Esalen
Book Description
Nestled along California's dramatic Pacific coastline, the Esalen Institute emerged as an unlikely crucible where Eastern mysticism collided with Western scientific inquiry. Jeffrey John Kripal chronicles the remarkable genesis of this influential center, tracing its roots from the revolutionary ferment of 1960s counterculture to its enduring impact on American spirituality.
Founded by visionaries Michael Murphy and Richard Price, Esalen became a gathering place where literary giants like Henry Miller and Joseph Campbell, Beat Generation icons including Jack Kerouac and Allen Ginsberg, and unconventional thinkers such as Hunter S. Thompson converged to explore transformative ideas. These pioneers sought to dissolve the boundaries between ancient wisdom traditions and modern scientific understanding, weaving together elements of Zen Buddhism, Western alchemy, and Tantric yoga into a bold new synthesis.
Kripal reveals how this "religion of no religion" embraced both the natural and spiritual worlds, treating science and faith as complementary rather than opposing forces. The institute's philosophy celebrated the enlightenment of the body alongside the mind, incorporating everything from psychedelic exploration to physical enhancement in pursuit of human potential.
This sweeping narrative illuminates the prehistory of America's ongoing fascination with Eastern spirituality and our growing acceptance of the supernatural in daily life. Through meticulous research and engaging storytelling, Kripal presents the complex forces that shaped a movement still influencing contemporary approaches to personal transformation and spiritual seeking.
Who Is This For?
📖 Reading Level: Long (> 400 pages) (~16 hours)
🕉️ Tradition: Comparative Religion
📄 Length: 575 pages
What You'll Discover
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- ✓ Explore New Age spiritual concepts
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