Bodywork, Esalen, Grof, LSD & GOD

By Gene Sage

During the mid 1950s I was a Rebirthing instructor with Leonard Orr and participated in his European Advanced Training Program near Brussels. The Advanced Training consisted of doing 90 minutes of connected breathing in an ice cold pond with water up to our necks. I can't say the process advanced my breathing work, but it sure toughened me up! Rebirthing has taken a radical bent, with screaming and kicking of legs (ala neo-Reichian work) but lacking the disciplined approach that a researcher like Stanislav Grof has carefully crafted over the years.

I first met Stan Grof in the 60s when we were both living at Esalen Institute in Big Sur. I was on staff there and he was the resident psychiatrist. Occasionally we chatted about some of his LSD research during his time in Prague. I've always felt he was light years ahead of any other psychedelic research, particularly with his use of LSD to facilitate recovery from alcohol addiction. This led to his development of "egoless state" therapy with absolutely amazing results that have never been equated elsewhere. I was sad to witness sensationalism in the media over LSD, how it deteriorated into a "street drug" which led to its legal demise, precluding any further research.

My own experience with LSD in the 60s was with two of the few remaining doctors who were still licensed to do experimentation. One focused on changes in creativity before and after consuming the drug. The other specialized in "egoless state" therapy using psychic energizers in addition to heavy dosages of LSD administered I.V. At that time there were stories coming out describing direct experiences of not just finding but becoming GOD. Both actor Cary Grant and nutritionist Adele Davis utilized egoless state therapy to achieve these states.

I, too, had this particular experience with LSD. It made such an imprint that it propelled me on a 15 year spiritual search which finally concluded in Lucknow, India with Papa Ji among the ashrams of India. Namaste!

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