The Art of Pilgrimage: Green Gulch Zen Center, September 2013

Pilgrims along the path...

Here is a version of the Zen story that Jeremy told after lunch from the "Book of Serenity"

Zen Teacher Earth Treasury asked the monk Dharma Eye as he was leaving the monastery, "Where are you going?"
Dharma Eye said, "I am going on pilgrimage."
Earth Treasury said, "What is the purpose of pilgrimage?"
Dharma Eye said, "I don't know."Earth Treasury said, "Not knowing is most intimate."
Dharma Eye was greatly awakened at these words.

Heartfelt gratitude for all of you that showed up on the first rainy day of the season! And, while it rained hard while we were in the zendo, we were able to walk through a day that included the raucous celebration of plants celebrating the rain, to open skies and sunshine. A wonderful way to acknowledge the equinox. Thanks to Jeremy Levie for co-leading this event with me and for our gracious assistants. I hope to see you next year if not sooner.

I invite you to pause for a moment... and for the next three breaths... I invite you to open your awareness and attend to whatever arises. May we all live "most imtimately."

Here are some links:

Pilgrimage Photos Set 

Green Gulch Zen Center Photos

Deep bows to each of you,

Steven

Big Sur Wilderness Experience: September 2013

BSWE @ Julia Pfeiffer-Burns State Park

It is said that Big Sur is not so much a place as a state of mind. Although I might add, "and a state of being." Shared time along the path in such beauty, sharing stories of life's ride (joys and challenges), and seeing the world alive is a blessing. What an honor to be among such courage, curiosity, and willingness to say "yes" to life and being with all that life might bring.

Here are some links:
Photo Set
What to Remember When Waking by David Whyte
Prayer for the Great Family by Gary Snyder
Bill's Lizstel Photography 
Meal Chant Stew by Steven Harper
Ojai Foundation (where Adam works)

From the Wilds of the Big Sur,

Steven

Messages of Gratefulness Across Time?

Well hidden in a jumble of an ancient volcanic rocks on the eastern side of the Sierra Nevada is a petroglyph that sends a message across the ages. Early humans in this valley expressing something unknown, but perhaps, somehow knowable. The poet Robinson Jeffers speaks about the mystery of another such place in the mountains of Big Sur in this way:

"There's no one to say
Whether the brown shy quite people who are dead intended
Religion or magic, or made their tracings
In the idleness of art..."

I appreciate Jeffer's honesty. Over the years and on many continents I have visited sites not unlike this, where people long gone or in a lost language left us intentional or unintentional messages. I have often felt suspicious when some great story is told about what they mean and why the works were created. As far as I can tell, we often don't know... yet we can let ourselves feel the beauty of such a place. We can feel the shared human lineage in the wonder of "not knowing" and feel the mystery.

I do not know what the intentions of the creators of these rock etchings were. I do know I feel blessed and grateful as I stand before them. In awe and wonder I kneel down and touch the rock and so clearly feel the rock alive — touching me back across time — grateful for the message.

Wildly,

Steven

Simply Wild: Esalen, July 2013

Simply Wild: Experiencing Nature

"With the bare attention of awareness and wilderness as our teacher we show up for our life as it unfolds moment to moment. We make inquiry into to the process of getting out of our own way — doing less and being more. Cultivating silence, space, and simplicity we come into intimate contact with the raw beauty of this mysterious world."

Thank you... each of you, individually, and collectively for joining together in moments of intimate contact with the raw beauty of this mysterious world.

Here are some links to hopefully help weave a thread from this life — to your other lives:
Group Photo Set (including some photos from Hamid)
Gail's Photos (thank you Gail)
Luke's Photos (thanks Luke)
Donna's Photos (thanks Donna)
Adhesive knit Blister protection (In smaller quantities)
The Summer Day by Mary Oliver (the workshop description was inspired by this poem)
What to Remember When Waking by David Whyte
For the Children by Gary Snyder (Michael quoted this poem)
Send me other links to photo galleries if you have them and I will add them here.

Remember your seed qualities... tend them well, growth them strong.

Heartfelt Thanks,

Steven

This is my simple religion. There is no need for temples; no need for complicated philosophy. Our own brain, our own heart is our temple; the philosophy is kindness 
~ Dalai Lama

Father & Sons: Esalen, June 2013

On the wild path... fathers and sons

Thanks to all of the fathers and sons that showed up at Esalen for this weekend. This was my first Father's Day without my own father in the world and I appreciated being surrounded by my own sons, returning participants, friends, relatives, and the field of fathers and sons that came together. I hope we each continue to deepen and build the relationships we each have, and perhaps the benefit will ripple out into other parts of our lives and the greater world. This type of investment has a life long pay back.

Take a moment... name 5 positive things you authentically appreciate about your son or father. Then, state one thing that you can bring and commit to grow and deepen in your relationship. Seeds are planted — may they grown to fruition.

Here are some links:
Group Photo Set
Summer Day by Mary Oliver
Leave of Absence Kes' first short film

Kenneth Harper

Prayer for the Great Family by Gary Snyder (in celebration of the Summer Solstice

With gratitude,

Steven

Walk on the Wild Side: Esalen, May 2013

Walking on the Wild Side of the Big Sur

Photo Links:
Photo Set
Joan's Photo Set

Other related links:
Among the Wonderful (Stacy's website and more) 
Ojai Foundation (where Adam works)
Isabel's website
Charlie's website
Gesine's website
Michael's Hike
Judi's website
John Muir: Nature's Visionary by Gretel Ehrlich 

Poem from our last session:
What to Remember When Waking by David Whyte

Gratitude to all of you who made the journey to walk on the wild side... may you saunter reverently and joyfully wherever you may be.

John Muir on Hiking

"Hiking - I don't like either the word or the thing. People ought to saunter in the mountains - not hike! Do you know the origin of that word 'saunter?' It's a beautiful word. Away back in the Middle Ages people used to go on pilgrimages to the Holy Land, and when people in the villages through which they passed asked where they were going, they would reply, "A la sainte terre,' 'To the Holy Land.' And so they became known as sainte-terre-ers or saunterers. Now these mountains are our Holy Land, and we ought to saunter through them reverently, not 'hike' through them."

~ John Muir, quoted by Albert Palmer in A Parable of Sauntering

Wildly,

Steven

Nature of Zen: Tassajara, May 2013

Tassajara Han: Wake Up!

Here are links of possible interest:
Photo Set of Group
Photo Set of Group as Slideshow
Photo Set of Tassajara as Slideshow

Requested additional links:
In Blackwater Woods by Mary Oliver (Steve read this to our group)
Sleeping in the Forest by Mary Oliver (Steve read this in the zendo)
Support Tassajara Zen Mountain Center
Meditation Timer (iPhone & Android)
iThou Meditation: Virtual Group

I feel profound gratitude for each of you that made the pilgrimage into Tassajara, Tjarn, Myogen Steve Stücky, Tassajara, and the wilds of the Santa Lucia Mountains.

Two claps, Deep bow,

Steven

For more of what I am up to this year: Workshops & Retreats

Big Sur Wilderness Experience: Esalen, April 2013

BSWE in the Wilds

What a great way to start the "season" and to celebrate my 35th anniversary of first coming to Esalen as a workscholar. I am feeling so blessed to be out and about with you all in the wilds of Big Sur... especially in the tender times of recently "losing" my father. My gratitude runs deep for the how you/we chose to show up for "this one wild and precious life."

Here are some links to water the seeds and assist in weaving the threads from this world to our "other" worlds:
BSWE Photo Set
BSWE Photos as Slideshow
Poems to Live By (some of the poems I use in my life and in workshops)
Volunteer in Big Creek 

Some of the amazing talent and gifts of our group:
Tyra's Qigong Site
Cara's Multi-media Fine Art Site
Julie's Fine Art Photography
Chloe's Carmel Belle 
Any Others?

Here is what the rest of my workshop year looks like: Steven Harper Workshops & Retreats

With love,
Steven

In Memory of Kenneth Harper

Kenneth Harper

photo by Janna Fournier

On March 15th, my father, Kenneth passed. His memorial was on March 23rd, 2013.

Always curious, willing to learn, an explorer at heart, he (and I) are now on another journey, not unlike a journey into an unknown wilderness. Words don't travel well in this terrain. Raw emotions, sudden insight, deep gratitude and profound grief, surprise around unexpected corners mixed with pretending my life isn't changed forever. On the wild path, walking the terrain of the unknown, asking the questions that can't be answered in the normal ways — what is alive and what is dead?

Grateful to be blessed with this father, my family of birth, my family, my extended family and friends. I am blessed to be supported and held by so many seen and unseen people and conditions that allow this living — this beauty.

Echos of Mary Oliver's words can be heard...
"Doesn't every thing die at last, and too soon?
Tell me what is it you plan to do
with your one wild and precious life?"

For now, the open question is a bit less about doing and more like, "How is it you be in this wild and precious life?"

With tender heartfelt gratitude,

Steven

Get Out, Get Wild

Big Sur Coast

Suffering from WDD (Wilderness Deficit Disorder)?

Now is the time to deepen our connection, understanding, and relationship with the natural world. I invite you to join me on a journey and let yourself be touched by the healing beauty of wild nature.

Most of my 2013 workshops have been scheduled and are up on my website. Take a look to see what might call to you: 2013 Workshop & Retreats.

In the meantime, I hope you create time to get out, and get in the wilds of nature.

Warm regards from the Big Sur,
Steven

Words as Inspiration for Direct Experience

For many years I have chosen a poem a year to learn by heart and return to as the year passes. The process of learning and returning again and again to the same poem has acted as a mirror of sorts and has deepened my appreciation and understanding of myself and the poem. A good poem suggest possibilities of how I might perceive and engage with the myself, the world, and the many relationships that sustain us.

Sometimes a single line from a poem or piece of prose is enough. Sometimes I will borrow and change the single line and use it as a vehicle for practice — a place to cultivate and deepen a specific concept as sensation and somatic embodiment. Here is short haiku-like piece I borrowed from a longer poem by Rilke called "On a Vast Plain" and have made part of my current practice.

sink back
into the source of everything
go into your heart
as onto a vast plain

Here are links to other poems I have worked and played with — learning by heart: Poems To Live By. Perhaps they too will be useful for you (yes you) as we go about our journeys into the vast wilds of this human experience.

Wildly,

Steven

Happy Everything

Wishing each and everyone of us happiness and moments of raw wild beauty in the coming year... In the midst of the fullness of our busy lives — space; in the midst of the constant chatter of daily life — silence; may we all recognize the moments when less is more — and know simplicity as blessing; may we let ourselves be touched by our heart's capacity to open — giving and receiving; may we be blessed with freedom from suffering — and know kindness in all of it's expressions; may we tune in — listen deeply to the pulsing beat — and dance the dance that no one else can dance.

from the wilds of the Big Sur...

Steven

Emerging Earth: In the path of a molten lava flow

Across cultures and wisdom traditions there is the practice of giving gratitude. As my workshop season of 2012 winds down I find myself grateful for the many people who show up for the adventures of this life. To those that have supported in some way (both seen and unseen) the work and workshops I offer — thank you. To those that have participated in the many workshops, retreats, and other adventures we co-create — thank you.

This fall I had the good fortune to make my way out to the lava flows on the big island of Hawaii with my son Kes. It was a gift and blessing to witness the incredible "birthing" of new rock, the molten fluid dynamics of that which I normally see as solid. I came away from the experience with a feeling of hope, aliveness, and sense of trust in the constant change and movement of this very animate world. For this and many other blessings — I am grateful.

In Thanks-Giving,

Steven

Nature of Movement: Esalen, October 2012

Nature of Movement: Rockin' the Wilds of Big Sur

What a great range of weather we received for the last wilderness program of the season. Certainly a remarkable day by the ocean at Andrew Molera... even for an "local."

Deep gratitude to you all for choosing to play, inquire, and be curious together about our capacities for centering, grounding, belonging, and embodiment.

Here are links:
Nature of Movement Photo Set
Nature of Movement photos as Slideshow
John's Nature of Movement Photo Set: Many great photos!
Iron Star Inc: Penny's incredible restoration work.

And as homework:
Another poem to inspire your journey into your "other" world(s).

Lastly... Breath, Gravity, Balance of Field...  aligning Hara, Heart, Head. Two claps, one bow.

Wild heartfelt regards from the Sur,

Steven

The Art of Pilgrimage: Green Gulch Zen Center, September 2012

On the path near Green Gulch

Here are links:
Art of Pilgrimage Photo Set
Art of Pilgrimage Slideshow
Green Gulch Zen Center Photos
Alida's Experience on her Blog: SimplyFlow 

Here is a version of the Zen story that Jeremy told after lunch from the "Book of Serenity"

Zen Teacher Earth Treasury asked the monk Dharma Eye as he was leaving the monastery, "Where are you going?"
Dharma Eye said, "I am going on pilgrimage."
Earth Treasury said, "What is the purpose of pilgrimage?"
Dharma Eye said, "I don't know."Earth Treasury said, "Not knowing is most intimate."
Dharma Eye was greatly awakened at these words.

Thanks to Jeremy Levie for co-leading this event with me... and to Linda for her gracious assistance throughout the day. Hope to see you next year if not sooner.

I invite you to pause for a moment... and for the next three breaths... I invite you to open your awareness and attend to whatever arises. May we all live "most imtimately."

Gassho,

Steven

Belonging to Earth: Esalen, September 2012

Belonging to the Big Sur

“The wild requires that we learn the terrain, nod to all the plants and animals and birds, ford the streams and cross the ridges and tell a good story when we get back home.”

~ Gary Snyder

I sure hope you are all tellin' good stories about our adventures exploring the inner and outer wilds. Somewhere deep inside there is a seed growing in the fertile ground of knowing our belonging. I look forward to seeing the blossom and fruition of these seeds.

Here are some links:

Photo Set of Belong to Earth

Fullscreen  Slideshow of Photos
Trees of Big Sur
Articles about the Natural History Big Sur 

Links to group member's sites:
Andrea's: Propeller
Holly's: IODP
Michael Kline
Kathryn's: Kathy Hughes Realty
Send me any additional personal links and I will add to this post.
 

Wild regards from the Big Sur,

Steven

Big Sur Wilderness Experience: Esalen 2012

Deep in the Bonsai Redwoods

Diversity and community supported by the shared love of the wilds... are words that come to mind. I marvel at the courageous presence with which many of our group are facing the challenges that life's unfolding sometimes brings. I am touched by the kindness and generosity of spirit — given and received. I come away from our time together inspired and hopeful. I wish us all deep peace in the journeys ahead.

Links:
BSWE Photo Set
BSWE Photos as Fullscreen Slideshow
Poems to Live By: Here you will find some of the poems I read.

Links to group member's sites:
Wendy Green Yoga
Barefoot Story Weaver
Michael Newman Mediation
Donna Schwarz Consultants
Oregon Flute Store: Jo Ann's
Send me any additional personal links and I will add to this post.

Big Big Sur love to you all,
Steven

A Half Century of Human Potential, Esalen 2012

A Half Century of Human Potential, Esalen 2012 with Jeffery Kripal

"When the ocean surges,
don't let me just hear it.
Let it splash inside my chest!"
~ Rumi

A day in the wilds of Big Sur with Jeff Kripal's Esalen Work Scholar group. Thanks to the group for a wonderful day. Special thanks to Anna and Isabel for assisting and to Jeff for the collaboration.

Here are some links:
Photo Set from the day
Fullscreen Slideshow of the day
Jeffery Kripal: Jeff's website and projects

Wildly,

Steven

Simply Wild at Esalen July 2012

Simply Wild: Experiencing Nature

When the ocean surges,

don’t let me just hear it.

Let it splash inside my chest!

~ Rumi
 
The week was simple. We strolled through the wilds of Big Sur on hikes, soaked in the natural mineral hot springs, ate good wholesome food, communed with ourselves, others, and nature... and celebrated Interdependence Day on the 4th. Once again, I am so grateful for how we all came together to experience the wilds — both inner and outer.

Here are some links:
Simply Wild Photo Set
Simply Wild Photos as Fullscreen Slideshow
The Summer Day (The poem we started off the workshop with)
Poems to Live By (More poems)
Climate Rabbi (Warren's site)

Thanks for all the wonderful support of Adam and Isabel.

Wildly,

Steven

Way of Nature at Esalen, June 2012

The Way of Nature: The Practice of the Wild

What a journey! I have a whole new meaning to the "practice of the wild." I so appreciate how we each so uniquely showed up this week for such a full range of experiences — both expected and unexpected. For some very clear moments I felt deeply supported while supporting... and for this I am grateful to you all.

I hope you all journey forth with gems from our week. As as David Whyte says, "...what urgency calls you to your one love? What shape waits in the seed of you to grow and spread its branches against a future sky?" (See: What to Remember When Waking)

Here are links to:
Way of Nature Photo Set
Way of Nature Photos as Full-Screen Slideshow
Among the Wonderful by Stacy Carlson
Poems to Live By: Some poems we read during the week, plus some...

Feel inspired to support Big Creek Reserve?:
Donate to Big Creek
Volunteer Stewardship Program

Special thanks to Stacy, Isabel, and wilds of Big Sur.

Love to you all,

Steven

Fathers & Sons at Esalen 2012

Celebrating Father's Day in the Tradition of the Old Ways

Over the ages, fathers and sons have journeyed together into the wilds of nature, traveling light, living simply, and stepping together on the path of what is known and what is unknown as students and teachers for one another. This is a time for fathers and sons to come together as individuals, family, and community to explore the natural wild areas of Big Sur and the relationship of father and son in a community of men... and so it shall be.

Here are links to:

Fathers & Sons Photo Set

Fathers & Sons Photos as Fullscreen Slideshow

What to Remember When Waking (for the path ahead)

I am so deeply touched by our individual and collective willingness to show up for the moment, ourselves, each other, and the larger community of beings. I come away from our weekend inspired by young men that are aware and finding their voice, fathers dedicated to a path of mindful parenting, and a collective of men of all ages that are curious about life.

With Deep Gratitude,

Steven

Walk on the Wild Side: Esalen, May 2012

Walk on the Wild Side: Hiking the Big Sur Country

"Everybody needs beauty as well as bread, places to play in and pray in, where Nature may heal and cheer and give strength to body and soul." ~John Muir.

Here are some links:

Walk on the Wild Side Photo Set 

Walk on the Wild Side as Fullscreen Slideshow 

Poems to Live By For many of the poems of the week

Trees of Big Sur To finally give you names of the trees we saw
PBS Documentary of John Muir
Skiing the Sacred Headwaters Trevor's Expedition
Megan's Site 
Return by request from Katie
Bear Creek Studios by request

Taking a deeper breath than normal and allowing an extended audible exhale. Inviting a "seed" moment that you experienced during our time in the wilds of Big Sur to become real and present. Invite this seed quality to embody in the world you now inhabit.

With Gratitude,
Steven

The Nature of Zen: Tassajara Zen Mountain Center 2012

Nature of Zen at Tassajara

Many deep bows to all of you that showed up to walk the pathless path. This is my favorite time to be a Tassajara. We were blessed with so many gifts.

Here are a number of links that touch some part of our time together:

Nature of Zen Photos

Nature of Zen Photos as Slideshow

Mindful by Mary Oliver

Coulter Pine

Dharma Talks by Suzuki Roshi

iThou Meditation House: the on-line sitting group that I spoke of in one meeting

Many thanks to the students and staff at Tassajara, Tjarn, Myogen Steve Stücky, and the wilds of the Santa Lucia Mountains.

With a warm heart... two claps and one bow,

Steven (Mojo-san)

Big Sur Wilderness Experience: April 2012

 Exploring the wilds of the Big Sur

What a grand way to begin my workshop season. I was so touched our first evening to see so many returning friends, and then to feel the fullness with which everyone "jumped" in. I continue to appreciate the power of how community forms and supports our experience of the wilderness.

Here are links:
BSWE Photo Set
BSWE Photos as Slideshow
Sometimes by David Whyte

The following links are from various conversations I had with individuals in our group:
Redwoods (scroll to bottom to see albino redwoods)
Stones (Paintings)
Oaks of California

With Gratitude!

Steven

Middlebury Fellowship: April 2012

Every year for the last five years I have had the pleasure of taking a group of up and coming environmental journalist out on a hike into the Big Sur. The program is part of the Middlebury Fellowship for Environmental Journalism and is led by authors Bill McKibben and Christopher Shaw. This year author Rebecca Solnit was once again one of the faculty members.

Here are links:
Photos of the group hike
Slideshow of the photos
Bill McKibben
Rebecca Solnit
Christopher Shaw

Warm regards from the wilds of the Sur,
Steven

Esalen Office Goes Wild

The Esalen Office in Big Creek

Always a good reminder to listen to my own words...

"Wildness, rich diversity, and the dramatic meeting of edges — both inner and outer — converge to create the place we call Big Sur. Here the elements meet, greet, and co-create. Fire, Air, Earth, and Water come together in a manner so clearly on display that we have no choice but to come to our senses and awaken in our human body."

Each year I take the Esalen Office crew out for a hike in the wilds. I do this in gratitude for the hard work they do day in and day out. They, along with many other people, are the ones that make it possible for me to do what I do. And... it is always good to re-mind myself as I remind others to "come to our senses and awaken in our human body."

Warm greetings from the Sur,

Steven

Blue Living Marble

Living Earth

On this extra "leap" day of the year I find myself once again appreciating the ride we are on. The earth itself (and all of us on it) are flying around the sun at 66,600 mph. Even at this speed we don't quite make our full journey around the sun. It actually takes us about 365.25 days to make the full circle. Through the Julian and then Gregorian calendar we added in a day every forth year. Different cultures use other ways of counting the days, seasons, years, and marking time.

Even though it is not quite the case... I like to think of today as a "extra" day that we are all gifted — a good time to ask the question that poet Mary Oliver asks in one of her poems — "What is it you plan to do with your one wild and precious life?"

Or framed for today, "What is it you are doing/being with your one wild and precious day?"

Warm regards from the wilds of the the Big Sur,

Steven

To see the full poem by Mary Oliver: The Summer Day

A Bit of History

Before Esalen Institute was formed in 1962, there was Big Sur Hot Springs. This is a photo of the entrance from Highway 1. Very little landscaping or development had been done at the time.

My friend Jeff Kripal and Scott Jones are working on a documentary about Esalen. Here are links to learn more about their project:
Supernature - Kickstart (check out the two trailers)
Supernature - Scott Jones' website

Happy Holidays

With heartfelt appreciation we send our wishes of peace and happiness to you and your loved ones. May the journey ahead bring the finest of your heart’s desires. May we all know the spirit of aliveness and gratitude in every moment.

Love to you all,

Steven Harper & Family

Time to Saunter... a la Muir

One day as I was resting in the shade Mr. Muir overtook me on the trail and began to chat in that friendly way in which he delights to talk with everyone he meets. I said to him: "Mr. Muir, someone told me you did not approve of the word 'hike.' Is that so?" His blue eyes flashed, and with his Scotch accent he replied: "I don't like either the word or the thing. People ought to saunter in the mountains - not hike!

"Do you know the origin of that word 'saunter?' It's a beautiful word. Away back in the Middle Ages people used to go on pilgrimages to the Holy Land, and when people in the villages through which they passed asked where they were going, they would reply, "A la sainte terre,' 'To the Holy Land.' And so they became known as sainte-terre-ers or saunterers. Now these mountains are our Holy Land, and we ought to saunter through them reverently, not 'hike' through them."

 ~ Story as told by Albert W. Palmer

Holding the open question... How might we make the mountains and wilds where we saunter our "holy land?"

Wildly,
Steven