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| HOME - SHOPPING - EVENTS - CONTACT US |
| History of Esalen |
Esalen Institute is named after the Esselen, a now-extinct Indian tribe that used the place as their burial ground. In
1910 the Murphy family bought the 375-acre property from homesteaders, but it was almost impossible to reach until
work crews blasted a highway past it in the 1930s. The Murphys rented out the property, a motel-resort, whose main
draw was the natural hot springs baths. It was a gathering place for local bohemians during the week and for gay
men from San Francisco on the weekend. The caretaker was 22-year-old Hunter Thompson, the future gonzo
journalist. John Steinbeck and Aldous Huxley spent time there. Henry Miller, whose “Tropic of Cancer” was banned
for obscenity, did his laundry and much else at the Esalen springs.
1910 the Murphy family bought the 375-acre property from homesteaders, but it was almost impossible to reach until
work crews blasted a highway past it in the 1930s. The Murphys rented out the property, a motel-resort, whose main
draw was the natural hot springs baths. It was a gathering place for local bohemians during the week and for gay
men from San Francisco on the weekend. The caretaker was 22-year-old Hunter Thompson, the future gonzo
journalist. John Steinbeck and Aldous Huxley spent time there. Henry Miller, whose “Tropic of Cancer” was banned
for obscenity, did his laundry and much else at the Esalen springs.
In the 1950s, the Beat poets came from San Francisco and brought women and books about Tantra. Mingling easily
were scholars such as Alan Watts, a bon vivant and expert on Taoism and Zen Buddhism. Then came anarchists,
hippies and drugs.
were scholars such as Alan Watts, a bon vivant and expert on Taoism and Zen Buddhism. Then came anarchists,
hippies and drugs.
Grandson Michael Murphy was a graduate student in philosophy at Stanford. Rumor has it that John Steinbeck
modeled his East of Eden characters, Aaron and Cal, on Murphy and his younger brother Dennis. (Steinbeck was a
family friend of the Murphy's since Michael's physician grandfather delivered Steinbeck into the world).
In 1956, Michael quit Stanford and went to India to live at Sri Aurobindo's ashram. In 1960, he moved to San
Francisco to join a group that was studying and meditating with one of Aurobindo's disciples. There, Murphy first met
Richard Price. The two had an almost immediate empathy for each other's philosophical and spiritual quests.
modeled his East of Eden characters, Aaron and Cal, on Murphy and his younger brother Dennis. (Steinbeck was a
family friend of the Murphy's since Michael's physician grandfather delivered Steinbeck into the world).
In 1956, Michael quit Stanford and went to India to live at Sri Aurobindo's ashram. In 1960, he moved to San
Francisco to join a group that was studying and meditating with one of Aurobindo's disciples. There, Murphy first met
Richard Price. The two had an almost immediate empathy for each other's philosophical and spiritual quests.
Murphy saw the opportunity to develop an idea he'd been incubating -- to open a retreat center on the Big Sur
property. Murphy's grandmother gave him a low-cost, long-term lease and permission to kick out the motley types
and shape Esalen to his vision. (Today, Esalen owns 52 acres of the property, while the rest is held in a Murphy
family trust.) In the fall of 1962, Murphy and Price presented their first seminar series, "The Human Potentiality,"
based on an Aldous Huxley lecture. Within two years, they had hosted conferences led by such luminaries as LSD
guru Timothy Leary, Buddhist teacher Alan Watts and behavioral psychologist B.F. Skinner.
property. Murphy's grandmother gave him a low-cost, long-term lease and permission to kick out the motley types
and shape Esalen to his vision. (Today, Esalen owns 52 acres of the property, while the rest is held in a Murphy
family trust.) In the fall of 1962, Murphy and Price presented their first seminar series, "The Human Potentiality,"
based on an Aldous Huxley lecture. Within two years, they had hosted conferences led by such luminaries as LSD
guru Timothy Leary, Buddhist teacher Alan Watts and behavioral psychologist B.F. Skinner.
In 1998 El Niño almost blew the baths off the cliff. There was talk of shutting the place down. Instead, the baths were
rebuilt, and Mr Murphy started the “centre for theory and research”, to spawn new ideas. For more on Esalen as it
exists today, visit their website.
rebuilt, and Mr Murphy started the “centre for theory and research”, to spawn new ideas. For more on Esalen as it
exists today, visit their website.
Esalen's spring-fed hot baths and "do your own thing" ethic soon attracted hordes of young people looking to lounge
about in the nude, experiment with drugs and make love. But, unlike many causes and institutions forged in the heat
of the '60s, Esalen didn't collapse under the weight of drug burnout, hedonism and charismatic leaders who became
cult figures. Esalen flourished because Murphy and Price insisted that it serve as a site for ecumenical,
open-minded inquiry in which no one discipline or belief system dominated.
about in the nude, experiment with drugs and make love. But, unlike many causes and institutions forged in the heat
of the '60s, Esalen didn't collapse under the weight of drug burnout, hedonism and charismatic leaders who became
cult figures. Esalen flourished because Murphy and Price insisted that it serve as a site for ecumenical,
open-minded inquiry in which no one discipline or belief system dominated.
Esalen had its share of outside critics. The media derided it as fostering the "Me Generation" and blamed it for being
the fountainhead for many of the kooky ideas fomented in the '60s, from crystal worship to tarot cards. New York
Times columnist William Safire recently wrote that the term "touchy-feely" had its genesis at Esalen.
the fountainhead for many of the kooky ideas fomented in the '60s, from crystal worship to tarot cards. New York
Times columnist William Safire recently wrote that the term "touchy-feely" had its genesis at Esalen.
Murphy retired from running Esalen in 1972 , but he still serves as chair of its board.