Esalen Institute

Founded in 1962, I believe that we need to give thanks to Esalen for helping to make a movement like ours possible. In the 1950’s there was traditional college and some narrow movements led by charismatic leaders. Esalen made it possible for people to learn a variety of subjects from a variety of teachers. I wonder to what extent the teachers were willing to learn from each other? We can learn much from the successes and limitations of Esalen.

·         Their goal was to help people to change; to achieve more of their potential. However, they found that people would attend a week-end or even month long course, get very excited, and then by the following Tuesday the excitement and change wore off; it just did not stick.  That is how the leaders learned that we need an ongoing lifelong practice supported by a helpful and caring community.

·         By focusing too much on their self people became self obsessed, narcissistic, arrogant, and isolated. This is why we need to be part of a supportive group working for a cause bigger then our selves.

·         In 1990 a graffiti artist spray painted "Jive shit for rich white folk" on the entrance to Esalen. Whatever we may find that is good, true, beautiful, and helpful we need to learn to make available to all persons in forms that they can appreciate and have affordable access to. It is all well and good to have expensive retreats in California for a select few but we also need to bring the good news to people in their communities’ through the world inexpensively or for free. One way to do this might be to work with existing structures like YMCA’s. We also need to address the interests and needs of all of humanity. Just some thoughts. Was anyone there at Esalen in the 1960”s?

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Esalen_Institute