In the first couple of of years after Werner Erhard created est, he met the Karmapa in India -- and sponsored the Karmapa's first visit to the United States.
During this visit to India, Werner Erhard also visited Swami Muktananda at Ganeshpuri and also helped M come to the United States. M incorporated
Erhard's est methodology in the Siddha Yoga Intensives.(Corboy)
[www.google.com].
The Encyclopedia of Cults, Sects, and New Religions -- James R Lewis 2004
[books.google.com]
"In the early 1970s Erhard traveled to Asia in search of spiritual leaders from whom he could learn.
He went to Ganeshpuri India, where he met Swami Muktananda. In Tibet he met His Holiness the Gwyala Karmapa, one of the chief religious leaders of Tibet. Erhard sponsored visits to America by both these gurus,
The Collected Works of Chogyam Trunpa: Cutting Through Spiritual Materialism, Volume 3
page xxiv to page xxv.
[books.google.com]
"The interview itself covers a wide range of topics, including Rinpoche's view on EST and ecology. He is critical of Erhard Sensitivity Training, yet points out that Werner Erhard, its founder, is a "friend of ours".
"Participants in Erhard's training program attended especially EST sponsored Vajra Crown ceremonies conducted by His Holiness Karmapa in 1976, so there was some genuine interest there in Kagyu spirituality.
Trungpa Rinpoche was suspicious of Erhard's approach, but also, typically for him, saw the potential in what Erhard was doing.
More:
Chogyam Trungpa: His Life and Vision
By Fabrice Midal
The Creation of Shambhala Training 237 - 238
There is a historical paradox about the birth of Shambhala Training. Originally, the intention behind the progam was not to introduce the Shambhala teachings but instead to present the practice of meditation simply and directly to as many people as possible.
One of the key moments was the visit that Werner Erhard paid to Chogyam Trungpa in 1976 and the great impression he made. At the time, Werner Erhard, (who had changed his name from John Paul Rosenberg) was at the peak of his dazzling rise as the director of est (Erhard Seminars Training) a system of "group awareness training" that he had founded in 1971. (The organization still exists, now under the name of "The Forum") According to Erhard, people were unhappy because their minds had been incorrectly "programmed" by destructive conditioning. As a result of this discovery, he set up a system of training to help participants transform their own consciousness so as to allow them to get what they want out of life.The seminars he organized toward this end were extremely intense. Participants were locked in a room and not permitted to leave for the duration of the seminar. The aim was to make everyone take stock of themselves with complete honesty. At the end of the weekend, people reported feeling very different. Their defenses had been broken down. They had become more sensitive, more open, and a little closer to who they really were. Needless to say, est methods appeared to be quite forced.
Werner Erhard had arranged an audience with the Karmapa who encouraged him in his desire to help people and suggested he should meet Chogyam Trungpa. So with a few of his assistants, Werner Erhard traveled to the Rocky Mountain Dharma Center during a seminar given there in the summer of 1976. He arrived late for Chogyam Trungpa's talk, in a white limousine. After the talk, he was invited to the Rinpoche's residence ((near the site of what is now the Great Stupa of Dharmakaya, dedicated to Chogyam Trungpa's memory). Werner Erhard handed out Cuban cigars all around, which was a sign of great wealth at the time, given the US embargo. He was trying to make his presence felt.
A number of Rinpoche's students were also at the meeting. He had asked one of them, Karl Springer (then head of external affairs for Vajradatu) to pose a few questions to Erhard and sound him out. Meanwhile, Chogyam Trungpa observed in silence. During the visit, which lasted about three quarters of an hour, Werner Erhard explained that his work was like that of Chogyam Trungpa, except that he had discovered a quicker path to enlightenment!
Soon after his departure, Chogyam Trungpa said, "We could do better than that! We should get people who go to est, put them in a room, then just quite simply make them sit down until their discursive chattering dissolves."
The meeting with Werner Erhard evidently gave Chogyam Trungpa
the idea that it would be a good thing to make the basic practice and insights of meditation available to a wider audience. He realized there was a larger potential to address people who are involved in society and who are not willing to give up their families and professional lives. For many the Buddhist path might seem too demanding and alien to their culture. Its religious character and its ritualistic side might scare them and put them off...
"The atmosphere must be disciplined and structured as well as relaxed and welcoming. An aura of dignity and gentleness sets the tone for the Shambhala Training. Without it, no one would have the courage to undergo the experience...
(Different from est!)
During this visit to India, Werner Erhard also visited Swami Muktananda at Ganeshpuri and also helped M come to the United States. M incorporated
Erhard's est methodology in the Siddha Yoga Intensives.(Corboy)
[www.google.com].
The Encyclopedia of Cults, Sects, and New Religions -- James R Lewis 2004
[books.google.com]
"In the early 1970s Erhard traveled to Asia in search of spiritual leaders from whom he could learn.
He went to Ganeshpuri India, where he met Swami Muktananda. In Tibet he met His Holiness the Gwyala Karmapa, one of the chief religious leaders of Tibet. Erhard sponsored visits to America by both these gurus,
The Collected Works of Chogyam Trunpa: Cutting Through Spiritual Materialism, Volume 3
page xxiv to page xxv.
[books.google.com]
"The interview itself covers a wide range of topics, including Rinpoche's view on EST and ecology. He is critical of Erhard Sensitivity Training, yet points out that Werner Erhard, its founder, is a "friend of ours".
"Participants in Erhard's training program attended especially EST sponsored Vajra Crown ceremonies conducted by His Holiness Karmapa in 1976, so there was some genuine interest there in Kagyu spirituality.
Trungpa Rinpoche was suspicious of Erhard's approach, but also, typically for him, saw the potential in what Erhard was doing.
More:
Chogyam Trungpa: His Life and Vision
By Fabrice Midal
The Creation of Shambhala Training 237 - 238
There is a historical paradox about the birth of Shambhala Training. Originally, the intention behind the progam was not to introduce the Shambhala teachings but instead to present the practice of meditation simply and directly to as many people as possible.
One of the key moments was the visit that Werner Erhard paid to Chogyam Trungpa in 1976 and the great impression he made. At the time, Werner Erhard, (who had changed his name from John Paul Rosenberg) was at the peak of his dazzling rise as the director of est (Erhard Seminars Training) a system of "group awareness training" that he had founded in 1971. (The organization still exists, now under the name of "The Forum") According to Erhard, people were unhappy because their minds had been incorrectly "programmed" by destructive conditioning. As a result of this discovery, he set up a system of training to help participants transform their own consciousness so as to allow them to get what they want out of life.The seminars he organized toward this end were extremely intense. Participants were locked in a room and not permitted to leave for the duration of the seminar. The aim was to make everyone take stock of themselves with complete honesty. At the end of the weekend, people reported feeling very different. Their defenses had been broken down. They had become more sensitive, more open, and a little closer to who they really were. Needless to say, est methods appeared to be quite forced.
Werner Erhard had arranged an audience with the Karmapa who encouraged him in his desire to help people and suggested he should meet Chogyam Trungpa. So with a few of his assistants, Werner Erhard traveled to the Rocky Mountain Dharma Center during a seminar given there in the summer of 1976. He arrived late for Chogyam Trungpa's talk, in a white limousine. After the talk, he was invited to the Rinpoche's residence ((near the site of what is now the Great Stupa of Dharmakaya, dedicated to Chogyam Trungpa's memory). Werner Erhard handed out Cuban cigars all around, which was a sign of great wealth at the time, given the US embargo. He was trying to make his presence felt.
A number of Rinpoche's students were also at the meeting. He had asked one of them, Karl Springer (then head of external affairs for Vajradatu) to pose a few questions to Erhard and sound him out. Meanwhile, Chogyam Trungpa observed in silence. During the visit, which lasted about three quarters of an hour, Werner Erhard explained that his work was like that of Chogyam Trungpa, except that he had discovered a quicker path to enlightenment!
Soon after his departure, Chogyam Trungpa said, "We could do better than that! We should get people who go to est, put them in a room, then just quite simply make them sit down until their discursive chattering dissolves."
The meeting with Werner Erhard evidently gave Chogyam Trungpa
the idea that it would be a good thing to make the basic practice and insights of meditation available to a wider audience. He realized there was a larger potential to address people who are involved in society and who are not willing to give up their families and professional lives. For many the Buddhist path might seem too demanding and alien to their culture. Its religious character and its ritualistic side might scare them and put them off...
"The atmosphere must be disciplined and structured as well as relaxed and welcoming. An aura of dignity and gentleness sets the tone for the Shambhala Training. Without it, no one would have the courage to undergo the experience...
(Different from est!)