Sacred Retreats of California (2013) | Hacker News Reader

Sacred Retreats of California (2013)

nytimes.com

86 pointsdavidjnelson17 comments

But for off-the-grid austerity, no place surpasses Tassajara. There is no electricity, no A-C and only basic heat in the cabins, and no cell coverage or Wi-Fi at all. There is one public telephone. Cabins are outfitted with one cold-water faucet and are lit at night, when needed, by kerosene lamps.

I was entertained that the author could not imagine anything more austere than heat, running water, and a shared telephone.

Here's a cheap tip for a stunning California retreat. Go to Yosemite, skip the valley, and spend a few days backpacking in the less-trafficked parts like Hetch Hetchy or Wawona. You won't have heat or the public telephone, though ;-)

You're not reasonably interpreting the author and you're going out of your way to snidely make them sound ignorant.

Applying some common sense, they probably mean 'for off-the-grid austerity [in commercial retreat accommodation available in the US]'.

That’s a little bit of a harsh interpretation of the parent comment. I think it was a valid point... if you’re looking for some peace and quiet and stunning surroundings at a reasonable cost, there are tons of fantastic backpacking options. Not having any religious/new age affiliations is (for me) another bonus of the park system.

Parent's comment seemed interested in proving that he is the bigger badass. If only Tommy Saxondale were here to mock.

ok - typical of a New York presentation.. focusing on the monetary values.. yes, indeed, there are spiritual retreats, and in special lands with wide vistas.. but why? and who? not "how much"

For a less financially-focused treatment of this very real topic, please see "Visionary State" by Erik Davis

The Visionary State: A Journey Through California's Spiritual Landscape

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Erik_Davis

Erik Davis also hosts one of my favorite podcasts, Expanding Mind:

https://techgnosis.com/category/podcasts/

Highly recommended for anyone interested in religion, spirituality, mysticism, gnosticism, counterculture, high weirdness, psychedelics, or the occult.

Thanks for sharing that book--just purchased. I moved to the Bay Area three years ago and just had a realization that I've barely explored the surrounding landscape.

If you're in san jose/santa cruz check out Henry Cowell. If you're in the peninsula/silicon valley check out Wunderlich Park. If you're in the city/marin, check out Muir Woods.

For those doing a retreat that has a sweat lodge be very careful. It seems some of these spiritual gurus don't quite get the whole safety thing and have too many people, a poorly designed sweat lodge, or rocks that, when heated, release poison gas. Strangely, the poor folks around here (ND) seem to have no problems, but the expensive retreats somehow screw it up every couple of years. I guess that's the difference that apprenticeship give you.

The hi desert has some fantastic retreats, small hole in the wall resorts, where death valley and Joshua Tree rejuvenates burned out LA refugees. Some wonderful and some whack people out there. But it's so hot, hot, hot everyone knows we can only be there because we're escaping something. Unspoken calm nods are exchanged as everyone leaves one another alone. To melt.

It's only awfully hot in the summer in my experience in the high desert around joshua tree. The rest of the year it's damn near ideal.

Even right now it's not too bad (although it'll probably heat up over the next week or two)

Having been to Esalen a few times over the years, it has changed much in the last 15 or so years. It feels like it is catering to less the one looking for a retreat and one wanting more pampering. The grounds, tubs, and food are still special.

Tassajara is a place I plan on returning too. My first trip, I was doing a retreat and engaged in some of the chanting and meditation -- it took awhile to get used to it. I also explored the tubs, the grounds, and used the complete disconnect from communication to let myself just relax, calm down, and renew a bit. The food was very good. Being based in a valley between a set of hills, the heat can be quite intense during the day.

Getting away to day, for me, are the mountains and deserts and more remote areas of California. I have lakes I can be on in 20-30 minutes, lose myself at a mining claim exploring for hours and days, or hot springs in the eastern sierras mere hours away.

Most of the grounds mentioned, I've been to a number of them. They are quite amazing. There are places you can go on your own and find unique experiences and relaxation.

When I am moved to meditate, I have the perfect focus point: a beautiful biologic focal point, my navel.

Eknath Easwaran was one of those who created such a retreat. I've read one of his books.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Eknath_Easwaran

https://www.bmcm.org/about/about-eknath-easwaran/

https://www.bmcm.org/about/easwaran-bio/

https://www.bmcm.org/about/about-bmcm/

San Ysidro Ranch was severely damaged by the mudslide. Hopefully, they can rebuild and reopen.

Total agree retreats aren't about the money but the benefits of a retreat getaway.

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