Eliezer Sobel, author of The 99th Monkey (May 21-June 4)

Join us here to talk to Eliezer Sobel, author of The 99th Monkey. He'll be on LibraryThing to discuss his work and answer questions from May 21st through June 4th.

Hi folks!

The subtitle of my book will give you a better idea of what it's about:

The 99th Monkey: A Spiritual Journalist's Misadventures with Gurus, Messiahs, Sex, Psychedelics and Other Consciousness-Raising Experiments.

It's basically a humorous, but not merely humorous, history of my resistance to self-improvement after 30 years of going to great extremes trying.

You can read the prologue online here to get the gist:
http://www.the99thmonkey.com

Thanks! I look forward to the dialogue.

Eliezer

Your books sounds like a fun read...although it may take me forever to get to it. I so clearly remember when "est" started years ago among my friends and now my son has a friend who is still involved in its descendant movement Lifespring. Some things never go away! I have a funny story about Lifespring that I'll probably relate later in this chat.

I have a very open yet skeptical view of these "therapies". I mean that I don't doubt them, but don't disount them either.

My question to you is this - what are your thoughts about Oprah's having picked one particular self-help, new age type book for world-wide publicity and teaching? Do you think it was a good thing or merely a publicity stunt?

Well, having experienced Eckhart Tolle in person for a 4-hour seminar, and knowing several people in the spiritual world that I highly respect that have met him, our conclusion, back then--about 4 years ago--was that he was the real deal: meaning, he seemed to be walking his talk and speaking sincerely about things that matter in a real and meaningful way, and certainly didn't seem to have the personality of a charismatic figure anxious to gather fame and fortune. The fact that Oprah has delivered him some fame and fortune is his good luck--I'm waiting for Oprah's call myself, any day now! She apparently got very turned onto his book personally in a way that clearly had a deep impact on her, and it seems to be her nature to share what she feels are positive ideas with the world in as big a way as possible. So the short answer is, I think it's great that so many people are tuning into what seems to me to be benign, useful and "life-positive" information. I haven't personally watched beyond the first 10 minutes of the first show, because the material and point of view is very familiar to me and I found it a bit boring and would have preferred she let Eckhart speak directly to the camera more often instead of having we in the audience watch her engage in a dialogue back and forth. I don't think Oprah needs to be doing "publicity stunts" at this point! I trust her good intentions. --Eliezer

I watched the first two episodes of the Eckhard Tolle/Oprah webcast and was prepared to not like the book or the author. I found that both were, in fact, very interesting. I just didn't have time to view the succeeding webcasts.

With Tolle's book, I was prepared to not like it. As I started reading it, I also started writing down criticisms of it (so I could share those with a friend who recommended the book). Toward the end of the book, however, I found the book suddenly became more interesting when Tolle told about how his philosophy could be used in daily life. I also liked the idea of his philosophy not being forced upon people unless it were something about which people were interested in learning about.

I look forward to reading about all of your "misadventures", Eliezer. :)

Thanks for your reply.

So what's your funny Lifespring story???
Eliezer

Okay. I've made it through many years having pretty much avoided what I call pseudo-therapies despite much pressure from a good friend who has probably tried every such therapy (and every weird product) that has ever existed and has also tried to convince me to do likewise. I love hearing from her what I call her "airy-fairy" stories because some have great substance while others do not. I think, in many cases, she fails to think for herself.

Anyway, my 25-year-old son told me the story of two friends of his - both of whom I know well. Guy #1, a Lifespring member, took Guy #2 to a meeting. Guy #2, after paying tons of money to do this training, had second thoughts about it once it began. At first, an offer was made by the trainer for anyone to have his money refunded if he changed his mind. At that point, one girl jumped up and said she wanted to leave, but she was so berated by the trainer that she didn't have the courage to go. This was when Guy #2 jumped up, declared he didn't need anyone teach him how to run his life or be happy, stated he wanted his money back, and started to leave. Guy #1 sort of slid into his seat, mortified, as Guy #2 walked out the door.

This is probably not that "funny" to you, but you'd have to know the kids who were involved. They're my son's really crazy, good, close, and fun-loving guy friends. My son and I thought that Guy #2's antics and story was hilarious. Personally, I felt that Guy #2 did the right thing as I'm always very suspicious of groups that play "mind games" on people (and charge them an arm and a leg for it).

I hate to say it, but I think "you had to be there" to get the humor!
I've never done Lifespring, but I do remember that early on in est they offered a full refund to anyone who didn't want to be there, or felt they had been pressured to attend, and est honored that offer, because why waste that person's time (and theirs) if they weren't at least somewhat receptive to what was being offered? In all of these programs, there are many points of view and ways of looking at what actually goes on in the room, depending on the filters of the person telling the story. Just tonight for example, a friend was over for dinner reminiscing about the time he went to "this creepy place where everyone ate breakfast in silence, and you could hear all the crunching of the cereal and he felt like screaming." And yet, I have attended many silent retreats, ate many breakfasts in silence, and there was nothing creepy about it whatsoever, and the atmosphere of silence is generally very useful for people who try it on for short periods, for it releases one from all the focus on social interactions and chit-chat, and allows for a real deepening of a contemplative, quiet mind. So the same breakfast can be described from the inside or the outside, and I suspect what happened to your friend in Lifespring had more angles to it as well. --Eliezer

--> 8

I hate to say it, but I think "you had to be there" to get the humor!

I realized what you said in message 8 is true because, as I was composing my "funny" story, it didn't sound funny at all - no matter how I times I reworded it to express it in message 7 (hence the third paragraph). But, hey, I mentioned it earlier..and you asked.

I have attended many silent retreats

I've never attended a silent retreat, but I can understand how calming they must be. I can give two examples from my personal life of my perception of this.

It's taken me a long time to understand that a person can be energized either through socialization or lack thereof. My younger son, whom I described above, is person who needs other people to energize. He is all about social interaction, where it's happening and with whom it's going on. My daughter needs solitary space in which to feel comfortable and uses the quiet space of solitude to ground herself and only through a very
selective process lets others into her space.

Throughout my life, I've found energy in different situations both with people and without people. Lately, as my hearing has begun to deteriorate, I find I derive much more personal energy and fulfillment by being alone as it takes an incredible amount of personal energy to understand and communicate with others while living with a hearing disability. Although I dearly love my friends and family, I see that I am turning to quiet activities - reading, gardening, computer work, silent reflection - for a maintaining a greater sense of calm in my life. I'm wondering if this is also a byproduct of aging (my awakening to the pleasures of solitude, not the hearing loss)?

But, back to *your* adventures...

Of all your experiences in dabbling in spiritual adventures, which were the most meaningful to you personally?

P.S. I caved. I'm getting your book today. :)

Off for an all-day hike in he Blue Ridge with house guests--I'll respond late tonight! THanks--Eliezer

Hi again--

Basically my book is the long answer to your question, because many different things were meaningful to me at different times. And as with any first experience, like a first love, for example, often the earliest spiritual openings and insights I experienced seemed like the most meaningful over the years because I was young and they were dramatic. (And you'll read more specifics about them in the book.) But overall, in terms of what has actually stayed useful and meaningful to me over the long haul, I remain a student of Gabrielle Roth and her 5 Rhythms work, which uses movement and dance as a spiritual/healing path. (www.gabrielleroth.com). And I also still periodically participate in silent meditation retreats, which I always find restorative. Good night!

I'm not familiar with it. And I'm not sure why you're asking me, unless it's because I have the word "sex" in my subtitle, but as I said in an online "sex" interview the other day, "First of all, let me be clear with whoever might be reading this that you have approached me not as some sort of expert on human sexuality, but basically as a sexual catastrophe..." You can read more of my unenlightened views on sexuality here:

http://www.thechurchatparonomasia.com/forum/viewtopic.php?f=64&t=2341#p4190

Best, Eliezer

On the off chance that you re-read this chat someday, I need to tell you how much I enjoyed your book. I purchased it through Amazon, with misgivings, as I didn't think I'd like it. I was just curious after talking to you. :)

Anyway, it really spoke to me. Even though I never participated in any of the "experiments" that you did, I've always been open to hearing about them. I loved the humor in your book, especially the Jewish humor. Some of those lines were LOL funny. The best part of the book was the conclusion. Loved it.

By the way, my "new age" friend is also involved with 5 Rhythms and loves it as well.

Now I'm interested in reading your book Minyan. Guess I'll try to get a copy of it...

Best,

SqueakyChu