Lora Y. (islewalker) reviewed Radical Spirit: Spiritual Writings from the Voices of Tomorrow on + 29 more book reviews
This book is composed of a series of essays by supposed Gen-Xers. Many seemed more like Baby Boomers in desperate search for spirituality. Dinan himself, the author, is president and founder of Transformative Community Network, helped create the Esalen Center for Theory and Research , is a "Holotropic Breathwork facilitator" (huh?), Masters in East West Psychology.
Es was quintessential hippy fare in the 1970s, so I, being an aging Baby Boomer, have a hard time distinguishing this group from the evangelical spiritualists of my day.
Nevertheless, there are some amazing "kids" who have done some amazing things, recounted in these essays. But at times it comes across as the submissions to a college professor--some good scholarship and others trying entirely too hard to impress.
The one skietch that sticks with me the most was Dinan's own sketch from his book In Kali's Garden. He spent 10 days at the Vipassana International Academy where he was to observe "noble silence for ten days". There was to be "No significant eye contact. Wake up bell by 4:00aa A.M. Twelve hours per day of sitting meditation. No reading or writing materials. Minimal food after noon. The journey inward is taken very seriously in vipassana with no touchy-feely outlets or solace."
This is what I mean about extreme. But I did find myself strangely drawn to his car-wreck experience. Each day he described his growing irritation, anger, belligerence, then calmness, inwardness, fear of not being able to emerge and finally not wanting to emerge from the meditation.
I think if any of us spent that much time in meditation, without speaking to others--we couldn't help but be changed. And part of me would like that experience. The other part feels it would be an extreme measure for what would be a temporary change.
This is an interesting collection. Maybe Gen Xers will resonate more with their own. :)
Es was quintessential hippy fare in the 1970s, so I, being an aging Baby Boomer, have a hard time distinguishing this group from the evangelical spiritualists of my day.
Nevertheless, there are some amazing "kids" who have done some amazing things, recounted in these essays. But at times it comes across as the submissions to a college professor--some good scholarship and others trying entirely too hard to impress.
The one skietch that sticks with me the most was Dinan's own sketch from his book In Kali's Garden. He spent 10 days at the Vipassana International Academy where he was to observe "noble silence for ten days". There was to be "No significant eye contact. Wake up bell by 4:00aa A.M. Twelve hours per day of sitting meditation. No reading or writing materials. Minimal food after noon. The journey inward is taken very seriously in vipassana with no touchy-feely outlets or solace."
This is what I mean about extreme. But I did find myself strangely drawn to his car-wreck experience. Each day he described his growing irritation, anger, belligerence, then calmness, inwardness, fear of not being able to emerge and finally not wanting to emerge from the meditation.
I think if any of us spent that much time in meditation, without speaking to others--we couldn't help but be changed. And part of me would like that experience. The other part feels it would be an extreme measure for what would be a temporary change.
This is an interesting collection. Maybe Gen Xers will resonate more with their own. :)
