Esalen
Greetings. Welcome to the group, "Esalen" -- for people who have lived, worked, and/or studied at the Esalen Institute in Big Sur, California.
For many of us who lived there, the time was rich, full, and extraordinary. For all people who have been touched by the spirit of the place, it is sometimes challenging to keep that spirit alive in the world outside the support of the container of Big Sur and Esalen.
This place is intended to become that supportive ground for people who have been moved by the spirit of the place, but who no longer, possibly, have immediate access to the special and sacred space of Esalen.
Everyone who has been moved by the spirit of Esalen, I believe, becomes, in their own way, an ambassador for a new way of thinking, feeling, and being in the world. May we carry on the torch and help bring truth, authenticity, love, and light for now and future generations.
The latest rumblings around the web from, about, or around Esalen.
Note: We are having monthly global Esalen weather reports in the Big House on the first Sunday of the month at 1:30PM, Pacific Time. All people who have lived, worked or studied at Esalen are welcome to join. Check the events calendar for a full listing of scheduled weather reports, open seats, or visiting teacher programs.
This lovely photograph to the right is courtesy of David Gartner.
My brother died suddenly and unexpectedly a couple of days ago.
I would appreciate prayers and good thoughts for him and his family, from those who do that sort of thing.
thanks!
I am just sitting quietly with it all.
"Always be kind, for everyone is fighting a hard battle." ---- Plato
[I'm updating this posting. Look at the end of this thread, if you've been here before.]
UCLA Professor Daniel J. Siegel, M.D., recently published a book entitled, The Mindful Brain, which primarily examines the impact of mindfulness practice upon brain structure and function. In my opinion it is the most important book about this subject that was published in 2007.
Below there is a brief essay that summarizes some of Dan Siegel's ideas about mindfulness, psychotherapy and the brain. (His new book is much broader in scope.)
In addition, the following link leads to a video excerpt from one of his recent seminars.
What is the point of making these and uploading them if no one sees them. Contains my art, comics, original comic art, meditation, big sur, nature, music and more much more filmed by me (didn't say they were good) took a lot of work to refind and upload; some are more organized. Bookmark it cause future ones will get better. Just do a few a day. For those who might view some.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CAwuJIsREzY
“What I do you cannot do; but what you do, I cannot do.
The needs are great, and none of us,
including me, ever do great things.
But we can all do small things, with great compassion;
And, together, we can do something wonderful”.
~ Mother Teresa ~
"The difference between what we do
and what we are capable of doing
would suffice to solve
http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2010/01/06/MNET1BEJQK.DTL
George hated Atlanta.... Smart guy!
Here he is, talking at a bookstore in Marin (for about an hour):
I was so moved by this, I wanted to share it with the ithou community... Enjoy!
http://video.google.com/googleplayer.swf?docId=6353938388814614154&hl=en
Weems,
do you know this author and this article? and the Aspen Skiing Company he refers to?
Anyway, this is an excellent article. And it has a great piece of art for an illustration.
Climate Revelations; An atheist concludes that he can't talk about climate without talking about God
http://www.orionmagazine.org/index.php/articles/article/4233
And the article ends with the following:
My forays into religious thinking revealed to me, above all, a desire within humanity to live in a dignified world. This is Walter Bennett’s vision while holding his grandchild; it’s what Bob Janes aspires to when he warms up his truck each morning in Juneau. Their urges, hopes, and desires are the deeply rooted, very powerful forces that have been part of human experience always.
Thank you so much for your support. You all are wonderful friends to have in a crisis. And you are so real.
As Antje Blue put it so well -- even though I have not met most of you "in person". Yet you are staunch and true friends. And so many of you are friends of my old Esalen pals and teachers, so even if I haven't met "you" in person, there is connection in reality. Including you, Antje -- through your friend Marty who was a friend of mine through Eko. It is all grounded. And at the very least -- and just as important -- you love the place and the process, whether or not you ever set foot on the Esalen grounds.
And you do understand loss -- thank you Weems, and John, and Kristy and Antje and Henry and Michael -- and on and on.
