This is the most clear an concise observation, I’ve heard, about what is going on in the world today.
Swami’s analogy and story played a central role in namūna’s most recent gathering of wisdom keepers, practitioners and community leaders at Tassajara.
I’m honored to share it here with you all.
As we each earnestly try to unlock the deeper mysteries of the world, we often (myself included) fail to take the final jump off the cliff into a full surrender with the unknowable mystery.
In this story Swami offers the reminder that community and lineage, create the container to help those who seek authenticly — to actually jump into full surrender. Without these practice communities, rituals and lineages, it is meaningfully harder to take the next step.
Leaving most of us, where we are right now, hanging out at the Cafe on the Cliff.
Watch the video for the full story and see the transcript below.
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Please let me know your thoughts in the comments.
TRANSCRIPT
Zach:
Thank you, I would love to hear you share the story of the Café on the Cliff?
Swami:
Sure. The café on the cliff, for me, is a metaphor for what’s happening in the spiritual environment right now. Imagine a cliff that represents the spiritual path. Many people have hiked all the way to the top. They’re no longer deeply immersed in material reality—they want to change, to look at themselves, to grow. They’ve done the work: retreats, pilgrimages, ayahuasca ceremonies. They’ve made it to the edge.
But to truly live a life of unconditional love, once you’re at the top, you have to be willing to jump—into the unknown. And that’s where most people stop. They’ve come so far, but when it’s time to take that leap, they hesitate.
So they say, “Before I jump, I’ve done all this work… let me just have a chai.”
They drink the chai. “Okay, I’m going to jump, I promise. But actually… I’m hungry. Let me have a croissant.”
And then it’s hot, so they build a nice table and chair to sit and rest.
Next thing you know, someone else climbs up. They look down, then over at you, and you say, “Before you jump, would you like some tea?” And they say, “Yeah, that sounds good.”
So now there are two of you. Drinking chai, eating croissants, talking about how you’re going to jump. Long, beautiful conversations about the leap… but no one actually jumps.
More people come. And eventually, we’ve built an entire café on the cliff. A place where we all sit, talking about our spiritual journey, but never taking the final step into deeper surrender.
That’s what I see happening a lot in New Age spirituality. People have done the work, but when it comes to that final step—true surrender—they hesitate. And we convince ourselves that it’s okay to stay at the edge.
Without a strong sangha, a supportive community, we’ll just stay there. We stagnate. But with the right sangha, with sincere teachers and guides, someone can gently take the chai from your hand, remove the croissant… and jump with you, hand in hand.
Without that, it’s very difficult.
Zach:
This analogy has really guided our whole time together with everyone here. It’s so accurate.
Yeah… I’m there. I’ve spent a year studying surrender—how do you even surrender?
Swami:
Exactly. I think surrender comes with a deep sincerity—a real desire to change. You wrote that beautiful article on psychedelics…
Zach:
Yeah—on psychedelic use as a spiritual practice.
Swami:
Right. These experiences aren’t bad—they’re beautiful. But sometimes, we get stuck chasing the high instead of going deeper. The truth is, many of us don’t really want to change. Because when you really want to change, there’s clarity:
“I have to figure this out. I need to jump.”
That realization is the first step. After our talk, many people came to me saying, “I think I’m at the edge of the cliff.”
Zach:
I think everyone is.
Swami:
And they ask, “How do I jump?”
That sincerity—wanting to change—is what allows you to take the leap.
But if your attitude is, “Forget what Swami says, I jumped years ago…”
Zach:
“I jumped 400 times last year!”
“I jumped with all the gurus!”
Swami:
Exactly. I hear that all the time. But that’s not surrender. True surrender is letting go of every rope that keeps us tethered.
Zach:
That’s how I feel. I’m perpetually concerned that I’ve left a rope tied to the dock—and I’m always trying to throw it off.
Swami:
Yes.
Zach:
That’s my version of surrendering and jumping.
It’s been powerful spending time with you and learning the subtle ways the jump actually happens.
Swami:
I’d say there are three simple things we can do to help ourselves take that leap. Jumping isn’t easy—it means letting go of everything that holds us back from love. But these three practices make it possible. They all start with “S”:
* Selfless Service – Serve others without expecting anything in return—not emotionally, not financially. That helps loosen the ego.
* Sādhanā – A daily spiritual practice. Many people go on retreats, but they don’t have something they anchor to each day. Practice something that connects you to love, daily.
* Sangha – Community. Surround yourself with people who share your values. For me, sangha is the most important one.
Zach:
When you’re all doing it together, it doesn’t feel like jumping.
Swami:
Exactly. You’re holding hands.
It’s like jumping into a cold ocean. If you’re alone, you hesitate. But if 15 people are holding hands, you’re like, “Okay, let’s go.” You don’t want to be the one who pulls everyone back.
That’s why I love Namūna—it’s a sincere sangha. A group truly trying to grow in love. If you have that, everything else becomes possible.
But if we say one thing and do another, it doesn’t work. What I see with you and Elise is that sincerity—bringing good people together, trying your best to move forward in love.
That’s rare. And beautiful.
Zach:
Thanks for showing up and being part of it. You bring so much to this community. Elise and I talk about you a lot when you’re not here.
Swami:
That’s sweet.
Zach:
Thank you.
Thanks for reading A Little Deeper!
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