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.
"Meditation on Saviors"
by Robinson Jeffers
I
When I considered it too closely, when I wore it like an element
and smelt it like water,
Life is become less lovely, the net nearer than the skin, a
little troublesome, a little terrible.
I pledged myself awhile ago not to seek refuge, neither in death
nor in a walled garden,
In lies nor gated loyalties, nor in the gates of contempt, that
easily lock the world out of doors.
Here on the rock it is great and beautiful, here on the foam-wet
granite sea-fang it is easy to praise
Life and water and the shining stones: but whose cattle are the
herds of the people that one should love them?
If they were yours, then you might take a cattle-breeder's
delight in the herds of the future. Not yours.
Where the power ends let love, before it sours to jealousy.
Leave the joys of government to Caesar.
I love the Esalen Garden (and am fascinated by complexity theories). It was the location for much contemplation, peace, tears, and conversation. Recently, I realized that I know almost nothing about it...
Permaculture, local plants and animals? What has emerged agriculturally, socially, economically, therapeutically, spiritually?
Or, worded very differently, what's it like working in the Esalen garden and on the farm? What is grown there? How has the hot springs and local fires affected the land? (etc.)
by Robert Altobello. It's an excellent cross-cultural comparison study of meditation theory and practices. The book presents a scholarly analysis of traditional Asian religions ("psychologies of happiness") and their meditation practices, and is also accessible to nonscholars.
"The story here is one of self-transformation and transcendence." hey, I can't quarrel with that!
Beyond the theory, Altobello also describes various meditation practices the reader can try out. This is an integration of theory and practice, for scholars and nonscholars. The idea is to demystify mediation.
Altobello is an Assistant Professor of Philosophy and Religious Studies at SUNY.
Peter Lang Publishing; First printing edition (August 1, 2009) ISBN-10: 1433106922; ISBN-13: 978-1433106927
If your music player isn't working, please, consider downloading. Beautiful.
Felt this person was very inspiring in "The Secret." (Will add his name as soon as I remember it or as soon as you remind me).
Just for giggles...
Enjoy
Jasmine
Good morning. I hope you enjoyed your coffee, or juice, or tea, or whatever you drink in the morning. And now, something to brighten your day. namo.
I am celebrating being on iTHou for over a year, having first found it from the Esalen web site while looking for information about the Big Sur fires in early July of last year. Here, I reconnected with many good friends from my past at Esalen, and made several new ones. All of them valued by me. namo.
Thank you so much to Albert and Steven for this site. namo.
The sound on the video doesn't start right away, but is worth waiting for. namo.
http://deoxy.org/tmab_5-22-97.htm
hope this hasn't been posted here before...in the midst of reading this...seems cool.
You have to love dancing to stick to it. It gives you nothing back, no manuscripts to store away, no paintings to show on walls and maybe hang in museums, no poems to be printed and sold, nothing but that single fleeting moment when you feel alive," Cunningham is quoted...
http://news.yahoo.com/s/nm/20090727/stage_nm/us_mercecunningham
