Ken Blanchard Praises Book Promoting Yoga, New Age
by Bud Press, Director
Christian Research Service
May 15, 2008
According to his website, Brent Kessel is the CEO of Abacus Portfolios, the President and co-founder of Abacus Wealth Partners, and a financial planner to both the wealthy and modest ( http://www.brentkessel.com/?page=about ).
From the financial to the spiritual, Kessel "has dedicated himself to yoga" since 1989, "and has progressed through the fourth series of Ashtanga under the guidance of his teachers, Chuck Miller and Pattabhi Jois. Kessel has also studied meditation with many of the world's most revered meditation teachers, including Thich Naht Hanh, the Dalai Lama, Eckhart Tolle, Jon Kabat-Zinn, and Adyashanti, among others" (Ibid.).
Brent Kessel believes there is a unique bridge between the financial and spiritual worlds--so much so that he developed his own workshop, "The Yoga of Money." His workshops have gained in popularity over the years, and have been highlighted in major financial publications and newspapers, such as The Journal of Financial Planning, Newsweek, and The Los Angeles Times (Ibid.).
Currently, Kessel is the "exclusive money columnist" for Yoga Journal (Ibid.).
Ommmmmmmoney
Kessel's focus on bridging the financial with the spiritual is accentuated in his book, It's Not About the Money: Unlock Your Money Type to Achieve Spiritual and Financial Abundance, which was published April 1, 2008 by HarperOne, an imprint of Harper-Collins Publishers .
Of his book, Kessel states in part that,
"It's Not About the Money will help you identify your money type, providing information and resources as well as exercises and meditations to inspire a fresh approach to your relationship with money that will change you life" (front flap, http://www.amazon.com/gp/reader/0061234060/ref=sib_dp_pt#reader-link ).
According to Publishers Weekly, "Kessel
offers 'holistic financial advice' in Buddhist-influenced debut
promising both a better financial strategy and greater fulfillment
and happiness" (
Amazon.com's Editorial Reviews ).
New Ager Thich Nhat Hanh provided his own review of Kessel's book, stating that,
"The Buddha taught about the dangers of the wanting mind in all of us, and here Brent Kessel applies that wisdom to the modern challenge of people and their emotional relationship with money. All aspects of our lives are interconnected, so ignoring this important relationship usually leads to self-deception and suffering. Applying Eastern Wisdom to a very Western concern, Kessel shows how being mindful of our relationship to money can free one of anxiety and even turn money into a tool for compassion."
[ http://www.brentkessel.com/?page=the_book&sub=advanced_praise ]
It's Not About the Money not only contains multiple references to Yoga, but references guided meditation and Buddhism, and New Agers such as: Dalai Lama, Wayne Dyer, Jack Kornfield, Mahatma Gandhi, and Thich Nhat Hanh.
Praise for the 'magnificent book'
During the research phase of his book, Kessel states on his website that he was "truly blessed to spend time with some of the leading spiritual and financial leaders in the world today." They include but are not limited to:
Adyashanti (Zen meditation)
"His Holiness" the Dalai Lama
Ram Dass (New Age guru)
Christina Feldman (Gaia House)
Joseph Goldstein (Vipassana teacher)
Rabbi Harold Kushner
Thich Nhat Hanh (Vietnamese Buddhist monk)
Tsoknyi Rinpoche (Tibetan meditation teacher)
Kessel also interviewed the co-founder of Lead Like Jesus, Ken Blanchard, who praised It's Not About the Money, stating that,
"This magnificent book will show you how to get your ego out of the way so you can align your financial decisions with your heart and soul" (front cover, http://www.amazon.com/gp/reader/0061234060/ref=sib_dp_pt#reader-link ).
The expanded version of Ken Blanchard's endorsement on Kessel's website states:
"What's your heart's desire-spiritual fulfillment, or wealth? The good news is that it's not an either/or proposition-you can have both. This magnificent book will show you how to get your ego out of the way so you can align your financial decisions with your heart and soul." [Advanced Praise, http://www.brentkessel.com/?page=the_book&sub=advanced_praise ]
Famous last statements
"It is neither Ken's nor the staff of Lead Like Jesus desire to do anything that might cause another to stumble or that might hinder the furtherance of the gospel. We appreciate the excitement and enthusiasm with which Lead Like Jesus is being embraced all over the country. As leaders in this field, we take seriously our responsibility to offer the very best that we are and, as such, we pledge anew to honor God in everything we do" (Lead Like Jesus, July 21, 2005, on file).
"Recently, it was brought to my attention that some of my endorsements and book forewords are for books written by authors who espouse concepts that are contrary to Christian teachings. I did not realize that this was the case when I wrote these endorsements and forewords. But now after further study and discussions with other followers of Jesus whom I respect and admire, including the staff at Watchman Fellowship, I understand why these are problematic and I promise that I will exercise better discernment in the future" (Ken Blanchard, July 22, 2005, on file).
But the statements of holy Scripture provide a chilling reminder that God knows the hearts of men, and that judgement is coming upon those who claim to be Christian, but who are, in reality, counterfeits:
But it was because of the false brethren secretly brought in, who had sneaked in to spy out our liberty which we have in Christ Jesus, in order to bring us into bondage. But we did not yield in subjection to them for even an hour, so that the truth of the gospel would remain with you (Galatians 2:4-5).
For such are false apostles, deceitful workers, transforming themselves into the apostles of Christ. And no marvel; for Satan himself is transformed into an angel of light. Therefore it is no great thing if his ministers also be transformed as the ministers of righteousness; whose end shall be according to their works (2 Corinthians 11:13-15).
Like clockwork, Ken Blanchard--the co-founder of Lead Like Jesus--has once again demonstrated his true colors.
For further information on Ken Blanchard, Lead Like Jesus, and the New Age Movement, refer to http://www.christianresearchservice.com/LeadingLikeJesus.htm .
Please report broken links to Steve Muse, Director of Eastern Regional Watch Ministries at http://www.erwm.com/contact.htm
© Christian Research Service 2008