James Asprer

Landmark Forum in Manila:
A future that transforms my past
and my life today.

I did the Landmark Forum in June 2008. Before that, I thought I had the life I wanted. I was teaching yoga, which for me is less a job and more something I do as a matter of love and passion. I had had my regular schedule of classes for four and a half years already and I would move with clockwork efficiency through my schedule and spend the rest of the day just laying around reading a book and listening to music.

I was fit and healthy and was getting paid to work-out. My dad was working in Hong Kong and my mom in Los Angeles, and basically, I was out of their radars and free from their influence and criticism. I was living my life independently and enjoying having a few good friends to hang out with once in a while.

One sign that life might not be as perfect as it looked was my relationship with my dad. My relationship with him involved a lot of avoidance. I refused to be alone with him in the same place. On the rare times that a conversation would actually happen, it would involve a short question from him and a monosyllabic answer from me and would go something like this:

“How was your day son?”
“Okay.”
or

“What time will you be home?”
“Late.”
End of conversation.

When I did the Landmark Forum, I witnessed with amazement how people began to repair their less than perfect relationships with the people in their lives. On the Saturday evening of my Landmark Forum, I was able to distinguish one of the major barriers I had put up between my dad and me. During the break, I got my phone and called my dad in Hong Kong and I told him, “Dad, I’m beginning to understand all the things you’ve been doing for me. I’m sorry for putting up so many barriers between us. I love you.”

I noticed that people in my Landmark Forum were having major breakthroughs. I could see how they were deeply touched as they began to practice what we learned there. Some faces become ageless and beautiful, some were moved to tears, everyone looked awesome as they experienced again how great it is to be human. People actually commented on my bright smile and how I had lightened up. But there was more yet to come.



A month after that, I spent a whole week with my dad in Hong Kong. I could not recognize myself as I was talking with my dad or even just being with him. We’d go out to dinner and talk about family plans for the future and how things might be with me living alone here in Manila. Before the Landmark Forum, it might have been unthinkable, but I really do have the best father now. To date, the biggest thing I got out of my participation in the Landmark Forum is my dad.

When I did the Introduction Leaders Program, I become aware that despite of all these breakthroughs I was still holding out. So I wrote a letter to my parents where I really listed all the things I did and said that I now regretted. I told my mom how I used to feel so miserable, so unloved and unappreciated. How sorry I was for being angry, slamming the door on her and deliberately hurting her. I promised my parents that I take back the responsibility for myself and my life.

My mom responded that she has always loved me despite all those incidents in the past happened and that I have always been a source of joy for her - no matter what. I realized now how much I have always been loved. I am deeply moved to actually now free to experience this great love. Landmark Education delivered a unique education that left me transformed with more power, freedom, self-expression, and peace of mind.

On the Tuesday evening of my Landmark Forum, I made a request to Aljor Perreras that I wanted to be trained as a leader for this work. On the same night, I registered for the Landmark Forum in Action, the Advanced Course, and the Introduction Leaders Program.

What inspired me to make this declaration and request was the way that our Landmark Forum Leader Rachel Davis was being. I could see her standing in front of all the Landmark Forum participants really committed and listening and delivering for each and every one of us that which makes a real difference in what people are dealing with and what they really care about.

It never ceases to amaze me how many breakthroughs I continue generating for myself out of being in this education. Just recently I have finished one important part of what I needed to do and delivered and satisfied the requirement - and was candidated as the Introduction Leader in Manila! Landmark Education is really awesome and I am committed to contribute and do what it takes to make a difference for of this great education.