How Esalen Expands the Minds of Those Who Visit
By Brian Weaver
The Esalen Institute is tricky to discuss, not because it is veiled in secrecy, but because at a glance it looks like any other retreat center. Through various media outlets and on their own website, the institute focuses on the 600+ workshops they offer each year, which are "devoted to cultivating deep change in self and society". Esalen co-founder Michael Murphy has stated they "did not want to start a religious cult, a new church". Like Transcendental Meditation and other new-age religions, many visitors of the Esalen Institute consider themselves "spiritual but not religious" (or other variations of this common phrase). However, like all New Religious Movements we have examined in the past, those who go to Esalen seem to be deeply affected by their experiences there.
Yoga instructor Janet Stone says that her experience at Esalen has been “a series of meltings and unfoldings that have contributed to a profound shift in perspective.” Leading yoga workshops at Esalen has allowed her to experience the community and unconditional love for your neighbors that Esalen seems to promote. She says that while it was not all at one moment, Esalen changed her for the better with slow, small experiences that gradually opened up her mind. This falls under the concept of Human Potentiality that is part of the basis of the Esalen Institute. By experiencing Esalen, Stone was able to open her mind to the potentials of herself and those around her. Stone refers to all this as “training and practicing devotion at Esalen.” While this is all in reference to the yoga workshops she leads, it is important to note that she specifically uses words that are usually in context with religion.
Of course, this is a testimonial posted on Esalen’s own website, along with others that sing the praises of Esalen and the way it has changed them. However, a quick Google search for “Esalen Institute” will bring hundreds of testimonials all saying similar things. People love the Esalen Institute, there’s absolutely no doubt about it. For years it has been hailed as a center for wellness, healing, and open-mindedness; in addition to the famous hot springs. While Esalen has been criticized for its outrageous price points, many signs point to those prices being worth it. But what is it about Esalen that seems to change peoples’ lives for the better?
Think of the Esalen Institute in the same context as Transcendental Meditation. While this can be viewed as a New Religious Movement, it can also simply be a practice that is integrated into a person’s daily life. Even if they later fall off the bandwagon, they can still utilize the experiences and what they have learned from participating in the practice. I myself have attended a few spiritual retreats. After they end I might not be in the same mindset 100% of the time, but I can still recall the thoughts I experienced, the relaxing meditations, and the feelings of agape or unconditional love for the other participants at the retreat.
This is the essence of Esalen. It seems as if there are many ways to interpret the experiences provided, and they vary from person to person. Esalen can be a weekend getaway for some, or it can become a transformation of one’s entire life and thought process. Ultimately the results seem to be the same: that the experiences provided in their workshops create a new way of thinking for the participants.
The Esalen Institute is tricky to discuss, not because it is veiled in secrecy, but because at a glance it looks like any other retreat center. Through various media outlets and on their own website, the institute focuses on the 600+ workshops they offer each year, which are "devoted to cultivating deep change in self and society". Esalen co-founder Michael Murphy has stated they "did not want to start a religious cult, a new church". Like Transcendental Meditation and other new-age religions, many visitors of the Esalen Institute consider themselves "spiritual but not religious" (or other variations of this common phrase). However, like all New Religious Movements we have examined in the past, those who go to Esalen seem to be deeply affected by their experiences there.
Yoga instructor Janet Stone says that her experience at Esalen has been “a series of meltings and unfoldings that have contributed to a profound shift in perspective.” Leading yoga workshops at Esalen has allowed her to experience the community and unconditional love for your neighbors that Esalen seems to promote. She says that while it was not all at one moment, Esalen changed her for the better with slow, small experiences that gradually opened up her mind. This falls under the concept of Human Potentiality that is part of the basis of the Esalen Institute. By experiencing Esalen, Stone was able to open her mind to the potentials of herself and those around her. Stone refers to all this as “training and practicing devotion at Esalen.” While this is all in reference to the yoga workshops she leads, it is important to note that she specifically uses words that are usually in context with religion.
Of course, this is a testimonial posted on Esalen’s own website, along with others that sing the praises of Esalen and the way it has changed them. However, a quick Google search for “Esalen Institute” will bring hundreds of testimonials all saying similar things. People love the Esalen Institute, there’s absolutely no doubt about it. For years it has been hailed as a center for wellness, healing, and open-mindedness; in addition to the famous hot springs. While Esalen has been criticized for its outrageous price points, many signs point to those prices being worth it. But what is it about Esalen that seems to change peoples’ lives for the better?
Think of the Esalen Institute in the same context as Transcendental Meditation. While this can be viewed as a New Religious Movement, it can also simply be a practice that is integrated into a person’s daily life. Even if they later fall off the bandwagon, they can still utilize the experiences and what they have learned from participating in the practice. I myself have attended a few spiritual retreats. After they end I might not be in the same mindset 100% of the time, but I can still recall the thoughts I experienced, the relaxing meditations, and the feelings of agape or unconditional love for the other participants at the retreat.
This is the essence of Esalen. It seems as if there are many ways to interpret the experiences provided, and they vary from person to person. Esalen can be a weekend getaway for some, or it can become a transformation of one’s entire life and thought process. Ultimately the results seem to be the same: that the experiences provided in their workshops create a new way of thinking for the participants.
This blog is very interesting because it shows how this commune is very well liked. The fact that you mentioned that all of the members (current or previous) only have to say positive things about their experience shows how much this commune respects each others. That is because they only want positive experiences for everyone and therefore, they try to make chaos impossible and only care about the needs of each other. It was interesting to know that this commune really does not see itself as a religion, as they believe themselves to just be a place to bring relaxation and yoga. It was also interesting to see that they charge a lot of money for the session, something that a religion truly never does! But, this just shows to bring an evidence to the fact that this commune is not religious after all.
ReplyDeleteInteresting point about utilizing what one learns on a retreat. My commune, The Source family, has had former members use their experiences in the commune in their daily life today. The commune may not hold them forever, but the teachings they learned will stay with them for life
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