>>>est was started by an ex scientologist, or so I've been told.
That makes sense!
>>>No familiarity with the Forum.
I *think* Forum is the new name for EST (Heard a talk radio show host say that)
I believe Warner Eherhard, the founder of EST was thrown in the slammer for ripping off his cult.
Werner Erhard (his real name is John Rosenberg). See the EST writeup at http://skepdic.com/est.html .
Erhard sold "the technology" to a group of followers in 1991 who reorganized as Landmark Forum (see http://skepdic.com/landmark.html ).
People Synergistically Involved (PSI) ( http://www.psiseminars.com ) is another human potential movement spinoff of EST.