The 99th Monkey

I took the training 37 years ago in Los Angeles at the Biltmore. This is the best article I have read about the training. Better than some of the books even. Thank you Eliezer!!!

As the guy who came up with the idea for this reunion I was shocked to see the resistance that Landmark, the predecessor to est, had in not wanting us to get together. As a former trainer, 13 years, I always thought the idea was to spread the good news not suppress it?
The purpose of the event is to allow everyone to reconnect with the excitement we all felt as grads of the training and to share what we did with our so called enlightenment. Landmark immediately interpreted this as an attack on their trade marks and alleged copyrights, I assure you none of this is true. Let the good times roll!

Hi Eliezer,

As one of those who's benefited from est (and now Landmark) I thank you for this nice 'executive summary'.

My life since est has been one of being great, then small, then great, small, great, small....

I got those moments of being great from my est weekend. Being small seems to be automatic and always freely available.

Being great is an 'upgrade' in living. I was 28 in 1974 when I bought my upgrade from Werner and my life is transformed.

Thanks, Werner. "May the Good Times Roll."

Thank you Eliezer for what is quite simply the best description cum explanation of the est training I have ever read! The quote from Stewart Emory left me aghast! "The truth may set you free, but first it will piss you off". That was me! And Ted Long, who wrote here, was my trainer at that moment and this quote brought it all back! I never knew my reaction was to be expected! Predictable even! Thank you for this! And my thanks to Ted for seeing me through it 34 years ago! It has been quite a ride!

Beyond all the opinions and explanations ...

Truth IS ... and miracles DO occur.

One the biggies is when a human being is BEING SELF in a body with a human mind. This has occurred occasionally in recorded earth history.

This did occur for a man named Werner Erhard in 1971.

What is so utterly amazing is -- not only did the occur -- Werner was also committed to and able to design a form of DIVINE THEATRE in which a very high percentage of people who participated in the theatre actually DID realize a oneness with and as SELF, at least for a moment -- a moment out of time.

(For me) 36 years later, SELF-Expression unfolds over time -- like a great Cabernet!

We are gathering to honor Werner, the est Trainers, the graduates, and the possibility for BEING that we are.

Regarding the official response from Landmark ... nothing else needs to be said ... another forgiveness opportunity!

thank you everyone for your kind response to my article!

Sadly, apparently Landmark Education has made life so difficult for the folks wanting to do this event, that I've learned Landon Carter and Stewart Emery have pulled out.

Landon and Stewart have chosen to support the est reunion by not being on the web site. There was enough controversy and charge regarding my initial design of the reunion web site it was agreed among all of us we would tale down the old site and create the new one, www.transformationreunion.com. The new site accurately reflects the wishes of the est graduates who have spoken out in support of having this reunion and in recent conversations and communications I believe I have, by taking responsibility, acknowledging my mistakes and asking for forgiveness, addressed any real concerns with Landmark.

Who said they will not be there?

i love you el, you have truly made a difference in my life.....and BTW, this is not the voice of my ego speaking since he does not know how to say i love you and believes that no one is really up to snuff....

Eliezar -- this is GREAT stuff. Back in the 70's all my pals were doing est. I got into Landmark in early 80s and have been much uplifted and somewhat enwizened over the next 10-12 years. I use the distinctions on-goingly. And this -- your report -- sounds like the same american zen wisdom.

Wonder why Werner isn't coming ???

In Landmark people often quoted Werner, such as: "Chicken shit promises bring chicken shit results."

You guys have fun!

The reunion initially looked too much like it was going to, at least in part, be a podium for individuals in the consulting, coaching and consciousness business to promote themselves and further their own interests using Erhard's name and face and the EST name and the EST audience.

I am slightly too young to know much about EST (it was an old new thing by the time I got to this country), but I know that you, Eliezer, have made a difference in my life by being a genuine person. If EST helped you get there, than thank you EST! Enjoy your private reunion with your good friend, and best wishes.

Thanks Eliezer for a great article. I haven't done the training yet have many friends who have. Your writing here makes we want to give it another look - if my ego will allow :)

Thanks Eliezer...wonderful article that brought it all back from 34 years ago! I'm reminded of how I discovered my super human strength to drive straight through from Colorado to Pittsburgh for the first training there. Got home at 7am and left for the training at 7:30am and stayed up till after midnight that first night of the training....I was awake, aware, present right from the beginning and I would say I was asleep in my life before the training started. Over the years I've told everyone that EST was the 2X4 between the eyes that woke me up this life. Thank you Werner and my trainers...Stewart being one of them, Ron Bynum the other. My daughters were 6 & 9 years old when they did the childrens training which made my life as a Mom an easy one. I remember both of them saying to me, "I can't go out and play, I need to do extra work to keep my grades up!" Now, one is a Doctor and the other an Occupational Therapist. They became self-responsible as children and still are...that's what they got from the training - no victims here! My life has been magical for the last 34 years, I wouldn't change it for anything and if you do or don't have a reunion (I won't be there) but constantly am grateful to be awake.

Great piece El. I think we should both read this again!

At the heart of the staff and program leaders of Landmark Education is a profound appreciation, respect and gratitude for the millions of people who have participated in this work over the years. This vast community of truly extraordinary people has and does make an enormous and unique difference in the world.

While Landmark and its programs and services are organized to empower people in their lives and in what they are up to in the world, we intentionally leave to the graduates what they do with that in their lives and in the world. As such (and because we could not possibly support them all, and therefore would slight some graduates), we have a policy to not publicly comment on, let alone endorse, individual graduate projects and events. However, we are always delighted when we see and hear about graduates making a difference in their lives and in the world.

If not for the following and public statements that referenced Landmark, we would not be publicly commenting on this event either.

In the case of this event, however, it was made clear - including from conversations with some of the people directly involved in the event, as well as numerous calls from concerned graduates- that this event was intended to be something other than a “reunion.”

According to these people, and the event promotions and other communications, the originally planned event specifically targeted est and Landmark graduates and customers to generate a profit from the event itself and to promote other personal and business interests of some of the people involved in the event. The event promotions used numerous Landmark copyrighted materials and images and reportedly, proprietary course material was planned to be delivered in the event, without Landmark’s permission. In addition, the event communications used Landmark Education, est, and Werner Erhard’s names and images, as well as misleading statements from event personnel, to create the impression that Landmark, est and Werner were somehow associated with or endorsed the event, which was/is not the case. Were it not for the above we would have had no issue with a straightforward graduate reunion, as we have had no issue with such graduate reunions in the past.

Landmark appreciates the efforts of those people that have been involved in the event as well as other graduates who have made efforts to correct these matters.

Landmark has a responsibility and commitment to its customers, the graduates, stakeholders, program leaders and its staff-owners, who have fully invested themselves, to expand, make real, and fulfill on what originally started this work. Again, at the heart of that responsibility and commitment is a deep gratitude for the millions of graduates of this work – and we cherish, honor and celebrate ALL the people who have participated, supported and caused this work throughout the years.

Thank you.