightenment emphasized transcendence of the ego and the world, Cohen emphasized collective evolution, moral responsibility, and a radical reorientation of human life toward a higher destiny.

He founded EnlightenNext magazine (formerly What Is Enlightenment?) and built a global network of centers, communities, and events. These included conferences bringing together prominent thinkers—Ken Wilber, Deepak Chopra, Don Beck, and others—who sought to integrate spirituality, science, and social change.

Cohen's positioning within the “integral” and “second-tier” discourse of the time made him a high-profile voice. His 2011 book Evolutionary Enlightenment presented his mature system and became his most widely read work.

The Shadow Side: Authoritarianism and Abuse

While Cohen's intellectual contribution to modern spirituality was significant, his reputation became increasingly tarnished by reports from former students alleging emotional abuse, financial exploitation, and authoritarian control within his communities. His public persona as an uncompromising spiritual teacher often translated, behind the scenes, into harsh confrontations and rigid hierarchies.

Several high-profile critiques emerged in the 2000s, notably from former disciples who recounted “ego-breaking” practices, forced separations from families, or shaming rituals. Cohen was accused of fostering a climate of fear and manipulation under the banner of spiritual growth. By 2013, after decades at the helm of EnlightenNext, the pressure of criticism culminated in a leadership collapse. Cohen stepped down, and EnlightenNext eventually disbanded.

Withdrawal and Apology

In the years after his resignation, Cohen retreated from the public eye. He issued a public apology in 2015 acknowledging the harm caused under his leadership. This was a rare move among modern gurus, most of whom double down or disappear without comment. Cohen's apology—while welcomed by some—was also critiqued as insufficient or ambiguous.

During this period of exile, Cohen reportedly underwent deep self-reflection, therapy, and spiritual reconsideration. By 2019, he began cautiously reemerging, holding small events and publishing materials online under the banner “Andrew Cohen Evolutionary Spirituality.” This post-crisis phase marks a transition from authoritarian guru to a more dialogical elder.

Contributions and Ideas That Endure

Despite the controversies, Cohen's influence persists in several key areas:

Evolutionary Spirituality: Cohen was among the first to popularize the idea that enlightenment could be seen not as a static realization but as an evolving process aligned with cosmic development. This idea—shared by thinkers like Teilhard de Chardin, Sri Aurobindo, and Ken Wilber—has entered mainstream integral discourse.

Interdisciplinary Dialogue: Through EnlightenNext magazine and conferences, Cohen helped bring together scientists, philosophers, and spiritual teachers in a shared space for exploration of consciousness, ethics, and culture. Many of these dialogues were ahead of their time.

A Case Study in Power Dynamics: Cohen's rise and fall serve as a cautionary tale about charismatic leadership in spiritual communities. His story is used in religious studies and leadership trainings as an example of how idealistic visions can become authoritarian systems without checks and balances.

Criticism and Reassessment

Cohen's critics emphasize three enduring lessons:

• The dangers of conflating realization with infallibility. Cohen's awakening under Papaji was genuine for him, but his assumption of absolute authority proved destructive.
• The need for accountability and governance structures in spiritual organizations. EnlightenNext's collapse highlighted how insular communities lack the safeguards that religious institutions traditionally develop.
• The paradox of transformative charisma. Many students experienced genuine breakthroughs under Cohen's guidance, yet also trauma—a duality that complicates any simple assessment.

Return as a Reforming Elder

In his later years, Cohen sought to reframe his role. Rather than positioning himself as the sole arbiter of spiritual truth, he now presents himself as part of a broader conversation about human evolution and consciousness. His online interviews and smaller gatherings reflect a softer tone, emphasizing humility and mutual inquiry.

This “second act” places Cohen in a small but notable group of former gurus—such as Lama Surya Das, Michael Barnett, or Adi Da in his late period—who revisited their earlier excesses and attempted self-revision. Whether this is seen as genuine redemption or reputation management remains debated.

The Broader Legacy

Andrew Cohen's legacy is thus neither entirely inspirational nor wholly condemnatory. It sits at the intersection of innovation and hubris, devotion and abuse, promise and disillusionment. He demonstrated both the enduring allure of spiritual evolution as a modern mythos and the recurring pitfalls of charismatic authority.

For scholars of contemporary religion and spirituality, Cohen's life offers at least three key takeaways:

• Modern Gurudom Is a Double-Edged Sword. Western seekers crave transformative leadership, but without accountability, these communities can slide into dysfunction.
• Ideas Can Outlast Their Authors. Even as Cohen's personal brand suffered, “evolutionary enlightenment” continues to influence integral and post-religious spirituality.
• Redemption Is Possible, But Complex. Cohen's public apology and ongoing reform show a capacity for self-critique uncommon in guru culture, though whether this leads to true healing is an open question.

Conclusion: A Mirror for Our Spiritual Aspirations

Andrew Cohen's life mirrors the broader experiment of modern spirituality: the quest to integrate ancient wisdom with evolutionary progress, individuality with collective purpose, and transcendence with immanence. His career illustrates how noble aspirations can be compromised by unchecked authority, yet also how self-reflection and humility can lead to a renewed path.

As such, the legacy of Andrew Cohen is not a static verdict but a living case study—one that invites seekers, scholars, and future teachers alike to ask hard questions about power, ethics, and the meaning of enlightenment in an evolving world.