Frequently Asked Questions about the
Leap of Faith

1. What is your method of teaching and why does it have such a high success rate?
2. Why physical confrontation? This sounds like some sort of self-defense class?
3. There has been some question about the name, Leap of Faith. Does this program promote some religion or is religious in its teaching?
4. Many people who take the LOF seem to be vague and appear reluctant to tell what happens in the program. Why does it appear to be so difficult to explain? Can you tell us what happens in the program?
5. Can children take this program?
6. What about couples or family members taking the Leap of Faith at the same time? Should they or do you recommend they do it separately?
7. Many weekend programs like this charge a very high fee. Yet, you charge a very low fee. Why?
8. What about those with physical disabilities or the elderly? Are they able to take this program and will they get less out of the program?

1. What is your method of teaching and why does it have such a high success rate?
This program is designed for you to witness yourself being the hero of your own life. When you experience yourself going through any confrontation successfully, no matter what it simulates in your mind about your past, it begins to lay down a new programming that is permanent. What would it be like if every time a challenge arrived in your face and the voice in your head said, “You can’t do this!” And then you took action and successfully went through that challenge?

Once you have an awakening moment, you can’t go back. Whether you are conscious of it or not the process of unfolding and awakening continues in the background. After awhile, the voice in the head loses its power and makes a space for more of YOU to enter. This is what the program is all about. You begin to realize and awaken to the facts that most of the voices in your head are nothing but thoughts that you took in and became addicted to. You literally identified with these thoughts as you and this is very limiting.

We offer full body experiences. This is the best and most successful way to learn. Every one of our programs are created so that each student will get to experience and practice. They are encouraged to make mistakes and incorporate their immediate learning into their full capacity to demonstrate it in life. They experience a surrender to what is in front of them, thus allowing a more powerful focus and attention to take action. Surrender means you no longer waste energy on resistance. You get to work. Experience is the mother of learning. Attempting to learn through just the mental pathway is very limiting. Life is an emotional adventure with many surprises and unpredictable events. When one is able to access their unlimited ability to embrace ANY life circumstance, whether positive or negative, with power, compassion and confidence, their lives change.

You then begin to question all those limiting thoughts you have entertained for so many years and this process of evolution and growth becomes your new pathway. As more of you is revealed, your life takes on a whole new sense of wonder.

2. Why physical confrontation? This sounds like some sort of self-defense class?
No this is not a self-defense class.

Over thirty years ago, I was asked by law enforcement to create programs that replicated as close as possible unpredictable violent situations that would stimulate intense states of adrenaline. Police wanted advanced programs that better prepared them for the extreme states of fear often experienced during violent confrontations in the street. They knew that when the intense state of fear hit during a violent confrontation, decisions and choices must be made instantly or lives could be lost.

To be able to practice in the arena of intense fear while in a safe environment that allows for mistakes and learning is essential. It would provide the needed connection between the emotion and the mind and give the police officers the ability to “make friends” with fear and not be frozen by it. Even more dangerous, in the midst of a fearful situation, attempt to go to the past and try to remember a series of thoughts of what to do, would take them out of the moment and less aware of what was happening right in front of them. Bottom line, they needed more than they received at the police academy and knew that real life full body experiences were the best way to prepare them.

You cannot prepare for an emotional situation solely from a mental state of mind. That would be like reading a book on swimming and then jumping in a deep lake for the first time without ever experiencing what it feels like to get wet. They are two completely and distinctly separate phenomena. You must “feel” to the core of your being, fear and how you react or respond to it. And while in the midst of that feeling, be able to make choices, communicate and take immediate action without the habitual thinking mind getting in the way. I had no idea that thirty years ago, I would be laying down the foundation of a program that would change the lives of thousands of people.

We use physical confrontations because it works. It is immediate and the mind cannot engage in its habitual ego games that usually occur during waking hours. People learn how to stop an attack as part of the class. However this is not a major portion of the program. It is used only as a metaphor that works successfully to unleash an immediate awareness of the power of now and how to access the present moment.

After witnessing the life transforming effect this had on so many law enforcement personnel, I was asked to create something appropriate for the general public. After thirty years of refining the program, we now have the Leap of Faith. This part of the program instantaneously evokes many hidden belief systems and limited thoughts that people have, which are unconscious and tend to rule their lives. I have made it appropriate for the general public so that people from all walks of life, age or gender can easily complete the program. The staff that I train to perform the confrontation portion of the program are specially picked and trained to provide a very powerful experience for each student. They are all past graduates and are committed to provide each student with a very profound awakening moment. And they do their job well.

We are a very mental culture that tends to believe that we can think our way through life and solve problems solely with our thoughts. This is a very limited way and demonstrates the arrogance of the ego. When you examine our heroes of the past, our leaders who we admire and read about in our history books, they all had one thing in common. They experienced extreme challenges, confrontations evoking the depth and heights of fear. They all had to go beyond their thinking mind and connect to what I call – their Warrior Spirit. You can’t access this by thinking your way there. This present moment that is always here and now is the future for humanity.

As a doctor who spent the majority of my life in the academic world, any triumph I have achieved, came from my ability to persevere that which I was not mentally prepared to deal with. My spiritual endurance which has been tested many times has been my foundation for true growth. My academic career has been useful, but my heart is what propelled me forward. Our leaders were able to accomplish miraculous feats not solely by their mind, but they knew how to access their eternal potential to embrace fear at any time in any situation. This ability to embrace fear and still take the necessary action is called courage.

We do not teach courage. We set it up so that each person has an opportunity to experience themselves using fear in a very positive way which gives birth to courage. This physical, emotional and mental experience re-connects each one with their unlimited ability to access this place anytime in their life.

No program will change your life. What you do after the program is will determine your life experiences. The real Leap of Faith is really after you walk out of the seminar room and move into those areas of your life that have been waiting for you. This often takes courage and the results can be nothing less than miraculous.

3. There has been some question about the name, Leap of Faith. Does this program promote some religion or is religious in its teaching?

NO. The faith part of the name came from a graduate many years ago and just sort of stuck. The word faith sometimes has a religious connotation. The dictionary literally defines Faith as “Trust or belief in somebody or something without logical proof to the thinking mind.”There are times in life when we must trust in our ability to always know what is right and good for us.

We use faith every day. We have faith that others will stop at red lights when we are driving through a green one. We trust that they will respect and honor the traffic laws. Our lives are literally in the hands of those we don’t know yet have faith that they respect and will follow the same traffic laws we do. My experience is that faith is not believing, it is knowing. Our beliefs tend to change as we get more information and evolve. Our faith tends to be more solid and is determined usually from something deep in our knowing.

We are sometimes taught the opposite and lose our confidence and seek approval or direction from outside authorities. This starts early in childhood which could lead to peer pressure and seeking approval so you can be a part of something. As much as this at times is necessary, I feel that that we must learn to take a stand for our true nature of being compassionate powerful human beings and at times be able to say NO and move in accordance to our inner purpose.

Regarding religion, this program is intentionally designed to embrace ALL faiths, disciplines and walks of life. All people from all particular faiths are respected and welcomed. They are encouraged to go back to their preferred place of inspiration and live their message and walk their talk.

We have had people from every religion and denomination possible go through this program. We have had those who have no particular path or religion go through this program and leave with a new sense of themselves as a more loving and compassionate human.

I guess the best example I could give would be to share with you an actual event that occurred several years ago at the end of one of the Leap of Faiths.

As I was packing and leaving the weekend program I was approached by several students from the class. They were thanking me for the class as they were getting ready to leave.

• The first student grabbed my hand shaking it vigorously while saying, “You have really made the New Testament alive in my life again, and I feel that I can bring the teachings of Christ fully into every part of my life. Certainly more than just on Sunday service. Thanks so much.”
• The second student caught me as I was leaving the seminar room and gave a big hug while whispering in my ear, “I have studied Buddhism and now have a pathway to demonstrate compassion to those I work with and live with. Thanks so much.”
• Student number three met me in the parking lot and approached with a long beard and coat, and beamed a smile from ear to ear, “I have been a rabbi for over 13 years. I have endeavored to help people with their ability to love each other as brothers and sisters. I know now how to make my teachings alive again. Blessings.”
• And probably one of my favorites came from a student in the form of an email the next day, “Just wanted to drop you a line of sincere thanks. I used to think that consciousness was something I lost after a six pack of beer! This program has taught me to have faith in those I love and most of all, faith in myself. I now consider myself an honorable family man after so many years of beating myself up. I had no faith in anything. Most of all, my family thanks you.”

4. Many people who take the LOF seem to be vague and appear reluctant to tell what happens in the program. Why does it appear to be so difficult to explain? Can you tell us what happens in the program?
I really do not feel that it is intentional. I designed the program the same way that life happens. As much as every minute of the program is strategically planned, I leave a lot of room and give a high priority to being spontaneous to the moment to moment needs of each class. No two classes are the same. Everyone has different needs and desires, and to attempt to deliver content that is scripted, would not allow for the ever changing group dynamic each class demands. This makes it more challenging to encapsulate it into one convenient description. I can tell you that each student will learn some very important data that is intended to help them through difficult times. The content is intended to give a perception shift and another way of translating the challenges in their lives. They will also experience a series of strategically designed confrontations, both verbal and physical, that are intended to stimulate the adrenaline state we know as fear. This process gives immediate access into the most powerful place known as The Now. Each student then experiences Fear as a friend and not an enemy, thus using fear to increase their sense of awareness and a heightened sense of the external world. This is not easy to describe in words.

The third part of the program is guided by me, which allows the students to ask questions and become aware of how to master this “automatic reaction” in their lives and become the master of their lives, rather than the victims of their circumstances. The conscious ability to access and integrate this new sense of power in their lives is what sets the Leap of Faith from other programs.

The mind dwells on the past and focuses on the future so it can prepare and insure that you survive. Most of the important experiences in life are not conveniently announced to you ahead of time. In fact, most of the suffering of humanity comes not from the events in our lives, but HOW we react to those events. We tend to resist life and this leads to suffering. Suffering comes from attempting to live in the illusion of the past or future never experiencing the magic of the present moment.

The Leap of Faith is constructed so that each participant comes face to face with their unlimited ability to face any confrontation or experience in life, especially those challenges that surface unannounced. Rather than avoid the negative circumstances in their lives, they learn to use those circumstances as portals or openings to the present moment where true power awaits. Therefore, everything that was once subject for worry or fear now becomes a new doorway to greatness. You no longer avoid or run from them, you see them for what they are, an opportunity to grow.

These series of confrontations lead to a climactic moment during the program which is intended to leave each student with an experience that has lasting permanent body memory. This means that there is nothing for the mind to do or remember. The ego has great difficulty attempting to describe what it wants to avoid. There is no series of thoughts or mental principals for the ego to hold on to. It is internal like your DNA. You do not receive this at the program, but realize and awaken to this power, for it has always been a part of you. To reveal what this exercise is, would be to give away the “ending of a good movie.” All I would be able to do is talk ABOUT it and that is not it. It would be like attempting to describe the experience of child birth in all its miraculous glory and wonder.

You cannot teach this. One must have the opportunity to feel fear in present time and out of the habitual thinking mind where our limited beliefs reside. It is not an easy experience to describe. The real result that is too overwhelming for words, is the ability to get “out of your thinking mind and enter the power of the present moment.” As mentioned earlier, we tend to spend most of our waking consciousness dwelling on the past or thinking about the future almost like living in a dream state 24 hours a day.

And most of this energy is spent on recycled redundant thoughts that are not very positive or empowering. When one experiences HOW to enter the present moment AT WILL, you immediately experience what you have always known – that there is nothing really to be afraid of and you have the power to embrace and get through anything.

To sum it up, if graduates seem vague or find it difficult to describe their experience it is because words simply cannot touch or come close to their actual experience. This can be difficult to express in words. You just have to experience it for yourself.

5. Can children take this program?
No. this program is for adults only. For teens who are 15 yrs and older, they must have one parent who is graduate of the program and live with the teen at least half of the time. It is too intense and adult oriented for young children to go through. We have a kid’s class that will be available soon. It teaches kids how to stay safe and not succumb to peer pressure and trust their power to take care of themselves.

As part of that class, each parent must attend a “parent night” before their child goes through the program. This is to teach the parents how to continue the teachings and make the teachings alive in their children after the weekend is over. It is also the intent to provide parents new pathways of communicating to their children and become better listeners.

I am currently designing a Teen Leap of Faith that will be for 14 – 17 yr. olds which will deal with situations and challenges all teens face. Stay tuned.

6. What about couples or family members taking the leap of faith at the same time? Should they or do you recommend they do it separately?

I highly encourage that they take the program at the same time. Whatever level or situation your current relationship is in, it will shift in this program for the better. Good relationships get even better.

Many people judge each other and have a very limited view of those they think they know. They will have an opportunity in this program to open their eyes and expand their perception of those they live or work with.

I have had many say that they have come to take the program “to provide support for their significant other, son, daughter or co-worker” only to discover that they are there for themselves. If you feel that you could allow the other participant the space to have their own experience, then I highly recommend it.

7. Many weekend programs like this charge a very high fee. Yet, you charge a very low fee. Why?
Over ten years ago, we used to charge well over $600 for the weekend. On the verge of increasing it, I experienced an epiphany. I also realized that it would make it more challenging for some people to get this experience. I wanted a single parent who had difficulty paying for the electric bill to be able to experience the Leap of Faith. So at a time in my life where I had every reason to increase it, I drastically decreased the fee to almost nothing. I announced this to my staff at the closing meeting of one of the Leap weekends.

Most of the staff was paid back in those days. We did not know if we would have enough money to pay for the expensive facility rental, insurance and equipment, etc. to produce the next Leap of Faith. I shared from my heart to my staff that we must trust in human nature and take our own Leap of Faith and ask for donations at the end of each class. Each class would then pay for the next class. If it continues, then it is meant to be. By the time I completed my announcement to my staff, everyone one of them had returned their checks asking me to donate their paycheck to the next Leap of Faith. They literally paid for the next Leap of Faith.

At the end of each leap, the students have an opportunity to donate money to pay the way for those who will take the next class. For people they don’t even know. This has gone on for over ten years. I just recently had to raise the fee to keep up with inflation but compared to other weekend programs, we still consider that this program is very inexpensive.

8. What about those with physical disabilities or the elderly? Are they able to take this program and will they get less out of the program?
The oldest person who went through the program was 88 years old. We have had people who are blind, deaf; just about every physical condition thought to be a disability goes through the program. We have had people in chemotherapy, recovering addicts from all conditions and people confined to wheel chairs. We had one person who had cerebral palsy, in a wheel chair who had only the limited use of one arm. My mother went through the program at the age of 76 with severe arthritis in both knees. Each experience in the program is designed for you to go through at YOUR ability to move through it. You will not get less out of the program because it is not depended on your physical ability. It depends entirely on your decisions and perceptions of your world. Many people who use to feel “disabled“now feel “differently- abled” and have learned that their difference is a gift that is part of their divine purpose.