Esalen Institute

By Brian Weaver With the Esalen Institute seeming to be much more of just a retreat center than an actual religious commune, it is hard to draw parallels between it and other famous communes such as Jonestown or even Mother Ann Lee’s Shakers. However, what is notable about the Esalen Institute is the way that it has been a leader in the New Age and Counterculture movements since its conception. One easy comparison to make is between Esalen and the practice of Transcendental Meditation. While both institutions claim that they are in no way a new type of religion, they have both attracted thousands of vocal followers. The popularity of these two practices stems from all over, be it celebrity involvement, social status, or the privilege of being wealthy enough to participate. Ultimately, the people that seek out these two institutions are looking to expand their minds in some way. Involvement in either the Esalen Institute or in Transcendental Meditation requires one to attend wo...

By Brian Weaver Throughout the history of our country, new religious movements have been misinterpreted by the media and consumers. Buzzwords such as “cult” and “brainwashing” run rampant, leaving those who view the media very uninformed on the actual dogmas of these religious practices. Even with movements such as Transcendental Meditation and centers such as the Esalen Institute, the media seems to miss the purpose of their respective existences. These institutions, along with other New Age movements such as Ramtha’s School of Enlightenment, are constantly being criticized for the amount of money asked in order for people to participate. Whereas other religious communes have rejected capitalism as a concept, these newer movements require people to come up from a certain background. While they claim that they exist to open the mind and create a better world, only a select few can actually afford to be a part of the supposed revolution. In particular, it is difficult to discern ...