FUTURE T E L A
Explorations into the future
Evolution of human nature
Research further
Human evolution
Moscow, 2009
UDC 141.339
BBK 86.42
M52
Translation from English
M. Oshurkova, A. Slivkova, L. Mikhailova, O. Chernyak,
M. Dremina
Under the general editorship of M. Oshurkov
Scientific editor Ph.D. V. Maikov
Murphy, Michael
The future of the body. Study of further human evolution /
Michael Murphy; [transl. from English]. - M. : RIPOL classic: Open
world, 2009. - 912 p.
ISBN 978-5-386-01139-0 (RIPOL classic)
ISBN 978-5-9743-0150-6 (Open World)
The book "The Future of the Body" is a fundamental study of the unusual physical and mental abilities of man, based on
on the ideas of integral development. The founder and chairman of the legendary Esalen Institute, Michael Murphy, collected and classified the data and
the results of more than 10,000 studies indicating the possibility of global human transformation and indicating the onset of
the next stage of human evolution. The complex he proposes
transformative programs are aimed at accelerating personal growth and
its integration into a transformative lifestyle.
The Future of the Body is the most thorough work ever
written about the relationship between mind and body, which is quite
can become the bible of the transpersonal paradigm.
UDC 141.339
BBK 86.42
Recommended for publication
Institute of Philosophy RAS
The publishers are grateful
Andrey Bunich and Alexander Koposov
for supporting the publication of this book
All rights reserved including the right of reproduction in whole
or in part in any form. This edition published by arrangement
with Jeremy P. Tarcher, a member of Penguin Group (USA) Inc.
ISBN 978-5-386-01139-0
(RIPOL classic)
ISBN 978-5-9743-0150-6
(Open world)
Copyright © 1992 by Michael Murphy
© Design.
LLC Group of Companies
"RIPOL classic", 2009
© Open World LLC, 2009.
“An impressive, authoritative study that completely and completely destroys all conventional ideas. Even when opening
at random any place in this book, which, without a doubt, will put
the beginning of further exploration of the body-mind, you find yourself in the world
amazing miracles."
"Presbyterian Observer"
“The Future of the Body is a book that needs to be read with
children, so that they can acquire a worldview broad enough to satisfy even the most inquisitive mind and
the most restless heart."
Yoga Magazine
“Not since William James's The Varieties of Religious Experience has there appeared such an inspiring study of the extraordinary powers of man.”
Stefan Phillips, professor of philosophy,
University of Texas at Austin
“Murphy accomplished the extraordinary feat of collecting and classifying the data and results of more than 10,000 studies.
which indicate the possibility of human transformation and, perhaps, indicate the onset of the next stage
human evolution."
"Review of Theoretical Sciences"
“The book “The Future of the Body” will expand your intellectual horizons
everyone who is looking for an answer to the question: what should we do in our time?
consist of genuine, embodied spirituality?”
Catholic Book Club
“Traditional scientists constantly downplay cases of unusual human abilities, trying by any means to keep their philosophical “apple carts” in balance.
Murphy's book The Future of the Body threatens this balance,
so all these apples can be scattered.”
Magazine "The New Age" / "New Century"
“The Future of the Body is a remarkable attempt to capture and explain virtually the full range of extraordinary physical and mental abilities with which we as a species seem so richly endowed.”
George Feuerstein for Quest
"The only way to adequately evaluate this book is to say that it represents the most thorough work of
ever written about the relationship between body and mind."
Charles T. Tart, Professor of Philosophy at the University
California, author of "States of Consciousness"
“This is the right book, written by the right person at the right time.
time".
Science Books and Films
"Michael Murphy defined the level of human ability,
which goes far beyond our wildest imaginations."
"The San Francisco Examiner"
"A stunning synthesis."
Publishers Weekly
“Perhaps this is the most complete overview of human capabilities in
plan to increase your potential."
"USA Today"
"This encyclopedia, based on thorough research and
carefully verified facts, occupies a special place among the abundance of popular literature on spiritual and psychological
self-improvement that is flooding the market these days.”
The San Francisco Chronicle
“The Future of the Body is a wonderful selection of
data, which leads the reader to the conclusion that the potential
our body-mind is still far from being revealed. This book is quite
can become the “bible” of the transpersonal paradigm.”
"Brain/Mind and Common Sense"
CONTENTS
Preface to the Russian edition
Editor's Preface
Acknowledgments
Note to readers
11
12
17
18
Part 1. THE POSSIBILITY OF AN EXTRAORDINARY LIFE
1.
2.
Introduction
Various evidence of transformative abilities
person
2.1. Survey, or integral, empiricism.
2.2. Data from parapsychology and research
paranormal phenomena. 2.3. Data that
nervous, endocrine and immune systems have
mutual influence on each other
Evolution and unusual abilities
3.1. Evolutionary transition (leap). 3.2. Evolution
and progress. 3.3. Evolution and the processes that make it
determine
Similarities between certain forms of development on
different evolutionary levels
63
4.1. Continuity of development of animals and humans
and extraordinary human abilities.
4.2. The main similarities in functioning on different
evolutionary levels. 4.3. Supernormal
manifestations in everyday life.
4.4. Uncertainty about the future
human development
Development of human abilities
95
5.1. Perception of external events. 5.2. Somatic
awareness (body awareness) and self-regulation.
5.3. Communication skills. 5.4. Life
energy. 5.5. Motor abilities. 5.6. Ability
influence the world around us. 5.7. Pain and pleasure.
5.8. Cognitive abilities. 5.9. Strength of will.
5.10. Individuation and the sense of self. 5.11. Love.
5.12. Bodily structures, states and processes.
5.13. Differences in availability between different
supernormal abilities
FUTURE OF THE BODY
Culture, genetics and supernormal abilities
6.1. The influence of culture on human development.
6.2. Genetic basis of supernormals
abilities
7. Philosophy, religion and human development
7.1. Unusual abilities and “gift from above” as
signs of human evolutionary progress.
7.2. Ideas that clarify the connection between evolution
and higher nature
8. Supernormal bodily manifestations (bodily
transfiguration) in legends, art and religious
doctrines
8.1. Christian doctrines of the transfigured body.
8.2. Taoist legends about immortals. 8.3. Rituals
dismemberment and resurrection by shamans.
8.4. Supernormal abilities in science
science fiction, fantasy, cartoons and films
9. Continuation of evolution on Earth
10. Evolution and life after death
Part 2. DATA EVIDENCE
ABOUT TRANSFORMATIVE ABILITIES OF HUMAN
11. Psychosomatic changes with various
functional disorders
301
11.1. Hysterical stigmata. 11.2. False
pregnancy. 11.3. Split personality
12. Placebo effect
317
12.1. Placebo studies. 12.2. Relief
physical ailments through placebos.
12.3. The effect of placebo on mood and behavior.
12.4. The placebo effect and transformative practices
13. Spiritual healing
331
13.1. Historical examples of spiritual healing.
13.2. Spiritual healing in the twentieth century.
13.3. Modern paranormal research
aspects of spiritual healing. 13.4. Spiritual
healing and transformative practices
14. Unusual abilities of physically disabled people
364
15. Mesmerism and hypnosis
372
15.1. Story. 15.2. Some typical
hypnotic phenomena. 15.3. Hypnotic
induction. 15.4. Hypnotic state.
15.5. Depth of hypnosis. 15.6. Susceptibility
to hypnosis. 15.7. Self-hypnosis. 15.8. Hypnotic
pain relief. 15.9. Healing from Trauma
and diseases through hypnotic suggestion.
15.10. Organic changes caused
hypnotic suggestion. 15.11. Other results
hypnotic suggestion. 15.12. Some
negative effects of hypnosis.
15.13. Paranormal experiences
and quasi-mystical states caused by
hypnotic suggestion. 15.14. Hypnotic
phenomena and transformative practice
Biofeedback training
443
16.1. Predecessors of modern training
via biofeedback. 16.2. Modern training
with biofeedback. 16.3. Muscle control
activity through volitional efforts. 16.4. strong-willed
control over the electrical activity of the brain.
16.5. Volitional control of other functional
body systems. 16.6. Some aspects of the training
using biofeedback, important for
physiological transformative practice
generally
Psychotherapy and imagery practice
471
17.1. Types of psychotherapy. 17.2. Figurative
practice for treatment and development.
17.3. Paranormal and transpersonal
prospects in psychotherapy
Somatic disciplines
492
18.1. The field of somatic education.
18.2. Alexander's technique. 18.3. Autogenous
training. 18.4. Feldenkreis technique.
18.5. Rolfing. 18.6. Progressive relaxation.
18.7. Elsa Gindler's Sensory Awareness Work
and Charlotte Selver. 18.8. Reichian therapy.
18.9. Somatic and integral disciplines
practices
Adventure and Sports
526
19.1. Increase in sporting achievements.
19.2. Research on fitness and health.
19.3. Sport as improvement. 19.4. Composite
elements of sport that contribute to outstanding
achievements. 19.5. Sport as transformative
practice
Martial arts
567
20.1. Elements of martial arts that promote
expanding the capabilities of human consciousness.
20.2. The scientific study of martial arts.
20.3. Martial arts and modern sports
FUTURE OF THE BODY
21. Extraordinary abilities of religious adepts
21.1. Death of Kalan and Yoga. 21.2. Christian
desert fathers. 21.3. Shamanism.
21.4. Indian running. 21.5. Taoist monks and magicians.
21.6. Jewish mystics. 21.7. Burial of Yogi Haridas.
21.8. Body transformation of Sri Ramakrishna
22. Charisms of Catholic saints and mystics
22.1. Catholic procedure for canonization.
22.2. Charismatic phenomena recognized
Catholic Church. 22.3. Stigmata.
22.4. Inedia. 22.5. Glow phenomenon.
22.6. Incendium Amoris. 22.7. Scents of Holiness
and sacred fluids of the body. 22.8. Immunity
bodies to decomposition. 22.9. Body lengthening.
22.10. Levitation. 22.11. Telekinesis.
22.12. Psychic abilities.
22.13. Limb immobility and decrease
sensitivity in moments of religious ecstasy
23. Scientific research into spiritual experience
23.1. Study of Yogis and Zen Buddhist Monks.
23.2. Contemporary study of meditation
Part 3. TRANSFORMATIVE PRACTICES
24. Basics of transformative practices
24.1. Transformative methods in connection with illness,
healing and growth. 24.2. The role of universal
immediate reactions in the practice of transformation.
24.3. High-level changes associated with
transcendental phenomena. 24.4. Pursuit
to integrity in ancient and modern
transformative practices
25. Elements of transformative practice
25.1. Disadvantages of transformative practice.
25.2. Interdependence of transformative practices
from each other. 25.3. Comparative studies
transformative practices
26. Integral practices
26.1. Changes required for holistic,
integrated development, and practices,
allowing them to be achieved. 26.2. Some
guiding principles of integral practices
and their supporting institutions
Frequently used terms
Applications
Notes
Bibliography
Esalen Institute, Sacred Mushrooms and Golfing
Interview with Michael Murphy by Robert Forte
R.F.: I'll start by telling you what prompted me to compile this book of memories of Tim. At a conference on LSD, which was held in Switzerland under the auspices of the Swiss Academy of Medicine and the Sandoz company, every time the name Timothy Leary was mentioned, or the spirit of the sixties, or humanistic psychology, or transpersonal psychology, usually both very disrespectfully defined as extra-scientific phenomena, as radical Californian esotericism.
M.M.: Well, this is the Swiss view.
R.F.: It is to combat such views that I conceived this book.
M.M.: This sounds like a declaration of war.
R.F.: There are a few.
M.M.: I think this is not necessary. Tim Leary, of course, is an iconoclast, a rebel, but you shouldn’t start a war over him.
R.F.: Explain what you mean?
M.M.: You know, you can be a visionary without being a revolutionary, although often both happened. But, be that as it may, of course, it is up to you to determine the tone of this book.
R.F.: Yes, perhaps, for me. Although I feel that it is rather determined by Tim's opponents.
M.M.: Yes, but for a collection of memories you don’t have to choose this particular tone. So after all, it is you who choose it.
M.M.: Okay, that's your business. I'm not arguing, I just noticed it.
R.F.: Yes, this is my opinion. These people accuse Tim of setting his research back twenty years by his actions. But at the same time, a lot of people think that he, on the contrary, advanced this area twenty years forward.
M.M.: Yes, for example, what about the Beatles? And many other great musicians of our era? How about the Grateful Dead? How about, by the way, Allen Ginsberg and company? ASten Grof? In other words, Tim is not alone.
R.F.: Yes, far from alone.
M.M.: Yes, powerful forces participated in the awakening of consciousness. Many of them have come very far. But culture has assimilated their achievements, absorbed them, and we continue this upward spiral with hope. So go ahead and sing!
R.F.: What can you say about the Irish spirit - Tim's and yours - that brought this whole explosion to life thirty-five years ago?
M.M.: We both participated in the acquisition of a new view of life, a new view of human potential and, like all such movements, a new view of renewal, we were forced to come into conflict with a given culture, to upset the balance of the social order, to go through a period Sturm und Drang. When you carry knowledge about new possibilities, when you carry energy designed to change the way of human life and, therefore, radically change the way people perceive reality, their feelings and their bodies, then, willy-nilly, you have to hurry, because events themselves push you on. The Irish have been doing this for about 1,500 years. This is probably already part of their genetics. I suppose so. The English still cannot understand that when the Irish keep a straight face, they are joking, and when they smile, they are absolutely sincere. They still haven't figured it out.
R.F.: I heard somewhere that Esalen was originally intended to be a center for psychedelic initiation.
M.M.: No, that's not true. I caught the very early stage. You know, Robert, I have never considered drugs to be my allies. I had eight trips between '62 and '66, and my travel companions were the best guys. But on my first peyote trip, I was alone. It was magical. Then Aldous Huxley gave me some LSD from Sandoz, and Laura, his wife, became my guide in Mexico. These were two first-time trips, in ’62, just when we started our US-Lenov program. Then Tim and Dick Alpert came to Esalen and gave me another trip - it was 1964. It was mostly Dick's doing, although Tim was there that night as well as Dick Price and me. It was wonderful. Then there was another wonderful trip, together with Myron Stolaroff and Willis Harman, at their Institute for Advanced Study. And it was wonderful. So I had wonderful travel companions and guides, but in fact, each new trip became an increasingly difficult test for me, it was more and more painful. It was like a message to me that said, “this is not for you.” So my last trip was in '66, so that makes a total of eight trips, from '62 to '66.
RF: So you followed Alan Watts' advice: "If you get a message, hang up." This raises the question, do psychedelics always work as a way into oneself, or do they work better in the context of initiation? Even Jerry Garcia said that his most intense and magical time with psychedelics lasted no more than one year.
Can you tell us anything about the influence of psychedelics on Esalen? Do you think they were more or less consistent than hot springs, mountains or the ocean?
M.M.: Well, I admit, I don’t think that psychedelics had a big influence on Esalen. The institute was founded in 1962. During its development in ’62, ’63, ’64, psychedelics did not take any part. There was some talk about them, there were occasional trips like the one with Laura Huxley that I mentioned, but then I felt like I just had to go to Mexico to do it. Do you know what I mean? Psychedelics started to become famous starting in '65, and in '67, during the "Summer of Love," our canyons were full of people, it was an explosion, and for a while we just lost control of the place. Yes, perhaps, from 66 to 70 was the most anarchic, uncontrolled time. It's a miracle that Esalen survived this.
R.F.: Yes, there were uncontrolled energies walking around there and sometimes very dangerous ones. It cannot be said that this was always a positive version of Dionysian madness.
M.M.: Yes, because Charles Manson formed his cult very close by, in the Lime Kiln Canyon. There he recruited his followers. The Hell's Angels were hanging around too. We had a serious clash with them. They appeared suddenly with a very threatening look, and there was no smell of any police nearby. There were about thirty of them, one of their squadrons, in black leather, all stoned. They wanted to take control of the whole place. There were other troubles as well. There were at least three drug-related suicides among people with some connection to Esalen. Anything happened in Esalen and around it in those days. The institute survived because we all worked together quite a lot and amicably back then. We were all in our early thirties, all unmarried, without children, full of energy. It was a wonderful time. The seminars were always full of people, people were very interested. It was all exciting. But at the same time, as you know, many of the experiments of that time failed. Most of the communes collapsed by the second half of the seventies. As a result, I concluded that such research requires not just a few years, but a lifetime.
In the course of our work, we have been under the patronage of several organizations, such as the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and others. I met twice with the head of the FDA's Northern California office to clarify what was happening and what our responsibilities were. According to the Bill of Rights, if you are a hotelier, you do not have the right to search the rooms of your guests. So we were forced, with the participation of our lawyers, to explain that we are not obliged to use Gestapo methods in relation to our seminarians. But the main reason we managed to avoid this - even though drug use was still widespread at that time - was because we prohibited any drug dealing or use in our seminars. We said that if we caught anyone in the act of using drugs, they would be expelled immediately. And we did kick some out. You know that there was still some crime there - I mean, there was drug trafficking there. Those associated with her were expelled without the right to return. We deliberately made these facts public, which was in complete harmony with my own negative attitude towards psychedelics as a means of expanding consciousness. I have been meditating since 1950, I was in India, and this was and remains my choice - the drug-free path.
We have never considered our institute as a center for the study of psychedelics. Although we did have seminars on psychedelics. And of course, people talked about drugs at these seminars, that's without a doubt. But we continued to insist on a ban on any trade in them. It was enough to look someone in the eye and tell them they were high, but we couldn't force them to take a blood test and then use the results to kick them out.
At the same time, Dick Price was using psychedelics for his personal trips, but he agreed with me in the policy of preventing Esalen from public drug use. In other words, we had to remain loyal to the law. Dick completely agreed with me. Although, unlike me, he himself used psychedelics, considering them useful for himself.
R.F.: I was very surprised when you happily agreed to participate in our book about Leary, knowing that your attitude towards psychedelics is quite conservative. I mean, when I told you about this idea in July, you were very enthusiastic about it.
M.M.: I have always loved and admired Tim. And the point here is not in psychedelics, but in himself. I don’t see any contradiction in this. I mean, what we learned at Esalen makes me think that psychedelics by themselves do not provide a path into those dimensions of human nature that I would really like to work with, which is what I see as my life's task. But I must also say that with the help of psychedelics, people did gain access to these areas of consciousness. I'm just talking about what it was like in Big Sur and my own background, but I'm not saying anything about the intrinsic value of psychedelics - whether or not they were truly beneficial to everyone who used them. Tim is a true pioneer and hero. That's all. In principle, I am for complete freedom of research and have always sympathized with Tim. I love his visionary spirit and his great Irish charm and the ideas he fought for. The same can be said about Fritz Perls. I mean, I don't like a lot of what Fritz Perle did, but I respect him and believe in his genius both as a clinician and a theorist, although he could often be a son of a bitch.
R.F.: Do you think that psychedelics were the main reason for the importation of Eastern meditation systems and philosophies in the early 60s?
M.M.: No, I don’t agree with this. I became interested in all this at Stanford in 1950, when I listened to lectures by Frederick Spiegelberg. I saw this underground fire at Stanford throughout the fifties, and drugs had absolutely nothing to do with it. It's simply time for our culture to move beyond the very narrow framework into which we have all been squeezed in our churches and synagogues. We were ready for this. I mean, hundreds and thousands of Americans were ready for a breakthrough. I remember Spiegelberg's lectures, my God, he could fill any room talking about the Vedas, the Upanishads, the great Buddhist manuscripts, Ramana Maharishi and Sri Aurobindo. This cannot be attributed to psychedelics. Psychedelics, of course, also contributed to the awakening of interest in these topics, but they were by no means the root cause.
R.F.: More of a coincidence than a reason?
M.M.: Well, we can say that this was one of the reasons. I think there are at least six reasons that led to what happened in the sixties, and psychedelics would only be one of them.
R.F.: OK, you named two: the suffocating conditions of the fifties and psychedelics. What others?
M.M.: The appearance on the stage of Eastern philosophies and practices, shamanism, esoteric Judaism, Christianity and Islam. They all began to join society, Neoplatonism and everything else. Then the amazing breakthrough of existential therapy, humanistic and transpersonal psychology... Maslow, Rogers... it had to break through. Remember the fifties, with their psychoanalysis and behaviorism. There were boundaries that needed to be broken, and these trends became very popular. Then this whole set of somatic practices, starting from Rolfing and Feldenkreis to Charlotte Selver; they also just appeared on the scene. And all this happened at the same time. At the same time, there was strong disappointment with the government as a result of the unsuccessful Vietnam War. Then this musical explosion. How much music suddenly appeared. The Beatles created so much new music. This was the second great musical explosion after the invention of jazz. We can continue. There were maybe eight or nine main events. But this was certainly not a consequence of psychedelics. They just became part of the process. The time had come when culture had to become open. And all factors worked for this.
R.F.: Wasson was the first to suggest that religion could have arisen as a result of the use of psychedelic mushrooms by primitive humanity. Terence McKenna continued this theme by suggesting that psychedelics were the missing link in evolution, giving rise to human brain growth, culture, religion, etc. Do you think there was a repeat of this scenario in the sixties?
M.M.: First of all, I don’t believe in these theories at all. It's as if they don't want to take all other factors into account. For example, Robert, for twenty-five years I have received information about mystical experiences from golf courses. This was when I was writing the book "Golf in the Kingdom". I call golf a mystical school for Republicans. If you can get a similar experience playing golf, then what can be said about many other human activities... All these initiations in the great caves of Laska and others, their connection with hunting and shamanic rituals, my God, swimming in the cold sea, conquering the mountains peaks, and who knows what else. No, I just don't believe in all these theories.
R.F.: Confrontation with birth and death, sex and other forces.
M.M.: All this taken together contributes today to incredible discoveries of the secrets of existence and its amazing powers and capabilities. There is a reductionist theory. But there is also a higher reductionism, and I would say that Wasson and McKenna are representatives of a higher reductionism. But I don't believe in him. Psychedelics certainly play a role. And sometimes a ritualized role. But only them? Fire me. I would say that the ability for self-development is inherent in the nature of our universe. We are all in the process of development. We are evolving to new levels of complexity and consciousness. This has been going on in our universe for fifteen billion years or more. Three to four billion years have passed since the first life appeared on earth. This has been developing in the human race since the beginning. It's all one mechanism. The discoveries of our century are the next stage in the most important process of advancing the universe to ever new levels of functioning, more complex orders, ecstasies - the return of the hitherto hidden divinity of existence. To say that everything depends on drugs is at least ridiculous. Sorry I got so worked up about this.
R.F.: Your book “The Future of the Body” is the most complete collection of scientifically proven mystical or metanormal experiences. Charlie Tart called it "the most significant work ever written on the relationship between mind and body." I haven't read all 785 pages of this book, but I don't think there is a single mention of a psychedelic experience in it. It is amazing.
M.M.: Yes, that's true. I have never dealt with this issue. But maybe in the next edition I will include it in the book. Of course, in its present form it is the fruit of my preferences. I gave it to different critics to review, each chapter separately and then the whole book. We had two conferences on this book before its publication. I wanted it to be as seamless as possible and at the same time seasoned.
R.F.: And at these conferences the question of the ostracism to which you subjected psychedelics never came up? You just mercilessly threw them out of your sphere of interests and that’s it?
M.M.: No, it arose, but closer to the end. We didn't have much time and I wasn't really interested in it. In the book, for example, there is also not a word about tantric sex, and perhaps I will include this in the next edition. I can definitely include psychedelics. Some of this is my bias, I couldn't agree more. But this is not a fundamental political issue or anything like that. I had been working on the book for seven and a half years and it was simply time to rush to publish it. Not to mention the volume. We had to cut it in half. So a lot had to be sacrificed, but it was not a political decision specifically in relation to psychedelics. I would say this is a shortcoming of the book.
R.F.: Can I tell you? "The future of the body" and not a word about sex and drugs? Is there a second volume coming?
M.M.: I doubt it. I'm writing a sequel to Golf in the Kingdom in which I mention the mushrooms at Muir Field.
R.F.: Seriously?
R.F.: I should send you my chapter on this.
M.M.: Okay, send it. I found something about this in the manuscript of one Mortimer Crale, who was professor of philology at Edinburgh. The book was called "Golf: Its Roots in God and Nature." It describes a case of apparent demonic possession during a doubles golf tournament at Muirfield. It was explained in various ways: by the action of demons, by internal hemorrhage that gave rise to phantoms of consciousness, or by mushrooms served for lunch at the Muirfields Club. I must thank you too for your help.
R.F.: I have a whole piece on the origins of golf, which talks about how golf was originally a cover for mushroom picking.
M.M.: Where, in Scotland?
R.F.: Yes, in Scotland.
M.M.: This is an incredible revelation.
RF: Someone in Muirfield told me that golf is an acronym. It stands for GO Look For - mushrooms, of course, which were prohibited by orthodox religion. It was invented to camouflage mushroom hunters in meadows and fields. He showed me an old manuscript that he kept secretly.
M.M.: I can refer to your text, regardless of whether it is published or not. Look, I love it. I'll just mention this in passing. GO Look For.
R.F.: Yes, GO Look For. You know, I found mushrooms in Muirfield. They naturally grow there. Psychedelic mushrooms, I mean.
M.M.: It’s good that you told me about this.
R.F.: And I played golf under these mushrooms.
M.M.: So that’s what inspired you for your Story.
R.F.: But the result was too much. Luckily, the guy who gave me these mushrooms found me on the 17th green, on the ground, in a state of complete ecstasy. He took me to his home, where he nursed me until I came to my senses, and then told me about the origins of golf.
R.F.: "All in one."
M.M.: I can refer to it.
R.F.: It's a pity Tim didn't know this. If he wanted to change society, he did not need to challenge it and stir up controversy as he did. He could explain simply and clearly that higher consciousness makes life more meaningful, in terms that Republicans could understand and would not be intimidated by. I suppose he tried to do something similar in his famous Playboy interview, but golf is more important to Republicans than sex. If they learned that small doses of LSD or psilocybin enhance concentration, clarity of vision, speed of reaction and therefore help to achieve better golf results, a new epidemic could break out among them. Are you, Michael, currently obsessed with bodily transformation?
M.M.: But we are not talking about cryogenics or anything like that. I mean the development of the body to new forms of embodiment. This is something like a mutation of human flesh, simultaneously with the mutation or development of consciousness. You know that Sri Aurobindo gave me this idea, and the more I move in this direction, the more fruitful it seems to me. And this is the book I am writing about now.
R.F.: A sequel to “Golf in the Kingdom”?
Hmm yeah. The kingdom of "Shiva's armor", referring to this meta-normal incarnation in which Shiva transcends life and death simultaneously. In other words, death will become our new business and life too, if we can live in this new flesh or, if you like, you can call it a “new spiritual body.” I really believe this.
R.F.: And what should happen to the physical body?
M.M.: I think that as the body, sometimes imperceptibly, sometimes very clearly, develops, it transforms and, if you want, is illuminated by the light of God - this is in the potency of the body. And the body begins to change. This is what I write about in my book “The Future of the Body.” The entire next volume will be devoted to this. This will not be volume II in encyclopedic form, no, rather a book of reflections. I will spend the rest of my life working on this book.
- Michael Murphy co-founded the Esalen Institute in 1962 with Richard Price. He is the author of The Kingdom of Golf, The Armor Kingdom of Shiv, The Future of the Body, and (co-authored with George Leonard) The Life We Are Given.
- Sturm und Drang (German) - the slogan of German romantics.
- Hell's Angels - during the period described, one of the major criminal associations of motorcyclists (bikers). The main occupation is trade and transportation of drugs, security of rock concerts, racketeering. Later they split into rival factions.
The fact that the physiological (or "material") and the cognitive (or "mental") are the two most fundamental lines of the human being ("matter" and "consciousness", Right and Left) means that a truly integral spiritual practice must emphasize at least equal attention to the body and mind at each stage of the overall evolution from the gross body-mind to the subtle body-mind and the causal body-mind.
As simple as this conclusion may seem today, in historical terms it is a very radical idea - as Michael Murphy well knows. Building on Aurobindo's pioneering insights, but greatly expanding on them in many important and profound ways, Murphy argued for many years that the world was in dire need of a truly integral practice. His wonderful work “The Future of the Body” is dedicated to this topic. Charles Tart noted that "the only way to adequately describe this book is to say that it is the most important book on the relationship of mind and body ever written."
By “mind” and “body” Murphy does not mean the standard and rather narrow concepts of material flesh and immaterial soul. Rather, he means the entire Upper Left quadrant (the "mind" or consciousness in the broadest sense) and the entire Upper Right quadrant (the "body" in the broadest sense). And his position is this: you cannot have one without having the other, at any level of human development, and therefore we should consciously engage both equal parts intense and full. This integral inclusion in the work then serves as an accelerator of evolution from the gross body-mind to the subtle body-mind and to the causal body-mind, each stage of which includes and radically transforms the previous stages, uniting the upward flow of evolution with the downward flow of involution, and in doing so transforming self, body and world.
Murphy is also fully aware of the importance of integrating in overall practice not only the Upper Left and Upper Right, but also the Lower Left and Lower Right quadrants - intentional, behavioral, cultural and social - that is, the importance of a "whole-level, all-sector" approach to integral practice. Thus, in his latest book, The Life Given to Us, co-authored with his friend George Leonard, Murphy develops a program for a balanced set of practices in the context of family, community and service, which he calls Integral Transformative Practice.
Mike and I have often discussed the “three waves” that the human performance movement itself has gone through over the past few decades. The first wave in the 60s was the overture of the original movement to realize human potential. Although quite diverse, the movement nonetheless emphasized quick gains, peak experiences, weekend classes, and “satori in seven days” seminars. It was a violent explosion, amazing and frightening, beautiful and perverse, magnificent and grotesque. Its epicenter was the Esalen Institute, founded by Mike and his friend Richard Price.
Over the course of a decade or so, the challenge of the “peak experience” began to give way to the challenge of the “plateau experience,” and the second wave of the human performance movement began. The limitations of a quick success focus became all too obvious; the results, although beneficial for the initial awakening, tended to quickly evaporate, sometimes leaving the individual in even worse shape than before. In any case, it soon became obvious that achieving true transformation required time, work and continuous focus - in a word, practice. People began to adopt real transformative practices: Zen or yoga, or ongoing psychotherapy, or long-term body work, or advanced dream work, or physical/sports/body training, and so on. The five-day orientation gave way to a five-year course of study.
But even these commendable forms of practice had a serious limitation: they usually developed only one ability of the human body - awareness or dreaming, or a physical skill, or insight, or emotional openness - to the neglect of others. That is, these approaches chose only one line of development and followed it through its various levels - they caught one stream and rode its waves - only to find, at the end of this otherwise laudable practice, that the other lines of development were all still immature, undeveloped, or even completely extinct. But now a new difficulty was added: man was burdened with an extremely unbalanced organism. The poor self, which has to juggle various lines of development, often carried on its shoulders one giant and a dozen pygmies. And the more advanced There was this separate practice, the worse the situation became, which completely confused everyone.
Thus, the second wave of deliberate practice gave way to the third wave of integral practice. Once again, this area transcended and included, denied and preserved, passing through its three waves of learning.
In other words, the field itself has evolved from its original sensory-dominant explosiveness (“go crazy and come to your senses!”) to a second wave of concrete practice. Both of these waves were necessary for the third, nascent wave of universal/integral practice - its own pre-conventional, conventional and post-conventional waves.
And, as can be noted, Michael Murphy contributed to the development of all three waves. It was Murphy, working quietly and often behind the scenes, who largely prepared the ground on which each of these three waves could develop. Michael Murphy might well be considered the most remarkable spiritual innovator of our generation, if only because he created extraordinary opportunities for others to transform themselves in his example.
Today, the third wave of integral practice is in its infancy, but like all babies, it is growing at a breakneck pace. An indicator of this trend is the book What Really Matters: The Search for Wisdom in America by former New York Times reporter Tony Schwartz. I think that if Tony had decided to remake the book, a few minor things could have been changed, but it remains an exceptional guide to the best transformative technologies available today. And the overall conclusion of the book is unmistakable: today integral practice is the only viable form of human transformation.
Riding the crest of the third wave: what can compare with this exciting surfing in the mind?
The works of Joseph Murphy changed the lives of many thousands of people in all countries of the world. And this is not surprising - throughout his life Murphy proved the effectiveness of the methods and techniques that he told people about.
For more than fifty years he conducted scientific activities, taught and lectured. He published more than 30 books in which he urged every person to trust his subconscious and Higher powers, and take responsibility for the quality of his own life into his own hands, as he himself was able to do.
In addition to the fact that he was successful and rich, Murphy was able to recover from a terrible illness - sarcoma.
In his lectures and books, J. Murphy talked about simple techniques that can change a person’s life, making him healthier, more successful and happier.
“Every person has unlimited power that can transform life and make it something that could only be dreamed of before. You have this power too, you just need to learn how to use it for good!” The author of this book, who worked for a long time using the Murphy system, was convinced of this.
The essence of Murphy’s system is that a thought that is not “rejected”, but “learned” by the subconscious, materializes! It is only important to find ways that will ensure that this thought is “planted” in the subconscious, and this thought is “accepted” by the subconscious. And then the incredible is possible! Those who are not familiar with the system will call changes for the better a miracle, luck. But in fact, this is just the work of the subconscious with our thoughts.
The author of this book worked with Murphy’s postulates for a long time, came up with new methods for their practical development, and took notes. This book is also a kind of working note. In addition to describing Murphy’s views, it provides methods that allow you to quickly and more effectively implement the theoretical calculations of the great teacher.
The author was prompted to publish his “working” notes by appeals from his clients, who had successfully applied Joseph Murphy’s system in their lives for several years. Many of them expressed the desire to always have at hand a kind of “pocket reference book” containing the main provisions of the methodology, presented succinctly and concisely. someone complained that if he needed to refresh his memory of any of Murphy’s postulates, he had to leaf through the author’s voluminous books for a long time, someone dreamed of a collection of guru advice for all occasions, and someone wanted to always have a collection of affirmations and comments at hand author of the system.
The resulting book turned out to be able to satisfy all requests at once - it contains all the key concepts used in Murphy’s system, illustrated with quotes from his famous books and provided with comments and advice from a practicing psychologist. And the examples of affirmations offered by the author will be useful to the reader in any situation.
The book's form is simple and easy to read. But behind this ease lies the serious work of the author, who has put a lot of effort into making it easier for others to assimilate the knowledge that Joseph Murphy revealed to humanity.
However, for those who are deprived of this opportunity, it is quite possible to use this book to change their lives for the better!
How to use this book
This book gives you the opportunity to literally experience methods of working with the subconscious within a few minutes and quickly get amazing results.
You can familiarize yourself with the basic postulates that Joseph Murphy preached, immediately try to put them into practice and understand how easy but effective a tool is offered to you in order to improve your life.
You can use it to refresh your knowledge if you are already familiar with the works of Joseph Murphy. To do this, just open the directory on the page you need, using the alphabetical index.
Feeling the need for support before any matter that is significant to you, you can open the reference book and find a specific recipe, affirmation, technique that will definitely help you or push you to the right decision.
There is another way to use this wonderful book, which is used by many acquaintances of the author of the book - the ability to receive an instant answer from the Universe by simply opening the reference book at random. Read the words of Joseph Murphy and the practical advice given on the page that opens in front of you, and you will understand what is slowing down your progress, what you lack to achieve your dreams, and what actions will help you get what you want closer.
There are no coincidences: after reading this book, you will understand that you just need to be ready to use the power and wisdom of your own subconscious, and the world will reveal all its secrets to you.
Formulate your question or problem in your mind, take the book in your hands, hold it between your palms for a while, calming your mind and preparing to perceive everything new, then open it at random. Read carefully and use what you have learned right now.
Be open to the world and new knowledge, and your life will change for the better, and the guide will help you on the path to prosperity!
Affirmation
Affirmation is a statement of what is desired as an already accomplished and true fact.
A story from the life of J. Murphy
One psychologist I know told me that he was sick - his lung was affected by an infection... In the evenings before going to bed, my friend persistently repeated the mood-affirmation: “Every cell, nerve, tissue and muscle of my lungs is now gaining health and integrity and perfection...”... A month later the patient was completely cured, and subsequent x-rays confirmed this: there was no trace of the disease left in the lung.
The essence of the method
You formulate a desire using positive formations (“I’m healthy!”, “I’m rich!”).
Basic steps to formulate an affirmation:
1. Formulate your desire.
2. Relax.
3. Imagine that your wish has come true. Express the result in a short, succinct phrase.
For example, if you want to stop drinking, affirm: “ I am enjoying a sober lifestyle and I am happy!”
4. Repeat the affirmation several times a day until the desire comes true.
– formulate an affirmation using negation.
If you deny something (“I don’t want to get sick”), then you affirm what you deny and get exactly that (for example, illness).
– allow doubts to arise!
Absolute method
To the extent that we rise in soul to the awareness of the qualities and attributes of God, we will be able to generate spiritual electronic waves of harmony, health and peace. This technique of prayer produces many miraculous healings.
J. Murphy. "The Power of the Subconscious"
The essence of the method
Helping a loved one suffering from illness using guided thought movement. When using the “Absolute Method”, the same forces are used as in sonorous therapy (sound therapy).
You can be close to the patient or at any distance from him - the method will work all the same.
The subconscious of any person is included in the system of the general subconscious, similar to how a personal computer is connected to the World Wide Web. Therefore, inner confidence is transmitted to your subconscious, which transmits it through the Universal Power and, entering the subconscious of your loved one, launches a recovery program.
On practice
With faith and persistence, repeat the prayer or play a mental movie in which your loved one is healthy and happy, avoiding negative thoughts about the symptoms and manifestations of the disease.
Aggression
...his (man’s) thought must be creative, and he creates something for himself that he thinks about and wishes for another person, for the simple reason that he is the only thinker in his Universe and is definitely responsible for what what he thinks about other people, as well as about himself.
J. Murphy. "Miraculous power to obtain endless wealth"
Aggression is the normal behavior of a frightened animal, which must either react sharply or run away.
Man has taken a huge step away from animal instincts: he can keep the manifestation of his feelings, including socially unacceptable ones, under control.
On practice
Don't be aggressive yourself.
If something makes you angry, irritated or afraid, then:
1. Calm down: in a calm state it is easier to make the right decision.
2. Remember that you, and only you, are the master of your life, and the events occurring in it are a projection of your thoughts. Draw conclusions to prevent such situations from reoccurring in the future.
If someone is aggressive towards you:
2. If there is no threat, then the best response is forgiveness and ignoring the aggressor.
3. If there is a threat, then calm will give you better advice than blind rage. Try to make an informed decision.
Prosperity
Every human being contains an inexhaustible reserve of power that can overcome any obstacles. The day you clearly understand that you can overcome any weakness, true long-term happiness will come into your life - once you discover that the subconscious mind has the ability to solve your problems, heal your body and bring about prosperity for you that you never dared to dream of. dream.
J. Murphy. "The Power of the Subconscious"
Prosperity is a harmonious life in which a person broadcasts love and joy into the world.
Prosperity should become the norm in your life because the norm is to be healthy, prosperous, loving and loved.
The Universe has enough gifts for everyone!
In order for life to be filled with prosperity, it is necessary:
1. Remember that the blessings of the Universe are enough for everyone, you don’t have to fight and struggle for them, you don’t have to take them from others to get them for yourself.
2. Live in harmony with yourself, that is, overcome internal contradictions, fears, anxieties and believe in the power of your own subconscious.
3. Replace old thinking patterns with new ones that allow you to see your new possibilities.
4. Broadcast sincere joy and love into the world, which will definitely return multiplied.
5. Remember the rule: “Treat others the way you want to be treated!”
6. Consciously and persistently, believing in the power of your own subconscious, work every day to ensure that your own life and the lives of your loved ones are filled with true values.
God
If you know how to use the power of your mind, if you have achieved full self-realization and give others your talents, then you are on the path to true success. If you are engaged in something that pleases God - or participate in it - God by His very nature will help you, and then who can stop you? If you understand this, no force on earth or in heaven will hinder your path to success.
J. Murphy. "The Power of the Subconscious"
Speaking "God", Joseph Murphy does not mean a specific God of a specific religious denomination, but implies a Higher Principle, guiding, creating and loving.
You can be an atheist, but at the same time understand that the world is not chaos, and everything in it is subject to higher Laws. Knowing this, you open up new opportunities to change your life for the better.
Faith in the Higher Powers, in the justice of universal laws and following them allows you to:
1. Improve your life simply by following these laws (for example: “What you wish for others will definitely come back to you a hundredfold”).
2. Be the master of your life, remembering that only your own thoughts make your life better or worse.
3. Remembering that God has no task to punish you, feel support in any of your endeavors.
Instead of “God” you can say: “Lord”, “Creator”, “Almighty”, “Universe”, “Universe” or “Higher powers”. The main condition is to believe that the Higher powers do not have as their goal to punish and punish.
See also "Lord".
Pain
The practical application of the laws of your mind, which is described in detail in this book, will help you replace poverty with prosperity, prejudice with true wisdom, pain with peace of mind, sadness with joy, discord with spiritual harmony, darkness with light, fear with faith and self-confidence. , bad luck - success, dependence on the laws of the outside world - freedom.
J. Murphy. "The Power of the Subconscious"
Pain is not a punishment, pain is just a marker: any pain indicates that something has gone wrong in the body or in the soul.
It is useless to fight pain because it is a consequence, not a cause. Only by finding and working through the cause can you cope with the pain.
Our body is designed to be healthy, illness is not the norm. If you feel pain, formulate a scientific prayer or affirmation like this:
My body was created perfect and healthy.
I am protected by the power of the subconscious.
My body has the ability to heal itself.
I live in a healthy and joyful world!
BE SURE TO CONSULT YOUR DOCTOR!
This also applies to mental pain: the norm is a good mood, peace and joy. If you are experiencing mental pain, do not ignore it and do not close it in your heart, acknowledge it, formulate a suitable affirmation and work through it:
I feel lightness and joy, every minute divine grace penetrates me.
I give love to the world, and it returns to me from all points of the Universe, multiplied many times over.
I always mentally thank the people I meet along the way and learn lessons from all life situations.
Disease
If you allow thoughts into yourself that are contrary to the principle of harmony, then these thoughts stick to you, harm you, disturb you and ultimately cause illness, and if you persist, then death.
J. Murphy. "The Power of the Subconscious"
Always remember - illness is not the norm, the human body is designed to be healthy! The disease contradicts the universal law of Harmony.
Experiments with hypnosis confirm the theory that the source of illness is in the human mind: if a person believes that he is sick, the subconscious will make this reality, and the person will get sick.
Thus, illness is your choice.
If you believe that you are healthy, you will be healthy.
If you believe that you can get sick, you most likely will get sick.
But even if you already have a number of chronic diseases that traditional medicine cannot cope with, you can turn to the power of your own subconscious at any time and get help!
It is important to remember that consciousness can “trigger” the disease in such a way that it will be necessary to consult a doctor.
CONSULTING A DOCTOR IF YOU ARE ALREADY ILL IS MANDATORY!
To get rid of the disease, you need to:
1. Free yourself from negative thoughts and fears.
2. Work through negative emotions: anger, jealousy, etc.
3. Formulate an affirmation, prayer, or visual image aimed at recovery.
You cannot name a disease when composing affirmations! The disease feeds on your fears and anxieties, the right choice is to ignore it, and any mention of it switches the flow of energy to the disease and feeds it! Don't let this happen!
Say: “I am healthy!”, and not “I am conquering my illness!”
Gratitude
A grateful heart is always close to the creative forces of the Universe, attracting infinite grace to itself according to the law of mutual interaction based on the cosmic principle of action and reaction.
J. Murphy. "The Power of the Subconscious"
Gratitude is the recognition that everything that happens is for your benefit.
Thanking someone is sincerely to wish happiness in response to a person: what you wish for another, you wish for yourself.
Use the power of anticipatory gratitude: thank life for everything that is still waiting for you.
In this way, you will create a happier and more harmonious future because:
Form positive attitudes and remove unnecessary fears, anxieties and negative thoughts that prevent the power of the subconscious from working for your benefit;
The subconscious will accept dreams as a fait accompli and more easily realize them in reality.
Practical tips:
Remember that most often gratitude is needed not by those whom you thank, but by you!
Gratitude should be sincere and come from a pure heart.
Thanks to a specific person, thank the wisdom of your subconscious that allowed you to meet.
Do not divide events into significant and insignificant, find a reason for gratitude in any situation.
Remember something that previously did not cause a spiritual response or caused negative emotions, but now you see it differently and is also worthy of gratitude.
Take at least a few minutes every day to express gratitude for what happened that day.
To enhance the effect, say to yourself any words of gratitude - to people, phenomena, God, Angels, the Universe.
Learn to be grateful for what is yet to come waiting you: declare your dreams, taking them as a fait accompli: do not use the subjunctive mood!
Don't use future tense!
Baudouin technique
Here is the formula proposed by Baudouin: “The simplest way to maintain this (introducing an idea into the subconscious) is to concentrate on the idea that will be the object of suggestion, concentrate it, condensing it into a succinct phrase that is easy to imprint in the memory, and repeat the phrase again and again, like a lullaby.” "
J. Murphy. "The Power of the Subconscious"
The essence of the method
1. Formulate your idea in one simple phrase that is easy to remember.
2. Enter a drowsy or half-asleep state.
3. Calmly, passively convey the idea to the subconscious, repeating an invented phrase.
The formulated phrase reaches the subconscious, which is most receptive in the most relaxed state, for example, at the moment of falling asleep, and it itself will find a way to implement your ideas in reality.
On practice
1. Before using the method, you need to relax: in a state of stress, trying too hard, it is better not to use the technique.
2. The phrase must be formulated without using the particle “not”, in a positive way.
3. If you don’t know which solution to your issue is preferable, choose neutral positive attitudes, for example: “I believe in the infinite wisdom of my subconscious and I know that the situation will be resolved most favorably for me and in accordance with the laws of world harmony.”
Allow negative thoughts to arise: the subconscious can perceive them as truth and realize them!
Limit yourself: you deserve the best! The blessings of the Universe are enough for everyone, which means you can dream boldly.
Wish for yourself something at the expense of others: what you wish for others will always be returned to you.
Marriage
For a marriage to be real, it must be built on a spiritual foundation. This must be a union of hearts, and the heart is a vessel of love. Honesty, sincerity, kindness, consistency are also types of love. Partners must be absolutely honest and sincere with each other.
J. Murphy. "The Power of the Subconscious"
Just as you initially deserve to be healthy and rich, you deserve a family created out of mutual, sincere love.
It must be remembered that marriage is not a solution to the problem of loneliness. It is impossible to find happiness at the expense of others if you do not have it in yourself.
If you want a happy family, first of all you need to become a happy person.
A happy family begins from the moment you meet: choose the one to whom your heart lies, and not the prestigious, rich and “enviable” partner.
Three steps to a happy family life:
1. Learn to forgive:
Don’t carry old grievances, irritation and dissatisfaction with you as a heavy burden. Forgive with all your heart, which means open the way for something new.
2. Learn to give thanks:
Sincerely thank the power of your subconscious, God or the Universe (as you wish) every day for allowing you to meet this person. Thank your loved ones for all the good things they do for you. Look for a reason to be grateful, express it out loud, be extremely sincere, thank you.
3. Learn to pray and/or affirm:
Choose a prayer or affirmation that reflects your common desire to build harmonious relationships, mutual respect and love. Say it together, take turns, repeat it every day!
For example:
Our relationship is becoming more harmonious every day.
Our marriage is based on respect and love.
Together we can achieve anything we want!
Wealth
The universal creative principle of life draws you to development and growth, to greater prosperity and abundance. You did not come into this world to live in slums, wear rags and starve. You should be happy, you should succeed and prosper.
J. Murphy. "The Power of the Subconscious"
Wealth is the same normal state as health, and the desire to be rich is a normal desire for a full and rich life!
In order to become rich, you must:
1. Remember that the resources of the Universe are inexhaustible. You don't have to fight for them or get them by giving up everything you hold dear.
3. Don’t allow yourself to think that money comes only through hard work and in limited quantities! Ignore any negative thoughts about wealth and money.
In the fall, I translated an article - an interview with Michael Murphy, the founder of Esalen - a settlement in California, which to some extent is a relative of Auroville, the city in which I am now. The volume is large and the vocabulary is complex in places, but the article contains interesting thoughts. We are talking about the connection between various kinds of mastery and what is called “enlightenment.”
Integrating the Big Bang
Interview with Michael Murphy by Andrew Cohen
Introduction
I first met Michael Murphy in 1995. Sharon Thoms, who was then the executive director of the Esalen Institute and a follower of Murphy, arranged for me to meet him over coffee at his home in San Rafael, California. We spent two very pleasant hours together, talking about everything under the sun. Murphy has an innate sense of hospitality and exudes warmth and liveliness, a child-like curiosity and enthusiasm for life. When within the project “What is enlightenment?” (What Is Enlightenment?) we began to look at the relationship between mastery and enlightenment, Michael Murphy's name kept popping up in my mind, potentially as the person who made the greatest contribution to this research, since I could not think of any person alive today with a greater breadth of knowledge on this subject.
As I prepared for the interview, I kept thinking back to our coffee meeting. I remembered that Murphy was very happy when he found out that I was "working out", and I was amazed at his deep interest in the fact that my arms and upper body had changed greatly as a result of the training hatha yoga for many years. I remembered that he seemed much more interested in this than in talking about enlightenment - which was, after all, what I had dedicated my life to and tried to share with others. “What would that mean?” - I thought.
“Michael Murphy may very well be the single most significant spiritual pioneer of our generation, for no other reason than the extraordinary spaces he created in which others could be transformed,” writes Ken Wilber in his book The Eye of the Spirit. . Moreover, even since Murphy explored the pioneering work of Sri Aurobindo almost half a century ago, his passionate interest in the development of human evolutionary potential continues to remain undiminished. Not only is he credited with founding, with his friend Richard Price, a landmark human potential research site, the Esalen Institute in Big Sur, California, but he has also written several best-selling books on the relationship between sports and the mystical dimension of life, and together with his colleague George Leonard carefully structured a systematic theory and program of the so-called “Integral Transformative Practice”. Interactive practice, inspired by Sri Urobindo's Integral Yoga, is now Murphy's main passion, and he believes its role in our understanding of human evolutionary potential is essential.
While talking to Murphy on the phone about an upcoming interview, when I first mentioned the word “enlightenment” and talked about its relationship to various types of mastery, he immediately interrupted the conversation and exclaimed: “Wait a minute! It all very much depends on what you mean by 'enlightenment'.". Moreover, Murphy feels that, generally speaking, our concept and understanding of spiritual practice and enlightenment, and their relationship to human evolution, is dangerously limited in scope. Too often, he feels, our vision of spiritual development and evolution is limited to one or two dimensions of our evolutionary potential as human beings. In fact, he repeats again and again, until we are aware of the many dimensions of our potential to evolve, we may unknowingly stop in our development, simply due to ignorance of what is actually possible. In his book The Future of the Body, Murphy defines the various dimensions of the integral approach to human evolution as follows:
“Religious traditions provide us with ways to develop metanormal will and cognitive ability and indicate the ethics that the development of these qualities requires. Modern psychology of the subconscious and emotional education informs: complete the emotional disciplines nurtured by religious traditions and add new dimensions to them. Physical training and sports provide methods for developing the body, some martial arts show us how to integrate spiritual, ethical and physical development."
But Murphy emphasizes: " Only practices that improve our physiological and somatic functioning while creating special 'experiences in the Unseen' can help balanced growth our highest possibilities [italics enlightment.org].”
And from the very beginning, Murphy makes it clear that our understanding of our evolutionary potential when we use the word "enlightenment" must include the multidimensional nature of our capabilities as evolving beings, including, I would add, what he calls "metanormal" abilities, and psychic energies. He is personally impressed by the astonishing variety of accesses to the mystical dimension of life that are possible through man's countless endeavors, from lovemaking or shoemaking to artistic expression and sports. Moreover, he believes that our evolutionary capacity is unlimited in its potential, and that we must therefore begin to devote our attention to those unknown boundaries beyond which dramatic evolution will inevitably unfold.
Murphy's comprehensive research, especially on the relationship between sports and mystical experience, is what led me to suggest that we have a strong case for a relationship between mastery and enlightenment. And I was not wrong! However, some questions began to arise in my mind. On the one hand, I am deeply grateful that Murphy insisted on the need for an integral approach to human spiritual development. I understood why he thinks there must be evolution Total creatures. On the other hand, I wonder whether his extremely reasonable and entirely logical emphasis on integral development might not accidentally to overthrow the importance of ego transcendence as the ultimate goal of spiritual practice? Was Michael Murphy right in his insistence that the integral development of our evolutionary potential is more important for the evolution of the species than the single-point pursuit of ego transcendence?
These were some of the questions I wanted to try to answer as I spoke with this smartest man about his understanding of the relationship between enlightenment and self-mastery.
Interview
Andrew Cohen: How would you define “mastery”?
Michael Murphy:"Mastery" involves conscious control of a particular ability or set of abilities, even if such control sometimes causes capitulation, and an openness to the radically unexpected and to some kind of "cascading effects" - let's call it impulse skill. I am sure that when, for example, Mozart began to write a symphony, he did not know exactly how it would sound at the end. Even if he saw her in outline, all at once - and Mozart was famous for this - yet when it was completed, I'm sure Mozart was genuinely surprised. Or let's look at basketball prowess: Earl "The Pearl" Monroe, remember him? He was called "black Jesus". He was six foot, one or two inches, a guard who played for Baltimore and then the Knicks, and he made these runs to the basket - I mean, my God, he was more impressive in some ways, than Michael Jordan because he was so much less tall. And somebody asked him one day, "Earl, do you think through what you're going to do before you do it all?" And he replied “Hell no! If I I don't know, then They They don’t know.”
Mastery, then, involves exquisite control, supreme excellence, and an openness to surprise that amazes even the master himself. This includes surrender to unexpected movements, if we are talking about sensorimotor mastery; before new and unexpected responses of the heart, if we are talking about interpersonal mastery; before new insights and absolute surprises, if we are talking about cognitive mastery; and even before even more amazing things if we are talking about spiritual mastery.
EC: It seems that a significant element of what you are saying is the presence on the one hand of extraordinary control, and on the other hand of spontaneous freedom, which makes wonderful things possible.
MM: Yes, and I would say that regardless of the definitions of mastery and enlightenment that you and I agree on, one of the greatest things that both of these concepts involve is bringing something radically new into the Universe from moment to moment, because this seems to be part of the secret of the game: complete satisfaction, surprise, novelty, Leela- "game" in Sanskrit - and ananda- joy - are translated into this moving feast that is the universe, at times terrifying.
EC: Yes you are right.
MM:“Catastrophe” - as the Greek Zorba said.
EC: How would you define “enlightenment”?
MM: In the early days of Esalen we had an exercise, a group of people sat in a circle, and each of us who was interested in such things would give an insight into the nature of enlightenment. And after doing this several times, I can say that when it comes to defining this word, I am very puzzled. What I mean is that there are so many ideas about enlightenment that I personally don't use the word anymore - in a sense I've given it up because people have so many different ideas about what it means. If you are interested, however, I can read you a quote from Sri Aurobindo, who influenced me more than anyone else...
EC: With all due respect, I'm very curious about what's about to come out of your mouth.
MM: Well, Aurobindo states that various types of spiritual experiences, which are all called "enlightenment", have long been known in India, where there are huge lists of all these types of enlightenment. Eg…
EC: Is there some defining principle here that they all share?
MM: Yes indeed. Running through all of them, I think the distinguishing features of the beginning, at least, are: the condition liberation from all those limiting programs that drive us; a sense of identity with the eternal order; a feeling of oneness with the All, with the fundamental essence of things that we somehow perceive as existing inside us - or, conversely, the feeling that some essence of us is in them, within everything we look at or everything we perceive. As I understand it, it is an experience that is similar to looking at a lamé or a sari: when you hold it up to the light, different tones and reflections come off it, and in this experience we can feel ourselves very elated or very depressed - or we may feel boundless - but it is a fundamental connection with what may be called the "realm of being" that can lead us to the saying "At last we are home."
EC: This is wonderful. What do you think about the similarities and differences between mastery and enlightenment?
MM: Mastery, as we usually think of it, is limited to a specific area. As I said, mastery can be in sensorimotor; may be in interpersonal interaction; it may deal with introspection, with the management of the emotional life of the individual; it may be in the cognitive domain or it may be spiritual. Whereas "enlightenment", as the concept is usually used, refers to a fundamental kind of realization which, it seems to me, puts us on the path to our greatest life and brings us back to the secret of why we are here in the first place - although I also truly believe that many enlightenment experiences for some people serve to save them from realizing the deepest design of this universe. So this is a paradox.
In thinking about this question before our conversation, I tried to come up with some ways in which we could say that what we call “mastery” is similar to what we call “enlightenment”; and one common thread is that to achieve mastery in any field, you must - it seems to me - to practice. Practice is fundamental. As with all types of training, you often have to persist when there is no visible improvement; or as my friend George Leonard likes to say, we must learn to love the “long plateaus of the learning curve.” But at the same time, as I said earlier, we must be flexible and open enough to accept sudden revelation, or make concessions. Again, Mozart could see the entire symphony generally, and could do it in seconds, but it took him weeks to write it down - and I'm sure he often encountered delightful surprises while writing it down. Earl "Pearl" Monroe, when running to the basket, probably had a gut feeling that he was going to go left or right, or pass one or the other, but when he faced the action - at least if we believe him - he completely surprised yourself.
I've interviewed a lot of athletes over the years, and I can tell you many stories about these kinds of surprises, but my point is that we have the same thing in meditation practice aimed at enlightenment. My friend Richard Baker Roshi says that enlightenment experiences are always random, but meditation practice makes you "ready for randomness." Golfer Ben Hogan could make incredible shots in extremely difficult conditions - he could spin the ball left or right, he could make it go up or down, he could knock it out of all different positions. After one important tournament, he was asked: “Ben, how do you make these extraordinary shots better than everyone else?” He answered thoughtfully, “Because I am lucky.” He was asked again: "But Ben, you practice more than any other player who ever lived" - and it's true, he practiced a lot. Ben said, “Yes, the more you practice, the luckier you become.” And this principle works in relation to the desire for enlightenment.
Now the second principle that I felt was common to these athletes is what I earlier called the “cascading effect” of grace or impulse grace. In other words, with reference to what Hogan calls “luck,” in religious language we can say that “grace came down.” Now this is more of a Christian or Jewish term, but in Buddhism it can be recognized in the doctrine of "non-attainment": you practice, then suddenly a miracle happens, which is your experience of enlightenment. It given to you.
EC: This is very accurate.
MM: Yes, and it is not only something that is given, but also something more. And then something beyond what is given. Many people now experience this during lovemaking, and for many, lovemaking constitutes their most ecstatic moments. But this surprise of what is given and then beyond what is given is the principle of impulse. These things in sports are so interesting to talk about, and when you get into it even more, it becomes more fascinating. And my idea is that this principle works both in private forms of self-mastery, so and in all those practices that are intended to lead to enlightenment. Now, why this is fundamental to me is because it leads - and what my book The Future of the Body talks about - is what I call "integral transformation." I came to this through studying Aurobindo, you can call it "integral enlightenment", if you want to.
In other words, the idea is that at the end, or better yet, not at the end, but at processdisclosures in all forms of self-mastery - there are flashes of what is referred to in religious traditions as "enlightenment". For example, I created a repository of people's stories of divine epiphanies on the golf course. I wrote a book, Golf in the Kingdom, which was published in '72, and since then people have told me about their epiphanies on the golf course in such numbers that I feel like Father Murphy taking confession. Here's an example: a lady finishes her round and goes to the clubhouse - you can imagine this eccentric action of golf, with these spectacular gardens, with the amazing smell of the pine trees, the colors of the sunset and so on - and she says that instead of sunshine it began to shine another light, the world became transparent, so that everything around looked like a shining pattern! She said that after the round ended, the experience continued for several days! It reminded me of Jacob Boehm, the great Protestant mystic who was a shoemaker and lived in the seventeenth century. One of Boehm's insights was while working with a crystal ball, with which he focused light to burn through the skin. One day he was faced with the fact that the light coming out of this prism stopped leaving him, even when he was walking down the street! And this light showed him the face of God everywhere. So this woman's experience reminded me of Boehm, but this experience came To her while playing golf - the idea being that she had an experience of enlightenment in the skill of the game.
Or take bodybuilder Frank Zane. Frank thought he could win the Mr. Olympia championship, but he was 5 feet 9 inches tall ( 175 cm - approx. translation.), and Arnold Schwarzenegger was 6 feet 4 inches, 250 pounds ( 190 cm, 113 kg - approx. translation), and the whole movement was towards size and grandeur, so Frank needed to show that small is beautiful. Before he began his preparations, he met with a Buddhist monk, who gave him several prayers and taught him how to recite the mantra " Namu amida butsu“[“I take refuge in the compassion of the Buddha”] - Are you familiar with the Nembutsu mantra? He vowed to recite the mantra a million times before the competition. So he began training, which consisted of pumping iron and lying in the sun while chanting namu amida butsu. Great life! And soon enough he came to a state where the mantra spoke itself - in other words, he did not have to say it, all he had to do was listen to it, because it was...
EC: Self-generating.