Michael Murphy, Esalen’s illustrious co-founder, completes his 94th turn around the sun today. Over many decades, Michael has established himself as a leading voice in the evolving fields of human potential and consciousness studies. His writing career began in 1971 with the spiritual travelogue Golf in the Kingdom, which has sold over 1 million copies and has been translated into nine languages. His other novels include The Kingdom of Shivas Irons, Jacob Atabet, and An End to Ordinary History. His nonfiction books include God and the Evolving Universe, In the Zone, The Life We Are Given, The Physical and Psychological Effects of Meditation, and The Future of the Body, which presents evidence for metanormal perception, cognition, movement, vitality, and spiritual development from more than 3,000 sources. His writings reflect a keen mind, deeply passionate about investigating the vast capacities of humanity, human evolution, and the nature of consciousness.
Not surprising for those who know him, Michael remains a sharp thinker and writer, actively spinning words and harnessing ideas into rich conversation and texts. Michael has opened up his laptop to generously share some pieces for those curious about the topics he finds completely captivating during this chapter of his long and storied life.
“Our Emerging Supernature” offers a distilled yet comprehensive taxonomy of evolutionary developments, complete with examples of how each shows up in animal evolution, in ordinary psycho social development, and in supernormal development.
Another, called “The Emergence of Evolutionary Panentheism,” presents the historical trajectory of an emerging worldview, the thinkers that have moved it forward, how it is being embraced today, and the vantage point it provides for predicting further human advances.
Michael continues to challenge and inspire with his insights into the mysteries of the human experience. Please enjoy these two essays, gifts of a brilliant mind and a continual presence in the offerings of Esalen.
“Remembering to be as self compassionate as I can and praying to the divine that we're all a part of.”
–Aaron
“Prayer, reading, meditation, walking.”
–Karen
“Erratically — which is an ongoing stream of practice to find peace.”
–Charles
“Try on a daily basis to be kind to myself and to realize that making mistakes is a part of the human condition. Learning from our mistakes is a journey. But it starts with compassion and caring. First for oneself.”
–Steve
“Physically: aerobic exercise, volleyball, ice hockey, cycling, sailing. Emotionally: unfortunately I have to work to ‘not care’ about people or situations which may end painfully. Along the lines of ‘attachment is the source of suffering’, so best to avoid it or limit its scope. Sad though because it could also be the source of great joy. Is it worth the risk?“
–Rainer
“It's time for my heart to be nurtured on one level yet contained on another. To go easy on me and to allow my feelings to be validated, not judged harshly. On the other hand, to let the heart rule with equanimity and not lead the mind and body around like a master.”
–Suzanne
“I spend time thinking of everything I am grateful for, and I try to develop my ability to express compassion for myself and others without reservation. I take time to do the things I need to do to keep myself healthy and happy. This includes taking experiential workshops, fostering relationships, and participating within groups which have a similar interest to become a more compassionate and fulfilled being.“
–Peter
“Self-forgiveness for my own judgments. And oh yeah, coming to Esalen.”
–David B.
“Hmm, this is a tough one! I guess I take care of my heart through fostering relationships with people I feel connected to. Spending quality time with them (whether we're on the phone, through messages/letters, on Zoom, or in-person). Being there for them, listening to them, sharing what's going on with me, my struggles and my successes... like we do in the Esalen weekly Friends of Esalen Zoom sessions!”
–Lori
“I remind myself in many ways of the fact that " Love is all there is!" LOVE is the prize and this one precious life is the stage we get to learn our lessons. I get out into nature, hike, camp, river kayak, fly fish, garden, I create, I dance (not enough!), and I remain grateful for each day, each breath, each moment. Being in the moment, awake, and remembering the gift of life and my feeling of gratitude for all of creation.”
–Steven
“My physical heart by limiting stress and eating a heart-healthy diet. My emotional heart by staying in love with the world and by knowing that all disappointment and loss will pass.“
–David Z.
Today, September 29, is World Heart Day. Strike up a conversation with your own heart and as you feel comfortable, encourage others to do the same. As part of our own transformations and self-care, we sometimes ask for others to illuminate and enliven our hearts or speak our love language.
What if we could do this for ourselves too, even if just for today… or to start a heart practice, forever?
Michael Murphy, Esalen’s illustrious co-founder, completes his 94th turn around the sun today. Over many decades, Michael has established himself as a leading voice in the evolving fields of human potential and consciousness studies. His writing career began in 1971 with the spiritual travelogue Golf in the Kingdom, which has sold over 1 million copies and has been translated into nine languages. His other novels include The Kingdom of Shivas Irons, Jacob Atabet, and An End to Ordinary History. His nonfiction books include God and the Evolving Universe, In the Zone, The Life We Are Given, The Physical and Psychological Effects of Meditation, and The Future of the Body, which presents evidence for metanormal perception, cognition, movement, vitality, and spiritual development from more than 3,000 sources. His writings reflect a keen mind, deeply passionate about investigating the vast capacities of humanity, human evolution, and the nature of consciousness.
Not surprising for those who know him, Michael remains a sharp thinker and writer, actively spinning words and harnessing ideas into rich conversation and texts. Michael has opened up his laptop to generously share some pieces for those curious about the topics he finds completely captivating during this chapter of his long and storied life.
“Our Emerging Supernature” offers a distilled yet comprehensive taxonomy of evolutionary developments, complete with examples of how each shows up in animal evolution, in ordinary psycho social development, and in supernormal development.
Another, called “The Emergence of Evolutionary Panentheism,” presents the historical trajectory of an emerging worldview, the thinkers that have moved it forward, how it is being embraced today, and the vantage point it provides for predicting further human advances.
Michael continues to challenge and inspire with his insights into the mysteries of the human experience. Please enjoy these two essays, gifts of a brilliant mind and a continual presence in the offerings of Esalen.
“Remembering to be as self compassionate as I can and praying to the divine that we're all a part of.”
–Aaron
“Prayer, reading, meditation, walking.”
–Karen
“Erratically — which is an ongoing stream of practice to find peace.”
–Charles
“Try on a daily basis to be kind to myself and to realize that making mistakes is a part of the human condition. Learning from our mistakes is a journey. But it starts with compassion and caring. First for oneself.”
–Steve
“Physically: aerobic exercise, volleyball, ice hockey, cycling, sailing. Emotionally: unfortunately I have to work to ‘not care’ about people or situations which may end painfully. Along the lines of ‘attachment is the source of suffering’, so best to avoid it or limit its scope. Sad though because it could also be the source of great joy. Is it worth the risk?“
–Rainer
“It's time for my heart to be nurtured on one level yet contained on another. To go easy on me and to allow my feelings to be validated, not judged harshly. On the other hand, to let the heart rule with equanimity and not lead the mind and body around like a master.”
–Suzanne
“I spend time thinking of everything I am grateful for, and I try to develop my ability to express compassion for myself and others without reservation. I take time to do the things I need to do to keep myself healthy and happy. This includes taking experiential workshops, fostering relationships, and participating within groups which have a similar interest to become a more compassionate and fulfilled being.“
–Peter
“Self-forgiveness for my own judgments. And oh yeah, coming to Esalen.”
–David B.
“Hmm, this is a tough one! I guess I take care of my heart through fostering relationships with people I feel connected to. Spending quality time with them (whether we're on the phone, through messages/letters, on Zoom, or in-person). Being there for them, listening to them, sharing what's going on with me, my struggles and my successes... like we do in the Esalen weekly Friends of Esalen Zoom sessions!”
–Lori
“I remind myself in many ways of the fact that " Love is all there is!" LOVE is the prize and this one precious life is the stage we get to learn our lessons. I get out into nature, hike, camp, river kayak, fly fish, garden, I create, I dance (not enough!), and I remain grateful for each day, each breath, each moment. Being in the moment, awake, and remembering the gift of life and my feeling of gratitude for all of creation.”
–Steven
“My physical heart by limiting stress and eating a heart-healthy diet. My emotional heart by staying in love with the world and by knowing that all disappointment and loss will pass.“
–David Z.
Today, September 29, is World Heart Day. Strike up a conversation with your own heart and as you feel comfortable, encourage others to do the same. As part of our own transformations and self-care, we sometimes ask for others to illuminate and enliven our hearts or speak our love language.
What if we could do this for ourselves too, even if just for today… or to start a heart practice, forever?
Michael Murphy, Esalen’s illustrious co-founder, completes his 94th turn around the sun today. Over many decades, Michael has established himself as a leading voice in the evolving fields of human potential and consciousness studies. His writing career began in 1971 with the spiritual travelogue Golf in the Kingdom, which has sold over 1 million copies and has been translated into nine languages. His other novels include The Kingdom of Shivas Irons, Jacob Atabet, and An End to Ordinary History. His nonfiction books include God and the Evolving Universe, In the Zone, The Life We Are Given, The Physical and Psychological Effects of Meditation, and The Future of the Body, which presents evidence for metanormal perception, cognition, movement, vitality, and spiritual development from more than 3,000 sources. His writings reflect a keen mind, deeply passionate about investigating the vast capacities of humanity, human evolution, and the nature of consciousness.
Not surprising for those who know him, Michael remains a sharp thinker and writer, actively spinning words and harnessing ideas into rich conversation and texts. Michael has opened up his laptop to generously share some pieces for those curious about the topics he finds completely captivating during this chapter of his long and storied life.
“Our Emerging Supernature” offers a distilled yet comprehensive taxonomy of evolutionary developments, complete with examples of how each shows up in animal evolution, in ordinary psycho social development, and in supernormal development.
Another, called “The Emergence of Evolutionary Panentheism,” presents the historical trajectory of an emerging worldview, the thinkers that have moved it forward, how it is being embraced today, and the vantage point it provides for predicting further human advances.
Michael continues to challenge and inspire with his insights into the mysteries of the human experience. Please enjoy these two essays, gifts of a brilliant mind and a continual presence in the offerings of Esalen.
“Remembering to be as self compassionate as I can and praying to the divine that we're all a part of.”
–Aaron
“Prayer, reading, meditation, walking.”
–Karen
“Erratically — which is an ongoing stream of practice to find peace.”
–Charles
“Try on a daily basis to be kind to myself and to realize that making mistakes is a part of the human condition. Learning from our mistakes is a journey. But it starts with compassion and caring. First for oneself.”
–Steve
“Physically: aerobic exercise, volleyball, ice hockey, cycling, sailing. Emotionally: unfortunately I have to work to ‘not care’ about people or situations which may end painfully. Along the lines of ‘attachment is the source of suffering’, so best to avoid it or limit its scope. Sad though because it could also be the source of great joy. Is it worth the risk?“
–Rainer
“It's time for my heart to be nurtured on one level yet contained on another. To go easy on me and to allow my feelings to be validated, not judged harshly. On the other hand, to let the heart rule with equanimity and not lead the mind and body around like a master.”
–Suzanne
“I spend time thinking of everything I am grateful for, and I try to develop my ability to express compassion for myself and others without reservation. I take time to do the things I need to do to keep myself healthy and happy. This includes taking experiential workshops, fostering relationships, and participating within groups which have a similar interest to become a more compassionate and fulfilled being.“
–Peter
“Self-forgiveness for my own judgments. And oh yeah, coming to Esalen.”
–David B.
“Hmm, this is a tough one! I guess I take care of my heart through fostering relationships with people I feel connected to. Spending quality time with them (whether we're on the phone, through messages/letters, on Zoom, or in-person). Being there for them, listening to them, sharing what's going on with me, my struggles and my successes... like we do in the Esalen weekly Friends of Esalen Zoom sessions!”
–Lori
“I remind myself in many ways of the fact that " Love is all there is!" LOVE is the prize and this one precious life is the stage we get to learn our lessons. I get out into nature, hike, camp, river kayak, fly fish, garden, I create, I dance (not enough!), and I remain grateful for each day, each breath, each moment. Being in the moment, awake, and remembering the gift of life and my feeling of gratitude for all of creation.”
–Steven
“My physical heart by limiting stress and eating a heart-healthy diet. My emotional heart by staying in love with the world and by knowing that all disappointment and loss will pass.“
–David Z.
Today, September 29, is World Heart Day. Strike up a conversation with your own heart and as you feel comfortable, encourage others to do the same. As part of our own transformations and self-care, we sometimes ask for others to illuminate and enliven our hearts or speak our love language.
What if we could do this for ourselves too, even if just for today… or to start a heart practice, forever?
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info@esalen.org
