In 1994 I had just finished rinsing my dishes in the outdoor dish racks at Rocky Mountain Dharma Center, and I introduced myself to a young lady who had also just finished rinsing her dishes, who was a participant at the Seminary that had begun just two days before. She said, “Oh, I have your business card with me.” Ernst, who I had known from my travels, who had been a professor of hers at Phillips University in Marburg, Germany, had given her my card and suggested she ask me for a place to stay in Boulder when the Seminary was to conclude. That young lady became my wife, to whom I have been married for 28 years, as of four days ago, Brigitta (Sattmann) Karelis. So I owe Ernst a great debt.
Over the years, Ernst, or Ernie, as we called him, a name he loved, got to know each other quite well. He worked with me at a Shambhala Training Level V in Marburg and on other occasions in Germany. He assisted at a Maitri program under the auspices of the MA Contemplative Psychology program at Naropa University. The students called him, “The Saint,” owing to his demeanor and gentle speech – until later that month when he showed his teeth, which he inevitably did. He accompanied me in presenting a Level III Shambhala Training in Jablonec, Czech Republic. I remember that we were in the house of our host, Antonin Machander, visiting Tony’s shrine cubby, which was obviously well used. Ernie said, “This is the place of a true practitioner.”
Ernie had an eye for genuineness. He was also outraged by ungenuineness and spoke up many times about the deportment among the hierarchs in our common sangha. He used to call the arrogant leaders and teachers among us “the cardinals of the church,” a phrase that I did not quite understand in those days. As time went along, I came to appreciate more and more what he meant.
Ernie had a standoffish relationship with the sangha, not unsurprisingly. I thought he must have had some valid criticisms. Several people told me in utter shock that Ernie had been seen riding the wrong way down a one-way street on a bicycle, as evidence of how rebellious he was. To his great credit, he was no conformist.
He was an exceedingly generous person, the largest donor to the work of the Shambhala Prison community. He also introduced several of his former university students to the Dharma and saw them safely into their meditation practice and/or to Naropa.
Let Ernst be remembered as the warrior he was.
-Bill Karelis
Nov 26, 2024
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Dear Bill I am very happy that you had words on Ernst. Living in Marburg in the beginning times of Karma Dzong Marburg, I met Ernst many times. He helped me with doing programs as a new and young teacher. When CTR died he went to USA and left his son with my littel family. I remember him a very generous person.
After I left Marburg I only met him once on a visit in Marburg City. Your wife let me know where he lived at the end of his life. Lucie
