Moscow Experience Interview

Before the fall of the Soviet Union, John P. Hanley, President of Lifespring, received a letter from the Academy of Sciences of the USSR inviting a Lifespring delegation to visit Moscow. The purpose was to explore human development, self-exploration, transformation, and the possibility of holding a Lifespring training there in the future.

Upon their return, Charles Ingrasci interviewed Candace Hanley, Dr. Ross, and Jim Cash about their experiences in the USSR. Given the historic nature of this trip, we have included excerpts from this interview.

How were you received?

Jim: We were given the warmest, most gracious, and enthusiastic reception you could imagine.

Dr. Ross: All of us were just bowled over by our reception. We expected to talk about the training and gradually have people understand more about it and then cautiously explore the possibility of doing something together. But, when we got there, the situation was totally different. The whole episode became not one of "if and whether," but "how and when." That was very dramatic.

Candace: A tremendous sense of possibility exists there now. The people are ripe with a new sense of freedom and a tangible excitement and enthusiasm for the future. There's an opportunity for Americans to participate with them in inventing the future that we share together, as opposed to just sitting back to see how things turn out over there and then deciding how we want to relate to them.

Why are the Soviets interested in Lifespring and why did they invite you to Moscow?

Candace: I noticed that, for the first time in modern Soviet society, people have the opportunity to feel more openly. Not only to speak more openly and appear more open, but to actually feel more openly.
Russians are looking for ways to enhance their ability to act on the personal freedoms that are becoming increasingly available to them.

Dr. Ross: Certainly there are things about Lifespring that they want, but not simply because it is Lifespring. They want to have something happen that makes them feel more powerful and freer to make choices. They want human contact and they want to increase the possibility of making things happen in their lives through vehicles other than the state -- other than formal organizations.

Candace: A Soviet professor of philosophy told us that, in his opinion, there were no new theories presented in Lifespring, but he had never before seen such a practical adaptation to benefit people in their everyday lives.

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